Webbie/Savage Life 2 Trill/Asylum On Savage Life 2, with tracks like “2 Smooth” and his smash hit “Independent,” Webbie seems to be singing a more mature tune than his “Gimme Dat” days. And on “I Know,” produced by Mannie Fresh and featuring Young Dro, and “A Miracle” with Birdman and Rick Ross, Webbie proves he can stand tall with the best of Southern rap artists. The album is not all notable, with another Fresh beat that sounds like tracks we’ve heard him produce before (“Y’all Ain’t Makin’ No Money”) and “First Night” which serves no propose as a final track. Nevertheless, appearances from Lil Boosie, Letoya Luckett, Foxx and the late Pimp C help Webbie release a solid follow-up album to 2005’s Savage Life. — Randy Roper
Shawty Lo/Units In The City/D4L/Asylum The success of his hit single “Dey Know” has D4L member Shawty Lo, arguably the hottest thing in Atlanta over the last few months. But on his solo debut album the Bankhead rapper is all swag, no skills. Tracks like “Dey Know,” “Dunn Dunn,” and “Foolish” are standouts but weak production on “Let’s Get It” and “Feels Good To Be Here” and “That’s Shawty Lo” make the album sound like “Laffy Taffy” leftovers from the D4L album. L-O isn’t the best rapper and his elementary flow gets to be monotonous after 15-tracks, and without true lyrical ability and lack of quality production, the blunt rating for Units In The City comes in a little L-O. — Randy Roper
S.L. Jones/C.O.L.O.R.S. Grind Time Official
On C.O.L.O.R.S., Grind Time member S.L. Jones does what most rappers coming out under an established artist fail to do; he stood on his own and released a solid album. This album isn’t bombarded with Killer Mike verses. Instead, Jones controls the show with his revolutionary gangster lyricism and metaphors. Although his slow flow does drag along at times, guest appearances from the likes of Killer Mike, Chamillionaire, the Clipse, Trae, offer changes of pace and standout production from beatmakers like Bdon and Smiff n Cash, give
Jones the assists he needed to make C.O.L.O.R.S. something worth checking out. — Randy Roper
Nephewblaq/Urban Lifestyle/Loudmouf Standout tracks are hard to come by on Orlando rapper Nephewblaq’s album, as Blaq’s choppy rap style makes 20-track hard to digest. There are a few tracks worth listening to, including “Judgment Day,” “Unemployed” with Durty and Mardub, and the album’s title track. Although these tracks show Blaq’s potential, songs like “Gotta Be Jelly,” “Hey Shawty” and “Supa Freak,” among others, are enough to justify why he needs to take it back to the drawing board. — Randy Roper
Jim Jones/Harlem’s American Gangster/Koch
First rule of trying to show someone up: actually show them up. There was no attempt to hide the fact that Jim Jones’ Harlem’s American Gangster is Jimmy’s attempt at mocking Jay-Z, complete with Dame Dash as a host. Unfortunately for Jimmy, his 17-track effort falls short, with only three tracks, one of which is the intro, offering the only saving moments of this mixtape. If Jim Jones is going to take anything from Frank Lucas perhaps it should be the lesson that it’s always wise to quit when you’re on top, or at least the closest you can. - Rohit Loomba
Trap Starz Clik/Hood Depot/ Universal Republic
Something about this group and this album just doesn’t seem right. They dress like the prototypical block dweller in Any Small Ghetto, U.S.A. Their production sounds like it came out during the beginnings of the snap movement in 2003-04. The lyrics are so mundane that you feel dumber after listening to them. After adding all of this up, there is no way possible that TSC is supposed to be taken seriously by anybody, including themselves. Everything about them sounds exactly like what Outkast was alluding to with the fictional PimpTrickGangstaClik or what The Boondocks ridicules with its Thugnificent character. Listening to this CD makes you wait for the day that TSC pops up on BET and says “Sike! We was just playin!” — Maurice G. Garland
G-Unit & DJ Whoo Kid/Return of the Body Snatchers
Blood Raw & DJ Smallz/The Streets Love Blood Raw DJ Smallz brings another installment of the Southern Smoke series, teaming up with Florida native BloodRaw this time around. BloodRaw makes sure he doesn’t waste this opportunity to show off his talent and prove that he really is “ballahalic like [he] plays for the Magic.” The mixtape offers several tracks that are worthy of repeated play with the top down and should catch the ears of many who may not have heard that much from one of CTE’s own. If you come across this mixtape, definitely drop this one in your “Louis Bag”. — Rohit Loomba
94 // OZONE MAG
When 50 remerges into the spotlight fronting his G-Unit crew, the formula is what is has always been. 50 carries the squad. Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and the crew are vastly overshadowed with their latest mixtape effort, The Return of the Body Snatchers. DJ Whoo Kid hosts the mixtape laced with 50’s baritone sing-songy hooks that appear often in the 16 track submission. The most notable songs are the hard-hitting “I’m ‘Bout That” and the street love record “Make Me Feel Good.” While G-Unit is represented, the absence of Young Buck is noticeable. You can ride out to this but it’s no classic. — Jared Anderson
Re Up Gang (Hosted by DJ Drama)/ WE Got It For Cheap Vol. 3
No question, We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3 is a street sweeper! DJ Drama captures hardcore content with classic grimy records, allowing the Re-Up Gang to continue to challenge their competition with reminders that recording is considered their “second hustle” and that record sales don’t reflect their “units sold.” From flowing over Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys” instrumental to Shawty Lo’s “Dey Know,” the Re-Up Gang easily make the songs their own, but the most impressive effort comes on Kanye West’s “Good Morning,” taking the listener through the morning thoughts of a dealer. Drama’s mixtape is direct and to the point. They’re going all out in the spirit of competition. — Jared Anderson
B.O.B./LRG Presents… Hi My Name Is B.O.B. B.O.B. is a breath of fresh air for Georgia Hip Hop, using his distinct personality and creativity to put out music that’s different from other ATL emcees. The Hi! My Name is B.O.B. mixtape showcases B.O.B’s unique talent and brings fans a sizeable dose of new music. While this is an overall entertaining mixtape, one too many skits and a few skippable tracks did make their way onto it. — Rohit Loomba