She's Mature is the debut studio album by the Philadelphian rap group, Plastic Little. The album was released on September 19, 2006 through Traffic Entertainment Group.

She's Mature
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 19, 2006 [1]
Recorded2006
GenreRap, Underground rap
Length73:51
LabelTraffic Entertainment, Tonearm
ProducerMichael Squid
Plastic Little chronology
She's Mature
(2006)
Welcome to the Jang House
(2008)

The album contains many samples from a wide variety of sources, ranging from the 70s Disco song "The Hustle" by Van McCoy sampled in track "1-800-Grustlin" and the classic American folk song "Wade in the Water" in "The Jumpoff"; to the beat from the RZA song "4th Chamber", from GZA's Liquid Swords, being sampled in the tribute / parody "5th Chamber". Even the cover of the album mimics The Smiths single "This Charming Man".[2]

Advertising

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The advertising for the album, a two part series of adverts published in Vice magazine, among others, caused some controversy for the aforementioned magazine. The initial, "a hipster's homoerotic fantasies involving Jay-Z",[3] ran without complaint; however the latter, which disparaged hip-hop clothing line Triple 5 soul, was banned from the magazine due to, according to Graham Sanford of GapersBlock, "the mag's editors -- fearing a loss in revenue from a staple sponsor".[3] This was, however, later overturned.[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hi Bitches" (Come New Remix by King Honey)Jayson Musson, Jon Folmar, Kurt HunteKing Honey3:55
2."Rap O'Clock"Musson, Hunte, FolmarMichael Squid3:04
3."Hola Plastique"Hunte, Folmar, MussonSquid4:01
4."Beef Resolved"  2:29
5."All Ya'll Niggas Dead"Hunte, Musson, FolmarSquid2:35
6."Creative Differences"Hunte, Musson, FolmarSquid, Hunte4:32
7."Club Banger"Musson, Hunte, Squid, FolmarSquid3:35
8."Dopeness"Hunte, MussonSquid2:02
9."The Jumpoff"Folmar, Hunte, MussonSquid3:08
10."Boys" (feat. MF Doom)Hunte, Folmar, MussonROTFLOL3:19
11."Now I Hollar" (feat. Spank Rock)Hunte, Folmar, Musson, Naeem JuwanDiplo3:33
12."Bomb in the Club Hoe" (B.I.T.C.H.)Musson, Folmar, HunteFolmar3:03
13."Get Close" (King Honey Remix)Hunte, Folmar, MussonKing Honey4:10
14."Bum Rush the Set" (feat. Amanda Blank, DJ Low Budget)Hunte, Folmar, MussonJ. Fowler4:10
15."1-800-Grustlin'"Hunte, Folmar, MussonSquid2:26
16."5th Chamber"Hunte, Folmar, MussonJim Houser3:31
17."Remix!!!"Musson, Folmar, HunteSquid3:42
18."4$ Love Song"MussonHunte2:16
19."Steven and Billy"Folmar, Musson, HunteSteven Ward James4:18
20."Crambodia" (feat Spank Rock, Amanda Blank, Ghostface Killah)Hunte, Folmar, MussonFowler, King Honey4:48
21."Nemel's Outro"  3:55
Total length:73:51

Hidden Track

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There is a secret track after "Nemel's Outro". It is a remix of the song "Brooklyn" from their self-released album, Thug Paradise 2.1.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork Media7.4/10 [5]
XLR8RNeutral [6]
Montreal Mirror           [7]
Rhapsody MusicPositive [8]
Impose MagazineNeutral [9]

The album received mixed reviews. Pitchfork Media awarded the album 7.4 out of 10 and had the following to say about the album and Plastic Little's general outlook and sound:

It's worth noting that for all their love/hate toggling over rap, Plastic Little have got an album cover that pays tribute to the Smiths' "This Charming Man" sleeve, and songs that sample "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and PJ Harvey's "Down By the Water" (on the surprisingly aching Diplo-produced "Now I Hollar"). So there's more to them than simple hip-hop snickering. They're art school kids exposed to the banality of indie culture, but in love with it, too. They're also guys who seemingly watch a lot of porn and enjoy rapping about it. To hear self-loathing on a rap record that has nothing to do with regrets about the street life is a welcome change-up. If Plastic Little can ever find the balance between incisive and acerbic, they're bound to hit on some sort of Spinal Rap masterpiece. Until then, at least all the beats are banging.

— Sean Fennessey [5]

This was partially supported by Rupert Bottenberg of the Montreal Mirror who stated that "She's Mature doesn't just tread the idiot/savant axis, but strives for the extreme poles thereof. Their rhymes are rude, crude and oversexed—and ridiculously clever and funny to boot." and awarded the album an 8.5 out of 10.[7] This does, however, also highlight a common detraction of this work; namely that, in reference to their "post-PC, ironic humor": "you've just got to have the stomach for it".[6] Max Herman, of Impose Magazine, also mentioned that the band "are only out to clown atop SQUID's bouncy beats, which is why their music is better suited for the party rather than the iPod".[9]

Samples

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Credits

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  • Vocals – Jayson Musson, Jon Folmar, Kurt Hunte
  • Featured vocalists:
    • Billy Blaise Dufala (track 19)
  • Beats: Michael Squid
  • Flute: Billy Blaise Dufala (track 19)
  • Mixing: Si Young
  • Artwork by: Anthony Smyrski
  • Photography: Adam Wallacavage

[10]

References

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  1. ^ "She's Mature". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  2. ^ Bottenberg, Rupert (October 5, 2007). "Montreal Mirror interviews Jayson Musson". Montreal Mirror. Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée. Retrieved May 11, 2001.
  3. ^ a b Sanford, Graham (January 24, 2007). "Kuff 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke... - Gapers Block Transmission | Chicago". Gapersblock. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  4. ^ Shafrir, Doree (January 31, 2007). "'Vice' Finds Own Medicine Hard to Swallow". Gawker. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Fennessey, Sean (January 3, 2007). "She's Mature review - Pitchfork". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Dugan, Stacey (October 1, 2006). "She's Mature review - XLR8R". XLR8R. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Bottenberg, Rupert (November 30, 2006). "She's Mature review - Montreal Mirror". Montreal Mirror. Communications Gratte-Ciel Ltée. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  8. ^ Chennault, Sam. "She's Mature review - Rhapsody Music". Rhapsody Music. Rhapsody International. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Herman, Max (April 4, 2007). "She's Mature review - Impose Magazine". Impose Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  10. ^ "She's Mature". Discogs. Zink Media, Inc. Retrieved March 28, 2011.