It’s almost as if anyone involved in this project expected listeners to not get past the first couple songs." Soren Baker, writing for the Los Angeles Times, commented that "he normally assertive and interesting Philadelphia rapper flows like a sloth on nearly every cut of his second album, failing to elicit much excitement despite the solid, hard-core production." Robert Christgau graded the album as a "dud", indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought." Commercial performance There's a sequel to his first album's not-so-pretty prison tale "What Ya Life Like" here, but it's best hearing about Beans's life when he's feeling nice, not nasty." ĪllMusic writer Bret Love commended the production for remaining consistent and Sigel's persona of a street smart hustler but found it running its course as the album continued, concluding that "Sigel's sophomore effort isn't so much an artistic step forward as it is a step sideways." HipHopDX writer Affrikka said that despite the first two tracks, the record starts to fall off into mediocre un-originality, saying that "Overall, the experience leaves you wanting more from the executive producing credit that Jay-Z takes.
Andy Capper of NME found some familiarity in the album's beats but praised Sigel's dark-yet-intriguing delivery along with a talented list of guest artists, calling it "one of the best hardcore rap records of the year 2001." Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised the lyrical delivery and production for being an upgrade from Sigel's debut effort The Truth, saying that, "n the pantheon of Philadelphia rap from The Roots to Will Smith, make room for a mack (bitch) - he's definitely earned his right to shine." Entertainment Weekly 's Evan Serpick said that, "Sigel will never sound as urgent as Chuck D or as smooth as Method Man, but the Jay-Z protégé makes up for it with smarter-than-average gangsta lyrics and eclectic hip-hop beats." Nick Catucci of Blender wrote that, "Throughout the disc, Beanie stalks through the subdued bounce of big, loose piano and horn riffs, his smooth but steely flow intact. The Reason garnered positive reviews from music critics who commended the record's East Coast production but questioned Sigel's abilities as a credible rapper.
His latest album, This Time, was released in 2012 on the newly irelaunched Ruffhouse Records.Reception Critical reception Professional ratings Review scores When the album received little promotion and nemesis Jadakiss was signed to the label, Sigel left Roc-A-Fella and released his album The Broad Street Bully independently. Sigel moved from Roc-A-Fella to DDMG with some members of State Property, causing tension amongst the other members who remained signed to Roc-A-Fella.Īfter being released from prison, Sigel returned to Roc-A-Fella, and released his fourth album, The Solution, on the label in 2007. While he was in prison, Jay Z was appointed as president of Def Jam Recordings, causing former business partners and Roc-A-Fella co-founders Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke to split off and form Dame Dash Music Group. Coming, before being imprisoned, and it was released in 2005 while he was serving his sentence. In 2004, Sigel was found guilty of federal weapons charges and sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
That same year, Sigel founded the group State Property. His second album, The Reason, was released in 2001 and received mixed to positive reviews. Hard Knock Life, Sigel released his debut album, The Truth, in 2000, which went Gold in sales. After making his Roc-A-Fella debut on founder Jay Z's 1998 album Vol. Sigel's first major appearance was on the 1998 The Roots single "Adrenaline!" (which was later featured on Things Fall Apart in 1999), and he signed to Roc-A-Fella Records six months later.
Roc-A-Fella Records (2002-2005, 2006-2009)įreeway, G-Unit, Ghostface Killah, Jay Z, Meek Mill, Raekwon, The Roots, Scarface, State Property, Young Gunzĭwight Equan Grant (born 6 March 1974), better known by his stage name Beanie Sigel, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States