I quite like the singles from this album, 'It Takes a Nation' and 'Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It', but apart from them the album never really takes off as you expect from an Ice Cube album. That was my opinion after a spin or two, but being a fan I have given it more time and while still no classic, it ain't too bad. The main issue is that after his last effort in '06, and WC's last album which Ice Cube worked on, I expected some real bangin' beats (which those had) and you don't get those on this. However, after giving it more time I do enjoy most of the tracks but there ain't enough I love. It's no Predator but he is in a different place than he was 15 years ago. Still a good dose of Ice Cube on offer. Best Tracks: It Takes a Nation, Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It, Cold Places, Jack N the Box, Do Ya Thang, Thank God

I'd never really heard any P.O.S. before this release. I had 'Audition' pretty much since it dropped but never listened to it. Maybe I tried it out but It didn't do much for me, I can't remember. Anyway, with this album it does start off brilliantly with 'Let it Rattle' being a great opener for an album and makes you want to try out the rest of the disc. The next two tracks ain't greatly to my liking. Then 'Purexed' hits which is quality. The very beginning of it reminds me of the start of Prince's 'Purple Rain'. From there, 'Purexed' mixes between almost acapella to drums as fast as Usain Bolt. 'Graves' follows on and is another good song following a similar format with in your face type beats and vocals to changing in the middle to soft light almost relaxing music. I've always liked this type of variety in the one song which System of a Down used to do very well with tracks like 'Aerials' and 'Chop Suey' to name a couple. Moving on and 'Goodbye' reminds me of your more general hip hop tune and not so experimental hip hop I guess as the previous five tracks. It's a bit more chorus based and again works very well and is one of the better tracks. 'Get Smokes' is just okay and not up with the other tracks. But after that 'Been Afraid' is another top song again which uses the variation in tempo mentioned earlier. Following that is 'Low Light Low Life' which instrumental wise would by my favourite. Again like 'Goodbye' it's a lil more general hip hop. 'Never Better' although it never really reaches a climax you feel like its building up the whole time which I think is credit to P.O.S. Overall, this is one of those albums that I had to give a good rating because of some great tracks and the originality. All in all though, it's not all greatly to my liking. The tracks I don't enjoy are the ones that don't have enough melodic moments such as 'Get Smokes and 'Drumroll', but there are about six tracks from this I'd be happy to be played on repeat and a few more not far away. Best Tracks: Purexed, Goodbye, Let it Rattle, Been Afraid, Low Life Low Life, Never Better.

An appropriately titled group who didn't release much music apart from this album, and who are hard to find information on. Some of this is quality boom bap, with a touch of jazz rap at times as well, but one/some of the rappers here have a fairly unlikable voice. I'm guessing that I can attribute this to the white guys on the cover who shout out Toronto a couple of times throughout the songs. Looking at Youtube, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5FnJhHvCAc], one of them purportedly seems to be 'A To The D' who released a song called 'The Renegade Jew' a few years earlier. There is also a Spanish verse thanks to Enamigo on 'Backlash', along with some strong Jamaican rapping on a number of tracks making for a mixture of styles along with the African American rapper/s. Despite the vocal issue at times, this is worth a listen. There wasn't a lot of bad boom bap being released around the mid '90s. Best Tracks: Walkin' on the Wildside, Masta Plan (Remix), Lampin in the Layer, Pressure, Wicked, Masta Plan

I haven't heard his previous album as of yet, so this is my first taste of Rocky apart from hearing him as a feature once or twice. I have seen him put on a pedestal against other new school rappers by some rap fans, but as a rapper, vocally and stylistically, I don't hear anything above average at all. His voice particularly has little presence to it whatsoever. The production by the current 'in' producers such as Hit Boy and Clams Casino among others is good at times, but it is mostly unmemorable and inconsistent, partly made worse due to some bad hooks. On to the songs. I've seen '1 Train' praised on sites like listening to it will cure cancer, and while the beat is good, really though, this song backs up my earlier point. Rocky's verse fails to evoke any emotion from me, basically being forgotten among the other more distinguishable artists. However, Kendrick gets his agitating voice going in the last few bars, I don't know how anyone can like Danny Brown's voice on the song-I've put off listening to his albums which now seems like it was a good idea-but they still all jump out more than Rocky. The only artist's verse who does anything much for me is K.R.I.T. Still though, if Jay was renegaded by Em, Rocky is triple renegaded at the least on '1 Train'. Likewise on 'Fuckin' Problems', which is okay as are some others mentioned below, but if I want some cloud rap like Rocky has attempted here there are better avenues. Best Tracks: Goldie, Fuckin' Problems, 1 Train, Fashion Killa, Phoenix, Ghetto Symphony

Diamonds and Pearls Part 2! While Purple Rain is one of the greatest albums of all time, overall, '90s Prince is my pick of the Prince eras. The sound here follows on from 'Diamonds and Pearls' and features some of his best songs, particularly the higher tempo tunes. '3 Chains O' Gold', with it's hint of Bohemian Rhapsody influence, and multiple change ups, is amazing. The opener is tougher than leather with Prince getting his rapping going. 'The Max' is another banger a few songs later as is 'The Continental' and the closer. There are some average moments, I don't love 'Blue Light' - 'Sweet Baby', but the high moments are fantastic and make up for the couple of poorer moments. Best Tracks: My Name Is Prince, The Max, The Continental, 7, And God Created Woman, 3 Chains O' Gold, The Sacrifice of Victor.