Review: Meek Mill “Dreams and Nightmares”

On October 30, 2012 Meek Mill released his debut solo album Dreams and Nightmares. This 14 track project consists of material that Meek is known for from his previous work on his mixtapes but in reference to statements made by the Philadelphia rapper he took more time to work on the quality of the songs, use more time to work on the content in each record and have a listener friendly concept to build around the album which I definitely agree on. There are small hints u will hear on this album that differs from the typical approach he would use on his past mixtapes and that makes perfect sense seeing that this is his debut album but Meek still tries to give his listeners that sound they are very much accustomed to.

The one noticeable similarity you could make with his debut album and his mixtape catalogue is the production, the same guys who did work on majority of MMG’s releases like The Beat Bully who produced Dreams and Nightmares Intro Also did the intro For Meek’s Dream Chaser 2 Mixtape and Jahlil Beats Who produced The second leading single Young and Gettin It Featuring Kirko Bangs Also Produced MeeK’s first hit single Imma Boss from the Self Made Album In 2011. 

Though the content of the album is very relative to his mixtapes there are some records where a more substantial aspect was displayed like the song Traumatized where he reminisces on the lost of his father and his friends and how that affected his life mentally, financially and emotional or Who Your Around Which tells the tale of how money can be the medium to find out who are your friends and who was never your friend in the first place just an undercover enemy.  Meek also shows his storytelling side with the second part of Tony Story which tells the tale of how life became luxurious for pauly after he killed tony but karma came knocking when pauly had to handle Tony’s brother who was slowing moving up in the dope game.

The album is separated into two sections: Dreams and Nightmares, this would be the obvious concept of the album where Meek shares his darkest moments growing up on the streets of Philly (Nightmares) In songs like Traumatized, In God We Trust, Who Your Around etc. and also talks about overcoming those challenges and achieving his goals in life (Dreams) in songs like Maybach Curtains, Young Kings, Polo & Shell Tops etc. 

Overall, the album was pretty decent for his debut, not so much complex and heavily subconscious as previous hip hop releases this year but Meek Mill speaks to a specific listener. the hustler, the drug dealer, the go-getters, the money makers,  the poor ghetto kids who just wants to escape their neighborhood and do something positive with their lives. That’s his everyday listener these are the people who are heavily attentive to his music these are the people who he raps for.