Youngbloodz deliver on their sophomore album. After giving us classics such as SHAKEM OFF, U-WAY, and 85 they come back as fierce as ever. Hot off the nationwide success of "Damn" with it's super tight beat by super producer Lil John, and the straight ridin first single "Cadillac Pimpin", Youngbloodz took the south by storm again. After nearly a four year hiatus, Youngbloodz are determined with this album to show the nation that the New South is a force to be reckoned with. Sean Paul & J-Bo are both tight lyrically. Sean Paul has the best voice but J-Bo straight rips the album.

Other than the two singles, the rest of the album is a completely different approach than their previous album "Against Da Grain", which is a dirty south classic. At first some may be disappointed at the lack of 'crunk' songs. But upon further listening one realizes this album was made strictly for ridin. The beginning of the album starts out crunk with the aforementioned "Damn", as well as "Whatchu Lookin At", and "Sean Paul...Get Em Crunk". But mellows out after that with 'Cadillac Pimpin', Mud Pit, My Automobile, Lane To Lane, and Mind On Money - a Jazze Phizzle Producshizzle. The title track is one of the best Youngbloodz songs ever. So tight. Lean Low is destined to be a strip club anthem.

The album does have a few slips though such as the pointless skits, and the collaboration with Killer Mike called Hustle is surprisingly horrible. Also about 2 or 3 of these songs were recorded last year while Youngbloodz were looking for a deal...but you wouldn't really notice unless you were in the A-Town with the bootleg copy. But overall a very good follow up to their debut album (which probably won't ever be surpassed). Not quite classic but one of the best albums released this year. 4.5 stars.

State Property drops a SURPRISINGLY impressive follow up to their debut album. Chain Gang is simply put OFF THE CHAIN. Don't be deceived by the horrendous first single 'Can't Stop Won't Stop' ( I can't see how anyone likes that terrible song). State Property is here to stay. The frontmen of the group are Freeway & Beanie Sigel and boy do they deliver. Peedi Crack has an amazing song on this album called 'Temporary Relief'. This song makes me believe some of the hype people are putting into him. But I don't really like Chris, Neef, Oschino or Sparks. It's not that they are wack they are just sorta there. They can come with some tight verses every now & then but you seem to zone out when they come on.

The best song on the album is the amazing collaboration between Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel called "Its On". I haven't heard Beanie Sigel rap this hungry since his debut album and Jay-Z, lately, has been killing songs and this is no different. Freeway's Rolling Down The Freeway is just so tight...c'mon it's Freeway! BB Gun is a tight song showing the abilities of the lesser knowns of the group and uses a chorus from a Makaveli & Dillinger song called "Let's Fight". Still In Effect is another great Freeway song...he's destined to be one of the greatest one of these days. Been Down Too Long is a narrative by Oschino that is pretty dang on tight. Just Another Nicca is a classic chilling track.

State Property drops an engaging, impressive album. This is a great year for hip hop. 4.5 stars.

State Property drops a SURPRISINGLY impressive follow up to their debut album. Chain Gang is simply put OFF THE CHAIN. Don't be deceived by the horrendous first single 'Can't Stop Won't Stop' ( I can't see how anyone likes that terrible song). State Property is here to stay. The frontmen of the group are Freeway & Beanie Sigel and boy do they deliver. Peedi Crack has an amazing song on this album called 'Temporary Relief'. This song makes me believe some of the hype people are putting into him. But I don't really like Chris, Neef, Oschino or Sparks. It's not that they are wack they are just sorta there. They can come with some tight verses every now & then but you seem to zone out when they come on.

The best song on the album is the amazing collaboration between Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel called "Its On". I haven't heard Beanie Sigel rap this hungry since his debut album and Jay-Z, lately, has been killing songs and this is no different. Freeway's Rolling Down The Freeway is just so tight...c'mon it's Freeway! BB Gun is a tight song showing the abilities of the lesser knowns of the group and uses a chorus from a Makaveli & Dillinger song called "Let's Fight". Still In Effect is another great Freeway song...he's destined to be one of the greatest one of these days. Been Down Too Long is a narrative by Oschino that is pretty dang on tight. Just Another Nicca is a classic chilling track.

State Property drops an engaging, impressive album. This is a great year for hip hop. 4.5 stars.

Society of Soul's one & only project is one of the best R&B/soul albums of my generation (last 20 years). The grooves on this album are timeless and unparalleled. Headed by the extremely underated Organized Noize production team (Outkast & Goodie Mob, TLC, & the Dungeon Family), this album is one for the ages, an all-time classic. This album proves that the Dungeon Family team never seems to go wrong. Every song on the album is a classic - to near classic. You can ride to this album, slide to this album, chill, dance, groove...whatever you want to do...you can do it with 'Brainchild'. If you like some recent stuff with Sleepy Brown...he is on this album and you will absolutely love him after listening to this. Big Rube is on this album...the spoken word artist. Since every song is a standout it's hard to pick my favorites. But If I had to pick they would be as follows.

1.Changes W/T-Boz
2.It Only Gets Better
3.Ghetto Fuh Life
4.Pushin
5.Wind (a beautiful number...simply amazing)

Again, it doesn't really get much better than this album right chea. You'd be hardpressed to find this on the internet (That's a GOOD Thing) so go ahead and shell out 14 and support and show love to this group of extremely talented artists. If you consider yourself a fan of Hiphop, soul, or R&B, funk, jazz, this album is a must have. A complete masterpiece.

The long awaited Frayser Boy album finally drops and it was worth the wait. After appearances on Vol. 16 For Da Summa and Chronicles of The Juice Mane last year, Frayser Boy comes through. Frayser Boy, known for his in your face style, (beat the brakes off yo a$$ nicca you don't think I will? If you wanna keep some peace between us you best ta chill!) but not known for just straight up gangsta talking. Frayser Boy and Lil Wyte were great new additions to the HCP camp. This boy be straight up rippin and of course DJ Paul & Juicy J deliver on the beats...which is the staple of the label anyway. Hypnotize Artists also have some underated storytelling talents. 'Bloody Murder' is a great story rap. Pistol Playa is also a great track about punks that talk junk and then have a gun instead of throwing the hands. That's a real track right there. IF you liked any of the previous HCP releases than this album is surefire for you...but to the people just getting into the HCP should try something else because this is a true underground album.

T.I. makes his claim as the 'King Of Da South', with his sophomore album 'Trap Muzik'. While making noteworthy appearances on many songs most notably Bonecrusher's Never Scared, he built buzz around this second album. After dropping the critically acclaimed underground classic 'I'm Serious', which was highly slept on, beef with DTP, and label troubles, he comes through again even more fierce than before. The single, 24's, has become an Atlanta/ Dirty South favorite and his album delivers on all expectations.

The album starts out with the title track feat. Mac Boney, where T.I. claims 'This ain't no album this ain't no game, this a trap!'. T.I.'s lyrics as always are on point and his flow is more controlled than on his debut. Guest Mac Boney, however, sounds exactly like Bun B (who ironically shows up later in the album). "I Can't Quit" is straight up ridin. TI downs haters on this song with confidence in his 'arrogant flow'. 'Be Easy', the second single off the album, is a straight up gangsta track where he subliminally gets at DTP. Kayne West shows up for "Doin My Job", a great reality tracks with an even better beat. A classic. Rubber Band Man features a menacing beat from that boi David Banner with TI talking some more [rubbish] on this song. On 'Look What I Got', the beat is sped up and street and TI spits with some energy, this is destined to be a hood favorite. Other tight songs include the heartfelt "I Still Luv U", 'Let Me Tell You Something' with its ghetto interpretation of Roger Troutman's I Wanna Be Your Man, and Bezzle with it's playalistic feel (features Eightball & Bun B). The Best song on the album however is the Jazze Phizzle Producshizzle Let's Get Away. The song is about him spittin game to a female with its futuristic beat. This song is on par with "Hotel" from I'm Serious, yes it's that tight.

As a matter of fact the whole album is on par with "I'm Serious", and is equal, if not better than, in quality. T.I.'s lyrics, flow, confidence, and beats makes him a winner. T.I. is here to stay and if you ain't ready for this rapper from the A-Town, you better start preparing. 5 star classic.

Oh no what happened to the Neptunes?!? This album is borderline wack! Songs like Busta Rhymes- Light Yo A$$ on fire, Roscoe P. Coldchain- Hot, and NORE-Put Em Up are plain out garbage. They have some rock groups on there Spymob and High Speed Scene who are completely terrible with their songs on the album. Vanessa Marquez shows up on Good Girl, although a good song, sounds as if Kelis was on tour or something when they recorded this song. Supercat reappears from the ashes with a terrible song. Even the Clipse can't save 'Blaze Of Glory' which has a nearly unlistenable beat.

There are some good songs though such as 'It Wasn't Us' with Luda & I-20, and the single Frontin feat. Jay-Z. Nelly's 'If' is surprisingly a very good song, especially compared to the rest of the album. ODB resurfaces as Dirt McGirt for Pop Shhh, which has me eagerly anticipating the next ODB album. "It Blows My Mind' by Snoop is easily the best song on the album. The beat is the best on the album and Snoop's silky flow goes just right with this beat. 'Hot Damn' and Popular Thug, while both being tight are just remixed songs. Hot Damn appeared as Cot Damn on the Clipse debut album Lord Willin and Popular Thug, now with Nas on the track, appeared on Kelis' sophomore album Wanderland with the Clipse and Boobonic on it and it was a better version.

The DVD and those aforementioned songs elevate this album to the 'worth having' status. But certainly doesn't compare to the NERD album that came out years ago nor does it stand up to the Neptunes other bodies of work like Kelis, or the Clipse albums. Taken as a whole the album is wack with a few select songs that are worth your time. All we can do now is wait on the new Clipse album that comes out November. Not recommended.

The Jazzyfatnastees sophomore album is more of that philly soul that they displayed on their debut album Once & Future. The album runs ten songs deep just like their debut making this 45 minute listening experience feel more like a continuation of their first album, which it is. The duo, Tracy Moore and Mercedes Martinez, write and produce the majority of their own projects so you can expect music from the heart. The songwriting is quite excellent and the singing is superb. The thing that holds this album back is some of the backdrops. For example, 'Give A Dog A Bone' and 'Four Lives' are just plain out terrible. But the rest of the songs such as All Up IN My Face, El Medio, Show Your Face and the Title Track deliver. The song I'm feeling the most is Something in The Way. The Jazzyfatnastees have dropped a good sophomore album and if you like that Philly Soul scene then this should be in your collection.

This album is far from a one star album like some have already given. To me a one-star album is total trash without any good songs, beats, or lyrics. Da Brat is a lyrical tongue twister with swift flows not some wack Lil Kim wannabe like most new female rappers. With that said her first single was underwhelming. The beat is too flat and slow for Da Brat. She needs a menacing track such as 'Who I Am". But that's not to say she can't rock the slower tracks; "Ain't Got Time To Waste", "I Was The One" and "Gotta Thing For You" are some tight tracks. But with the good tracks there are bad tracks. As many have already mentioned, 'Boom' is beyond wack...probably the worst song Da Brat has ever done. Nonetheless she does redeem herself on "Chuuch" and "Got It Poppin". She ends the album perfectly with "Gushy Wushy" (what a stupid name title) which has Da Brat KILLING the track and the beat is straight ridah; vintage Brat.

Like all Da Brat albums this one ends short just under 45 minutes, which to me, is good. No stupid filler skits, and not enough time for her to get on your nerves. Every song is solid, save for the ultra terrible "Boom" and is good to let play straight through. Don't be fooled by Da Brat's first underwhelming single. This album is a banger for da summertime. Pick it up.

Goapele's debut album 'Even Closer' is just phenomenal. All the hype and all the praise is definitely well deserved as she delivers on all aspects of this album. Her singing is perfect, in her laid back way. She never oversings or sings off key or out of tune. Speaking of tunes, the cd is straight up bangin. Every beat, every backdrop, and every bassline is nearly flawless. On some songs she gets some live bands to play and the results are magnificent. The songwriting is absolutely superb and she wrote or cowrote every song. This album is truly a listening experience. Goapele has her own style, her own vibe that you just gotta love. Her voice is captivating and her lyrics are stimulating. I can't get this cd out the changer!

Excellent songs such as 'Back To You', 'Closer', and 'Too Much The Same' are clearly standout tracks with that extra soul vibe. Songs with the more edgier approach such as the intoxicating 'Got It', 'Catch 22', and 'It Takes More' are definitely greatly produced and sung. She slacks off nowhere on this album. Every song has a different sound to it yet the album is so cohesive. 'Things Don't Exist' is sexy in the vain of a Janet Jackson song; quiet storm song, greatness. 'Salvation' has that mellow midtempo piano groove and is just jamming. I love it! But my absolute favorite song on this cd is 'Romantic'. It brings such a smoky soul backdrop, provided by the band Soulive, like something you would hear at a blues club or something; and the chorus is quite infectious (you're so f*^kin romantic, I can't stand it). Extreme hotness.

Goapele's album is one of the best soul albums (of my generation) I have ever heard. Unbelievable. Right up there with Brown Sugar, Baduizm, Brainchild, and a couple others that slip my mind right now; yes it is that great. Even Closer is a must have gem; get it anyway you can. If you ever take my advice on any cd let it be this one. Strongly recommended masterpiece.