Stalley - Savage Journey To the American Dream Review

Rick Ross has a fascinating habit of signing rappers with infinitely less charisma and presence than himself. How else to explain his attraction to workhorses like Stalley? The talented but decidedly dazzle-averse Ohio rapper traffics in straight-ahead sincerity, rapping entirely in pained, vague clichés about making it through struggles, staying free of temptation, and striving for success. He has built up a dedicated fanbase with the same kind of dauntless diligence required to run for city alderman, and displays an equal level of magnetism. Ross collects these guys: Wale, Pill, now Stalley. He reupholstered Wale into a strip-club rapper and dropped Pill. What he's going to do with Stalley remains to be seen, but if this lushly appointed new mixtape is any indication, Stalley's having his moment in the boss' favor.

Savage Journey ends with the song off of Rick Ross' Rich Forever mixtape that featured Stalley prominently, the left-field electro-rap jam "Party Heart", produced by Chuck Ingrish. It's one of this tape's more arresting moments, but on Rich Forever, it stopped the momentum dead. The contrast is telling....full text After listening to the tape, I am still completely unsure about Stalley. Sure the dudes got talent, some potential, and an original flow, but sometimes he is simply uninteresting. Also, the dude brands himself as the “average joe” rapper yet he is on rap’s most luxuriously boasting label. Much like his labelmate Wale, Stalley seems at sometimes to be a conscious rapper thrown into a limo with some bad bitches and a heavy set bearded boss in it. Problem is, Wale is able to, for the most part, play with and make the best of this awkward situation, he has the talent and charisma to do so, Stalley simply doesn’t. Now I’m not huge on rappers with extravagant personalities and I feel like there is room in the game for toned down MC’s but MMG is not that place. If Stalley continues to have trouble defining his sound he will get lost in the sauce at Maybach where young guns like Wale and Meek Mill just come across as having more ambition, pun intended....full text The pressure is on for Stalley who has just released his highly anticipated mixtape “Savage Journey to the American Dream”; his first project since signing with Maybach Music Group. Fellow MMG artists feature heavily throughout, including Wale, Meek Mill and label founder Rick Ross. Signing to MMG was an interesting choice for Stalley, whose style seems to be in stark contrast with Ross’ focus on “bitches and business” (“Hustlin”).

Despite their stylistic differences, Ross’ impact is certainly felt throughout the mixtape, and he features on three tracks – arguably the weak points of the album. His contribution to the closing track “Party Heart” is little more than a name-dropping intrusion, as he fails to add any musical relevance to the song itself....full text Stalley latest project arrives today following an impressive series of free tracks -- "Songs By Me, Stalley" -- and pre-release singles. Savage Journey to the American Dream is, without question, the biggest release of the bearded Massillon, Ohio native. While last year's great Lincoln Way Nights pretty much put Stalley on the hip-hop map, it's Savage Journey that will make sure he stays there.

This tape serves as his first release since signing with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group last summer. Rozay makes a pair of guest appearances on the mixtape, which also features Wale, Anthony Flammia, and a slew of lush productions from Block Beataz....full text