Lil Will – Better Days is one of the lesser known albums from the Organized Noise Productions camp from Atlanta, Georgia. This album did not get released publicly because the lead single Looking For Nikki did not chart. Only promotional copies of this album were issued on CD format. This is the only version of the album for which exists. Despite label politics, Better Days is a bonafide soul rap classic. Whild Peach is the band which provides instrumentation for some of the songs on his album.
Live at Greenbriar Mall (Better Days Introduction) was an introduction that was recorded live at Greenbriar Mall in 1997. The intro takes place at Greenbriar Mall in Atlanta, Georgia. Jackson and Milner greet us at the beginning. They say they have Nikki and Tanya (?) on the new team. A Phillipshead screwdriver and Slim Jim™ are in her hand. Rodney Boy is riding behind right her in his car which is a '72 Cutlass. Nikki breaks the window of his '72 Cutlass with the screwdriver. Now Jackson and Milner in pursuit of Nikki and Tonya as they soon call for backup.
Somebody For Everybody is a soft heavenly piano ballad with a violin ensemble that is a slow jam. Lil Will reminds us that some things aren’t meant to be. Sometimes the person you loves doesn’t love you back but you still love that person and have feelings for them. He also reminds us there is somebody for everybody on Somebody For Everybody. You just have to find the right person. The song is a classic love song.
Lil Will wonders where she is and wonder what she thinks of him. She still has his key. Will he see her again? He won’t feel sorry for himself or feel sorry for her. She is the one for him but she ended up leaving him for somebody else. He just was not in her plans but he still loves her.
She never promised that they would be together. He thought they would grow together as a couple. He thought they could grow together in a relationship. He didn’t think he could lose his grip. She is the one. It just wasn’t meant to be. She jumped ship to be with somebody else. That is what she wanted to do. He wants her to know that he still loves her.
She is dear to his heart. Why did she have to go?
What Kind Of Man Am I is a real A-Town classic laced with super heavy bass over a mean harmonica. What Kind Of Man Am I samples Nemesis - Munchies For Your Bass. The song follows a funky guitar groove.
Lil Will explains that his life is on the run. His situation is far from fun. He tells us we need to overcome. We never miss what we have until it’s gone. How take a stare without a thought to cultivate our lives so we can grow? We will never know if we don’t give a damn. There is so much we could accomplish. This world is nothing but an open door. Isn’t it ironic no one knows until the desperation grows?
Sometimes Lil Will feels like letting go. Everyday is a struggle for the lost ones trying to find the time. We get wrapped up in our own dreams that some people will never magnify. So what kind of man is Lil Will?
Low, Low is a Georgia-Texas connection with Pimp C from Texas and Lil Will & Cool Breeze from Georgia. Pimp C speaks the truth on this one. This song is one of the hard to find UGK material which exists. The song explores escapes of men who cheat on their lovers behind their back and without their knowledge. Basically they have sex with other people.
Cool Breeze likes it went his older sisters step in and tell us he’s down in his room. Can he ride with your girlfriend? These incidents will make you change your world. It will make you say, “Damn, I hate hustlers.” because hustlers keep them girls.
Cool Breeze and ONP goes out every weekend to spot females with big old tales that like to talk a lot. Cool Breeze begins the conversation by asking a series of questions. For some reason these females leave their panties home. So he has to introduce them to the game.
You see, Lil Will has a girl but she is in her own world. He is well aware of this. Lil Will and ONP are loyal. Don’t call Lil Will no hoe. That’s just how it goes. If you don’t tell, she’ll never know. Lil Will wants to keep his escapes on the low. He doesn’t want anybody to know. He has a "certain little spot" who he does his escapades. Lil Will has a secret crib nobody else knows about.
Pimp C is getting blowed and blitzed on the regular. He is talking dirty on his cellular phone. He tells us about his dirty escapades. It’s all for the money but she is still going to come see him. So don’t tell your girl.
Rocket is one of those songs to dance and skate to. The song follows a funky guitar groove. Lil Will and Organized Noize get the song crunk.
Looking For Nikki is a freaky song about a girl named Nikki and her friends. This song also pays homage and tribute to the former Atlanta nightclub Club Nikki. The song is laced with laced with infectious bass, melodic piano notes, groovy guitars, and those crunk 808 beats. Looking For Nikki is a soul rap cut which is a classic.
The homie Lil Will told a tale about the tale of Nikki and her friends. A freaky tale that is. Will is in his car driving down I-85. Will was reminiscing the last time him and Nikki were able to socialize with each other. His crew (friends) got into whatever club him and Nikki were in at that time. Every night it’s a different party which she attends.
He has been searching every party and every club for Nikki. The last place he checks for Nikki is a strip club called Club Nikki. He pulls off on the exit towards I-85 southbound looking for Nikki and her freaky friends. Eventually Will catches up to Nikki at a bar called Club Nikki. She was looking like a star. A model at the bar. Will asks Nikki, “Would you like to get in my Chevy, baby? We can do this every weekend.” They are at the bar after dark.
You can’t get anymore Atlanta than this song. Here is the most Atlanta line in the song.: “She got a brother named Southwest/A sister named College Park/An uncle named Decatur and he be boomin’ after dark/I’m still looking for Nikki” When it comes to parties, ya’ll ain’t ready. You can hear the words “ya’ll ain’t ready” repeat themselves in a repetitive manner throughout the song.
The song also serves as homage to the once famous strip club called Club Nikki on 1785 Stewart Avenue (now Metropolitan Parkway) in Southwest Atlanta. Club Nikki was the infamous strip club that operated on Atlanta’s Southwest Strip in the 1990s as the most popular adult entertainment spot for years. That whole strip was Atlanta’s red light district. Club Nikki operated under the names of Club Nikki’s, Club Nikki VIP, Nikki’s VIP, and Nikki VIP.
Now for those who are wondering and those of you who are still looking for Nikki, Club Nikki got shut down because the Mayor Bill Campbell revoked their liquor license in 1999. Despite having their liquor license revoked, the club still continued to serve liquor. Community opposition was raised against the club after prostitution among other illegal activities were going on inside. Residents want Club Nikki to be shut down along all those other clubs along Atlanta’s Southwest Strip.
It was after a dispute over the mayor's refusal to renew liquor license that Club Nikki soon shut down in 2001. The owner got sent to jail on federal arson charges for hiring someone to burn one of his competitors businesses. Even Atlanta gets too crunk for itself at times.
Today Club Nikki is no longer in operation and the building is now up for lease and for sale. KNOX ENTERPRISES LLP owns the property. Interestingly enough, Club Nikki is inside of a brownfield despite being located next to a small creek. Club Nikki is inside of a brownfield as described the by EPA.
I rate this album 4/5****!
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