For those who don’t know, Lil Mo’s Pain & Paper was released in 2007 on her independent label HoneyChild Entertainment which was distributed by Koch Records (now E1). At the time she was dropped from Cash Money Records and Universal due to Hurricane Katrina. This album was supposed to mark her comeback. Instead it went under the radar sold under 110,000 copies which led to the album Pain & Paper to sell 101,000 copies total. The album featured guest stars such as Katt Williams, Fabulous, Danny Roc, Jim Jones, and Da Brat.
Sadly this album did not meet the success of her gold selling albums Based On a True Story and Meet The Girl Next Door. But the production sounds and songwriting is what led this album to be overlooked by the music industry and professional music critics. The reasons being the production was WAY out of control & extremely unbalanced, her songwriting skills weren’t very good as her previous efforts, and focused too much on the negative side instead of balancing on a 50%/50% on the positive & negative scale. Lil Mo wasn’t able to have any notably famous, well-known studios master any of her tracks to make sure the production would not be extremely unbalanced. Lil Mo should stick to being a lyricist instead of being a producer.
The album Pain & Paper did not get much advertisement funding due to the fact that Lil Mo released the album on her own record label. So her funds have been limited. It’s not the same as last time where she had a big business back her up in the promotional marketing department for advertisements for Pain & Paper as the situation was for her 2001 debut album Based On A True Story. Basically Lil Mo did not have the major record label corporation funding to back Lil Mo on her Pain & Paper album. Despite this, the album is good!
But that doesn’t mean the album wasn’t enjoyable. Yes some songs are considered cheesy by Lil Mo fans. Such as How Can I Tell, Youngin, and Baby Please just don’t cut it straight for me. There are enjoyable songs for you to listen when you’re in your ride down the road. She does have a strong and beautiful voice.
Lil Mo never fails to amaze me at all! So Lil Mo will never fail to maze you at all! She does have a strong and beautiful voice. Some of the songs on here are heartbreaking love ballads. Lil Mo evokes emotional effort on this album. Her lyrics are so magnificent. A lot of Lil Mo songs often deal with the ups and downs and pains of relationships written in lyrics from a woman’s perspective.
Just Like That is about leaving a man who isn’t faithful to his woman “just like that”. Ladies! If your man is treating you badly, Lil Mo encourages you to part ways in your relationship with him right away. Just like that! It’s so simple! If you listen very closely, punctually at the very end are Lil Mo’s vocals are extremely powerful at the end of this heartbreaking love song.
Ladies, you’ve been here many times before. Thinking should you stay or should you walk right out that door. But you’re afraid to leave. How many times does it really take for him to treat you bad and take his love away? Now you’re telling me he wants to leave. What is there to about? Girl let him leave.
What is there to think Do you know what this means? You can get your life back and your joy back. You can turn your life around because he wasn’t good for you. Just let him go and move on. Let him leave. Because you deserve better girl.
What should you do when he calls your phone? Let the machine say that you’re not at home. And what about those nights when you’re all alone? Girl, it won’t be the first time. You can make it. You gave him everything you had. You were there when no one else was there for him. Now he’s telling you he wants to leave. What should you do? Here’s what you do. Let him leave.
It’s time to let your hair down. Have you some fun. No more giving all of yourself to just anyone. All he did was take you for granted and bring you down. You deserve better and deserve more because you’re all of that. So hold your head up. It’s your time to win. Just like that.
You don’t have to worry about him coming home late. You don’t have to make his stupid plate of food for him. You ain’t gotta smell those stinky feet all up on you. Just like that. What is there to think about? Do you know what this means? You can get your life back. You can get your joy back. You can turn your life around because he wasn’t good for you. Just like that. You got your credit back. You got your car and your house back. Kids. Everything. You’ve even got back your self esteem. Now don’t look back.
The overall message of the song Heartbeat is to cherish the loved ones that we love while they’re still here because we never know when they will be unexpectedly taken away from you and that’s just real talk! Anything could happen at any given time! They could be taken away from you simply just like that. This song tragic is about pain and loss. The beeping sound of a heart monitor is well-woven into the beat(s) of this particular song right here. This is one of those songs that will bring you to tears.
Now this is not necessarily based on a true story but I’m pretty sure that somebody has been through this at one point in their life. You just gotta learn how to apologize. Learn how to say, “I’m sorry” and never go to bed mad. Never leave the house mad because you never know if that person gone be taken away from you. And that’s just real. Lil Mo wants you to listen to this little story. She calls this story her “Heartbeat”. Oh, how precious a heartbeat is.
She should’ve told him about the feelings she had before he walked out of her life. She used to blow up the reckless words with her hands in his face calling him this and that. The reason she had talked so recklessly is because she thought that she was paying him back. Getting her revenge on him. Then her phone rang. Lil Mo thought it was him but it was his friend. His friend said it got crazy at the club and something went wrong. She knew by his tone that he was gone. Mean things ran through her head because she thought it was her fault.
Now Lil Mo wishes she could kiss him and tell him she loves him. She would given anything to tell him that she is sorry and regretful about the things she said to him. She wanted to apologize for taking to him so recklessly. It’d make her so complete if she can hear his heartbeat. It’d put her mind at ease if she can hear his heartbeat. She’d give anything to hear his breathe again. She wishes she could see him again.
Why did Lil Mo keep so many things about them bottled inside? Why did Lil Mo not tell him that she found out that she was having his child? But now it’s too late because he is dead. Why did him have to go to the club? Why couldn’t he stay home? Why couldn’t they just go in the room and make love? Why did Lil Mo leave the message that she think it caused him his life? Now Lil Mo wishes she could kiss him and tell him she loves him. It’d make her so complete if she could hear his heartbeat.
Lil Mo started to question God about why the man she loved was taken away from her. Lil Mo went to her pastor. But her pastor said that this isn’t a mistake. Her pastor knows God cannot make no mistakes.
No Hotel is a song that women that are dating in the relationship game can relate to. Do not allow a man to come into your home and leave when he wants or just whenever he pleases to! It’s sickening when women allow men to take advantage of them while in a relationship.
No Hotel is about a man who is staying in and out of Lil Mo’s house. He must think this is the Holiday Inn. He must think that you can always get in. But does not pay any rent there. He thinks just because he lay his hat there gives him right to be a rolling stone but he was told wrong.
Because it’s not like he lives here. He just stays from time to time. And even though he can get in, Lil Mo is not letting that happen tonight. His key ain’t gonna work tonight because he is about to get evicted. Lil Mo is hanging up her ‘no vacancy’ sign because he missed check in. This house ain’t no hotel tonight. Yes, this is over. It’s over. No do-overs. No more mistakes.
Sumtimes I is a song about 2 worlds with 2 girls which turns into a love triangle. You know. 2 worlds with 2 girls, it turns into a love triangle. Lil Mo is in love with another man who is already in a committed relationship with another woman. This is turn creates a love triangle between the three. Sometimes Lil Mo lays in her bed and thinks about what would it be like if he was in her life by her side. Sometimes she wishes he was her man.
So as he zooms on. Blowing smoke to get the scent of perfume off his clothing. He tries to make it home at a decent time so he doesn’t look suspicious. He checks his cell phone, erases all the pictures, delete texts, and delete emails. He crept through the house like he was on eggshells. He was almost in bed until she beeped his Nextel phone.
He makes Lil Mo happy. And she doesn’t wanna go home to her residence. Spending all those nights alone. You know she’d rather to get with him than leave him alone. Because he knows just what to say to Lil Mo. It seems like he understands her. He knows her just like a book. Just like the back of his hand.
Sometimes Lil Mo lays in her bed and thinks about what would it be like if he was in her life by her side. Sometimes she wishes he was her man.
Because he’d be checking up on her. He would make sure that she is ok. He says that if she needs anything he’s a phone call away. Because Lil Mo’s own man don’t take the time. He don’t understand. He treats her like she wants to be treated but he is not her man.
Sometimes she wishes he was her man. So she would be more secure. He knows her just like a book. Just like the back of his hand.
It’s heartbreak hotel on Broken Heart as a man has broken Lil Mo’s heart. Can you fix this? The song uses a futuristic electronic techno soundscapes with the keyboards.
There’s been an accident. Please call 911. Lil Mo needs an ambulance. She says she was injured during a hit and run. She can’t think right or see straight. She has been experiencing a loss of appetite. Another thing she has been experiencing is having chest pain. Lil Mo may need some therapy because of all the pain. Some type of remedy she’ll take three times a day. She need some surgery. Or some type of intervention. Are you a love doctor? Are you a heart physician? Can you fix this broken heart of hers? Can you take all the pieces and make it stop bleeding so she can sleep at night? Can you take what is left of it? Give her some medicine and make everything all right.
She tells us, “It’s been a hit and run. I can’t think right. I can’t see straight. Ain’t got no appetite. Been having chest pain. May need some therapy because of all the pain. Some type of remedy I’ll take three times a day. May need some surgery. Some type of intervention. Are you a love doctor? Are you a heart physician? Can you fix this broken heart of mine? Can you take all the pieces, make it stop bleeding? So I can sleep at night? Can you take what is left of it? Give me some medicine. Make everything all right.”
Can you prescribe a song? Recommend a DVD? Should she get a box of chocolates or vanilla ice cream? Take away her symptoms of crying and her sleepless nights. Though sometimes she feel like dying. Especially inside. Please don’t think Lil Mo is crazy or that she is tripping. You are her last resort. That’s why she paid you a visit. Can she get some attention?
Her heart says that you keep failing her. And her heart says she can’t let love keep getting the best of her. And Lil Mo is desperate for medicine. She can’t let you get the best of her. So can you fix this broken heart of her? Can you take all the pieces and make it stop bleeding so she can sleep at night? Can you take what is left of it? Give her some medicine and make everything all right. Is there anybody out there who knows what Lil Mo going through?
Lucky Her is a sad heartbreaking love song about another woman getting all the credit after everything Lil Mo and her man had been through. But sometimes it’s like that. If a man can get with another woman like Lil Mo never existed, than it’s better her than Lil Mo. Just don’t try to come back when the relationship doesn’t work out.
When he was Lil Mo’s man, he didn’t understand. He didn’t have a clue. It was all brand new to him that Lil Mo needed love too. He put his boys before Lil Mo and constantly ignored her. He didn’t do nothing for her. Now it’s another story.
He said he settled down and was doing the family thing. He says that he’s all grown up and doesn’t do childish things. He doesn’t hang out anymore or stay out anymore. He says that he’s a better man. Lucky her.
Lil Mo thought she would walk down the aisle. Lil Mo thought she would have his child. She also thought she would be the one that always made him smile. But then another woman came out of nowhere and took Lil Mo’s place after she made him half of the man he is today. She’ll get all the credit.
Dotted I (I’m Not Perfect) is a great song and a great way to end the album. Lil Mo takes us to church on Dotted I (I’m Not Perfect) with the gospel-ish St. Lil Mo Mass Choir singing in the background. The overall message of the song Dotted I (I’m Not Perfect) is “I’m not perfect. So please don’t judge me.” Lil Mo may not be perfect but she know how to sing her ass off! Her runs are everything.
Perfect. I know that you’re perfect. It seems that you just can’t do nothing wrong. I guess that’s how you were raised all along. Excuse me, Lil Mo is human. You have no idea just what she goes through. And she sure needs you. And that’s when he holds her. He wraps her in his loving arms. Keeping her safe from all harm.
And Lil Mo may not dot every “i” or even cross every “t”. And I guess that you have a right. But the Master’s still working on her.
Sometimes Lil Mo gets so tired. Sometimes she is just sick of herself. But what keeps her inspired is the fact that she know that he’s there. Though she may change, he ain’t going nowhere. And she know that he cares. So why should she worry what other people have to say about her? So why should she worry what other people have to say about her when he gave her liberty?
When you look at Lil Mo, things ain’t what it seems. God’s got a hold on Lil Mo. Lil Mo has been down on luck. There and back again. Grace and mercy.
Lil Mo did a spectacular job covering and duplicating Shirley Murdock – Husband. Lil Mo went all in on this cover. Shirley Murdock is hard to duplicate. She is a tough act tough to follow. No one ever heard comes close to duplicating Shirley Murdock but Lil Mo did a spectacular job.
I rate this album 3/5***.
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