'I Came To Represent' - Geejay (album review)

Hip Hop’s Sunderland spokesperson Geejay steps up and informs us ‘I Came To Represent’. He’s a young hope but his debut album boasts collaborations with Raekwon and Canibus. Past the Skrilla artwork and the big name guests what’s the CD actually like?

Actually, and maybe unsurprisingly it’s not that good. The synthy production aspires to bark with the big dogs yet yaps weakly in comparison to similar attempts on the scene right now. Some tracks display potential but don't achieve their aims.

The lyrics are basic; Geejay employs rhyme schemes circa 1980 (which were fine back then, but things have moved on), relies too heavily on drawing out words to fulfil his syllables per line quota and leaves sentences hanging at the end of each line for rhymes sake (‘Plaguing me much//More than I thought it…). The crude and immature concepts exhibit a lack of life experience and teen years spent idolising US rappers. ‘Heart Attacks’ attempts to readdress the balance but comes across a little too clichéd.

‘I Came To Represent’ is Geejay’s version of every formulaic rap LP ever made and unfortunately, it falls short even of the middle mark. Some strict self editing and serious writing graft might see him return stronger but for now it’s pretty feeble. Let's hope that Sony development deal does just that.