Justin 'Tha Shiznute' ChandlerSean Broxxx is suffering an identity crisis. He doesn’t have one. Time and time again the rap game brings us the huddled masses that really do not prove to have anything fresh to offer and the mix tape by Sean Broxx, “Life of a Legend” is no break in that wave.
Imagine if you will the raspy voiced Sean Price with far less charisma, no sense of humor, the diction of Mike Jones and you have what boils down into the ingredients of Sean Broxxx. The three x’s in his name indicate his grimy ways, but his narratives are not as obviously treacherous. To take it to the next level a rapper must create an image with a hint of believability, Tupac, Saigon and early 50 Cent are only a few that have been able to do properly master the gangsta image. Whereas, Sean Broxxx may spit similar game in regards to subject matter but fails to entertain.
The nastiness of the featured artist is painfully obvious on “Hey Miss” of which Sean repeats the chorus that includes phrases like, “Hey miss lady bitch” and “Then take a smoke on this dick”. Undoubtedly, rap music is a misogynistic game, but Broxxx takes it to a whole different level of immaturity and sets American civilization back with more ignorant thoughts like, “Womens libs, womens rights, talkin’ all that shit tonight, then you suckin…” and you get the idea. A champagne-room stripper would recognize the lack of class in a joint like this. His female counterpart on track 9, named Erika Caine sheds light onto how Mr. Broxxx has formed his opinions of the opposite sex.
The comparably low-key track, “So Cocky”, which kicks off the album is really the highlight despite clocking in at only 2:30 minutes. The drum pattern is typical, but the sporadic piano keys are something that Mobb Deep might lace. This seems to be the track that M.I.H. Entertainment is trying to push on their website to jump off Sean Broxxx and truthfully it lacks the necessary punch to grab the attention of a wide audience.
“Dreams n’ Nightmares” is a particular track the does hint at complexity from a conceptual standpoint as the basis of the song is that those living in harsh circumstances “dreams and nightmares are all the same thing, when you live a nightmare reality is a dream..” This about as philosophical as the disc gets, but when comparing it to the previous ridiculed track “Hey Miss” it is pure wizardry on the mic.
Being a mix tape, “Life of a Legend” too often feels like its embodiment. Most mix tapes have at least a few key tracks that are worthy of a proper release. There is not such a track that screams to be released on an officially pressed album, which would concern any listener to buy a future release from Sean Broxxx. “Money” ft DJ Ron-Ski (R.I.P.), Blizz and Young Tank sounds like a couple of blahzay rappers in the cypher just spitting whatever under the influence of THC. However, the track entitled “Dedication” for the very same Ron-Ski is a solid, albeit sample heavy, appreciation of another fallen soldier. This always an admirable addition to a rap release and generally brings the best out of any given artist that have been effected by the one they have lost.
Most of these tracks do have original beats (which are very unpolished) , but there are a few posse freestyles interspersed, one using Mobb Deep’s “Put ‘Em In Their Place”. Based on these tracks and structured ones alike it seems that other rappers on the label deserve a shot at a solo as much as Sean Broxxx himself–they sound hungrier in their flow and delivery. In fact, Sean might be the least impressive on the first of the two “Freestyle” cuts.
If you are in dire need of a new mixtape I suggest you look further than the self-indulgently titled “Life of a Legend” . It is not necessary to re-invent the wheel on every go out, but to release a disc like this will fall on deaf ears as it treads heavily on the path of the generic. Sean Broxxx is another misogynistic, gangsterous, raspy-voiced emcee and the scene does not have room for all of them.