![]() ![]() In the end, there was too much Maybach Music and not enough Meek Mill. While there are flashes of brilliance, Meek Mill’s album was undone by the fact that his label and handlers tried to make him fit into their already-established aesthetic rather than letting his uniqueness shine. Blige, Rick Ross, Drake, John Legend and Trey Songz. Ultimately, “Dreams and Nightmares” is more of a nightmare than a dream, even with high-profile guest appearances from Nas, Mary J. ![]() Unfortunately, Meek Mill’s Philly sound was drowned out by repetitive production, predictable club bangers, tired themes and an overall lack of imagination. This is especially disappointing considering that Meek Mill could’ve potentially added a new introspective, lyrical but still aggressive voice to Maybach Music and widened its appeal. “Dreams and Nightmares” essentially sounds like a rehash of previous Rick Ross, Wale, Stalley and Gunplay material, down to its thematic choices. Producer Boi-1da turns out to be one of the record’s shining stars by default, since he produced two of its four best songs. The standout songs previously mentioned are also the lone ‘change of pace’ tracks on “Dreams and Nightmares.” Whether the producer is Rightrydas Productions, Jahlil Beats or Cardiak, the beats sound like carbon copies of one another - and of previous MMG releases. ![]() When Meek is forced to go away from his natural Philly-influenced street delivery and make MMG-style, club-centric speedboat music, he instantly becomes a mediocre, dime-a-dozen scream rapper yelling bars over repetitive trap beats.Īnother problem with this album is the production. 2” are the few tracks that allow the listener to suspend belief and focus on Meek’s strengths - his ability to paint pictures with lyrics, punctuated by his high-energy delivery. Standouts like “Traumatized,” “Maybach Curtains,” “Young Kings” and “Tony Story Pt. Unfortunately, too many of the 14 songs on “Dreams and Nightmares” bleed into each other. But it remained to be seen whether Meek Mill could maintain his own identity or if signing with MMG would result in music that sounded exactly like his labelmates’ material. His buzz extended from the streets to the rap blogs to the mainstream rap press and culminated in a record deal with the Rick Ross-led behemoth Maybach Music Group. He’s helping to change that, and for many, their long nightmares may become dreams of hope.Philadelphia’s Meek Mill has gained a devoted following via his mixtapes and guest verses over the past couple of years. He’s been able to have a major positive impact by bringing much needed attention to how an act of a teenager that gets into the system can haunt them forever. Kids like my son who were 11 got to watch as Meek grew into an extremely impactful person who with huge support from the likes of Jay-Z, former Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin, and even Robert Kraft. Meek Mill becoming one of the faces of criminal Justice reform was not something I think he or anyone would have seen in 2012, but the importance of it is no less impactful. That includes high-profile relationships and beefs, but most importantly, his battles with the criminal Justice system. Meek Mill the man has been on an almost separate journey in the 10 years since his debut release. While there are a lot of Dreams and Nightmares still in Meek’s music, the evolution to him now is evident, the core of his being is visible on this record still. 2” are more stories reported from what Meek had recently been able to leave behind. Songs like “Amen” featuring Drake and “Maybach Curtains” with Nas and John Legend are celebrations of his new success, while songs like “Tony Story Pt. ![]() The album, now 10 years old, definitely feels like a reflection of a young man dealing with newfound fame and fortune that is still just removed from a life of extreme hardships. If you put “Dreams and Nightmares” on at any bar in the city, folks will sing the lyrics at the top of their lungs. The song itself has become a Philly classic along the lines of “Summertime” by the Fresh Prince and “What We Do” by Freeway as songs that everyone in the city knows by heart. In the ten years since it’s release, Meek, the song, and album have all taken on much deeper meanings in the culture. On February 4th of 2018, as the Philadelphia Eagles warmed up on the field in Minnesota for the Super Bowl, they rallied around what became their team’s anthem, the intro to Meek Mill’s seminal album Dreams and Nightmares. ![]()
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