Young Jeezy and New Kids on the Block CD Reviews

Young Jeezy releases his third album, The Recession, on Def Jam, September 2, 2008.

Courtesy of Def Jam

Young Jeezy raps about hard times in the U.S., while the New Kids on the Block grow up and get sentimental. Kidzworld spins these new discs.

Young Jeezy :: The Recession

The economy is something you’ve probably heard your parents talking about, but it might not be something you think about too much. Young Jeezy does, though, and that’s why his new album is called The Recession (the current economic state of the United States is called a recession). The album is about the country in other ways, too—Jeezy raps about poverty, the correctional system and the possibility of a black President. In the end, though, he’s at his best when he rhymes about himself and his family, and when he collaborates with other hip hop stars—when he has to go toe to toe with people like Kanye West and Nas, then he really steps up his game.

New Kids on the Block release their first studio album in fourteen years, The Block, on Interscope Records, September 2, 2008.

Courtesy of Interscope

Fun Facts

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Jeezy opened his house to victims of the hurricane, to help them have a place to stay.

He appears as himself in the hip-hop fighting game Def Jam: Icon.

He has a charity called Toyz n da Hood which collects and distributes Christmas gifts for needy children in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

Jeezy has publicly endorsed Barack Obama for President of the U.S.

Hot Tracks

Crazy World, Put On, My President
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New Kids on the Block :: The Block

They’re back! And while the sound is mostly the same, the lyrics have definitely gotten a little more grown up—there’s even a song called Grown Man. The first studio album by the New Kids in fourteen years has a lot going for it, especially when they remind us how great they were at making upbeat, fun pop together. Just like before, their ballads are a little too sappy. But also like before, when a song works, it’s pretty great. It helps when hip producers (Timbaland, Teddy Riley) shape the songs to fit today’s styles, but it’s also fun when old school friends like New Edition stop by to visit.

Fun Facts

NKOTB’s Jonathan Knight also has a career in real estate.

The song Single, which features Ne-Yo, may also appear on Ne-Yo’s forthcoming album Year of the Gentleman.

There were two previous attempts to reunite New Kids on the Block, but those never happened because not all of the members were ready to get back together.

New Kids on the Block have already sold out most of the dates on their upcoming tour, which starts September 18, 2008 in Toronto, Canada.