This album faced multiple delays, and it's unfortunate that it didn’t receive the recognition it deserves. Like Mark's debut, it's a strong R&B record that proves he's more than just 'Return of the Mack'. Packed with enjoyable tracks and standout moments, it’s well worth a listen. The Deluxe Edition, which I checked out, offers some great variations of the best songs and is worth exploring. Best Tracks: Innocent Man, Blackstabbers (Panjabi MC Remix), Friday, Just a Man, Wanna Be Your Man 2.0, Just a Man (Duet Version), Blackstabbers (Daz Dillinger Remix), Wanna Be Your Man

Silkk, Master P's brother, has a reputation for being a joke of a rapper, but I don't hear anything that terrible. He fits right in with most of No Limit’s roster—mostly forgettable, just like the albums themselves. The common complaint about his offbeat flow (which Silkk claims was intentional) doesn’t really bother me. He doesn’t glide from one bar to the next like the best of them, but the bigger issues here are the average production and content, or lack thereof, rather than Silkk's delivery. Some of the keyboard work sounds especially cheap and unpolished—just listen to 'No Limit Party' and the title track for proof. That said, 'No Limit Party' does have some enjoyable instrumentation switches. The transition from '1 Morning' to 'How We Mobb' even makes it feel like one long track. Meanwhile, 'Why My Homie' sounds like it had trouble ripping from a CD—there’s a weird whirling sound... There are a few decent moments. 'Free Loaders' has a nice funkiness, and 'If My 9 Could Talk' carries a dark, menacing vibe. But overall, there isn’t much here that stands out. While the weaker moments maybe aren’t as bad as some of No Limit’s worst projects, there’s nothing worth revisiting either. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: I Ain't Takin No Shorts, Free Loaders, If My 9 Could Talk

For most artists, creating a concise project can be a smart move, but it’s especially true for a veteran who might not have much left to prove. This project is a tight seven-track collection. Poohh kicks things off with 'Prayed', which leans heavily into brag rap, reflecting on his 16-year career and how he’s still standing. It’s a solid bangin' opener. On 'Expose', Poohh calls out fake rappers, seemingly channeling Mack 10’s flow with lines like, "Be careful of the pictures you paint, pretending to be something you ain't." 'Oakland' pays homage to the people he still rides with. The title track revisits his classic 'Fuckin With Dank', featuring Yukmouth, Keak Da Sneak, and Dru Down. 'Better Wayz' shifts the tone, encouraging youth to follow the right path. The most emotional moment comes with 'No More Tears', where a heartfelt sung hook underscores Poohh’s plea for unity and his lament over the loss of young lives and the hypocrisy of certain movements: "They say the children are our future, well our future looks bleak, cause all I see is the blood of our future in the streets. All I hear is black lives matter, but do black lives matter when it's your kid holding the clapper?" It’s an easy listen, and while there’s nothing groundbreaking here, the stronger moments come when he’s more opinionated, delving into social issues on tracks like 'No More Tears'. Pooh remains an enjoyable rapper to hear, but the production and subject matter on much of the project won’t leave a lasting impression on most listeners. Beats: ★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Exposed, Cookies N' Drank, No More Tears 1. Prayed 56 2. Exposed 60 3. Oakland 60 4. Cookies N' Drank 70 5. Better Wayz 70 6. Watt You Smokin 44 7. No More Tears 74

I decided to check this out, mostly because of the impressive rap feature lineup. Allure, the first group signed to Mariah Carey's Crave Records, has a sound that closely mirrors hers—you can easily picture Mariah singing many of these tracks. While it’s a solid late '90s R&B album with a cohesive vibe, there’s nothing groundbreaking about it. Best Tracks: You're Gonna Love Me, All Cried Out, When You Need Someone

I've revisited Mystikal's albums over the past week or two, and while I felt I was originally overly critical of some of his work, my opinion hasn’t changed on this one. Often cited as his best, I actually think this is Mystikal's worst album. That signature No Limit sound is prominent here—and not in a good way. The average, standard beats that plague many No Limit releases are all too present. Mystikal’s energy helps salvage some tracks, but it’s not enough to elevate the album as a whole. One standout is the Scarface-themed 'Did I Do That'. Like 'I'm' from his debut, it’s one of Mystikal’s best songs and works really well—but moments like this are rare here. 'It Yearns' is hard as nails and is the kind of song that most of my favourite Mystikal tracks fall under. The song samples four tracks, most notably ESG's frequently sampled 'UFO'. Meanwhile, the bluesy 'Sleepin' With Me' showcases Mystikal’s engaging storytelling, which is a recurring strength across his projects, and stands out as one of the better tracks. The album's closer, 'Shine', dials down the aggression and works well, ending things on a positive note. Other notable tracks include 'Murder 2', a powerful message aimed at the man who murdered Mystikal's sister—a theme that would reappear throughout his career. '13 Years' reflects on his journey to No Limit Records. 'Dick on the Track' might seem dismissible at first glance, but Mystikal approaches it creatively, combining personification of music with themes of sex. Unfortunately, the opener, 'Born 2 Be a Soldier', doesn’t leave much of an impression. While the rappers deliver, the instrumentation falls flat. 'Ain’t No Limit' suffers the same fate. 'Ghetto Child' takes a more introspective and emotional route, but it lacks a hook to make it memorable. 'Here We Go' is a weak track, and 'We Got the Clout' is hookless, leaving much of the album’s middle section feeling uninspired, but it does improve. In the end, I still believe this is Mystikal’s weakest effort. Aside from 'Did I Do That', there aren’t any amazing tracks. Compared to his other albums, this one lacks the production quality, memorable hooks, and, in many cases, stronger features that define his best work. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: 13 Years, Did I Do It, Sleepin' With Me, It Yearns 1. Born 2 Be a Soldier 60 2. Murder 2 70 3. 13 Years 80 4. Unpredictable 70 5. Ain't No Limit 56 6. Ghetto Child 50 7. Did I Do It 99 8. Here We Go 50 9. We Got the Clout 40 10. Still Smokin' 50 11. U Can't Handle This 64 12. The Man Right Chea 50 13. Dick on the Track 66 14. Sleepin' With Me 75 15. It Yearns 90 16. Gangstas 63 17. Shine 74