So So Gangsta (Advisory) [Enhanced, Explicit Lyrics]

This album should be relegated to diehard DPG fans only. Daz is a good artist, but here he fails to please the listener throughout. He doesn't quite fall fully on his face, but he does not impress me here so say the least. The beats are average, his lyricism is nothing spectacular, the guest appearances are weak, and the subject matter is mundane. Finding the positives in this album was like trying to strike oil in my backyard. He recycles already recycled topics like guns/gangsta themes and women. For example, "Thang on my Hip" "Rat a Tat Tat" "Strizap" "Dangerous" & "All I Need" all use the same gangsta theme. He praises gunplay on a continuous level which quickly drove me to boredom. The theme of women is used on the tracks "Weekend" "Badder than a Mutha" & "The One." Very repetitive. Two subjects dominate a 12 track album.

Additionally, hearing Jermaine Dupri on a Daz album was annoying, awkward, and strange. It's like seeing a UFO...

However, one song is a giant above the rest. The vibe on this song seems misplaced because the rest of the album simply can't compare. "Money on my Mind" is yet another great Daz & Kurupt collaboration. It's not their best, but it is very very good and at this point that's easily enough for best song honors. Other quality songs are "Strizap" & "The One." I have to admit it is ironic that the best tracks on this album all involve good guest appearances. Maybe that means Daz should discontinue making solo albums.

Overall, this album is a flat soda, you'll drink it, but only because you're dying of thirst.

Daz is back once again, and finally drops his So So Def debut solo album. This is the 19th album I have that Daz is an artist on (8 solo's, 8 group albums, and 3 Daz presents albums), and of the 8 of those solo's, this is probably tied for his 3rd best. Shorter, with only 12 songs, but not many filler tracks. Of the 12, 2 are almost classics, 2 are ok, the otehr 8 are solid songs. Guests rap on 4 songs and do the hook on 3 so there isn't a great deal of Diggy Daz but enough of him to satisfy you. Production is nice, as with most of his albums. Jermaine Dupri does 4 songs, Daz does 3. Soopafly, Scott Storch, No ID, Ivan Johnson, L Roc all do 1 song. A nice album for his fans or fans of west coast rap to pick up.

#1 - 9 (1+ min. intro before the song --- tight beat)

#2 - 6 (f/ Rick Ross -- worst one on here)

#3 - 9.5 (great beat)

#4 - 7

#5 - 8 (f/ Soopafly & Snoop Dogg)

#6 - 8.5 (f/ Avery Storm -- nice upbeat track)

#7 - 9.5 (f/ Kurupt -- tight beat)

#8 - 8.5 (f/ Ice Cube)

#9 - 8 (f/The Kid Slim)

#10 - 8

#11 - 8.5 (1 and half min. intro befor ethe song -- f/ Jagged Edge)

#12 - 8.5

Delmar Arnaud -- b. 5/25/73 -- b. Mississippi moved to Long Beach, CA

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Dat N!gg@ Daz is who he is and staying in the game has been his focus for years. Starting off early on countless Death Row projects and even dabbling behind the boards is how he got into the business. But it wasn't until the monstrous Dogg Food album by Tha Dogg Pound that he got worldwide attention. Not one to settle on just the group thing with Kurupt, Daz broke out on his own with Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back. But when that album went nowhere, so did his career. After multiple independent albums and a reunion with Kurupt and Snoop for the recent Cali Iz Active album, Daz tries his hand again at the solo thang with So So Gangsta.

Now even though Jermaine Dupri is at the helm of this project, So So Gangsta reps the West through and through. "DPG Fo' Life" features the vocal stylings of Soopafly and Snoop, while Kurupt makes an appearance on the thumpin' "Money On My Mind." Cube even shows up for the West Coast throwback feel of "Strizap." An instant club cut is "Weekend" with fellow So So Def artist Johnta Austin. But most fans remember the hard side of Daz, and that side of him pops up on the malicious "Rat A Tat Tat" and "Dangerous" featuring The Kid Slim.

Unfortunately, there are some potholes along the way that bring the album down. The Rick Ross supported "On Some Real" sound like they really were on something considering how wack the final product turned out. "The One" featuring Jagged Edge is insignificant and unnecessary. Daz doesn't sound like he even tried on the song "All I Need," "Dat's Dat N!gg@" isn't well-produced, and "Badder Than A Mutha" featuring Avery Storm is a futile attempt at a radio-friendly joint.

With half of the songs being stellar and the other half a complete waste of space, So So Gangsta doesn't have the appeal it will need to get record-breaking sales from long-time fans. But at least Daz gives us a decent enough album to help with the resurrection of the West Coast. Next Up will be The Game's sophomore effort entitled The Doctor's Advocate! Until then, Cali Iz Active and So So Gangsta will have to do.