![]() Meek Mill performed the song at the NBA All-Star Game, and recently, on Monday Night Football. Los Angeles Laker LeBron James has used it as a hymn to reflect on his career. Though “Dreams and Nightmares” is Philly to its core, the song’s appeal is far-reaching. ![]() What the world loves about the Rocky movie franchise exists in this song - only its origin story for “Dreams and Nightmares” is on Berks Street in North Philadelphia. “Dreams and Nightmares” is Meek Mill’s story, sure, but it’s also a quintessential underdog anthem. The song is so beloved, playing it at gatherings is a must, which is a testament to its staying power. As soon as the song drops, people rap along to it passionately, no matter where they are: cookouts, parties, homecomings, even weddings. The first few seconds of “Dreams and Nightmares” establishes its tone, similar to what Juvenile’s “ Back That Azz Up” does at parties, or UGK and OutKast’s “ International Players Anthem (I Choose You)” does, well, just about anywhere. “Most know how it feels to ‘see your dreams unfold’ and ‘nightmares come true.’ ” “The reason ‘Dreams and Nightmares’ resonates is because we literally know how it feels to be counted out,” said Al Torrance, a high school teacher and unofficial historian of Philadelphia’s rap scene. Ten years after its release, “Dreams and Nightmares” still gets just about any crowd hype. The song is a survival story that not only puts Meek Mill’s life on wax, but also speaks to the harrowing times that gave the track its vibrancy. But the selling point of “Dreams and Nightmares” is the story of its creation. Meek Mill’s signature has always been his own twist on the art of storytelling. In a genre with no shortage of underdog stories, Meek Mill’s “ Dreams and Nightmares” stands out. Once again, the music industry’s bottom line trumped any real musical creativity.Hip Hop at 50 is our yearlong look at the people, sound, art, and impact of hip-hop culture on the world. In the end, there was too much Maybach Music and not enough Meek Mill. While there are flashes of brilliance, Meek Mill’s album was undone by the fact that his label and handlers tried to make him fit into their already-established aesthetic rather than letting his uniqueness shine. Blige, Rick Ross, Drake, John Legend and Trey Songz. Ultimately, “Dreams and Nightmares” is more of a nightmare than a dream, even with high-profile guest appearances from Nas, Mary J. Unfortunately, Meek Mill’s Philly sound was drowned out by repetitive production, predictable club bangers, tired themes and an overall lack of imagination. This is especially disappointing considering that Meek Mill could’ve potentially added a new introspective, lyrical but still aggressive voice to Maybach Music and widened its appeal. ![]() “Dreams and Nightmares” essentially sounds like a rehash of previous Rick Ross, Wale, Stalley and Gunplay material, down to its thematic choices. ![]() ![]() Producer Boi-1da turns out to be one of the record’s shining stars by default, since he produced two of its four best songs. The standout songs previously mentioned are also the lone ‘change of pace’ tracks on “Dreams and Nightmares.” Whether the producer is Rightrydas Productions, Jahlil Beats or Cardiak, the beats sound like carbon copies of one another - and of previous MMG releases. When Meek is forced to go away from his natural Philly-influenced street delivery and make MMG-style, club-centric speedboat music, he instantly becomes a mediocre, dime-a-dozen scream rapper yelling bars over repetitive trap beats.Īnother problem with this album is the production. 2” are the few tracks that allow the listener to suspend belief and focus on Meek’s strengths - his ability to paint pictures with lyrics, punctuated by his high-energy delivery. Standouts like “Traumatized,” “Maybach Curtains,” “Young Kings” and “Tony Story Pt. Unfortunately, too many of the 14 songs on “Dreams and Nightmares” bleed into each other. But it remained to be seen whether Meek Mill could maintain his own identity or if signing with MMG would result in music that sounded exactly like his labelmates’ material. His buzz extended from the streets to the rap blogs to the mainstream rap press and culminated in a record deal with the Rick Ross-led behemoth Maybach Music Group. Philadelphia’s Meek Mill has gained a devoted following via his mixtapes and guest verses over the past couple of years. ![]()
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