[.ca] V2 Dream Merchant

The Merchant Got The Dope Product {4 Stars}:
9th Wonder is one of those producers that's hit or miss for me. Well, this time, he hits and he hits hard. People, me being one of them, have made complaints over the years that 9th's beats start to sound the same after you hear enough of them. I don't know if 9th was listening, but he brought some heat this time around. The production, of course, is handled by 9th wonder (even though I thought I heard Phonte shout out Khrysis for the beat on "No Time To Chill"). Since he doesn't make wack beats, the only question mark was the rappers and they fill their lanes and do their thing for the most part. I think "Saved", "Brooklyn In My Mind", and "The Milky Lowa" are unquestionably dope. "Backlash" showcases an improved Sean Boog and Buckshot getting nice over a mellow creation. In my mind, "No Time To Chill" is the obvious standout on the entire album -- Little Brother do their thing and remind me of why I liked them to begin with. The Dream Merchant rarely disappoints with the roster picks and the end result is an album that will be in rotation for months. The only drawback I can think of is the occasional boring rapper, but there really aren't any wack tracks to be found here. Not that I'm calling them wack, but "Merchant Of Dreams" (despite a great Chaundon verse), "Reminisce (Take Time)", "It Ain't Over", and "Shots" didn't do anything for the ears of this listener, but fans of 9th Wonder should dig them just fine. The Dream Merchant Vol. 2 is an album that surprised me in a good way. 9th Wonder crafted some real winners on this release and gathered a solid roster to compliment them. It's an album that I recommend grabbing when you get a chance. Standout Tracks: The Milky Lowa feat. Camp Lo, Brooklyn In My Mind feat. Mos Def, Jean Grae, & Memphis Bleek, Special \oRemix\c feat. Strange Fruit Project & Median, No Time To Chill feat. Little Brother (My Favorite), Sunday feat. Keisha Shontelle & Chaundon, Backlash feat. Sean Boog & Buckshot, and Saved feat. Saigon & Joe Scudda

• Mr. Dream Merchant (Intro) - 9th Wonder
• Shots - Big Dho, 9th Wonder, , Sean Price
• Merchants of Dreams - Chaundon, , L.E.G.A.C.Y., 9th Wonder, Skyzoo, Tarey Torae
• Brooklyn in My Mind - DJ Premier, Jean Grae, Memphis Bleek, Mos Def, 9th Wonder
• Sunday! - Chaundon, 9th Wonder, Keisha Shontelle
• Baking Soda - Big Treal, 9th Wonder
• Reminisce - Big Remo, , 9th Wonder, Novej
• No Time to Chill - Little Brother, 9th Wonder
• It Ain't Over - Jozeemo, 9th Wonder, Tyler Woods
• Last Time - Naledge, 9th Wonder, , Royce da 5'9", Vandalyzm
• Saved - 9th Wonder, , Saigon, Joe Scudda
• Milky Lowa - Camp Lo, 9th Wonder
• Backlash - Sean Boog, , Buckshot, 9th Wonder
• Thank You - Dox, 9th Wonder, O Dash,
• Let It Bang - Ness, 9th Wonder, Skyzoo
• What Makes a Man - Buddy Klein, 9th Wonder, Rapper Big Pooh
• Special Remix \o*\c - Median, 9th Wonder, Strange Fruit Project
• You Wanna \o*\c - NBS, 9th Wonder