It's alright, but despite some likeable beat switches like those found on 'Dirtball', I don't think these instrumentals are either Hit-Boy's or The Alchemist's best. My favourite is the final track that takes it back to the ol' school using Gank Move's 'Murderer' instrumental (verbatim) and vocals from 1994. It's easily the best song which is perhaps embarrassing for the rest of the freshly made tracks. The feature, HitgirlLena, also offers one of the more memorable verses. The lack of any decent chorus or catchy songwriting doesn't help the replay value of songs. As I felt on his collab album with The Game, Big Hit doesn't impress, doing nothing to stand out to me as a rapper. A more engaging vocalist could have worked with these beats to a higher level. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★☆ Hooks: ★ Best Tracks: Sly Slick & Wicked, Dirtball, Gank Move

I'd been looking forward to this, but it's really disappointing. The production is fairly weak and there isn't much to write home about regarding the vocals either. There is too much soft-shit. I understand, they've 'Grown Up', but where is the hard g-shit? Listen to something like 'I'll Bury Ya' from the 'Dogg Chit' album and there is nothing close to that sound here. The final song is produced by DJ Premier, but even that is lackluster. I hope he has some better stuff for the upcoming Nas collab. I didn't expect a classic from front to back from Tha DPG in 2024, but I didn't expect it to be such a boring album. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Smoke Up, Favorite Color Blue

There are some decent bangin' beats ("This right here is considered a banger" Ice Cube wasn't lying on 'Call 9-1-1'), and the rapping is of course more than decent with Cube, Dub and Mack, but the hooks are lacking and the album falls away in the final half/third. 'Izm' is one example with enjoyable rapping but a weakish hook. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Call 9-1-1, Izm A Threat to the World (Intro) Call 9-1-1 82 Potential Victims 71 Gangsta Nation 70 Get Ignit 67 Pimp the System 62 Don't Get Outta Pocket 60 Izm 70 So Many Rappers in Love 60 Lights Out 54 Bangin' At the Party 50 You Gotta Have Heart 58 Terrorist Threats 43 Superstar (Double Murder = Double Platinum) 46

This is decent, but that's about it. Again, it's an example of a late '90s rap album with too many skits that slows the album down. There's not a lot that made me take too much note for a 70 minute album across my few listens. Some of the most ear-catching moments are the Meth feature and the signature sounding Daz produced track, 'Brownsville II Long Beach'. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Gunz 'N Onez (Iz U wit Me), Chicka Woo, Brownsville II Long Beach, Sean Wigginz, Hold Your Head Up

This starts off nicely, but loses its luster as it progresses. The highs are really high. I have always adored the Dead Prez and Static-X collab, 'Hip Hop, since I heard it many years ago, but then there are other moments like 'Only When I'm Drunk' that don't work at all for me. The verses on some songs such as 'Make Room' are dope, but then the rock artist's vocals bring the song down with the hook. Best Tracks: Shame, Make Room, Hip Hop 1. Shame 90 2. Make Room 74 3. Hip Hop 100 4. Los Angeles Times 74 5. Shook Ones Part II 80 6. Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nothing Ta Fuck Wit 70 7. Only When I'm Drunk 34 8. What U See Is What U Get 60 9. How Bout Some Hardcore 50 10. For Heaven's Sake 2000 67 11. Caribbean Connection 50 12. Survival of the Fittest 54 13. Still Not a Player 55