Maybach Music Group – Self Made Vol. 2 (2012) – Review

Review: MMG’s second group album is about as good as its first, if not a little better and more consistent. Though, it does not have any standout tracks like Tupac Back or 600 Benz. Black Magic is probably the standout cut from the album. While it has a fairly generic street-banger beat, Rick Ross’s hook and Meek Mill’s verses are great. Power Circle is the other memorable song. Coming in at just over eight minutes, it features a verse from the each member of the MMG posse (other than Omarion), and a great verse from Kendrick Lamar. As far as features go, Self Made Vol. 2 has a lot highlighted by Kendrick Lamar, NaS and Bun B. The MMG crew is a very complimentary group headed by Rick Ross, Wale and Meek Mill (who has some of the best stuff on the album). Gunplay and Stalley also have some good verses on the album (I wish Gunplay was on more of it), and definitely make their voices heard as the newer members of the group. Omarion, on the other hand, is the weak link, and French Montana continues to be forgettable. I called Self Made Vol. 1 a glorified mixtape, and I feel sort of the same way about this. The production is decent, but nothing special. Half of the tracks on this album would be filler on a Ross, Wale or Meek Mill solo album. That said, this is still well worth checking out for fans of MMG. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Black Magic – Meek Mill & Rick Ross, produced by Young Shun

2)      Power Circle – Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill & Rick Ross featuring Kendrick Lamar, produced by Lee Major

3)      This Thing of Ours – Wale, Omarion & Rick Ross, featuring NaS, produced by Don Cannon

Available on CD and Digital Download