The unfortunate, and almost inevitable, destiny for a once-underground act to gain commercial success and change their sound from hardcore to pop plagues purist hip-hop fans and artists alike.......and the Swollen Members become no exception. In their "third" album (technically their fourth, although MITC was just a 'collection' of B-sides) this time around, the now-quartet have replaced their dark, abstract lyricism for a more party-feel, upbeat sound. The problem that lies in this happens to be the change in lyrical content from pure emceeing and rhyming to simply talking about pimping, b*tches, fancy cars, and every other cliche that you get from the typical mainstream hip-hop song. While Prevail somewhat maintains his intricate wordplay, Mad Child and re-recruit Moka has dumbed-down their lyrical content drastically, and attempts to become repetitive and catchy becomes obvious.
The production here has taken a downfall as well in terms of remaining 'hardcore' and 'underground'. The beats have taken a more synthesized, pop-like feel which might please mainstream audiences, but 'real hip-hop' fans will find them boring and unattractive.
Moka Only himself has a unique croon that might be soothing at times, but his repetitiveness get tiring and the songs start to sound alike. Unfortunately, that's exactly what occurs here.
"Heavy" seems to be a collection of songs that sound the exact same. The diversity and variety that past albums like "Bad Dreams" brought is gone, and the quality of what hip-hop fans expect deteriorates. The album isn't entirely a disappointment, however. A couple of 'bangers' such as "Remember The Name" and "Sensational Breed" (hidden track) manage to please the ears. However, the rest of the album becomes forgettable; something the Swollen Members have been able to avoid in their past work.






Remember The Name

List of Swollen Members albums from best to worst.

1) Bad Dreams (most complete sound overall....awesome production, guest apperances were on point, interesting lyrical content and concepts)

2) Balance (ill production, lyrical content is too abstract at times thanks to Prevail, Mad Child still rips it though.......hardcore and underground fans will love it, but not for everyone)

3) Monsters In The Closet (sounds incomplete and scattered....still had a couple of bangers though)

4) Heavy (dumbed-down and tries too hard to sound commercial........nuff said)