Smiley The Ghetto Child - The Antidote
Label: Amalgam Entertainment
Grade: B-
Highlight: The Wake Up Call
Overview: How can you not be happy to read about a rapper named “Smiley?” Believe it or not, Smiley has an interesting history in hip hop. This Harlem raised, Bronx bred emcee used to ghost-write for Black Sheep and Chi Ali (say it ain’t so!). I knew there was no way Chi-Ali could come up with “I’m a Roadrunner runnin’ things.” Anyhow, Smiley’s big break came when he rhymed on “The Realness,” a stand out track from Group Home’s Livin Proof LP. He was actually supposed to be in the video, but he got locked up and the shoot never happened. Almost a decade later, Smiley reappeared on “Werdz From The Ghetto Child” on Gangstarr’s The Ownerz. That led to Premier producing 2005’s single “The Wake Up Call,” which was a top-seller at Fat Beats and a street anthem for those savvy enough to pick up the vinyl-only single. Smiley then toured on the “Weapons of MIC Destruction Tour” with Ghostface, Pharoahe Monch, M.O.P. and Cormega. He also toured with Linkin Park…go figure. So all of this brings us to Smiley’s long-awaited debut The Antidote. You have to have some history in hip hop to get Premier, Green Lantern and Showbiz to help on your debut. As a matter of fact, ten different producers loaned their skills to this album. So how is it? Good, but not great. Here’s what I like: the beats are grimy, the producers are diverse, the cameos are limited (WC on L.A.N.Y. and Primo on “Everything), and his name is “Smiley” dammit! What I don’t like: Smiley’s raspy voice isn’t the most pleasant to listen to, his delivery is more choppy than fluent, and his lyrical prowess is average at best. The credibility added by Premier, Showbiz, Green Lantern and WC helps make this a B- effort, worth listening to a few times before moving on to the next Gangstarr affiliate.
