In 1999, the idea that the guy who played drums on
Enema of the State would be producing hip-hop tracks with one of the kids from the
Hot Boys was an outlandish one at best. Somewhere along the line, though,
Travis Barker has risen from the rank and file of punk drummers to become a musical jack-of-all-trades, doing everything from rap remixes to performing at the CMAs. With his ever-growing reputation, it’s no surprise that his solo album,
Give the Drummer Some, features a veritable galaxy of hip-hop stars. Featuring appearances by
Lil Wayne,
Rick Ross,
Kid Cudi,
Snoop Dogg, and
Busta Rhymes, just to name a few, the album covers a pretty wide range of rap styles, showing off
Barker’s range (and arguably his influence) as a producer. As the album kicks off, tracks like “Can a Drummer Get Some” and “If You Want To” let you know that this is a drummer’s album, showcasing
Barker’s talents and affirming that no matter how many rap stars are on the record, he’s a rocker at heart. As the album goes on,
Barker allows some of his rock sensibilities to take a backseat, allowing tracks like “Let’s Go,” featuring
Yelawolf,
Busta Rhymes,
Lil Jon, and
Twista to evolve to better serve the guest stars. The only downside to having so many guest stars is that, depending on your tastes, it can make the album feel uneven at times. As a showcase for
Barker’s production and drumming skills,
Give the Drummer Some definitely gets the point across, proving that there’s room for more than just
Phil Collins and
Dave Grohl in the world of drummers successfully going solo. ~ Gregory Heaney