Summary:The fourth full-length studio release for the rapper features guest appearances from 21 Savage, Anuel AA, Cardi B, Drake, Ella Mai, Fabolous, Future, Jay Z, Jeremih, Kodak Black, Melii, PnB Rock, Rick Ross, Roddy Ricch and Young Thug.
[Intro: Meek Mill & Phil Collins]
Yeah
We in the championship
We was down 3-1
Yeah
(I can feel it coming in the air tonight)
Feel it
Champions of the...
As much as Championships is filled with nonchalant club/street anthems, it's also about healing. Tempered by both celebration and struggle, Championships shows the duality of Mill's world--one that still reflects on the past, but has made leaps towards his future--and that's perhaps the greatest win of them all.
There’s a brace of humble attempts to get his head round his situation, tracks like “Trauma” and “Oodles O’ Noodles Babies”, brilliantly nuanced performances where Meek wavers on the edge between uncommon restraint and a violent simmer. Jay-Z showing up on “What’s Free” to boast about tax avoidance brings everything back into perspective.
Mostly the record commits to what he does best: substantial rap with clear stakes and an uncommon sense of purpose. After a career marked too often by botched opportunities and wasted potential, Meek Mill has finally risen to the moment.
While the Audemars-Piguet and Rolls-Royce Wraith have not disappeared from the equation and Meek Mill’s affinity for the finer things is still intact, his conscience is the crown jewel of Championships.
The ultimate result is an inspired release that hearkens back to the Roc-a-Fella days of the mid-Aughts, full of diaristic writing, song-cry beats and ridiculous skills.
Throughout the album I noticed that Meek was definitely playing to his strengths, but he easily pulled it off. The instrumentals were reallyThroughout the album I noticed that Meek was definitely playing to his strengths, but he easily pulled it off. The instrumentals were really enjoyable and I loved the beats as well. Where it gets interesting is when we look at his lyrics. He always has something important to say, and he expresses it well. This guy can flow to say the least and that is something that I love. The albums length was justified by the constant flow of bangers, and the features were great. He was even able to achieve the impossible, to coax a descent feature out of Cardi B. I have enjoyed Meek's previous works and this is no different. Keep it up bro.…Collapse
Very good album, the best Album of Meek, some Beats has reminded me of the blues of the 80.
the song i liked:
- trauma, whats free,Very good album, the best Album of Meek, some Beats has reminded me of the blues of the 80.
the song i liked:
- trauma, whats free, respect the game, championships, 24/7, pay your back, dangerous, colhearted 2.
good/Mediocre songs:
- intro, uptown vibes, on me, going bad, 100 summers, stuck in my ways.
bad/Songs I didn't like:
- splash warning, almost slipped, tic tac toe, oodles o noodles babies,wit the ****…Expand
Pretty solid effort from meek. Definitely sounds like Meek is playing to his strengths here. Some of the features are a little weak and somePretty solid effort from meek. Definitely sounds like Meek is playing to his strengths here. Some of the features are a little weak and some of tracks are weak as stand alone songs but its a pretty enjoyable effort from meek, especially compared to his last album being weaker.…Expand
Championships by Meek Mill is the supposed "revelation" of Meek's career, after an eventful struggle in jail andHate me later.
Championships by Meek Mill is the supposed "revelation" of Meek's career, after an eventful struggle in jail and rehabilitation with the many artists he has gone back and forth with. An empowering story that set the bar for this album incredibly high.
Sadly, it just doesn't work as well as everyone thought it would be.
It can all be defined in the first track. The Intro is powerful in the instrumental and performance, yet ridiculous in lyrical content. From Rick Ross inspired verses of overpowering your enemies and coming out on top as the big boss/king. The project meant to focus on Meek's return is already coated in his own cliches, and they're not pleasing the fourtieth time around.
But when he does reminisce on the past, it's blown out of proportion. Trauma is filler that is summarized by Meek Mill's claim that a black citizen in America is taking away his freedom, and how he has escaped the shackles as a king overcoming a racist justice system. For Meek's standards, that's expected, and it's not a good faucet of his songs. Not only are these messages full of excess effort in conveying a racial agenda, but they only romanticize him in a way that is displeasing to hear.
And that's how he defined his controversial year.
Of course, there are a few great tracks on this one, like What's Free, which includes great features such as Ross and Hov, even if the latter's verse is overrated. There is the somber 100 Summers and Oodles O' Noodles Babies, which capture Meek's childhood well through a lyrical standpoint. They are truly driven artistically.
With the exceptions of the given verses above, along with Ella Mai, PnB Rock, and Jeremiah, there are the rather disappointing appearances. A lineup of 2018's Drake, Wale, Future, and Young Thug would have been enjoyable had they appeared in their prime state. However, it is clear that the trap wave is awkwardly implemented in a Meek Mill album, and it honestly couldn't be any worse. Their content just do not intertwine well.
Decent at best, and disappointing for Meek's standards. With rumors that he will release another project by the end of the year, one can only hope for a more intimate album.…Expand
This wasn't a bad album by any means. There were some really nice pop rap bangers and some emotionally tinged tracks, but it just suffers fromThis wasn't a bad album by any means. There were some really nice pop rap bangers and some emotionally tinged tracks, but it just suffers from long album syndrome, and more importantly; Meek's lack of top end talent. It was really nice on first listen, but on the second it shows its true colors as just very generic.…Expand
