Ace Hood- Gutta; a review

So starting in the spring DJ Khaled put a hurting on the world's ear drums as he yelled over the chorus of "Cash Flow", the first single from Broward, Florida's own, ACE Hood. Featuring the required T-pain appearance and established artist co-sign in Rick Ross, the song took off thanks largely to the aforementioned ringmaster and production by The Runners. Looking at the recent history you can expect more of the same by the first artist signed to Khaled's Defjam distributed imprint. You wouldn't be disappointed. To start the production is above average so that is a definate plus.

Getting into the music, the first track doesn't impress, "I Don't Give a Fuck" is about as lazy as a song title that you could have in this day and age. The beat isn't bad but Ace doesn't do much to make you feel he is going to bring anything lyrically. Sort of a cross between Tupac and Plies when it comes to his flow, and unfortunately more like the latter when it comes to lyrics, Ace does manage to bring energy to his tracks as well as two distinct flows. The second of which is a faster switch-it-up type of delivery that you also find on Southern beats with this 808 sound and drum pattern.

Features on the album include Akon of course, Trick Daddy, T-pain, Rick Ross, trey Songz, Plies and Briscoe so there is no one to push Ace to do anything different. Now here is an artist that you expect to get into a lane and stay there, he does, and to his point of getting money and being on the grind, he does it well. I would have been pleasantly surprised to see he try something else though. He is young enough to be able to grow creatively so I have some hope that he will get another shot if just based upon the album being whip music due to the production.

The majority oft he production is obviously handled by the Runners who provide a solid selection of beats. However the same drum patterns are tiring by the end of the album, and while it is cohesive as far as the theme, it begins to run together into one long song just after the two singles which fall into the 5th and 6th slots respectively. The best song other than "Ride" is "Guns High" which features Rock City on the hook. This is also frustrating because it was the best chance for Ace to try to expand from his box even slightly because Rock City brings a refreshing feel to the album of young men who get caught up but don't relish the gangster lifestyle; a sentiment that is entirely at odds with the persona of Ace Hood. Funniest song : "Stressin" with one of the most niggerish hooks i've heard, and part of that is because Plies is delivering it and we all know how ignorant he is.

My biggest problem with Ace is something I expected coming into this. He has no depth. No real personality. The only difference between him and a Jeezy, Rick Ross, Plies, or Lil wayne is the fact that he seems to be yelling into the mic constantly to get his point across. It's something not lost on others. The best quote I've heard about Ace hood is "What is his purpose. Who the hell is this dude." By the end of the album you haven't learned anything new about Ace or anything that makes you think he is anything other than another angry d-boy. That said he'll get a second chance to hopefully build upon himself.

Rating: 2.5/5