Walk Witt Me

ollowing solid solo records from Jadakiss and Styles P, Sheek Louch, the third member of Yonkers rap trio the Lox, has a high standard to uphold. However, if Sheek Louch (pronounced "Sheik Loosh") is anxious, his ever-confident delivery, a laid-back sort of bravado, betrays not a bit of worry on WALK WITT ME, an intelligent, highly self-aware, and engaging debut.
Sheek reveals a certain depth from the start of WALK WITT ME. "For You" knocks many high roller myths while commenting the Lox's break from Bad Boy Records; of course, then Sheek flips the script back with a celebration of the lifestyle on the next track, "OK". The Lox have always known the value of good production, and Sheek furthers that legacy with an expertly crafted record; of particular note is the Alchemist's work on the pounding, captivating club banger "Turn It Up". And though he's appealing as a member of the Lox, Sheek sounds at home on his own, flowing with a relaxed but immediate storytelling style from the Biggie and Nas school of lyricists. In fact, he shines brightest when he chronicles his creation of the D-Block label on "I Ain't Forget" or when he earnestly decries the state of the world on the excellent title track.|

The final LOX member to release a solo album, Sheek Louch made the long wait worthwhile by dropping a low-key yet impressive debut, Walk Witt Me. Unlike so many major-label rap albums, the 14-track effort is solid: clocking in at a bit under 60 minutes (rather than the usual 80) and padded out with no filler. Furthermore, the album feels street. There aren't the usual commercial concessions like excessive guest features, overwrought hooks, big-money producers, and the usual cliches; instead, the lyrics rather than the hooks are the emphasis, the few guests are family, the producers are street-level beatmakers with original sounds, and most importantly, Sheek keeps it real, spitting sincere rhymes from the heart rather than the standard bling-bling boasting (particularly note "I Ain't Forget"). This is real hip-hop, albeit of the hardcore East Coast rap variety. "OK" and "Turn It Up" could be mass-market hits with the proper marketing push, but for the most part, Walk Witt Me isn't your standard major-label rap album. And for this reason, it deserves more notice that it got upon its initial release. It doesn't have the big-budget fireworks that fellow LOX members Jadakiss and Styles P had on their debuts -- Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001) and A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002), respectively -- yet it's an album that fans of the group should definitely hear despite its lack of commercial appeal. ~ Jason Birchmeier