Pharrell – In My Mind
Star Trak/Interscope (release date: 7/25/2006)
Hip Hop
I’m really not sure what to make of Pharrell Williams.
As a producer, his talents know no bounds, crafting hits for A-List acts like Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg. His is a distinctive sound, heavily influenced by the synthetic lush of the ’80s and the glossy rap grandeur of the ’90s. When Pharrell’s work is laid under just the right lyrics and flow, it just sounds”¦”Beautiful”. (Yeah, yeah”¦but, it’s not like I could say “it just sounds”¦ ‘Excuse Me, Miss’.”)
Unfortunately, just like”¦ well, pretty much everyone in the rap industry, Pharrell wants it all.
Even though the reader can probably see this quip coming a mile away, I’m still going there: As a rapper, Pharrell makes a great producer. And, on his long-delayed solo joint, In My Mind, “great” might be too strong an adjective to describe the one thing he’s actually supposed to be good at.
“Can I Have It Like That” hums along nicely with a layered and effectively sparse drum clap (even borrowing a couple of notes from, arguably, his biggest single ever). But, lyrically, Pharrell can’t do anything with it as his words just sit there, waiting for Gwen Stefani to utter the same five words over and over again.
Pharrell at least slips it into second gear on “Raspy Sh*t”. It’s a fun little cut that’s powered entirely by the vibrant beat and succeeds in spite of Pharrell’s generic oversexed stylings. Ah, but I can’t be mad at anyone who likens his manhood to a “chic-o-stic” and longs to stick it in a woman’s “Twix”. Yum-O!
To his credit, Pharrell hands the mic over to a gaggle of guest stars, but when Slim Thug outshines him on “Keep It Playa””¦ yes, Slim Thug“¦ one must wonder what was the point. Does S. Thug get a career boost from the cameo or does Pharrell get the street cred rub? Now, my head hurts. Elsewhere, Jay-Z proves that even when he’s half-trying, like on “Young Girl”, he’s still better than just about anyone else.
And, then there’s Snoop Dogg, who repays Pharrell for “Drop It Like It’s Hot” with a little more than a minute of mediocrity on “That Girl”. Hell, he even uses the word “skeezer”, which I haven’t heard on wax since the heyday of Mellow Man Ace. Fortunately, Kanye West brings the goodness on “Number One”, while the album’s best track is saved for last.
“Show You How to Hustle” tells a dark, gritty story of drugs and dreck. P’s production seems inspired by a church organ’s dirge and works well with the subject matter.
In My Mind has its moments, but ultimately it’s the classic case of “artist overreach”. The styles between each track aren’t varied enough to stand on their own, individually. And, P’s lyrical skills are rudimentary enough without the added anchor of his tired, recycled themes.
Rating: 
