Posted on 09/23/2009
Through mock voicemail messages on his latest mixtape, Mr. Falyon Meets SMKA, Atlanta-based rapper, Sean Falyon, gives the impression that he's under the oppression of that infamous music industry villain, the ignorant manager. This manager wants Mr. Falyon to be less informed and more gangster with gimmicky song titles. To introduce such a concept makes the leap in logic that Falyon is already some complex rapper and his manager’s suggestions are insulting to his existing artistic integrity. If this is true, then the ensuing tracks should rebel against the manager's wack advice. Instead, Falyon repeatedly lives down to expectation with songs that explore nothing more than Falyon's pursuit of tail. Throughout the mixtape, the manager reappears with 'brilliant' ideas, each more ridiculous than the last, and Falyon's songs don't exactly soar above and beyond his suggestions.

His first track, "Gift of Gab," regurgitates the typical 'I get girls' mumbo-jumbo. An attempt at seriousness comes on "Goin Away," but the sober tone gets stolen by Bone Crusher's thoughtful verse. "All I Need" is a solid attempt at a worn out idea with Falyon contemplating trading in his player’s card and exhibits some of Falyon's best writing. But if not for his cartoonish, Heavy D drawl mixed with playful R&B samples, the album would be barely listenable, much less enjoyable.

The lack of topical diversity on Mr. Falyon Meets SMKA is mind-blowing. When he's not talking about getting women, Falyon is trying to speak for them in the almost offensively trite storyline of "Big City Lights." Add in appearances by the unfunny, illogical manager persona at the end of every track, and you have as much interlude talking as you do actual music. Considering the unimaginative lyrics Falyon produces with each song, that might not be a bad thing.

- Candace L.