Jeezy's approach on his seventh Def Jam album is signaled clearly by its cover and title. As ever, there's nothing seasonal about this snowman -- like the rapper proclaimed on previous album Church in These Streets, hustling is year-round, nonstop business -- and the first two volumes of Trap or Die were mixtapes served to the streets. Volume three, released six years after the first sequel, seems to carry the weight of a proper studio recording, not a mixtape, though Jeezy said "It ain't an album, it's a way of life." This way of life is loud at almost any volume, seemingly designed to sound imposing in every setting. Little sermonizing is involved, his pulpit evidently converted to a pallet for transporting product as he threatens and gloats. Three cuts produced by old associate Shawty Redd loom particularly large. Over bulky drums and baleful strings, Jeezy's gruff-as-ever voice is often layered, making it easy to picture his competitors looking up at him from the ground, stupefied, receiving a beat down with triple vision. The other tracks -- seven from D Rich, one or two each from a short roster that includes Mike WiLL Made It -- tend to be equally or only slightly less brutal in tone. Jeezy doesn't say much that deviates from previous ice-veined rhymes, but he attacks just about every track with intense focus and ferocity.
A1 | In The Air |
A2 | G-Wagon |
A3 | It Is What It Is |
A4 | Where It At |
B1 | All There |
B2 | Going Crazy |
B3 | Bout That |
B4 | So What |
C1 | Let Em Know |
C2 | Recipe |
C3 | Goldmine |
C4 | U Kno It |
D1 | Like That |
D2 | Sexé |
D3 | Pretty DIamonds |
D4 | Never Settle |