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A Grand Don't Come for Free (by The Streets, Rap)

common sense media says

Intriguing punk-rap operetta for older teens.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that athough not for everyone, this is an imaginative concept album that explores the minutiae of life and relationships.

Positive messages: A delightfully honest but astonishingly self-absorbed world view.
Violence: A fistfight or two.
Sex: A few non-explicit sexual references.
Language: The "s" and "f" words are used in story-telling context.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: A few references to drugs and drinking.

More on A Grand Don't Come for Free

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how the story is told in song, and this album might inspire older teens to write their own stories.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Lost money, a broken TV, and girlfriend problems are themes repeated throughout A GRAND DON'T COME FOR FREE, as our hero (Michael Skinner, recording as The Streets) struggles with the limitations of his life and his own emotional shortcomings. Gritty and funny, the descriptions of isolated moments in time are songwriting at its evocative best. But the most memorable moments are also the most sentimental. "Dry Your Eyes," in which the girlfriend finally leaves for good, works not because of our hero's expression of overwhelming sadness, but because of the description of a detail: "She peels away my fingers, looks at me and then gestures/By pushin' my hand away to my chest, from hers."

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
In mostly present-tense understatement, the CD leads us through the minutiae of a few days in the life of a troubled young man, with exquisite, unflinching honesty. There is some strong language, used well in lyrical context, and references to drinking and drugs. For those older teens with enough maturity and perspective, this is a gem of an album -- quirky, innovative, and interesting.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: May 18, 2004
Label: Atlantic
Genre: Rap
Parental advisory: Yes

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

 
Finally good rap
I have been waiting for years for an interesting rap thing with depth. Here you are. This album is emotional and better then Original Pirate Material. It's so great overall. Fit But You Know it is so fun like Don't Mug Yourself was to their last album and Dry Your Eyes is a masterpiece. Keep it up, we need good rap....

bballdiaries
teen, 17 years old
 
love the streets
this is my favorite CD it is soo good u dont even know. though not many people know of the streets/ mike skinner, i think he should become mainstream in north america... although the sound is a bit alternative its so refreshing to listen to... not that bad language , i mean compared to like , 50 cent per say, but on one song , mike skinner says the "C" word ... 2 TIMES! but other than that this CD is AMAAZING!

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ON: Content is 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