Pharrell - In My Mind

Tracks one and two get you hyped (Can I Have It Like That and How Does It Feel). Track two has the live band feel to it. Then Pharrell tries to stretch out and do R&B and slow jams. Bad idea! The Vanity's Nasty Girl undertone on track Baby featuring Nelly is nice. Angel is phat too. But attempts at Gospel (Our Father) and a smoothed out Pharrell take away from the head bangers like Number One with Kanye West. Five of the 14 tracks are cool. The album gets a 2 1/2 out of 5 flames. 

Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang

After he straight bashed J Records for not promoting him, Busta continues track after track with hot joints. 15 tracks and no skits. Now that he is on Aftermath Records he had to do at least 'after I die-type joint'- Legends Fall Off. That is one of the few tracks without a feature from the likes of Kelis ( I Love My B***) and Nas (Don't Get Carried Away) to the blazing hot New York Sh** (featuring Swiss Beats) and In The Ghetto (featuring the late Rick James). Other feature artist include Raekwon, Flowetry and Stevie Wonder. This is a can't miss 4.5 out of 5 flames.

Field Mob - Light Poles and Pine Trees

There are only a few features (Luda on the commerical track Georgia and Smilin' and Bobby Valentino on Sorry Baby). Ciara appears on So What but the other tracks are Field Mob. Only one skit and no filler songs. I slept on their rap skillz but they both can spit hot fire ( example on 1,2,3, My Wheels, and Eat Em Up, Beat Em Up). This is Dirty South flava with understandable thinking man's lyrics. I give it a surprising 3 out of 5 flames.

Donell Jones - Journey Of A Gemini

Typical Donnell Jones is not a bad thing...if you really like Donnell Jones. He has some Jermaine Dupree hot tracks (Better Start Talking particularly) and a Crystal Water-She's Homeless bite (If U Want featuring Bun B) and Sarah Smile track bite on Cry. Same tempo, same content, same type of lyrics...lacking creativity. I give it 2 flames out of 5. 

Prince - 3121

Prince’s Universal Records debut again proves you can’t call it a come back. “3121”, the title track is Prince’s address and places you squarely in his house. “Black Sweat”, features classic Prince vocals and rhythmic hooks. “Satisfied” and “Incense & Candles” finds Prince preaching to the faithful, and the Hendrix influenced “Fury” does just what it’s suppose to do. Rock! This CD is a mix of vintage elements we’ve come to know Prince for along with exploration of new frontiers like the Spanish influenced, “Te Amo Corazon” and “The Dance”. “Get On The Boat”, featuring Maceio, nice touch too. This one gets four out of five flames.

Remy Ma - There's Something About Remy

Remy Ma's debut release is bumpin'. It's much better than we could have ever imagined. After listening to the tracks a couple times it's clear that her lyrics deal with real issuesfrom a female's view. Her beats are hot especially on "I'm" featuring David Banner. "Thug Love" with Big Pun had a nice old school feelin and it gives the cd versitility. "Whats Going On" shows Remy Ma's feminine and soft side and it features Keyshia Cole who gives it a great R&B vibe. And of course, "Whateva" is still bangin' in the clubs and everyone is still throwing their hands up to it. I give it 3.5 flames out of 5.

Dem Franchise Boyz - On Top Of Our Game

Okay, here is what Dem Franchise Boyz did right on "On Top Of Our Game." They features Bun B on "My Music" and it is a hot opening track. Bow Wow is on "I Think They Like Me." Those two songs and "Lean Wit It" are hyped. Jim Jones is on "Brick 4 The High," and Trey Song is on "Freaky As She Wanna Be." "Don't Play With Me" features Three 6 Mafia. 

Besides "Lean Wit It," the songs without features aren't worth the price tag. Jermaine Dupree hypes up SoSo Def on a few tracks but it is not enough to hype up the CD. Da Brat was a So So throw in and Damon Dash is on the CD as a favor to someone. Seems like a rush to production. I give it 2 flames out of 4.

YoungBloodZ - Ev'rybody Know Me

There is not a lot of filler on this straight dirty south CD. "Chop Chop" is crunk. The "Presidential" remix, featuring Akon, is nice. If you like dirty south music, this is a must. If you thought you didn't like dirty south, listen to this CD. It will change your mind. Young Buck is representing on "Datz Me" and Lil Scrappy keeps it hyped on "Excuse Me Shawty." "What The Biz" is another headbanger. "It's Good" featuring T Boz has the Whisper Song feel to it. Tha YoungBloodZ put it down on this album. I give it 3.5 flames out of 5.

Chris Brown - Chris Brown

If you seen the video, you can see that Chris Brown is talented and that his record company is throwing some dollars behind hm. Chris is definitely not a one hit wonder. "Excuse Me Miss," "Young Love," "Ya Man Ain't Me" and "Ain't No Way" are all hot. He stretches out on "Gimme That" and "Winner." All of the tracks are tight and seem to fit his style and flow. In the intro of "Winner" you hear someone say here is the future of R & B. They might be right. I give it 4 out of 5 flames. 

Anthony Hamilton - Ain't Nobody Worryin'

Most of the CD sounds the same. This includes the type of tracks, the tempo, and the content. If you do not like Anthony Hamilton, this album probably won't win you over. "Southern Stuff" and "Sista Big Bones" are nice but my favorite on the CD is "Never Love Again." A lot of the songs have that "ol' skool" feel to them. This won't be a classic but will you enjoy it- if you like AH. I give it 3 out of 5 flames. 

Ashanti - "Collectables by Ashanti"

Ashanti's new CD starts off big time. The first cut, "Still On It" features the unlikely duo Paul Wall and Method Man. That is straight blazing. The dirty south swisha style meets old school east coast rap. But wait, there's more. "Focus" Remix featuring Free and "Only You" Remix features Caddillac Tah, Merce, and Ja Rule. There is the "Rock Wit You (Aww Baby)" Remix. Collectables is just that. Ashanti's best songs remixed with hot featured artist. This is a must have and I give it 4 out of 5 flames. Not quite full blaze but worth the price.

T-Pain - "Rappa Ternt Sanga"

You heard "I'm Sprung" and then there is "I'm Sprung 2" featuring Trick Daddy and Young Bloodz. The latter has a catchy hook and with an old school Zapp feel to it. Both are definitely head knockers. "I'm In Luv (Wit A Stripper)" features Mike Jones. Again, T Pain gets it right. After that the CD falls off even though it includes features by Akon ("U Got Me") and ("Ur Not The Same"), Styles P. on "I'm High" and Bone Crusher on "Going Thru A Lot." T Pain is neither straight R & B or hardcore Hip Hop. He calls it "hard & b." Nice effort but it doesn't work. This debut release gets a puff at 2.5 flames out of 5. 

Eminem - "Curtain Call"

This is blazing and it is just a best of. Okay, it has "Stan" featuring Elton John (live) and "When I'm Gone" on it but you can't go wrong with any old Eminem. There are not a lot of cameos but Nate Dogg is on "Shake That" and Dr. Dre is on "Guilty Conscience." Why have a lot of feature artist when you have mad rap skills and tight tracks. Eminem picked a diverse group of his songs from the silly "My Name Is" to the serious "Mockingbird" and "Like A Toy Solider." Don't sleep on this CD. It is sizzling with 4 out of 5 stars. 

"Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" 

The G-Unit compilation movie soundtrack is an instant classic. It features some of the rap game's hottest artists including 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck along with the newcomers of the clique such as Olivia, Mobb Deep and M.O.P. The album is banging with chart-topping hits like "Window Shopper" and "A Hustler's Ambition." The new joints are off the hook too. Banks is spitting straight fire on "Born Alone, Die Alone" and Olivia's catchy hook on "We Both Think Alike" is one you won't soon forget. Production by Sha Money, Hi-Tek and The infamous Dr. Dre keep the beats hitting hard. This is a CD that you'll play nonstop cause you won't want to skip a track. Get Rich Or Die Tryin The Soundtrack is fire and promises to make you a fan if you're not one already.  

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