Swizz Beats - Poison

Swizz Beats - Poison

Veteran producer, rapper and DJ Swizz Beats pulls out all the stops, going through his star-studded contact list to populate his latest album with hip-hop royalty and rising stars. A longtime contributor to the culture, Swizz has long been known as a hit spinner, and while Poison lacks his usual punch, the whose-who cast that lines it's featuring list is one to marvel at.

A spoken word intro set against a string instrumental introduces us to the landscape. Flamboyant and bombastic, it is the typically indulgent opener that hip-hop has now become known for, with a surplus of fanfare and imagery to cover up the silences. Luckily, Poison manages some thriller amidst the filler, as Swizz uses his experienced ear to pull out the best in his guests. Ranging between militaristic drum marches (Pistol On My Side) and sex-soaked swings (Something Dirty/Pics Got Us), Poison has undeniable highs. Unfortunately, there is an equal number of lows. 

Albums such as this have difficulty escaping the ‘compilation album’ feeling, and Poison absolutely suffers from this phenomenon, with it’s worst tunes sounding like unreleased B-Sides. 25 Soldiers is criminally boring, while SWIZZMONTANA is laughably bland. At its worst, there is an inescapable feeling that Poison is carried by the names on it as opposed to the opposite. Still, it would be dishonest to suggest that there is not enough to sink your aural teeth into. Combinations of trumpet-led triumphs, the breathless darkness of Preach and the 90’s gospel/soul rhythm of Echo should be applauded for their ingenuity and flair. 

Ultimately, Poison sees Swizz Beats at neither his best nor his worst, and I remain troubled by the creeping idea that there would not be nearly as much buzz around this if not for the featured artists. Still, Poison has experience and pedigree on its side, and for rap fans, I find myself unable to not recommend giving it at least a single run through. Just don’t be surprised by the lack of venom.

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