In celebration of his latest album, Meek Mill tweeted, “We had to beat the streets, beat the system, beat racism, beat poverty. And now we made it through all that, we at the championships.” This quote just about sums up this story of redemption for Meek. The Philadelphia bred rapper was released from prison back in April of this year, following a controversial five-month stint for a probation violation. His mistreatment by the criminal justice system brought awareness to the issues many young people of color are facing today. Seven months later, Meek released Championships, a masterful story of triumph.
The city of Philadelphia is shining right now — the Eagles won their first Super Bowl last season, Kevin Hart is one of the biggest comedians in the world, and Meek Mill has a No. 1 album. But things weren’t always so bright for the Dream Chasers head man. Growing up in North and South Philly, Meek learned a lot of hard lessons from the streets. He experienced a lot, including his father getting killed when Meek was just 5 years old. But, had he not endured those hardships as a youth, this article could not be written today.
Meek Mill is doing what a lot of young people who grew up under the same circumstances, can only dream of. He’s an accomplished rapper — with the money, fame, cars, clothes, etc. to match. But, Meek is also an example of how these nice things can be taken away in an instant. A corrupt judge, who had already sent Meek to jail before, threw another sentence at him for violation of his parole. Everyone knows the story, but this type of situation would break a lot of people. Meek Mill is the exception. Don’t call Meek an activist because that’s not what he wants to be, but he has brought awareness to the broken criminal justice system in America.
Meek’s experiences in the hood and behind bars combined to make Championships, his fourth studio album and his most complete body of work to-date. Meek may not ever have another intro quite like “Dreams & Nightmares,” but Meek over Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” truly set the tone for the entire album.
To be honest, 19 tracks is probably a little too long, but the highs more than make up for the few lows that this album has. “How many times you send me to jail to know that I won’t fail?,” Meek asks on “Trauma.” This line celebrates his resiliency, something that Meek has exhibited his entire life. Meek shines individually on Championships, but the tracklist is a who’s who list of features.
“What’s Free,” which flipped Biggie’s “What’s Beef,” is one of the project’s standout tracks. Meek recruited Rick Ross and Jay-Z to give us 6 minutes of game and it instantly became a fan favorite. The Cardi B-assisted “On Me” is an absolute banger, as Cardi snapped on her verse from start to finish. All Nicki Minaj drama aside, Meek might be onto something with this Cardi connection. “Splash Warning” is a little odd, but it’s still a very fun track to listen to. The distinct sounds of Future, Thugger and Roddy Ricch compliment the beat very nicely.
Meek really did a lot on this album — he even reunited with Drake. Remember “Back to Back?” Well, the two buried the hatchet, like we all hoped they eventually would. Drake and Meek haven’t missed yet. “Going Bad” is not on the same level as “Amen” and “R.I.C.O,” but it’s honestly just good to have two of the biggest names in rap back on the same page. The same people who were slandering Meek during the beef with Drake are now singing his praises.
One of the most enjoyable things of note about Meek Mill’s trajectory, is his growth as an artist. Well-known for his gritty, gut-wrenching raps, Meek has developed a knack for being one of the best at making rap songs for the ladies. “Dangerous,” which features Jeremih and PnB Rock, is one of the best songs of this year. Meek employs the auto-tune on “Almost Slipped” and it added a nice touch to a track that men and women alike can relate to. “24/7” may be the best of them all, with the Ella Mai feature and the Beyoncé “Me, Myself, & I” sample.
Championships is a very diverse album in terms of subject matter, but no matter the topic, Meek always spits real lyrics — music that motivates and that people can relate to. “When them situations came, I came out like a champ,” Meek raps on “Respect the Game.” This is easily one of his best songs ever, as he flows effortlessly over the legendary “Dead Presidents” sample.
The title track, “Championships” accurately sums up what Meek Mill is all about. “We was dead broke, but rich in soul. Was we really that poor?” Meek serves as motivation for the streets. Through all of the turmoil, Meek has stood ten toes down on that, and hasn’t changed. That’s why he has built up such a loyal fan base.
There is no doubt that Championships is Meek’s best work. He’s now on the podium receiving his trophy, as he now has the No. 1 album in the country, with 15 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and his first Top 10 single. Championships is a story of triumph in the face of adversity, similar to Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap. Album of the Year contender for sure. It’s been a big year for Meek Mill, and it’s all thanks to his bounce back.
You might also like
More from Editor Picks
Frank Ocean For Dummies
A day after his 31st birthday we present 'Frank Ocean For Dummies'. A comprehensive playlist of his biggest hits and …
Memphis’ Jai Musiq Remarkably Cements His Own Legacy with ‘The Sap Junt’ Project
A young Memphis prince comes of age with his heart, mind, and soul: molding his passions, spiritual awakenings, and musical …
What the Internet’s Reaction to Kim Getting Robbed Tells About Humanity
Meh synth Schlitz, tempor duis single-origin coffee ea next level ethnic fingerstache fanny pack nostrud. Photo booth anim 8-bit hella, …
