Obie TriceTitle: Second Round’s On MeLabel: Shady RecordsGenre: RapReleased: August 2006Rating: * *

Obie Trice follows up his first album, Cheers, released in 2003, with another alcohol-induced album title, Second Round’s On Me, which was released last week.

The album starts off painfully slow with a depth-lacking intro followed by a song called “Wake Up” that does just the opposite. The bass line carries the track with latent piano and violin interruptions very typical of many Eminem songs, who, by the way, is the album’s executive producer.

The first beat on the album that attracts any sort of attention is the fourth song, “Wanna Know.” False alarm, it is just another rap song integrating an electric guitar unsuccessfully.

Obnoxious guitar strumming is out of place and unnecessary on this record — Trice threw a complete curve ball with this decision, which is devastating to the overall quality of the album.

Don’t worry, the songs aren’t all that unappealing. “Snitch,” which yields a different name on MTV, is bearable.

Akon supports Trice on the track providing the chorus, while at the same time trying to beef up his street cred, “I keep the 40 cal on my side/ Steppin’ with the mind state of a mobster.”

Akon’s pop-like sound and appearance make him about as intimidating as Justin Timberlake, so rapping about the mob and packing heat doesn’t quite register, but nonetheless, he makes it work with his ability to add liquidity to his lines.

“Snitch” is followed by the first original song on the LP, “Cry Now,” which easily possesses the best beat on the album. The drum beat is complicated and intriguing, while the random horn in the background is mysteriously fulfilling.

“Ballad of Obie Trice” is the biggest whiff on the album as far as beats go. The lyrics are deep and informative, outlining the hardships of Trice’s early life, “I came from nothing solo/ Straight outta the dumpster hobo/ Made up my monster/ I was cultivatingly, slanging that cocoa,” but the track’s ambiance is misleading.

If Nappy Roots’ beats and Outkast’s lyrical delivery had a love child, this song would be it.

Creativity and originality is lacking throughout most of the record until the 18th and last song, “Obie Story.”

The beat and tone of the lyrics flow well together — finally, the music matches the words.

An upbeat piano tune with percussion provided via a hand clap keep the listener interested while Trice starts rapping about his roller-coaster life, “Oh couldn’t do no wrong/ According to report cards Obie brought home/ They say good in spelling/ Spelling bee’s always excelling/ Which was so overwhelming that Momma took him shopping/ Copped him the new Jay’s/ Swear to God homie this was Obie’s cool days.”

Life is good and the beat is happy until gun fire laces the track and the tone becomes dark with dramatic piano taps and delicate bass drones. The lyrics follow suit, “Dad ain’t around, he left a nigga/ Sagging in them Superman drawers that one Saturday/ Is it my fault, —- got dark?/ Mom and I fall apart, relationship taunts, bad talk.”

As the song progresses, the listener can visualize the light at the end of the tunnel for Trice as his story climaxes when he signs a deal with Eminem, “I’m all in it, there’s no limits/ And it’s so splendid/ Real names, no gimmics/ No image, just a soldier who spoke what he lived/ From the ribs with it, the flow’s vintage/ Obie gotta do this for real/ Yeah/ Obie Trice.”

Second Round’s On Me will be lost among the MTV darlings dominating the rap scene, but in some of Trice’s songs, his message is real and encouraging. This album will only make ripples on the national scene, but will have a much bigger following from those who actually make it to the 18th track.

I’m glad the second round is on Obie, because I wouldn’t buy it.