Looking through my ratings there is definitely a pattern of RZA produced albums being rated lower than the average. Others praise him like he is the best thing that happened to hip hop, but his creations do not do enough for me often enough. In saying this, I enjoy a number of these beats more than some other material that I've heard, but there is still something about them that stop me loving them. The rapping is what you expect from a rapper from or affiliated with the Wu, great. 'Verbal Intercourse' kinds of sums it up for me. Some great rapping and verses, but does anyone actually think that this is a great beat? I couldn't give it more than 3.5/5 Best Tracks: Criminology, Ice Cream, Guillotine (Swordz)

Another one of those under-heard west coast gems (these rappers were featured on another west coast hidden gem in Rappin' Ron & Ant Diddley Dog's 'Bad N Fluenz', that is well worth listening to as well. At seven songs, this album should be consistent and it definitely ticks that box with great production throughout the disc and gangsta rap rhymes. People really were spoilt back in the mid '90s for great rap, so it's understandable that you're going to have lesser known projects like this. Best Tracks: We Don't Love Em', The Weekend, Not to Be Fucked Wit

This one is a mixed bag. It begins with a who's who list of rappers but the loop on 'Banned From TV' is monotonous. Five minutes of that? No thanks. I'm not surprised it's a Swizz Beatz beat. 'Mathematics' has another weak beat, sounding like a nursery rhyme and is very late '90s. 'Fiesta' is one of the worst here as well, and the love 'Superthug' gets surprises me. Maybe there's some nostalgia associated with it? Again, it's a product of its time with the beat being average in my opinion and the hook just consisting of "what" on repeat. Aside from those though, it's decent-great. Da dark Asian sounding beat of 'Da Story' is fantastic, and one of, if not the best moment here. 'It's Not a Game' features classically sounding east coast menacing boom bap production. It finishes well with 'The Assignment and 'Body in the Trunk' being other strong cuts. There is also some decent pop-rap on offer with 'I Love My Life' and 'The Way We Live'. I often refer to distinctiveness being important for a rapper, and I don't think Noreaga is that. He sounds like a lot of other rappers. Nas' voice is distinctive. Pun's is distinctive. Nore's isn't. I'd struggle to pick him out of a crowd. Overall, as I started with, this is a mixed bag. The rapping is always likeable but doesn't stand out too much, the skits ruin its flow, and there are a handful of poor beats. Not far from a 3.5/5 though based on its strengths. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: It's Not a Game, 40 Island, The Change, Da Story, The Assignment, Body in the Trunk

After the EPMD breakup, Erick went solo. He was always the more important member of the duo, beat making and providing a bit more feel when on the mic. Sermon has always been an under talked about producer. He has played an important role in a number of careers such as with Redman, Keith Murray, and even made Shaq sound good on his debut, contributing a number of tracks there. The beats here are what you expect from E-Double; Some funk influence beats with many samples that never get boring. Lyrically, Sermon is also fun to listen to, with plenty of humour in his bars and a number of name-drops and references. Tracks for track, while it never falls away a lot, it is definitely front-loaded as most of the first seven tunes are stronger than what comes in the second half. Best Tracks: Payback II, Stay Real, Imma Gitz Mine, Hostile, Safe Sex

Z-Ro has said this will be his last. However, he finishes the album with 'He's Not Done' which features lines such as, "They don't really know who they are fucking with / I am Michael Jordan I retire / Come back and retire again for the fuck of it." It's also rap... There have been few rappers who have actually retired when they first say they will. But, if it is his last, he has left us with a brilliant discography. This album follows his last few, probably since 'The Crown' in that there is a lot of singin'/rappin'. As I mentioned in my review of one of his recent albums, I'd prefer a 16 or two of rapid-fire rapping that Z-Ro does as good as anyone but by doing what he does, he creates nice gangster crooning. He sings on 'Lost My Mind' - "Sometimes I'm cool, sometimes I'm not. You might get a handshake or you might get shot." Or on 'Lit Up' - "Now, how can I ball? / How can I ball? / How can I catch my energy and murder them aaaallllll?" He sings these violent lines in such a relaxed and controlled manner. It's brilliant. The benefit of his singing talent also allows him to create some immediately engaging hooks that you'll be singing along with after one listen. "Here's an invitation from the other side / We're just trying to live a better life / I see the suffering in your eyes / I don't know about you but I gotta survive." - He sings on 'From the Other Side'. To compare it to his last few albums where R&B could be a genre, it's probably more consistent. 'Kiwi' is the only cut I'm not feeling a lot, partly because topically it's basically 'Porcupine' from the aforementioned album. However, there's nothing I like as much as 'Women Men' from 'Legendary' or 'Come With Me' from 'Drankin & Drivin'. Best Tracks: From the Other Side, Brang a Stacc, Devil in Me, Play Me, Lit Up, He's Not Done