![Rip It [ Sugar Free ] : Citrus X](https://marcellee.com/posts/126106.jpg)
They should’ve just called this Orange. It’s no mystery. That’s the Citrus fruit it tastes like the most. The “energy fuel”, its promo suggests, “Pairs well with breakfast, pizza, and setting up camp in a cave of grizzlies after hiking for 24 hours.” I prefer it at home, not with but after a meal, when I’d rather work on something thru the night instead of going to sleep.
my rating : 3 of 5
The title makes no sense. It should be Cowgirl Carter. Not that there’s a sense of authenticity to Beyoncé’s ghetto ass riding off to the country. This is, to be clear, essentially a country music album with song titles like Riverdance, Levi’s Jeans, Sweet Honey Buckiin and Spaghettii. Those tacky “ii” bits representative the fact that it’s also the Act 2 follow-up to Renaissance.
That album sounds better if only because, when all else fails, you’ll get lost in its grooves. The beats here are mostly par for the course of a genre that relies more on vocal melodies, which Beyoncé has little talent for. The dive bar is packed when she sings her songs; her popularity assures it; but you’ll be hard pressed to find a catchy hook to hang your hat on.
I do like her Daughter; not that annoying chicklet on Protector but the song called Daughter. I like it a lot. The ballad, which dabbles in themes of patriarchy and Christianity, is surprisingly splendid. It’s a little bit country but mostly Celtic. Hopefully it will be played at the genre reveal party for Act 3 and she swaps those dadgum Cowboy clothes for (just) a torc.
my rating : 3 of 5
2024
“I see the way the game played,” Dr Dre declares at one point. If that’s a subliminal reference to the concept of this EP; a soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto; his penmen are more clever than they seem. This is, on paper, a random set of new Dre songs; a rarity these days, like the renowned producer making a beat on his own.
These six songs are co-produced; if not, as I suspect, solely produced; by different people. That, along with the fact that Dre, like dinnermate Puffy, is known to Contract ghostwriters, makes this EP his in the loosest sense. That it sounds more like Compton than another dose of the Chronic is more or less a sign of the times.
my rating : 3 of 5
2022
![Rip It [ Sugar Free ] : Tribute](https://marcellee.com/posts/125759.jpg)
The flavor here is a blend of “active” mandarin (orange) and “live wild” lime; one of the best fruits and one of the worst. An energy drink based on just the former could be a welcomed addition to the Rip It collection, though the taste would nonetheless be dampered by the overwhelming sting of carbonation. The concept is a Tribute to “our troops”. The brand is apparently a favorite in the US Army.
my rating : 3 of 5
The Strawberry topping, called “filling” on the ingredients list, contains only bits of the fruit. It’s basically strawberry jam, but it does its job. The best part is the French Style Cheesecake itself; the actual cream cheese; as is often the case. The Mousse label seems superfluous though; this is cheesecake in a cup; and there should be a hyphen between French Style.
my rating : 4 of 5
![Rip It [ Sugar Free ] : Power](https://marcellee.com/posts/125746.jpg)
The name suggests this Rip It would be appropriate to consume before a boxing match or weightlifting competition; any physical activity that relies on Power. According to the promo, it “packs the unique flavor of what we imagine a sonic boom tastes like”. In fact it tastes like a standard Energy drink.
my rating : 3 of 5
This is the Pure Zero; sugar free thus theoretically healthier; version of Rockstar Punched Fruit Punch. If there’s a difference in taste, it’s negligible if not undetectable. This too tastes like Hawaiian Punch or Tropical Punch Kool-Aid with carbonation.
my rating : 3 of 5
Is this “great new JT album” Everything I Thought It Was going to be? Basically yes. A decent; nowhere near great; soul croon set with perhaps a few good songs is what I’ve come to expect from Justin Timberlake and that’s exactly what this is. He’s still romancing the girls with declarations of Love; the conceptual crutch for his genre of choice; and calling up Timbaland to make beats. Listen for the producer’s inept vocal ad-libs.
The reason Justin Timberlake never reached; again nowhere near; the level of Michael Jackson; his most obvious comparison in regard to career trajectory; to my ears is that his songs just don’t pop. Never mind his lack of stylistic flair. All it would take to make this album good, maybe even “great”, are better melodies, specifically at the choruses where it matters. The best here in that regard include Conditions, No Angels and Selfish.
my rating : 3 of 5
2024
Even as a kid, I’ve always preferred my ice cream in a cup rather than a cone; despite the fact that you can’t eat the cup, at least not without getting what I assume would be a major bellyache. These Blue Bunny Twist Cones are no exception. The actual sugar cones taste okay enough, but they don’t mesh with the “frozen dairy dessert”, which, though I wish it were more Cheesecake than Strawberry, is pretty good.
my rating : 3 of 5
As far as main card schedules go, UFC 299 is better than 300. Both are exceptional, but the Zhang Weili title bout is a weak link and I looked forward to every fight on 299. They mostly deliver. Petr Yan starts it off on the good foot and ends his partly undeserved losing streak; he beat O’Malley; by defeating Song Yadong.
Jack Della Maddalena, though less dominant, comes off even more impressively with a Hail Mary knockout victory over Gilbert Burns. Kevin Holland versus Michael Page; the fight I anticipated the most beside the main event; ends up being a bit of a letdown as Holland loses handily not via knockout but decision.
The biggest winner of the night, aside from Donald Trump; the most popular attendee judging by crowd reaction; is Dustin Poirier. He knocks out tough guy Benoît Saint Denis in a hard-fought battle, proving he’s “still got it”. The biggest loser is Marlon Vera who’s simply outclassed by champion Sean O’Malley.
my rating : 4 of 5
2024
“It ain’t the kind of Movie where the leading man gets the girl,” George Clinton announces at the four-minute mark. It’s presented as a single ad-lib, but it should’ve been looped as the base of the chorus. The beat is funky, but the one thing missing from the song is a catchy hook. The “broadway” bit sounds nice, but it serves as more of a refrain.
my rating : 3 of 5
2002
Listen to Da Bumble. It’s one long verse and it showcases just how unique E-40 is when it comes to rapping. It’s not really a matter of substance. His ghetto gab isn’t particularly clever or witty. It’s how he says what he says; his flamboyant flow and slangy style; that makes it both funny and addictive.
E-40 is the dope boy, after all, providing street drugs to the masses. This album offers back-to-back fixes until about halfway when the quality suddenly drops, mostly due to weak hooks. That’s when you start to realize that, though better than his Federal debut, it would’ve been better as another EP.
my rating : 4 of 5
1995