cdreviews JIM JONES HUSTLER’S P.O.M.E. Diplomat/Koch With “Ballinnnnn’” falling off the lips of everyone from the New York Giants to your next door neighbor, Jim Jones finally has everyone sipping the Kool-Aid. However, aside from “We Fly High” this album could use a little more flavor. With production sweet enough to give your ears a cavity, Capo’s watered down lyrics and sometimes uninspired flow makes this you look at this album as half-empty instead of half-full. Songs like “Reppin’ Time” are tasty, but they are outnumbered by bland tracks. To his credit though, Jones shows that he knows how to make some catchy anthems. - Maurice G. Garland CLIPSE HELL HATH NO FURY Re-Up/Jive Short and to the point, Clipse’s long-awaited sophomore release has just 12 tracks. Fortunately for them, they don’t waste any time lyrically. But don’t believe that lie that says this group has first-dibs on the Neptunes’ hottest beats. Instead of sounding like an extension of Lord Willin’s sonic mastery, it comes of as prequel to their shelved debut Exclusive Audio Footage. As usual though, Malice and Pusha’s penmanship pushes this album over the top. While not as raw as their Got It For Cheap mixtapes, Clipse still prove that lyrics do indeed matter in world where the gift of swag outshines the gift of gab. - Maurice G. Garland LIL BOOSIE BAD AZZ Trill/Asylum As one of the only rappers UGK has ever vouched for personally, Boosie keeps the trill tradition going by delivering rhymes that slap you in the face and punch you in the chest. His high-pitched voice and dramatic narratives push songs like “I’m Mad” and “I Remember” over the top while his youthful braggadocio and energy on tracks like “Excited” can easily make him your new favorite rapper. Don’t let the club-oriented lead single “Zoom” featuring Yung Joc fool you into thinking this album is just another 60-plus minutes of ass-shaking and drug-taking (even though there is plenty of it on here). Boosie has delivered a piece of work that will stand the test of time. - Maurice G. Garland Z-RO I’M STILL LIVIN’ Rap-A-Lot/Asylum By now you should know what to expect from a Z-Ro album: A reality check. As usual, the tones alternate between somber and depressing, but he does supply surprises like “Continue To Roll” where producer Mike Dean respectfully samples Spandau Ballet’s “True.” Z-Ro borrows more inspiration on “T.H.U.G. (True Hero Under God)” when he interpolates Luther Vandross’ “So Amazing” with his always captivating rapid-fire flow. However, the most ear-catching rework is his rendition of Scarface’s “Seen A Man Die,” “Man Cry.” Don’t be confused though, I’m Still Living is not a cover album. There’s still plenty of the soulful pain music you’ve grown to love from him. - Maurice G. Garland BLAK JAK PLACE YOUR BETS Vintage Sound/Universal Republic Striving to break away from the snap and trap sound that’s been honed by his Atlanta peers, Blak Jak’s debut album, Place Your Bets is an adequate representation of the fresh direction many of the city’s newbies are moving in. Digging into his South Carolina roots for inspiration, Jak’s rhythmic single, “Bobbin My Head” defines the vibe of the entire project with laid-back lyrics and a track that doesn’t heavily rely on 808’s. While the album peaks with the breezy, Don Cannon produced “Luv U Blak,” which is reminiscent of early 90s Tribe Called Quest, “Pain I Feel” featuring Lloyd also helps solidify Jak as a talent to watch for; one capable of helping to pave the way for Atlanta’s new rap sound. - Jacinta Howard JAY-Z KINGDOM COME Def Jam After spending the last two years talking about how much the game needs him, Kingdom Come clearly identifies Hova as a want, not a need. Of course, his lyrical wit is still better than most but at times he sounds as if he thinks that he is doing us a favor by merely breathing on the mic. Strictly an album for those in the grown & sexy demographic Jigga shows literally shows his age on the Dr. Dre-produced “30 Something.” Thus, he also reveals his waning enthusiasm on the lazily executed “Minority Report.” To his defense, Hov is hoping to shine a new, more mature light on Hip Hop music, but still, it can sound a little bit better. - Maurice G. Garland
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