The year 2000 marked the release of Mr. Lil One's album "Voices" under Familia Records. For me, discovering this project during my freshman year was a turning point; having just finished listening to "Once In A Decade" I became entirely captivated by the album's superior overall rap delivery and its exceptional use of sampling. I firmly believe that the 619 collective anchored Chicano rap during this era, a feat driven by artists like Lil One dropping projects of this caliber. "Voices" remains one of my personal favorite albums from his discography, and the majority of its tracks occupy a permanent spot on my playlist. Interestingly, the album consists almost entirely of Lil One delivering solo tracks, with only a single collaborative exception that I will address later. Lil One would later reveal on the Tony A The Wizard podcast that he actually disliked this Album - a surprising sentiment, though he noted that he was generally dissatisfied with most of his early studio recordings.
The album artwork stands as one of my all-time favorites, rivaled only by the cover of The Sickos' "619 Sickos" album. The visual depicts a funeral scene centered around a large portrait of Lil One - an image he ironically repurposed later for his "So Sick" album. Positioned beneath the portrait is a coffin accompanied by a laughing ghost, juxtaposed against a priest displaying a shocked expression. This specific artwork sparked my lasting appreciation for this particular aesthetic style, ultimately inspiring me to adopt it as my profile imagery across TikTok, PlayStation and Instagram.
Much like The Sickos introduction, the opening track establishes an atmospheric, eerie tone. It directly engages the audience with haunting lyrics, followed by manic laughter that welcomes listeners into Lil One's creative domain. This serves as a highly fitting prelude to the second track, the self-titled "Voices". The production value of the instrumental alone makes it compelling, which Lil One complements with a captivating opening sequence: "Let's talk about sex, talk about reps, talk about lust, talk about trust". The track samples "I Need A Freak" utilizing the source material far more effectively than Hollow Point did on their own self-titled track. The subsequent song, "I Hear" samples The Romantics' "Talking In Your Sleep". Lil One puts a unique spin on the original hook by incorporating the ad-lib "When what? When what?" right as he delivers the line "I hear the secrets that you keep when you're talking in your sleep".
In contrast, "Really Don't Matter" receives significantly less playtime in my rotation, primarily due to its introductory segment. The guitar work feels out of place within the context of the song, frequently prompting me to skip the track altogether. Lyrically, the song explores the existential theme that individual actions ultimately carry the same weight because, as Lil One bluntly states "We're all eating shit in death". Conversely, "Boom Pow Pow" stands out as an exceptional, fast-paced lyrical display that showcases Lil One's technical talent. This track samples "Smerphies Dance" by Spyder D, featuring the memorable line, "Biggity boom pow pow everybody knows how it's the Little got so many styles". Lil One would later reference this specific track on his song "Paid Dues" from the album "Karma". An alternative version of the song features an additional verse by Royal T; however, this addition detracts from the quality of the original track. At the conclusion of the song, it is revealed that Royal T utilized the verse to take a shot at another artist, stating, "Shadow got no money". Ultimately, if an artist intends to execute a diss track, it should be done within the confines of their own project; in this instance, Lil One was likely entirely unaware that the guest feature was being used for that purpose.
"Same Ol' Shh..." diverges significantly from MC Ren's track of the same name. It is a distinct, standalone composition featuring clever wordplay, including a direct reference to The Godfather with the lyric, "Like cutting up a horse's head and put it in your bed". While it remains a decent track, it does not particularly stand out on the album.
As previously noted, the album primarily features Lil One. However, the track "My Favorite Things" serves merely as an introduction, featuring Lil One speaking rather than rapping. The subsequent track highlights Gelo, an exceptionally underrated artist who comprises the other half of The Sickos. Gelo has collaborated extensively with Lil One, but this track allows him to step into the spotlight. It stands as one of the best composed tracks on the project, brilliantly utilizing a sample of George Michael's "Careless Whisper". Regrettably, Gelo is uncredited on the official tracklist, making it easy to forget this is a Lil One album while the song is playing. Gelo certainly deserves greater recognition; according to Royal T, he has since relocated and is currently working as a schoolteacher. Inquiries made directly to Lil One regarding Gelo's current whereabouts went unanswered.
"Watch" is a personal favorite and a highly impactful track driven by deep, introspective lyrics. The exact sample source for this song remains unverified; anyone with information regarding the sample is encouraged to reach out via Instagram at @thababapodcaast. The lyrics explore themes of universal trust, love, and vigilance, emphasizing the message: "Watch who you fuck with and watch who you trust. Watch who you love and watch who you lust. Watch who you fuck with, bottom line said". This inspiring track carries profound meaning, often prompting listeners to skip directly to it.
"Everyday We Grow" stands out as one of the artist's most prominent and uplifting songs, focusing on personal growth and self-improvement. Notably, the track samples 2Pac's "Krazy" which itself samples "Ocean Of Thought And Dreams" by The Dramatics. The song features an impressive hook by VMF, who, alongside CG (Chris Gunn), delivers excellent vocal hooks and production work. "The More You Say" opens with a spoken inquiry regarding Lil One's status. Lil One responds by addressing rumors, noting that his detractors have been tracking his career since his early days rapping in Sherman - the neighborhood he represents. The core theme of the song suggests that the more critics discuss him, the more successful and content he becomes.
Finally, "And U Know This" remains another standout track on the album. Although I couldn't track down the sample used, it has a fantastic, high-energy party vibe. Interestingly, I have a theory that Lil One frequently nods to his track "World Full Of Sin" across his discography, and this song is no exception. He includes the lyric, "Throw your palms in the wind, still a world full of sin and it is said by The Sickos" which cleverly references two of his past projects. He previously integrated the phrase "world full of sin" on the track "Ghetto" from his Karma album, which featured The Relatives (who have collaborated with Gelo, Lil One and Frost).
In contrast, the final two tracks on Voices feel like filler - likely because they were later recycled for the Karma album along with most of the "Voices" tracklist. For example, "Gasoline Rain" is only truly enjoyable during its first verse, after which it is carried entirely by the featured artist, Trav. While "Hell" (from the Karma album) remains the only track by Trav and Lil One that I return to consistently, their other collaborations here feel uninspired and skippable. A similar issue plagues "Year 2 G". It features Lil One rapping solo over a decent beat, but the hook is incredibly repetitive - even if it does get stuck in your head. However, the track does offer a poignant moment at the end, catching me off guard when a young voice, who I believe is Lil One's daughter, finishes the album by saying, "Rest in peace".
Ultimately, "Voices" stands as a defining monument of the 2000s Chicano rap era, showcasing Lil One's sharp solo delivery and a masterful approach to sampling that still resonates decades later. While the album is not without its minor flaws - hampered occasionally by misplaced guest verses, uncredited features, and a couple of late-album filler tracks - its high points heavily outweigh its shortcomings. From its haunting, atmospheric intro to the brilliant interpolation of classic samples, the record firmly establishes the 619 collective's legendary status in the genre. Lil One himself may look back on his early studio recordings with a critical eye, but for the listeners who found a permanent playlist rotation in its tracks and a lasting inspiration in its eerie visual aesthetic, "Voices" remains an unforgettable masterpiece that perfectly captures the grit, heart, and complexity of his artistic peak.
01. Intro
02. Voices
03. I Hear
04. Really Don't Matter
05. Boom Pow Pow
06. Same Ol' Shh…
07. My Favorite Things
08. Watch
09. Everyday We Grow
10. The More You Say
11. And U Know This
12. Gasoline Rain
13. Year 2 G
