I'd been planning to check out more of Spice 1's catalogue for a while. This one starts off engagingly with the Pac dedication, the bumping weed appreciation song, good features from Ice T and $hort, the funky 'Playa Man', the errie 'Caught Up in My Gunplay' with Marvin Gaye's 'Anger' sample, the toe tapping 'Ballin'' and 'Tha Boss Mobsta', and more dope features with WC and Big Syke. - And we are only at track 8.
The verses and beat are fine, with some engaging rapping too, but I don't love the hook of 'Fetty Chico and the Mack' that drops the quality a bit. The following 'Wanna Be a G' is one of the weaker moments with a slow drawn-out hook and then 'Diamonds' is better, but again, I don't love the hook, so that is where the quality drops off for a few songs. 'Down Payment on Heaven', that features a great chorus, is the obligatory song towards the end of a gangster rap album with some more soul and introspection before the hard '2 Hands & a Razorblade' closes the LP.
I was surprised to see one of my favourites and underrated legends, Paris, on the producer list who handles five of the fourteen songs. If you haven't checked out his solo work and you like funky west coast hip hop, go and do yourself a favour. He didn't produce a lot for other artists, so it's always a pleasure to come across more of his work.
The highs aren't as great as those on albums like 'AmeriKKKa's Nightmare', but the consistency is a winner proving Spice still had it many albums into his discography.
Beats: ★★★★
Rapping/Bars: ★★★★
Hooks: ★★★★
Best Tracks: The Thug in Me, Playa Man, Ballin', Tha Boss Mobsta, 510 213, Down Payment on Heaven
1. The Thug in Me (Dedicated to Tupac Shakur: R.I.P.) 93/100
2. I'm High 85
3. Recognize Game 84
4. Playa Man 90
5. Caught Up in My Gunplay 93
6. Ballin' 86
7. Tha Boss Mobsta 92
8. 510, 213 88
9. Kill Street Blues 73
10. Fetty Chico and the Mack 70
11. Wanna Be a G 60
12. Diamonds 72
13. Down Payment on Heaven 86
14. 2 Hands & a Razorblade 84
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