By Hardcore Critic
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
It is often said that “perfection takes time,” but there are also instances where people are simply late. Given the success Eve had when she first came out with the critically-acclaimed platinum albums and breakout hit singles, hip hop was eager to have her return. But, the downside to some veterans coming back is them not being up to par.
With Lip Lock, Eve sounded out of place on most of the album. In an attempt to try something different on the album, Eve just sounded “different.” Throughout most of the album, Eve finds as if she is simply trying too hard. Snoop Dogg, Missy Elliott, and Gabe Saporta are among the guests who outperformed Eve on the album.
An eleven year hiatus is hard to come back from and after she didn’t drop her album in 2007, maybe it was best for Eve to rethink the comeback album. By no means has Eve lost a step in lyrical ability. On “Grind or Die,” Eve shows off a little bit of what made her famous in the first place, but as for the rest of the album, the eleven years was too much to overcome.
Another highlight on the album is the “She Bad Bad” remix with Pusha T and Juicy J. Once again, the show was stolen from Eve by the guests on the track. As mixtapes have overtaken albums, Eve’s Lip Lock plays out more like an artist mixtape circa 2008 more than it does an official comeback album. There are good songs on the album, but Eve only shows herself off properly on a handful of the album tracks, which is a handful within itself at twelve tracks.
Hopefully, Lip Lock is simply the warm-up and Eve has had the chance to properly stretch to return with her next album on point.
Hip Hop Vibe’s Rating: 4/10
