DJ Haze & Nu Jerzey Devil, The Game & BWS / BWS Radio Part 2 On the second edition of Black Wall Street Radio, The Game and his BWS team drop a 20-track mixtape where Game continues his lyrical onslaught, while Juice and BWS newcomer Clyde Carson take turns cementing themselves as major players in the new West movement. This mixtape has plenty of standouts as Game and Weezy trade verses on the Nu Jerzey Devil produced “Lyrical Homicide,” Juice states his claims as the illest new rapper in the game on “The Illest Rapper Alive” and Clyde Carson gets an assist from Sean Kingston on “Doin’ That.” With Juice and Carson on board, BWS Radio Part 2 solidifies Game’s imprint as a promising record label. — Randy Roper The Pack/Based Boys/Jive The debut album from the Pack is exactly what you’d expect to hear from the Berkeley, California group of teenagers that broke onto the scene with a song about their kicks (“Vans”). The group isn’t blessed with the most gifted rappers but their understand their lane and don’t venture far from cuts about the club (“In The Club” and “At The Club”), cars (“In My Car”), diamonds (“I’m Shinin’”) and women (“My Girl Got a Girl Too”). The Pack won’t impress you lyrically but their party and bullshit mentally and the production, handled mostly by group member Young L, will keep listeners entertained. — Randy Roper Calfax Cac & Innerstate Ike/Batman and Robin 2 If Denver’s Calfax Cac and Innerstate Ike were really Batman and Robin, it’s obvious which rapper would be which superhero. It’s not that Cac isn’t a decent rapper, but Innerstate Ike is better emcee than his Colorado counterpart and often outshines his rhyme partner. And while the duo does collaborate for a few duds, there are enough quality tracks like “You Blew It Darling,” “Pick Up The Phone” and “’Til The Morning” to give their Batman and Robin 2 project a listen. — Randy Roper
Glasses Malone/The Electric Chair/Blu Division Ironically, the emergence of the “New West” comes with a deafening call for today’s artists to revert to the days of old. Emcees who’ve traded in their 40 ounces for champagne bottles and/or Dickies for slacks are all subject to the wrath of this young legion of rappers. Watts native Glasses Malone sets it off with the Dow Jones/DJ Skee hosted The Electric Chair street tape, an able offering for his heavily anticipated Hoo Bangin’/Cash Money debut. Glasses hits the mark with a bevy of freestyles on this 31 track project, a fitting tribute to Death Row’s glory days. Aggressive efforts such as “Malone,” “Blu Division” and “Like Suge” reinforce as much, while the radio ready “Certified,” featuring Akon, boasts dexterity that goes over well. – N. Ali Early Krushadelic/Ghost Rider/Armada Bay Area rap vet Krushadelic’s fourth solo release, Ghost Rider, mirrors the mood of a new generation that he helped produce. One of the original Underground Rebellion, Krush reunites with Jullie D on “I’m A Shine” and keeps it OG on “Look At Me,” featuring Too $hort and Andre Nickatina. The twenty fifth release from his Armada imprint, Krush continues to push all the buttons – literally – providing solid production on every track. The upbeat lead single, “Ready Set Go,” follows the sonic tempo made popular by hyphy and the title track is a sideshow waiting to happen. Krush proves an ability to extend himself further on appealing collabos with Ray J (“I’m A Rider”) and R&B legend Chaka Khan (“I Think So”). – N. Ali Early DJ Skee & Terrace Martin/Signal Flow 4.5 Slaps
As one half of Snoop’s Niggarachi production team, Battlecat protégé Terrace Martin has already shown listeners that he knows how to create some jammin’ ass music. But his Signal Flow mixtape, excuse us, “street album” has him stepping out on his own and showing that his boasts of being the next Dr. Dre are not farfetched. “Ridin’,” a laid back, bass-driven affair featuring Snoop, Problem and Southern crooner Scar becomes a classic from the first note while “Be Thankful” (also featured on The Big Squeeze compilation) has him both spitting and playing sax, equally well. Guest appearances from Too $hort, Tru Life, Busta Rhymes, The Game and a recharged Kurupt only add to Terrace’s already seasoned production skills. Hop on this bandwagon now before it gets too crowded. — Maurice G. Garland
OZONE WEST // 33