Here is a throwback for you! I don't recommend the album though!!

Paul Wall: The People’s Champ “The Grill Of Houston Speaks” An Album Review
By Nfared Musically, Houston has been making noise over the past few years.
From Lil Flip to Chamillionaire, Texas making a name for itself in the way of
southern rap music. At the head of the pack, or at least in eyeshot is Paul
Wall, with his debut release “The Peoples Champ”. Joining Hip-Hop’s latest
theme of royalty titles, he deems himself, “King Of The Parking Lot”. With a
reputation that precedes him, including his grill designs and mixtape work, he
has definitely paid dues, but in the words of a Christian related song, “Who
could imagine a king?”

George bush flirts with stupidity (he actually makes love to it, but follow
the analogy) and Paul wall flirts with mediocrity on “I’m A Playa”. The
uninspiring chorus rides over a mystic yet catchy beat; “84’s/candy
paint/switchin lanes/sippin drank”. If the “Keep it Simple” theory could ever
have a way of going wrong, it’s at the beginning of Paul’s verse, “It’s Paul
Wall baby/yeah that’s me/these h*** wanna know what I’m bout/princess cuts all
on my neck and on my wrist and in my mouth.” It goes from bad to worse with
Paul’s third verse, “I got a deep freezer up on neck/and snow cones up on my
ear/a ice tray up in my mouth/I’m looking something like a chandelier…” Less
yawn inducing is “Riding Dirty”. The guest appearance of Trey Songz on the
chorus though, is the only thing that saves this track from total disaster as he
flows coolly, “Pimpin h***/slammin cadalliac doo’s (already)/shawty understand
this is how we roll (already)/parking lot pimpin on fo’s…/Va to H-town
you already know.” On “So Many Diamonds”, guest T.I. is more noteworthy than
Paul; “That s*** you hear on Gangsta Grillz is real b**** chill/fo you wake up
wit some gangstas in yo grill/get killed…” The Salih Williams produced “Sittin
Sidewayz” is a speaker shaking track with it’s deep bass line and light strings.
Paul? He seems to be on repeat as he flows, “Say cheese and show my fronts/its
mo carrots than Bugs Bunny’s lunch.” What delivers this album to Hip-Hop’s
dumpster though is “Internet Going Nutz”. Yes, this is actually a song. Let the
first few bars kill—eh-hem, speak for themselves, “I’m coming straight up outta
that chat room/and live from the message board/I’m at the crib all by
myself/chattin online when I’m board.” This should definitely summon up an error
message with not possibility of a reboot.

Needle Meter There is the mention of diamonds. Then there is the mention of
diamonds in his mouth, and on his neck, on his watch, on his wrist, on his nose,
and his shoes. Well o.k. not on the nose and shoes, but mention of them
permeates the entire album to the point of eliciting boredom and, almost
sickness. The several guest appearances compound the problem giving more of a
mixtape feel then that of an album belonging to one artist. In fact, saving the
album would mean taking Paul out and leaving the guest appearances in. Paul
designs what many rappers and fans consider amazing grills. Sadly his rapping
skills are more dull than shiny.
Two Needles

















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