 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Fly or Die
Common Sense Media says
A little bit wonderful, a little bit of a mess.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is an example of artists taking musical risks, and also using strong language in lyrical context.
What's the story?
As the Neptunes, pop music producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo have created glossy platinum hits for superstar artists as diverse as Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, and Britney Spears. But on their own time, as N.E.R.D., they do whatever they want. There's strong language, but it's used contextually and doesn't hit you over the head in the take-no-prisoners way we've become way too accustomed to hearing. Some sexual innuendo (and a few explicit lyrics) also feels less aggressive than usual. The "clean" version is (predictably enough) hard to find in stores.
Is it any good?
Musically, FLY OR DIE is a little bit wonderful and a little bit of a big old mess. So many classic rock, funk, and soul references all mixed up together are fun and interesting, but also confusing. It seems as though these guys threw in everything they could think of simply for the purpose of being different, and just because they could. They seem to be referencing Jimmi Hendrix, the Beatles, later Beach Boys, honky-tonk, jazz, funk, Santana, and psychedelic pop just for starters. Some listeners will love the mish-mosh; others will wish for more cohesiveness and focus -- it's almost as though these guys were crossing off a musical "to-do list," trying to cover all the bases and show off their varied musical influences at the expense of ending up with an album that makes cohesive sense.
Ironically, Fly or Die would have benefited from exactly the kind of attention they are so good at giving to others -- the strong guiding hand of a good producer.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the use of strong language here in a lyrical context. Does that make it more acceptable for a younger audience or not?
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AGE
Pretty good.
N.E.R.D. was opening for a Gorillaz concert, and they were really good. I got this album, and I liked it. Teens and up.
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Kid, 10 years old
November 3, 2011
AGE
get this CD!
i like it the lead singer is pharrell.
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| Artist: | N.E.R.D. |
| Release date: | March 23, 2004 |
| Label: | Virgin Records |
| Genre: | Hip-hop |
| Parental advisory: | Yes |
| Edited version available: | Yes |
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