Styles P is a veteran in the rap game, having been around since the late ’90s. He’s released numerous albums and mixtapes throughout his career, but it wasn’t until recently that Styles ventured into new territory with his latest project – Lean Music. This album has caught fans by surprise as its sound stands out from what we’re used to hearing from the Yonkers-born artist. It’s a bold move for Styles, one which he hopes will bring him some new ears and keep old followers interested. Let’s take a closer look at Lean Music and see why it may just be the breath of fresh air hip hop needs.
Artist Biography
Styles P, born David Styles on November 28th 1974 in the Bronx, NYC is an American rapper and actor. He is a founding member of The LOX (Living Off Xperience) alongside Jadakiss and Sheek Louch as well as D-Block. Along with his career in hip hop, Styles has also released two solo albums and four collaborative albums across multiple labels including Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Def Jam Recordings.
He began rapping at fifteen while attending DeWitt Clinton High School until dropping out to focus purely on music. His flair for lyricism soon earned him spots on various mixtapes that would later become popular within underground circles. Eventually this led to him joining up with Kiss & Sheek creating The LOX which was signed by Bad Boy Records in 1995. As part of the group they released their debut album Money Power & Respect hitting number three on the US Billboard 200 chart selling more than one million copies worldwide.
Since then he’s gone onto have a successful solo career releasing six studio albums between 2001 – 2020; all of them being critically acclaimed with songs such as “Good Times” featuring Akon reaching #71 on the US Hot 100 charts. Throughout his music Styles speaks about street life over melodic production whilst maintaining a conscious outlook throughout each track – making it clear why he’s considered one of the most influential rappers today.
Album Reviews
Styles P’s music has consistently been well-received across both his solo and group projects. His debut album A Gangster & a Gentleman (2002) was praised for its honest, vivid and often brutal storytelling with particular attention to the lead single ‘Good Times’. The project also featured acclaimed production from Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and Scott Storch.
His follow up albums Time Is Money (2006) and Super Gangster Extraordinary Gentleman (2008) proved he could continue to make gritty street anthems that still resonated with fans of conscious rap. On top of this, Styles’ collaborative efforts with fellow LOX member Sheek Louch have received widespread acclaim: their joint project titled ‘Silverback Gorillas’ (2009) is considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of the decade.
In recent years Styles has kept busy by releasing EPs such as Float (2016), G-Host (2018) and Beloved (2020). All three showcase his ability to craft timeless hip hop records without sacrificing lyrical content or musicality – evidenced through tracks like ‘Lean Music’, which earned him another round of critical praise in 2020. It’s clear that after over two decades in the game, Styles P continues to deliver quality music while staying true to himself no matter what genre he decides to tackle next.
Conclusion
I was really impressed by Styles P’s album “Lean Music”. His flow and delivery are on point, and he has a great way of telling stories through his lyrics. The production is also top-notch, with some pretty catchy beats that make it easy to vibe out to.
Overall, I think this album is one of the best hip hop releases this year. It boasts an amazing lineup of guests including Sheek Louch, Jadakiss, Lil Kim, and many more. Whether you’re looking for something introspective or just want to have a good time listening to music, Lean Music should be your go-to album.
If you haven’t checked out Styles P yet then what are you waiting for? He’s consistently putting out quality material, so don’t sleep on him any longer! I’m sure you’ll find something in there that resonates with you.
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
