The Solution (Roc-A-Fella, 2007) by Beanie Sigel

"Dear self, can I talk to you/I been trying to have this conversation for years but you won't listen/Damn, are you that plain ignorant? your so indignant/Please come off that high chair your sitting in/Before you snatched from it, or strapped to it/Ya body used as a conduit, a thousand volts flow through you/Ya life gone over something foolish/Talking to you is so useless/Ya head harder than them walls you'll be housed in soon/Before ya body's embalmed and you lie in tomb/Open ya ears, eyes and heart, cause that hour's soon/And the hour shall cometh, when Ish Rahzel blows his trumpets/The sky shall crack, the stars will plummet/The sun will rise in the West you'll drown in your own sweat/And when that day shall be, I'll bet I'll see no bravery"

-Beanie Sigel, "Dear Self (Can I Talk to You)"

Gettin' It (Jive, 1996) by Too Short

This album is good, but a bit repetitive in terms of beats and content.  The album offers nothing new, but that doesn't mean it's not an enjoyable collection of tracks to rattle speakers with while cruising down the highway.  Put simply, it's Too Short doing what Too Short does which is exactly what it should've been considering this was billed as his "retirement" album when it was released. 

The Saga Continues... (Bad Boy, 2001) by P. Diddy

Diddy's third album is a descent return to form.  Rather than the all-star Hip-Hop cast that cluttered Forever, Puff puts the spotlight back on his Bad Boy roster on this go-round and it works out well for everyone involved.  The flaws to this album though are that it's too long and that it has too many interludes.  All things considered, this LP is a fun listen where P. Diddy reclaimed his spot as one of Hip-Hop's elite.

God's Stepson (N/A, 2003) by 9th Wonder

9th Wonder is a great producer and this is further evidence of that.  Considering Nas is one of the best lyricist's ever, sometimes his beat selection is less than stellar.  Fortunately, 9th realized this revamped a majority of God Son's tracks and one other.  The two tracks that I do think were better on the original release though were "Get Down" and "Made U Look."  Other than that, he definitely brings new life to a lot of already amazing records with his production.  Props to him for "The Cross" and "Ether" especially.

The Untouchable (Rap-A-Lot, 1997) by Scarface

"Our lifestyles be close captioned, addicted to fatal attractions/Pictures of actions be played back in the midst of mashin/No fairy tales for this young black male/Some see me stranded in this land of hell, jail, and crack sales/Hustle too hard to think of culture/Or the repercussions while bustin on backstabbin vultures/Sellin my soul for material wishes, fast cars and bitches/Wishin I lived my life a legend, immortalized in pictures/Why shed tears, save your sympathy/My childhood years were spent buryin my peers in the cemetary/Here's a message to the newborns, waitin to breathe/

If you believe, then you can achieve, just look at me/Against all odds, though life is hard we carry on/ Livin in the projects, broke with no lights on/So all the seeds that follow me, protect yo essence/Born with less, but you're still precious/Just smile for me now"

2Pac, "Smile"

Bootlegs & B-Sides (Priority, 1994) by Ice Cube

This is a mediocre compilation (which explains why they're bootlegs and b-sides).  However, there are some highlights.  The blend of "Check Yo Self" for the remix over Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's "The Message" is and "D'Voidofpopniggafiedmegamix" is a cool mix of Ice Cube records from his first few albums and a clever ways to give props to P-Funk.

Laugh Now, Cry Later (Lench Mob, 2006) by Ice Cube

Cube's seventh album was a great comeback after a 6 year hiatus from the mic.  Although the album is guilty of some filler, the highlights make the album totally worth it.  "The N***a Trap" is classic Ice Cube social commentary and "Why We Thugs" is a great single that still manages to keep a message intact.  Production-wise, the album is solid and Lil Jon proves with his three contributions that he's capable of more than just southern crunk.

Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (Island Def Jam, 2005) by Young Jeezy

This is a solid debut album.  It depicted street life with catchy hooks, aggressive lyrics, solid beats, and commanding flows.  And even though Jeezy isn't necessarily a top tier lyricist, the emotion that he he puts into his delivery makes up for it.  The production is great (especially Mannie Fresh's "And Then What") and the collaborations with Jay-Z and Akon helped cross the album over and get it on the radar of the mainstream.

Emeritus (Rap-A-Lot, 2008) by Scarface

"I lay in bed lookin up at the ceiling/as the fan turns in a circle, thinkin 'bout my evil/Seein end on my TV, bombs in the skies/over Baghdad they fight but they don't know why/What they said about Hussein, was a God damn lie/Raised a war against a religion for oil, don't lie/I seen, kids from the hood livin like they gon' die/with the mindset of be broke or let's go get high/With the people livin so crazy how we gon' get by/Gasoline five dollars, how the fuck we gon' drive?/Can't afford to fill our prescriptions so we all gon' die/CVS is slangin dope on every block worldwide/Since, spies up and had the dope game on fine/Then it's only right for one nigga to go get mine huh/If they injured how they gon' survive?/If they stuck at the bottom how the fuck they gon' ride?"

-Scarface, "Can't Get Right"

The World is Yours (Rap-A-Lot, 1993) by Scarface

Mr. Scarface is Back is a fantastic album, and this album lives up to its predecessor.  In some respects, it even demonstrates growth.  From a production standpoint, it definitely has more of a West Coast/G-funk feel.  And lyrically, it's still dark-but at least, in this case, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  The album's best song, a 7-minute plus record called "Now I Feel Ya", has Face discussing the birth of his son and how he's had to change in order to be a father to him. 

The People Vs. (Universal Motown, 2005) by Trick Trick

Trick Trick's debut album is descent.  "Welcome 2 Detroit," a collaboration with Eminem, is by far the album's standout.  Other highlights include the Proof and Eminem assisted "No More to Say" and the Jazze Pha produced "Attitude Adjustment."  However, some of the albums low points, most notably "My Name is Trick Trick," do weigh the album down a bit.  Overall, this is an average album that shows potential.  Fortunately he lived up to it, and Trick Trick showed noticeable improvement on his 2008 follow up, The Villian.

Unfinished Business (Roc-A-Fella/Jive, 2004) by Jay-Z and R. Kelly

Put simply, this is a bad album.  It clearly seems like it was an attempt to sell records along with their tour (which also flopped).  The fact that this album's material is sometimes referred to as leftover stuff from the Best of Both Worlds sessions from 2002 is bad enough.  Considering that album's best records were mediocre at the very best though, it seems foolish to release stuff from the cutting room floor from those sessions.  However, that logic still didn't stop this release from happening.

Tim's Bio: From the Motion Picture: Life From Da Bassment (Blackground, 1998) by Timbaland

Although not quite as strong as Aaliyah's One in a Million or Missy Elliot's Supa Dupa Fly, Tim's Bio stands as another highlight in the catalogue of Tim "Timbaland" Mosley.  His production is obviously top-notch and he provides an innovative sound that puts performers outside of their comfort zone.  Timbaland is one of the greatest producers of all-time, and this album is one of the many reasons why. 

First Family 4 Life (Relativity, 1998) by M.O.P.

"Yeah, uh-huh, what the fuck/Two asked quick for bastards to step to/Leave wounds too drastic for rescue/When I rock jewels it ain't to impress you/What the fuck niggas commentin on my shit fo'/I'm real - how you think I got rich ho?/Pack steel - ain't afraid to let a clip go/I got enough paper to get low/Come back when the shit blow over get the dough over/Huh wit the Rover snatch the gat from the clip holder/Rip through ya shoulder bitch it's Jay-hovah/I'm too right wit it, too tight wit it/You light witted but if you're feel ya nice nigga spit i/tWho am I? JAY-Z  motherfucker/Do or die IN  BROWNSVILLE  motherfucker/Blocka, rocka, M.O.P collabo/Front on us and gats blow ya know?"

Jay-Z, "4 Alarm Blaze"

Life or Death (No Limit, 1998) by C-Murder

This album is pretty typical No Limit fare.  At 26 tracks long, it is a lot of music and, therefore, the consumer gets a lot for their money.  Most of the music itself is mediocre at best, but does do a fine job of representing the platinum tank and its whole movement.  In addition to guest verses from fellow No Limit soldiers throughout the album, UGK also contributes to one of the album's high points, "Akickdoe!"

Street Wars: Roc-A-Fella is an Army (N/A, 2005) by DJ P. Cutta

DJ P. Cutta put together a solid collection of Roc-A-Fella battle records.  It starts strong with Jay-Z rhyming his "Dear Summer" rap over Black Rob's "Can I Live" instrumental and his classic "Takeover" record.  Not long after, the "Drop It Like It's Hot (Remix)" comes in and Jay gets the last word on R. Kelly.  Other Roc-A-Fella artists make notable contributions (especially Beanie Sigel).  However, as far as straight rhymes, no one tops Hov.  The last strong point on the tape is the infamous "Superugly."  It's good, but not great- especially when compared to Nas' "Ether."  Overall, this is a good compilation of diss songs courtesy of the house that Dame, Biggs, and Jay built.

Underground Kingz (Jive, 2007) by UGK

"Man I'm a middle finger figure (figure), a million dollar mission/Poppin like Orville Redenbacher (bacher), with a whippin in the kitchen (kitchen)/Yayo like Dontrelle Willis (what?), we the trillest/On the mound, I'm holdin that whole South down, I know you feel us/We the realest walkin the planet, can't stand it/Pass away, wanna fight us/Start to swingin, wanna kill us/Blast away, wanna stab us/Get to stickin but make sure you cut us deep/'Cause I betcha we comin back a couple hundred brothers deep (oh!)/Pimp and Bun, we run the streets, which streets? Man, pick your hood/Don't matter, we represented, cross us? (yeah) We gon' get you good/Them Down South veterans (huh), ain't nobody better than/gonna tell your next of kin or your brethren, let us in cousin" 

-Bun B, "The Game Belongs to Me"

Crown Royal (Arista, 2001) by Run-DMC

Run-DMC's Crown Royal is not very good, but it does make an honest attempt to reintroduce the most influential rap group ever to the next generation.  However, the project is quite guest-heavy and D.M.C. makes minimal contributions.  Therefore, the intent of it seemingly got lost in the execution.  But this less than stellar album didn't do anything that takes away from group's legendary status in the long-run.

De La Soul is Dead (Tommy Boy, 1991) by De La Soul

This album is incredible.  As far as skits are concerned, it's flawless.  Prince Paul is not only a fantastic producer in terms of music, but also in terms of bringing the best out of De La.  "Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa" and "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"" are daring and incredible singles, and lyrically the album drops pop culture references better than most.

Second Round's On Me (Shady, 2006) by Obie Trice

"Meat cleaver, leave a gas in a bitches ass/See her dreams of being an R&B singer diva/Leave her face, cut her from the waist/Ah man what a waste, of a pretty face/And this place ain't just safe, it's just straight gangsta/It ain't just New York or L.A. that pains no more/There's Latin Coun' Kings here/Southside, four, East Side and Gansen/Nuthin but ganglands and, spray paint cans/And when that van rolls up, man they ain't glancing/That window rolls down and that tre-eight's dancing/And them shooters don't miss, homie they hate chancing/Straight for the dome and it's vacate fast and/Get the fuck outta dodge 'fore that blue Dodge flashing/Red and blue lights, no ambulance, you got flattened/And this was not supposed to be no Detroit anthem/But just so ya know, if ya see them D-Boys passing"

-Eminem, "There They Go"