LABEL: REACH RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 11, 2011

y Lecrae’s own admission, Rehab: The Overdose is a gift to his fans, those fans who appreciate more of his bombastic club and anthem-style offerings. That being said, he takes a step backward without losing the artistic spit-and-polish that has made him such a respected artist. Does it reach the levels of its recent predecessor, though? That depends on where you’re standing, I suppose. While I appreciate Lecrae’s more in-your-face tracks, I think what he accomplished on Rehab stands head-and-shoulders above this particular outing. These tracks are all solid, but they feel like pieces that just didn’t fit the previous album. That being said, it’s never a bad thing to have more music to enjoy from one of your favorite artists.

“Overdose” serves as the opening track and as a long intro of sorts. It’s been making the rounds for the last month or so and it establishes early on what a majority of the project is going to feel like. From the get go, you know this is going to be the Lecrae we’ve all come to know and love. When compared with how Rehab started (e.g. the slower “Killa”), you know things are going to be different this time around.

“More” is a straight up, “hit-the-treadmill” song. You will want to run aggressively to this one. Reminiscent of tracks like “Go Hard” and “After The Music Stops,” Lecrae spits over pompous thumping,“More! Your goodness your mercy! More! I’m hungry I’m thirsty! More! Your love and your grace! I just need a taste! More Your peace and your passion! More! Your joy and compassion! More! You got it I need it! More! I just gotta have it!” A straight-forward prayer for God to reveal more and more of himself to the believer, Lecrae always manages to deliver lines that, in the mouth of lesser man, might seem cheesy.

Suzy Rock shows up on “Battle Song” and her vocals are always welcome. However, the song seems a bit rushed at times. Generally, Lecrae is pretty clear in his delivery, but this time around it felt like he was trying to cram too many words into a tight space, leading to more of a mush-mouth experience.

“Anger Management” features Thi’sl and it’s a middle of the road track, in my opinion. There are times I’m in the mood for it and times when I just skip over it. The message about learning self-control in one’s life is a good lesson to learn. I just feel like the execution could have been a little better. Still, I’m always up for a grimy artist like Thi’sl hoping on a track with the Reach Records fam, seeing as how he’s one of the original members of the 116 Clique (if you remember the Compilation Album from way back…).

“Blow Your High” is a mix of the old school Lecrae and the new school Lecrae, featuring the pacing of “Killa” and the smart lyricism of “Fall Back.” Actually, you could say that this song picks up where “Fall Back” left off. It is a bit of smoky track, given the content. It’s a risky endeavor crafting a track that imagines talking to someone who is high on weed and ruining their high by “speaking the truth in love.” The addition of up-and-coming emcee Canon to the track only adds to its credibility. I feel this may be the strongest track on the album.

“Strung Out” was a track that I initially was not a fan off. On first listen, it just rubbed me all wrong. It seemed lacking at best, derivative at worst. There’s more auto-tune than I tend to like. But, then I found myself pressing the “back” button to listen again. All things considered, this song is the crux of the album. Given the rehab theme of both albums, “Strung Out” describes the ill effects of temptation. You could call this “Killa II” if you wanted.

“Chase That (Ambition)” begins with a really nice stringed instrumental intro before dropping into a slick beat that’ll have you bobbin’ your head and considering what it means to run hard after our ambitions. Lecrae tells his own story of chasing after the glitz and glamour before being left feeling breathless and unfulfilled by the pursuit.

“The Good Life” features J. Paul and thematically follows “Chase That” perfectly, showing that “the good life” that so many are seeking after really doesn’t satisfy at all. This track has more of an R&B vibe to it as Lecrae slows down his rhyme scheme.

Swoope returns the favor of Lecrae’s presence on “Actions Speak Louder” by guesting on the final track on the album, “Going In.” This track serves as a definitive end to Rehab and Rehab: The Overdose, but also seems to carry a “To be continued…” message with it. A song about “going in” for the Lord, Lecrae let’s you know what he’ll be up to until you hear from him next.

In many ways, I’m sad to see this experience come to a close. While I don’t think it’s as strong as its predecessor, it does close out this chapter of Lecrae’s musical offerings for the next year or so. I know there’s a lot to be excited about from Reach Records in the upcoming year, so we need not mope for too long. There’s more in the creative pipeline, I’m sure. Either way, if you want to continue the experience started in Rehab then Rehab: The Overdose is just what the doctor ordered.