The album falls into monotony quickly, with tracks blending into one another and even echoing earlier Tribe material. The closer, 'Stressed Out', stands apart with its west coast-styled hook, but overall this feels like their weakest effort. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Phony Rappers, Jam, Stressed Out

The score, by Howard Drossin, especially during the first half of the movie, is one of the worst I've heard. It's generic, doesn't match the tone of the scenes, is over the top, and at times feels more suited to a soap opera than this film. Whoever okayed it, Spike Lee or whoever else, needs a flogging. I legitimately thought I had another app open that was playing music. There are also a few edits that are poor including one where one second, Denzel, (if memory serves me correct), is seemingly in two places at once the way it's cut. The acting, particularly from the cop, Detective Higgins (played by Dean Winters), and the rapper, Yung Felon, (A$AP Rocky), is unconvincing and odd, as is the detectives' decision making. Detective Higgins also is an asshole from the start for no reason, but that seems to change somewhat at the end. They didn't need a rapper for the role of Yung Felon either. Just get someone who can act. The ease at which Felon was caught felt anti-climatic too. At it's core, the story is decent - the best scene is when David King (Denzel Washington) meets Felon in the recording studio - but it's undercooked and, my God, that score...

This has enough good moments, but the sound can be too similar throughout the project. The bars can be quite simple at times. Listening to it, I'd think it was more mid than late '90s which isn't a bad thing. All in all though the production is quite strong as expected from Tribe. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Steppin' It Up, Like It Like That, Common Ground (Get It Goin' On), Pad & Pen, The Love, Scenario (Remix)

Soundtracks are often hit or miss, but this one holds together more consistently than most. It starts with a few passable tracks before Tank and Ja Rule's 'Race Against Time Part 2,' which kicks off a stretch of stronger cuts, including R. Kelly’s simple yet enjoyable ballad 'Take My Time Tonight.' The opener heavily samples 'Seven Minutes of Funk' by The Whole Darn Family. I prefer Faith's original. 'Freestyle' has Boo and Gotti spitting over Dre’s 'The Watcher' and 'Fuck You,' while Fat Joe rides the hard beat of 'Hustlin'' smoothly even if the subject matter feels tired. Unfortunately, 'Cali Diseaz' drags too much to stand alongside Nate Dogg’s long list of classic features. Petey Pablo’s 'Didn’t I' recalls Juvenile’s 'Ha,' except with the hook flipped to "Didn’t I" which is one of the album’s catchiest moments. Meanwhile, 'Put It on Me (Remix)' plays like just another Ja pop-rap cut without lifting itself above the pack. All in all, this isn't a bad mix of early '00s hip hop, but there aren’t many standouts you’ll be returning to. Best Tracks: Race Against Time Part 2, Furious, Take My Time Tonight, Hustlin', Didn't I

'Ion Care' kind of goes hard, as does 'Fine Shit', and 'Church' has a memorable hook. 'Come Here' borrows from my personal favourite, 'Falsetto' by The-Dream, so that is instantly likeable. This is basically though the same old boss-bitch lyrics over trap beats we've all heard before. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★☆ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Church, Ion Care, Come Here, Fine Shit