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. 

Life Is… Too Short (Jive, 1990) by Too Short

In my opinion, this is Too Short's best album.  Everything about it is cool.  The album cover, the lyrics, the production.  It is also very well-rounded in terms of content.  It has his trademark pimp talk as well as his social commentary.  I really dig the way the title track was paid homage to as well on UGK's album from just a couple years ago when it was covered and updated with Short Dog himself.  Although Short was not the most talented rapper in the late 80s/early 90s, he was certainly one of the most charismatic.

Can't Stay Away (Jive, 1999) by Too Short

Short Dog's first post-retirement album is a descent "comeback" album, but it relies a little too heavily on the then-current scene on late 90s rappers to draw an audience instead of just giving Too Short fans what it is that they'd been missing for three years.  There is a bit of that with "More Freaky Tales," Can't Stay Away," and "Ain't No Bitches."  But the CD is 17 tracks long, and so that still leaves 14 more tracks that could've taken a different approach in order to make the album not as spotty.

Cocktails (Jive, 1995) by Too $hort

This is standard Too $hort fare.  Dirty raps over funky tracks.  "Cocktales" is a great updated version of "Freaky Tales."  The other stand out track is "We Do This" with 2Pac, MC Breed, and Father Dom.  The album also ends on a high note with "Sample the Funk" where Short Dog pays homage to funk legends like George Clinton, James Brown, and the Ohio Players.

Born to Mack (Jive, 1987) by Too $hort

The memorable contribution to hip-hop from this set is "Freaky Tales."  The nine and a half minute rap about sexual escapades cemented Short Dog as a playboy in hip-hop culture.  The bass of the beat and the dirty raps are timeless.  There are rappers who adopted a similar approach later, but no one did it as well as $hort's original.  The album cover is really cool too with the clear picture of the Cadillac and Too $hort barely in sight.

Short Dog's in the House (Jive, 1990) by Too $hort

This is a classic album in Short Dog's catalog.  It has his signature X-rated rhymes over funk inspired tracks. And "Hard on the Boulevard" and  "Ain't Nothin' But a Word to Me" with Ice Cube are the best ones on this release.  However, the album's highlights are "The Ghetto" and "It's Your Life" where Mr. Shaw gets socially-conscious (which he has done before as well) and addresses the plight of people in tough areas and encourages them to make positive choices.  Short Dog's in the House has thought-provoking content and music to ride to.  Over twenty years since its release, it still holds up and that's not surprising to me at all.

Vol.2... Hard Knock Life (Roc-A-Fella, 1998) by Jay-Z

Jay-Z's third LP is the crossover album that didn't sell out. "Hard Knock Life," in my opinion, is one of the best singles in hip hop history.  Not only was the use of the Annie sample brilliant, but it also put a light back of the legendary Mark The 45 King.  "Nigga What, Nigga Who" and "Money Cash Hoes" are two spectacular beats with raps worthy of the instrumentals.  "A Week Ago" is a classic that demonstrates Jay-Z's descriptive writing ability and features Short Dog on the hook.  "Can I Get A..." got some attention.  "Reservoir Dogs" introduced the world to Beanie Sigel.  And "Money Ain't A Thang" was two emcees living large who weren't lying about it.  In conclusion, this is one of the greatest albums from arguably rap's last classic year.

Get In Where You Fit In (Jive, 1993) by Too $hort

Get In Where You Fit In is my favorite Too $hort album.  Some claim that if you've heard one Short Dog song, you've heard them all.  True, but if the music is good I don't care.  Gettin' It (Album Number Ten), his "retirement" album, relied a bit too heavy on funk tracks and Life Is… Too Short [a very close second in my opinion] had a bit better lyrics than beats at some points during the album.  However, Get In Where You Fit In is the perfect blend of both music and rhymes.  The introduction is clever and I love how he name drops his previous material.  Mr. Shaw also killed the Kool & The Gang sample on "Money in the Ghetto" years before Ma$e did the same in a Top 40 hit ["Feel So Good"].  And last, but certainly not least, "Blowjob Betty"-the best dirty record of all-time in my opinion!