It's a shame that Shyne seems to have lost his voice while he was incarcerated. He had this great raw style on this and his debut which work well over the right beats, for which this album, more so than his debut has. There are only a few songs that don't work. 'Jimmy Choo', with Ashanti, is too pop for Shyne, 'The Gang' beat is lacking and 'Behind the Walls' doesn't suit him or fit in with the rest of the album's production. The production itself comes from some big names, and Shyne himself provides the beat for a diss track that was recorded from a phone from prison, 'For the Record', along with co-producing a couple of others. It's a tight 4/5 as a few don't work but I love the best few. Best Tracks: More or Less, Shyne, Martyr, Godfather, Edge, Diamonds & Mac-10s

The original version, 'God's Son', is better, and this having clean acapellas over 9th Wonder's beats doesn't help (creates a few gaps in songs), but this is still a good remix album and works better than 9th Wonder's other major remix album from around the same time 'Black Is Back'. The only thing certainly better on this to the original is 'Thugz Mansion' which I think improves on the original - it gives it an actual beat. Elsewhere, the original 'Made You Look' is a great alternative with the 'Broken Wing Bird' sample working greatly. Other than that, all the originals are probably better, but most add something different like 'Hey Nas' which makes the song sound much rawer than its original. The biggest negative difference to the originals as far as enjoyment goes for me is 'Get Down' that doesn't feature a chorus and just lets the beat roll which lets the track down and 'Book of Rhymes' that has a boring beat. Like much of this remix album, with the one track from Stillmatic, 'Ether', 9th Wonder brings down the intensity of the song and makes it a touch more soulful. It you like the underrated God's Son, this is well worth checking out.

I've never loved Lupe's beat selection—even on his acclaimed debut—and there isn't a lot here that blows me away either, but it's comfortably better than his previous two albums, as far as it being a cohesive project goes, as I feel the production more. The only thing I don't like on this is 'Bitch Bad', because no matter how relevant the message is in this song, it isn't brought forward in a way that is very entertaining. Much of the subject matter has been heard before throughout the album, but as Lupe says on 'ITAL', "I know you’re sayin’, Lupe rappin' 'bout the same shit, well, that's cause ain’t shit changed bitch." I also ask the question of what albums these days offer something that is very much original lyrically? It seems okay to be repetitive with pop rap or gangsta rap, but with conscious hip hop it is frowned upon. The rapping is dope though and makes the album for me, as Lupe takes ownership of the songs using a variety of flows, and I don't think that this feels like a 70-minute album. A few songs could have been left in the studio—largely between tracks 9-12—but I don't understand the hate and I enjoy the majority of this album. Best Tracks: Strange Fruition, ITAL (Roses), Around My Way, Audubon Ballroom, Lamborghini Angels, Cold War

Given my feelings on other Cash Money music I may be rating this a lil' high because it was one of the earlier albums I heard as I was getting into hip hop. Nonetheless, I have gone back to it numerous times and it still does something for me years later. It begins very well, the production of the first 6 songs or so are quality, most middle tracks are solid bar a few fillers, and it also ends well. Much, much better than his first solo album and his latest. Lyrically it's fairly generic about cash, chicks and being a G as you'd expect, but the production and flow just works for me throughout this disc. Well worth a listen, especially if you like any of his other work. Some dope beatz! Beats: ★★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Neck of the Woods, Ghetto Life, Smoke Out, Big Pimpin, Solid Chic, Get Your Shine On

Neek had been around a while before this album dropped with some singles from this album dating back to 1998. He is a good rapper with a natural quick flow who deserves more time on wax. The beats are produced by one of the best to produce a hip hop record, Large Pro, except for 'Cake Up' and 'Letter to Ma' that are produced by J. Love. There is a slow moment or two like 'Make That Money' that has an average beat, but the opener, title track and others make up for it. If you like Large Pro's boom bap beats you should find something here. Best Tracks: N.E.E.K., Don't Stop, Exotic's Raw, Backs & Necks, The Mothafuckin Man