Music Review: Christina Milian & Young Jeezy "Say I"

Christina Milian & Young Jeezy

Say I

Album: So Amazin’

Year: 2006

       Christina Milian attempts to invent a new self-help phrase in the ornery “Say I.”

            Young Jeezy declares that people will love the single and not much else. (“This is...this is...this is... hot/You like this/You are now witnessing/The fliest shit in the world/I can't think of nothing else to say/Christina Milian/Cool and Dre.”)

       Musty strings open the single, setting a frumpy tone. A co-worker took her aside first thing in the morning. She instructed her have her filing done by lunch and not wait until the end of the day.  When her back was turned, she rolled her eyes. Unless it was her manager telling to change her routine, she isn’t going to listen. On the drive home, she had a car honking behind her and then flipped her off as she waited for the car ahead of her to turn. Once she unlocked her door and flung the keys down on the floor, she heaved a huge sigh and counted to ten.  She begins to text her friends, finding out if anyone wants to go out to the bar.  She needs a drink. (“ I got the urge to scream out/Pull out the bird, let's be out/And I don't know about you/I'm got it popping like I'm suppose to do/Don't hold your breath girls breathe out/Sweat out the perm pull your weave out/And tell the world it's time and that we going to love you and hurry scream out loud/Say.”)

             In the chorus, she repeats her mantra that helps her get through her bad days. She will find her dream job. She will be successful and people will look to her for inspiration and advice.  She’ll remain tough yet trendy. People will envy her for her confidence. (“I’ma make it happen/I’ma make a way/If you got something to prove/If you feel the same way/Say I, I, I/I'm going to keep it gangster/I’ma make it hot/If you feeling like I do, then people throw your hands up/Say I, I, I.”)

               She’s tired of being insecure and caving in to everyone else’s demands. People are catty. She tells people not to listen to the giggles if they want to get up to dance. They shouldn’t pay attention when others nag. They shouldn’t be ashamed of their sexuality, either.  A guy tries to pick her up, complimenting her on her body and won’t leave her alone. She tells him she’s not interested. (“You want to dance then get down/You tryna chill then sit down/Do what you wanna to do/Don't let nobody tell you what you re suppose to do/You want to go...you grinding/Tryna get me in bed/Tryna do the timing/I know you feel this rough/You with me people/And let me see your hands up.”)

            The chorus is sung again.

             In the bridge, Young Jeezy rants that everybody wants something from him. His little nephew wants his attention all the time. His mom needs to be taken care and it’s his responsibility. On top of it, she’s calling him asking him for money.  He didn’t graduate from high school but he knows people will try to advantage of it, including his mom. He’s just starting out. He doesn’t have anything. However, he’s well-known enough that the news will write stories about how he doesn’t see his son and what an awful person he is. However, his son adores him and since he’s left his neighborhood, it’s gone down and gotten rougher. Then, he says he’s stoned and didn’t mean what he just said.  (“My nephew getting older and starting to talk/Now my mom's got sick and she can't walk/No high school diploma But I know math/Ain't write one song and she still want half/Dead beat dad is what the media say/Best father in the world is what my son will say/Won't stop 'til you roll, that's what his mom's going to say/But hey/That's the type of game you play/The media talk so bad about me/The streets doing so bad without me/Can't ban the snowman/This is thug motivation it's just part of the program/The first day of class and all you gotta do is stack cash to pass/Don't mind me I'm just thinking out loud/Purple haze got my head in the cloud.”)

            Milian says people have to believe they can get past the mean people in life. (“Getting to it, let's just face it/We can do it if we try/We can make it if we try, make it if we try (say I)/
Ain't nothing to it/Let's just take it/We can make it if we try/Say I/Let's just do it/We can make it/I know we'll make it if we try/Say I.”)

              The chorus is sung again. 

             The first half of the bridge is sung again. (“ Getting to it, let's just face it..we can make it if we try.”_

        The chorus is sung again to end the single.

       Milian’s irritable, sour vocals scramble to get the chorus, tripping over words and then drawing out the last couple lyrics to compensate for the lost time. By the bridge, she’s over her moodiness and has become friendly. By then, her cynicism has settled in, making any polite overtures disingenious.

       Young Jeezy’s whiny, self-absorbed rap is disrespectful. He complains about his sick mom needing financial help, the media making up stories, how the education system in his city failed him and a young nephew he has to babysit every once in awhile. His tries to hand wave it off to being high, as though it justifies what he just said. Getting ticked off at a three year old for wanting to play and spend time with him is unredeemable. It also casts doubt on his claims on what an awesome father he is. 

             The cranky “Say I’ grumbles about not getting what it wants, expecting a handout and undeserved sympathy in return.