To date, Corey "C-Murder" Miller has released eight albums, two of which have been certified platinum. His latest undertaking, Screamin' 4 Vengeance, will leave listeners with conflicted opinions about the undulating feelings of despondency that oozes from many of the tracks on the album. Is this an eerie account of art imitating life, or is it simply poetic license? C-Murder is on compulsory house arrest and hasn't been able to promote Screamin' 4 Vengeance nationally, yet the album is creating its own buzz.
"Be Fresh" (featuring Detroit) is one of those tracks that will induce multiple listens. The lingering production by II Deep Music stalks the underlining scratching by DJ Hectic. The subject matter is not profound, but the way Detroit's vocals caress the track combined with C-Murder's blunt lyrics, makes it captivating.
"I Represent" is an ominous testimonial of C-Murder's troubles: "I spent mills on my legal fees, I prays on my knees / The D.A. is like a f***ing disease," he raps. These sentiments are magnified on other tracks like, "Posted On Tha Block," and "Down South."
C-Murder switches the mood a bit on the bitter-sweet "Streets Keeps Callin' Me." Though the production on the track is deceivingly upbeat; the lyrics address the struggles of staying straight on the crooked streets. "Gangstafied Lyrics" and "Freeze (Ice Man)" are capable of inciting a riot in any tense gathering. Both of these tracks were produced by 2Saint. The beatsmith's arrangements provoke the type of aggression we all try to stabilize within our souls.
Two of the better tracks on Screamin' 4 Vengeance are "MiHita" and "My Set." Tupac Shakur popularized the metaphor of the relationship between a man and his gun on "Me & My Girlfriend." C-Murder pays homage to this classic on "MiHita" and brings Mia X out of hibernation for this cut. Mia slaughters the track as if she never left the game: "They don't want to see us baby / Don't you ever play with his Franklins / Leak ya body fluids, leave ya somewhere stanking / Spill every thought you're thinking / Only death can part us / And believe me, y'all don't want to start us."
"My Set" is the timbre of any nightmare. C-Murder's dark lyrics and C-Loc's sinister production form a diabolical duo, while the menacing horns combined with an unsettling loop of ominous keys creates a feeling of intense anxiety.
C-Murder's lack of lyrical aptitude can be nauseating at times, but his straightforward approach to addressing his legal troubles can be piercing and compelling. All in all, Screamin' 4 Vengeance has its moments in the sun, though it is shrouded in macabre melodies.
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