I don't think he totally did some super blatant pop attempt with it, but like I said, it felt like a reach to me. I don't see how its formula is that much different from the Bad Boy-familiar loop, sung chorus with interpolated lyrics template. I mean, that hook is terribly cheesy. And when I heard it in conjunction with the beat I was left thinking "Is he really trying to get over with a Tevin Campbell (Quincy Jones) song??". Plus his flow is stunted as hell on it. As someone who championed Word...Life and had been looking forward to his follow-up for years, the way he was rhyming on there was an obvious, likely intentional regression in delivery and wordplay. To my ears, it sounded like he may have even freestyled most of it. And then you combine it with this Fugee-La esque looking video in the islands, where's it's part him being chased while riding a motorcycle, part performance shots with him in linen with mad chains on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FNWC2651NI

It definitely came off like he (and likely Mic G) saw rap peers from NY like Nas and Jay-Z especially come up and make that transition; and he wanted to try his hand at it. And I believe his second verse on Respect Mine from Soul Survivor addresses it:

Since day one when I came upon the scene
For this mic I fiend, respect played a part before the cream
I figure respect last longer because cream come and go
I done seen five to ten and even fifteen a show and blew it
Now I know that my ill escape is real estate
No more will I make that mistake
Respect is what matters cause that shit hold weight

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http://jasperbrown.bandcamp.com/