Hate It or Love It

Review

Common Sense Media says

Explicit in every way; guest stars can't save CD.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this CD bursts out of the gate with a string of four-letter words, and goes on to reinforce Chingy's sentimental attachment to drugs, guns, and exploitative sex. While some of his contemporaries use visceral imagery to make passionate and thoughtful points about the state of the world we live in, Chingy is here strictly (and oh so tediously) for the party.

  • Positive messages0
    Sexist and racist language; the "N" word is used repeatedly.
  • Violence3
    There's a "pistol in my pocket" and a few other references to weapons and violence.
  • Sex4
    Explicit sexuality, including references to "my d--k", a condom off, in addition to a lot of innuendo of the "tell her to swallow me" variety.
  • Language4
    Every four-letter word you can think of, without a trace of artistry or social consciousness.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking4
    Many references to drugs and drinking ("Air full of smoke" and "pocket full of dope"). Getting high seems to be the accepted norm in Chingy-land.
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What's the story?

On HATE IT OR LOVE IT, Chingy goes a long way to cement his status as the world's most monotonous rapper, even while showcasing some impressive talent in cameos by the likes of Ludacris, Amerie, and other guests. Sadly, these pals provide the only impressive performances on the album, sizzling away while Chingy regales us (in stunningly repetitive and lusterless detail) with anecdotes about his life as a too-cool-for-school party boy and bon vivant.

Is it any good?

 

A teensy bit of improvement on the instrumental tracks, some intricate rhythmic play, and a bit of humor (delivered by the guests) make for some mild improvement over other Chingy discs. But for those families who occasionally break the rules on explicit content in the interest of redeeming social importance or even sheer artistry, Hate It or Love It is a good one to skip.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about Chingy's need to be explicit. Do artists really need to shock the listener with swear words, sexual lyrics, and references to drugs and drinking? Does the mature -- and inappropriate -- content make the album stronger? Families can also talk about what (if anything) special guests add to the mix.

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Kid, 12 years old
November 3, 2009
AGE
17
 
:(
Nothin' good
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Helped me decide (2) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind (1)
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Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2009
AGE
12
 
a must have album
this is one of the best chingy albums i have heard in my life. you have to get this no matter what common sense says
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (1) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind
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This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Artist:Chingy
Release date:December 18, 2007
Label:Disturbing the Peace
Genre:Hip-hop
Parental advisory:Yes
Edited version available:Yes
This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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