His Most Inconsistent Album 'Holler If Ya Hear Me' is a classic Pac anthem. The two interludes are laced with nice laid back production making them worthwhile as well. 'Point the Finga' goes hard, as does 'Last Words' featuring the two Ices. Upon revisiting the album at this stage I'm wondering why I haven't rated this album higher. However, it soon becomes apparent as it falls into problems for a run of tracks, where the production falls into a hole - not a large one, but they just get a touch boring. Even 'Keep Ya Head Up', with its important lyrics, just doesn't have interesting enough production. There is also 'Guess Who's Back' in the middle of the album that feels like it should be an introductory song. As I had thought may have been the case, on the cassette issue, it begins side B which makes sense I suppose. It gets better from there though. The title track 'Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...' is an improvement. As is the Nostradamus like titled 'The Streetz R Deathrow' that features samples that have been used on other great hip hop songs. Then the last three songs go well as well with 'I Get Around', 'Papa'z Song' and '5 Deadly Venomz'. The Ice Cube influence on Pac is very evident here, with the Don Mega being sampled and featured, along with the aspects of the production throughout the album being similar to early Cube releases. It's consistent in that all the worst songs are basically bundled together in the middle, but overall it is the Pac album with the most average songs, largely due to weak production, and the least great songs. Best Tracks: Holla If Ya Hear Me, Point the Finga, Last Words, The Streetz R Deathrow, I Get Around

ANOTHER underheard west coast release. The best on this are funky, contagious songs with engaging rapping. Best Tracks: 602, I Remember, It's on Me

Kevin reminds me of a mixture of Future (who I dislike) and Young Buck (who I like), particularly when he yells and the topics at hand. There are too many similar-sounding beats and songs here, but the good ones driven by contagious hooks-Future's strength if he has one-make songs worthy of replaying. Best Tracks: 4 Legs and a Biscuit, MYB, 4:30AM, Smiling Faces

Another fairly good album from beginning to end from the group in the space of nine months, but Volume One is a fair way better as far as I'm concerned. There are only a couple of tracks to put on repeat from this while Volume One has better production throughout with most tracks being quality. Best Tracks: Imperial, Heart, To Be for Real, Nothing to Give (Live), Cocaine, Running Wild

After the opening skit, Strange Journey Volume One kicks off with 'Nothing But Strangeness'. I'm not a huge fan of the strong Aussie accent in the second verse of it but nevertheless, it's an alright opener, but everything apart from 'Hypnotized' after that is an improvement. I've always loved hip hop with strings/orchestral influences which makes the live 'Lynguistics' enjoyable. Following that is 'Move' which is awesome, and I would cite it as my pick from this disc. The only thing that stops a couple of tunes like 'Never Come Down', 'Die for You' and 'K.K.K.Y.' being grouped with the above songs are the chorues. It's almost chip-monkish and a tad annoying. Don't get it twisted though I still like 'em, but they are brought down by the chorus. To sum up, Strange Journey Volume One has brilliant production by Kno with good verses and rapping more often than not. With better choruses on those tracks mentioned this is a possible 4.5 / 5. They bother me a bit though which is a shame. Still though, 4/5, plenty of good tracks and apart from 'Hypnotized', which I don't feel much, there is something to like in every song. Best Tracks: Move, Spark My Soul, K.K.K.Y., Georgia, Die for You.