Nelly provides vocals with a melodic singing/rapping flow, but it doesn't change for the entirety of the songs making them get boring and the skip button receiving some pressure. There are some decent choruses that help some of the songs, but nothing is to a high enough level to save the verses. On the other hand, then there are lyrics on hooks like on the title track - "Shimmy, shimmy cocoa, what?". I can't sing along to that... It's a similar case with the chorus of 'E.I.'. 'Steal the Show' is like a posse track with basically five minutes of rapping backed by a beat that sounds reminiscent of Juvenile's 'Ha' with other songs giving off that Mannie Fresh production vibe as well.
When the production brings some soul, and is quite likeable, like when it is sampling One Way's 'Don't Stop (Ever Loving Me)' on 'Luven Me', Nelly uses a verse to just shout out people making that song lose the momentum it created earlier.
Maybe this was a new sound when it dropped which is why it did so well, and why it still has a decent rating, but there is nothing at all I like too much on this disc with a lot of the songs getting boring before they're done. I prefer his follow up, Nellyville.
Beats: ★★☆
Rapping/Bars: ★★
Hooks: ★★☆
Best Tracks: Ride Wit Me, E.I., Tho Dem Wraps, Batter Up, Luven Me
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