The enormous shadow in which Memphis Bleek has lived out his career has been well-documented.  Yet with his fourth album, his progress in filling those S. Carters is at a critical point; yes, he has the most creative freedom he's ever had, but the only reason for that is because his big buddy Jay-Z is now the president of the most recognizable name in hip-hop record labels.  In 534, Memph Bleek has a chance he's never quite had before: becoming the best rapper on Roc-a-Fella.  Sadly, as has been the story of all of Bleek's career, he got outshined early on by the best rapper alive- who's quasi-retired.

534 is supposed to be the first big album of the Young Hov-era at Def Jam, so the man himself wanted to make sure he gave it a proper blessing.  Unfortunately, his solo track, the much-hyped (for good reason) "Dear Summer", is an outing that shows every fault with Bleek more than it proves how great Jay is (although it does a damn good job of that as well).  And believe me, Memph's faults are easily listed...

• Memphis Bleek takes himself too seriously- While Jay can poke fun at the most hectic point of his career, his run-in with the law due to a stabbing incident, with lines like "I don't talk shit, I just flip it 'Un' ya/ Sorry Lance, I'm just tryna advance my quotes/ I ain't makin you the butt of my jokes".  On the other hand, Bleek can't play anythin g but hard, as evidenced on the lame ode-to-Bleek that is "All About Me".
  
• Memphis Bleek lacks charisma- When Bleek goes egotistical, listeners can only take to laughing uncontrollably.  His boasts, such as "If you keep gettign scratched/ I keep getting scratch/ We don't count ya'lls/ Naw, we don't do that", fall flatter on their face than Fidel Castro (I'd like to apologize for that Lloyd Banks-like, simile moment.  I couldn't help myself).  However, Jay has constantly gotten by with being the most arrogant man to ever be called a rapper, yet still comes off as being honest in his belief that he is just that amazing.
  
• Memphis Bleek cannot choose beats- Honestly, in this day and age, a lot of rappers can't do this.  Still, Bleek stands out as especially untalented in this department.  While his occasional choices like the Young Gunz-assisted "Oh Baby" and the 9th Wonder-helmed "Alright" shine, the list of unlistenable or bland tracks is much longer.  "Hater Free" sounds like the making-of-a-migraine, "Infatuated" is an IMX throwaway, and "Like That" is proof Bleek believes he lives, in fact, in 1998.  And finally...
  
• Memphis Bleek is not a good rapper- Nope.  Never has been.  The best verse he ever rapped was his first, and that was written by... yeah, you guessed it, Jay-Z.  Although he started off this album with promise with a title track that tried to show far he's come in his career, he has never been able to sustain a good album by himself.  Hell, he couldn't do it with the help of Jay, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, M.O.P., the Young Gunz, and Swizz Beatz.  I sure hope Def Jam has better ideas than this in store or Jay may need to man that mic again real soon.

i-Pod Worthy:  "Dear Summer", "Alright", "534", "Straight Path"

Skip 'Em:  "Hater Free", "All About Me", "Infatuated", "Like That", "The One", "Get Low"

Overall:  2 out of Six Shots

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