People could never let Blu and Exile rest after the creation of Below The Heavens. Instead of giving in, they both went to do their own separate things. Blu just kept creating at the praise, and chagrin, of his fans. Exile chose to produce his own long player and one for Fashawn. Yet, after releasing this album unmixed and unmastered, Exile had to make sure it sounded right. Meanwhile, Blu had to show that he wasn’t exactly the same person from Below The Heavens. Give Me My Flowers While I can Still Smell Them is the lesser equivalent to ATCQ’s Low End Theory: the second album that truly shows their first album was no fluke.

 

In many circles, Blu has to be the most puzzlingly accessible emcee out there. A man as complex as Blu lays it all out on the line through songs like his love influenced “O Heaven”, the affectionately created “Don’t Be Jelly”, and the impressively mature religion questioning on “A Man”. “The Only One” lets him explain his growth as a man and human being. He even takes the time to rips mics with Homeboy Sandman and ADAD on “The Great Escape”. Let it be known: the Blu we all loved then is still the Blu we love now.

 

Exile, at this moment, has proven to be prolific; nothing changes about his legacy as a producer with this album. With the familiarity clause, he samples Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood with notable results on “Good Morning Neighbor”. The overly jazzy concoctions never get boring on tracks like “I Am Jean”, “Mask Your Soul”, and “Money”. While this album isn’t as “happy” as Below the Heavens, the production is still intricate and ear-worthy. Duly noted, the production on this album still remains high quality and audibly addictive.

 

It is safe to say that there is no sophomore slump for Blu and Exile. They have proven that they can repeat their magic with growth. Blu becomes more reflective and amazingly more mature. Exile finds more jazzy samples and intricate rhythms to construct. Many will say that Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them isn’t as good as Below The Heavens. I would reply with this; it doesn’t have to be. This album is another chapter in the world of Blu and Exile. My advice is to keep reading along. This audible tome is a classic in its own right.