Paul Wall:
The People's Champ

Release Date: 12 September 2005

Reviewed By: Usman Sajjad

1. I'm a Playa - Three 6 Mafia

2. They Don't Know

3. Ridin' Dirty

4. State to State

5. So Many Diamonds

6. Smooth Operator

7. Sittin' Sidewayz

8. Internet Going Nutz

9. Trill

10. Sippin' tha Barre

11. Drive Slow

12. March N' Step - GLC

13. Got Plex

14. Girl

15. Big Ballin'

16. Sip-N-Get High

17. Just Paul Wall

Nas - Street's Disciple
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Over a bright past year or so, the blossoming state of Texas has seen the emergence of many talented rap stars. Not only have these rappers saturated the mixtape scene in the ‘Dirty South’ (and should I say quite well, earning a wealthy amount from hustling mixtapes) but they have come up rapidly, smashing the mainstream audience with catchy anthems. Some notable figures include Lil Flip, Slim Thug, Mike Jones and not to forget icons such as UGK and DJ Screw. The next to emerge is ‘The People’s Champ’, Paul Wall. Known for his smooth flow and killer verse on arguably 2004’s Dirty South Anthem ‘Still Tippin’, ‘The People’s Champ’ is the debut from the Houston native who’s got the Internet going nuts.  

The catchy track ‘Sitting Sidewayz’ was the anthem Paul Wall selected as the first single, blowing up airways all over the US. Fellow Texan Mike Jones joins Wall on ‘They Don’t Know’, an ode to the Houston lifestyle, with an element of screwed music, giving tribute to some of Texas’ rap legends. 

R&B newcomer Trey Songz accompanies Wall with an incredible hook on ‘Riding Dirty’, a potentially successful single. On ‘So Many Diamonds’, the ‘King of the South’, T.I, jumps on the track on a slow creeping beat with production driven by strong organ elements. 

However, a tangle of sounds is found on ‘State to State’ with Freeway jumping on the track with Paul Wall. This is one of the album’s disappointments, and Roc-A-Fella soldier Freeway sounds out of place with a monotonous verse and hook. 

Wall gets down ‘Southern style’ on ‘Trill’, and is joined by half of UGK, Bun B and former Cash Money rapper B.G.  Kanye West and GLC join Wall on ‘Drive Slow’, one of the hottest sample-driven records Kanye has crafted – this can also be found on Kanye’s latest album ‘Late Registration’. 

Wall also includes a couple of heartfelt tracks, such as ‘Girl’, and ‘Just Paul Wall’ sees the emcee respectively break down the relationship difficulties with jealous friends, describing the hard life that he came from to get to where he is today. 

Another highlight of the album is the laid back, mellow, ‘Sippin Tha Barre’, an ideal anthem to ‘let it bang’ whilst cruising in your car. 

With new hustles like his grills and various endorsements with Reebok and other companies, Paul Wall gives evidence with his debut ‘The People’s Champ’, that Houston still flows strongly through his blood, whilst moving one foot into mainstream Hip Hop. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 

Top 3 Tracks:

11) Drive Slow featuring Kanye West and GLOW

10) Sippin Tha Barre

14) Girl

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