The Understanding

Artist: Memphis Bleek
Label: Roc-a-Fella
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Explicit Lyrics
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 731454258722
EAN: 0731454258722
ASIN: B00004YWGB

Release Date: 2000-12-05

The Understanding

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General

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General

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Pop Rap

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Tracks:

Intro - U Know Bleek
Do My...
I Get High
We Get Low
Change Up
My Mind Right (Remix)
Hustlers
All Types Of S***
PYT
Bounce B****
They'll Never Play Me
Everyday
Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)
In My Life

Similar Items:

Coming of Age
M.A.D.E.
534
The Reason
The Truth

Amazon.com

The Roc-A-Fella platinum formula strikes again. All the usual suspects are present: honcho Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Amil, and the record's featured artist, Memphis Bleek. Lyrically light-years ahead of his debut album, Coming of Age, Bleek returns with an effort that easily avoids the sophomore jinx. The strings and pattering snares on the "My Mind Right" remix make it better than the original, particularly with the added vocal talents of Jigga, H. Money Baggs, and Sigel. Carl Thomas returns to his hook-crooning roots on the female-targeted "Everyday," an attempt to show Bleek's sensitive side. Twista brings an added dimension to the alternate version of "That Your Chick," the first single; however, things get a little too sappy on "In My Life," which samples Foreigner's classic, "I Want to Know What Love Is." You don't have to be a brain surgeon to understand this brand of Understanding. It's the patented Roc blend of drinking and smoking, guns and glory. Love it or leave it. --Kenji Jasper

Customer Reviews:

Very weak album.......2007-02-23

Bleek cant hold an album down by himself. His debut album and this is proof. Some decent beats but he doesn't do anything with them. The best tracks are the features. I only like 2 tracks. My mind right remix and Is that your chick. I say burn those 2 tracks and forget the rest of this album.

The Mis-Understanding (Rating 5 out of 10- -2.5 stars).......2006-10-23

Question: When has Memphis Bleek delivered a top notch album? Maybe his recent "534" album, thats it. As of 2006, he's four albums deep and seems to haven't acquired the status of some [former] Roc-A-Fella artists (i.e. Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Kanye West, etc.) As being Jay-Z's close friend, Jay always says he's one hit away. But giving him the benefit of the doubt, I decided to check out this album for only one reason. The hit song "Is That Your (Chick)" with Jay-Z, Missy Eliott, and Twista. It's ironic because the song was origonally Jay's and was supposed to be on the "Vol. 3: Life And Times Of S. Carter" album, Bleek was just thrown in there...thats why it's subtitled "The Lost Verses".

Anyway there are many other songs on the album too that are below expectations. "We Get Low" is one of these tracks. "Bounce B****" will make you laugh, because of how horrible it sounds, along with the production. And "Everyday" with Carl Thomas, is a prime example of how wack Bleek is. And his good friend Jay-Z doesn't make anything better either on some tracks. "Do My" is one of those tracks that are below both Jay's and Bleek's expectations. But Jay, Beanie Sigel and H. Money Bags will outshine Bleek on the track "My Mind Right".

There are some good songs here thought that I have a feel for. "I Get High" is a laid back track about smoking weed while driving. Bleek and Beans will do a decent job on the song "Change Up" (I wouldn't credit Jay-Z on what he does though). "They'll Never Play Me" Bleek actually flips his word play and makes it a good song. The album's closer "In My Life" is a real good emotional track that I like very much.

As you can hear, Bleek can pull some tracks on his own on this album, but he fails to do on others. In most songs that he makes with a guest, he is outshined (see next album M.A.D.E.). I won't lie though, Bleek has had a somewhat successful career, because he stood in Jay-Z's shadow. Trust me, if he was on his own, he would have fallen off real fast, and would have never have made it to "534". I guess if you're a Bleek fan or want to hear one of his albums, go ahead and cop this. Otherwise, save your money.

Lyrics: C
Production: C+
Guest Appearances: B-
Musical Vibes: C-
Overall: C

Fav Tracks: I Get High, My Mind Right (Remix), They'll Never Play Me, Is That Your (Chick) [The Lost Verses], In My Life

Peace Everyone!

The Understanding of Memphis Bleek .......2006-02-03

Bleek returns with a much larger improved LP, The Understanding shows the maturity of young Memphis Bleek. Great collaboration with great production work. Roc-A-Fella strike with a formula that worked for Bleek, along with the entire Roc-A-Fella team showing their support for Bleek. However, this album does start to get a little bland and start to lose it's touch, but with cuts like "I Get High" and My Mind Right(Remix)" it shows that Bleek has a shot at Jay's title when he retires.

No Diss My View.......2005-11-28

I dont see what all the hype is about I mean Memphis is OK Lyrically but his beats are garbage no disrespect but why does Jay-Z get all the hot beats and they give the others garbage I gave it 3 stars because lyrically Memph is Hot but it would be 5 stars if this was an accapella CD I mean I like the songs Mind Right and My favorite I get High but the rest accapella and I 4got is that your chick but it gets 3 stars from me.

Memphis Bleek - The Understanding.......2005-03-30

Following up his gold certified debut, "Coming of Age", Memphis Bleek returned a year later with his sophomore album, "The Understanding."

1. Intro - U Know Bleek

2. Do My... (Featuring Jay-Z) - Pretty good beat, Bleek spits good, Jay-Z's and Bleek's hook is good - 4.5/5

3. I Get H*** - Good beat, Bleek spits good, hook is good - 4.5/5

4. We Get Low - Alright beat, Bleek spits pretty nice, hook isn't bad - 3.5/5

5. Change Up (Featuring Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel) - Pretty good beat, Beanie and Bleek rip it, Jay-Z just talks on the end...its pointless, no hook - 2.5/5

6. My Mind Right [Remix] (Featuring Jay-Z, Money Bags, & Beanie Sigel) - Pretty good beat, everyone spits good, Bleeks hook is good - 4/5

7. Hustlers (Featuring Beanie Sigel) - Not feeling the beat, Bleek and Beans spit good, Bleek's hook is good - 3.5/5

8. All Types of S*** - Good beat, Bleek spits hard, hook is good - 4.5/5

9. Pyt (Featuring Jay-Z & Amil) - WACKKKKKK beat, Bleek spits good...not really feeling Amil cause her voice sounds pretty bad, Jay-Z spits a pretty good hook - 2/5

10. Bounce B**** - Pretty good beat, Bleek spits good, hook is so-so, 3.5/5

11. They'll Never Play Me - Good beat, Bleek comes real hardcore, hook is real hard as well - 5/5

12. Everyday (Featuring Carl Thomas) - Not feeling the beat, Bleek spits good, Carl sings a good hook - 3.5/5

13. Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses) (Featuring Jay-Z, Twista, & Missy Elliot) - Good beat, Jay spits 3 verses, Bleek spits 2, and Twista spits 1, they're all good, Missy spits a good hook - 4/5

14. In My Life - Great beat, Bleek spits great, good sampled hook - 5/5

Overall: 50/65

3.5 Stars

Memphis Bleek is just another artist to catch "the sophomore curse." This album had a couple good tracks but there were more average ones than anything else. Only pick it up if you're a big fan of Roc-A-Fella, if not just stay away.

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