After self-producing his last album, Von der Skyline Zum Bordstein Zurück (2006), Bushido collaborated once again with Beatlefield for
7, his seventh album in five years, beginning with Carlo Cokxxx Nutten (2002), and his first release in association with Sony BMG, his association with Universal now terminated. Bushido and Beatlefield, a duo comprised of
Chakuza and DJ Stickle, had collaborated previously on Staatsfeind Nr. 1 (2005), and as on that album, the results are often stellar. Other producers contribute beats as well, lending plenty of variety to the album. Like Von der Skyline Zum Bordstein Zurück,
7 is a solo showcase more or less, featuring few guests (only
Chakuza,
Kay One,
Summer Cem, and
Nyze), and is often autobiographic (i.e., "So Sein Wie Sie"). The album opens strongly with "Es Kann Beginnen" and "Heile Welt," two of the album's several highlights. The lead single, "Alles Verloren," a triumphant street anthem, follows a couple songs later. There are a couple mid-album highlights, namely "Gibt Es Dich?" and "Reich Mir Nicht Deine Hand," but like many Bushido albums, the latter half of
7 is less impressive than the first, peaking with the downbeat ballad "Wahrheit" featuring Philippe on the chorus. In total,
7 is one of Bushido's better albums, boasting numerous highlights, strong productions, and lyrical focus. Also his most successful effort to date,
7 was the first Bushido album to top the German albums chart; moreover, "Alles Verloren" was his first Top Five single. ~ Jason Birchmeier