As I wrote this, this was the last Naughty album as a trio and most would say their worst together, and I can't disagree with that. It's more poppy than their previous albums so it will turn pop-rap haters off once they've reached the middle of the album. I think these guys were one of the better groups at touching pop rap though, largely thanks to Kay Gee who produced it so well and Treach sounding so great over the beats. Some of the grittier sounding tracks like 'Ring the Alarm' are more than decent as well and 'Live or Die' is quite menacing too. I'm probably overrating it being a long time fan, but there is still enough enjoyable stuff for the ears and there is nothing bad. Although if you were to make a top ten or twenty list of their best songs, 'Holiday' is the only possible one from this album that could make it I'd say. Worth a listen for fans but otherwise check out there first three albums. Scrapes in for a 4/5 from a long time fan. Best Tracks: Ring The Alarm, Holiday, Jamboree, Radio, Would've Done the Same for Me, The Blues

'Hot in Herre' was one the early hip hop tracks I was obsessed with as I was really starting to get into the genre in a major way. I had it on a mixtape and used to listen to it on a walkman on repeat. At this time Nelly was everywhere. 'Dilemma' was massive and on the radio constantly. I never liked it the way I did 'Hot in Herre' though. The other singles '#1', 'Air Force Ones' and 'Pimp Juice' are some of the other stronger songs, with only 'Work It' not fitting into that category. Aside from that, a number get boring with 'CG 2' being one of the main offenders. Overall it's a decent pop rap album from one of guys who made rapping and singing popular. 2.5-3 /5 Best Tracks: Hot in Herre, Pimp Juice, Air Force Ones, Dilemma, The Gank, #1

I have given this a number of spins and tries but I come away from it with little. I had to look up what 'Bicken Back Being Bool' means but that makes for a catchy memorable hook. Apart from that.. ehhh. Nothing much.. I've seen this compared to GKMC, but YG doesn't make me pay much attention at all to what he is saying like Kendrick can. This trap shit is way passed its shelf life and YG isn't captivating, nor does he bring much new to this rap game.

I've been trying some highly-rated albums in genres I don't venture near too often and after checking out a few I'm on an upward trajectory here. This is toe-tapping/headbanging music. I've listened to and enjoyed the only other Metallica album I've rated, the self-titled release, so I kind of knew what I'd be getting. Good thrash. Early thoughts are that most of the songs sound very similar though. I'm not feeling the last song much.

Given the huge R. Kelly fan that I am, I wonder why it took me so long to check this out. It's bewildering. This was the planned album that ended up being 'Chocolate Factory' after bootlegging. Some of these songs survived on the aforementioned album, some made it on future albums like 'U Saved Me', others were given to Joe, my other favourite R&B singer and a label-mate of R. Kelly, and others remained as leaks. Overall, I think this is better than the well-received 'Chocolate Factory'. The two songs he gave Joe are great. I've heard them sung by joe lots of times so it's a little unfair to compare but 'Make You My Baby' is probably on par while I prefer Joe's 'More and More'. The operatic version of 'I Believe I Can Fly', here called 'Fly', is epic but probably too much. While listening to it I ask myself how seriously he is taking it, a little like 'Trapped in the Closet. I've never loved the original 'Step in the Name of Love'. I mention in my review of CF that the remix is so superior, just like the 'Ignition (Remix)' that it makes the 'originals' feel a little pointless. Best Tracks: Spirit, Worlds Greatest, Make You My Baby, Come to Daddy, Leap of Faith