Four minutes of glossily uninspiring R&B rap, ‘Snitch’ is your typical major-label pop-hip-hop fare: a slightly on-the-edge lyricist, renowned for something of a potty-mouth and associations with more prominent movers and shakers within the genre, teams up with a current chart-conquering sort to trade rhymes about a whole lot of braggadocio-dribbling nothingness.
In case you weren’t aware of Obie Trice’s relationship with Eminem and his Shady Records imprint, a series of shout-outs within the first few seconds of ‘Snitch’ ensure that you’re well aware of every cast member, be they supporting or enjoying a lead role. The themes here are purely stereotypical of the record’s style, fantasy criminal scenarios outlined in a fairly monotone fashion by Trice, who doesn’t once add any drama to lyrics that could, if delivered with a little more sparkle, be fairly absorbing. Akon’s high-pitched contributions – seemingly from the perspective of the snitch's gangland rival – are annoying and nothing more. He probably phoned them in while taking a crap.
In summary, ‘Snitch’ is what it is: a relatively bland, by-numbers affair that doesn’t outstay its welcome but never makes an impression deep enough to warrant further investigation. Teenage boys, whose primary daily-basis concerns are acne and overdue homework, will love it; anyone that grew up knowing that Snoop and Dre weren’t the granddaddies of this hip-hop shit will be moved to nothing but indifference.
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4Mike Diver's Score