If this was the first time I heard an Apollo Brown production, I think I may love it, but having listened to him for a long time now, from the first song, with those slow drums and stringy melody, you know what you're getting, and have for a while. Philmore Greene is a good enough MC, with a commanding voice and fine flow, but he is the same type of conscious rapper Apollo has been working with as well. It's nice and consistent boom bap but isn't much new meaning it probably won't be revisited. Best Tracks: Keep Goin', Steep Life, Just Imagine, Where's the Love

"Still got the same flame behind me from the Hate Me Now video" Nas has been rapping as well as ever on these Hit-Boy collaborations but none of their four projects have wowed me. I've been trying to put my finger on why that is and there is a common theme in my reviews of the KD series and Magic - The lack of catchy hooks. Where are the hooks like 'Small World'? 'Hate Me Now'? 'Nas Is Like'? 'Bye Baby'? 'Made You Look'? They don't exist. The verses are fire, and again, the production is another improvement overall on 'KDII', and to a lesser degree 'Magic', but I want some better hook writing! Some of the hooks are just talking, other songs don't seem to have one, some have them but aren't catchy and/or don't have anything different from Hit-Boy in the production department to make the chorus standout from the verses. One of the more memorable hooks is the one with the uncredited Mario vocals on 'Serious Interlude', along with the 'I'm on Fire' vocals/sample(?). On 'Serious Interlude', about 50 seconds in, you can clearly hear Nas jump in and out of the verse that isn't something I've noticed before. Nevertheless, this is still an extremely consistent album and one that has grown on me as I've spun it half a dozen times. The least likeable moments for me are 'WTF SMH', that has lazy Kanye like repetitive sampling(?) in the second half, and then the final bonus track doesn't have great production either. Those aside though, as mentioned, apart from wanting some more memorable hooks, you can't fault this much. There are original song topics like 'First Time' that add to its creativity, the beats bang more overall that the previous Hit-Boy production and Nas continues to bring it as he has since '91. Beats: ★★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★★ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: Legit, Thun, Michael & Quincy, Hood2Hood, Reminisce, Serious Interlude, I’m on Fire, Get Light, First Time, Beef

This is Mr. Cheeks' first solo album away from his group, the Lost Boyz. What kind of a name is 'Mr. Cheeks' by the way?... Anyway, this is a decent project with lots of good music with a number of tracks toeing the line nicely between boom bap but still feeling somewhat poppy. There are lots of little funk touches throughout the album. As a rapper, Cheeks doesn't do anything to stand out from the crowd. After a number of plays, I can't say a bar, flow, presence, or anything has caught my ear. The lack of any great song also lets this down. Ratings albums like this is always difficult because I find its consistency very good, but there are no amazing high points. The only song I feel an urge to skip is the closer, 'Major'. A light 3.5/5 for its consistency. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Light Camera Action!, Worldwide Bouncin, What the Fuck Is This, Till Me Meet Again, I Remember

My revisiting of Ludacris' albums is complete! I consider 'Battle of the Sexes' as a spinoff album from Ludacris' discography, so this was his first real album from him for 7 years since 'Theater of the Mind'. All of Ludacris' albums begin with just some hard spitting and we have it here again. It doesn't match his best openers but is still decent. 'Grass Is Always Greener' sees Luda rapping about the yin and yang/pros and cons of life. "Did some movies and started missing this rap shit/Back to rap then starting missing them movies." The "fly fly butterfly" part is a kind of meh, but the content and verses are compelling enough to be worth repeated listens. 'Call Ya Bluff'' is harder with more brag rap that Ludacris has often done. Catchy dope hook on this one that you'll be rapping along with the second time you hear it. It's one of the best on the album. 'Lyrical Healing' is a short song with one minute of more brag rap that continues on 'Beast Mode' that features lots of punchlines. It's just three minutes of bars, and is also another strong song. Enjoyable production and spitting. Next, the stupid immature skits are back from Luda with the 'Viagra Skit' where a man with priapism calls for help but doesn't receive the desired response. 'Get Lit' is another pro-drinking song to add to Luda's catalogue. The production is the least likeable of the songs so far, but the rapping is entertaining. This is my least favourite on the disc. Given how talented they both are, the KRIT collaboration doesn't live up to the hype. It's okay but it's unmemorable with the content being uninteresting, the hook not particularly catchy, and it's one of the most average songs here. I may like some songs less than this, but this really just comes and goes. The next three songs feature well known R&B singers. Content wise, 'Ocean Skies' is the most interesting with it being about his deceased father's passing and alcoholism. The souly Usher assisted 'Not Long' is the best of them though. The more poppy songs here are much less extreme than on 'Theater of Mind' and are better songs. Most of 'Charge It to the Rap Game' is about the shady parts of the rap game. Lyrically it keeps me entertained with Luda being honest about rappers talking shit but the production isn't good enough to make this one of the best on the album. The standard version finishes with 'This Has Been My World' that samples Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature'. It's a strong finish here where Ludacris celebrates his life and career for some positivity after the previous song. The deluxe edition then has four songs from the 'Burning Bridges' EP. "Money' with Rick Ross is the best of them. Ludacris raps about cash being the root of all evil and the problems that have come with his wealth. "I'm gettin' sued by my own family member (what?)/All cause my dog bit her/And she was the one who walked up and put her hand out." It's okay, but Rick's verse has no energy coming off Ludacris' that hurts the song a touch. 'Burning Bridges' sounds like it's trying too hard and doesn't pull it off to be great. They are all good tracks though. In comparison to his previous projects, it continues from 'Release Therapy' to have more serious content. It's definitely more consistent than 'Theater of Mind', and to be honest, most of his albums, but the high points are nowhere near his best. And for that reason rating and ordering albums is always difficult. How much weight is given to the amazing moments? How much do we take off if a few songs stink? From checking out his discography over the last couple of weeks, I will eventually come up with my definitive top list of Luda songs, but for now, I don't think any of these make a top 30 list. As I type this in 2022, it looks like 'Ludaversal' may be Luda's last ever album. If that is true, it is a decent way to go out. His rapping was still incredibly engaging, it's a consistent body of work with plenty of songs to enjoy lyrically, and the production is nice enough. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★★★ Best Tracks: Call Ya Bluff, Beast Mode, This Has Been My World, Money Songs ordered (best-worst): Call Ya Bluff ★★★★ This Has Been My World ★★★★ Money ★★★★ Beast Mode ★★★★ Burning Bridges ★★★☆ Not Long ★★★☆ Grass Is Always Greener ★★★☆ Ocean Skies ★★★☆ Charge It to the Rap Game ★★★☆ Problems ★★★☆ In My Life ★★★☆ Ludaversal (Intro) ★★★ Good Lovin ★★★ Come and See Me ★★★ Lyrical Healing ★★★ Come and See Me (Interlude) ★★★ Get Lit ★★ Viagra (Skit)

I'm still not in love with all of the production gelling with Nas' style, but there is more here I like than KD1 that was an album I didn't get the fuss with at all. Hit-Boy's production is better, Nas spits some more interesting content and then you've got the Em feature that is something we've all been waiting for. As I began with though, not enough wows me to rank this as highly as many fans have. 'Death Row East' is one of the few that does have production I love with Nas' flow being more engaging, plus the content, 'EMPD 2' is a highlight for the rapping from all involved, 'Rare' has an interesting beat change and 'Count Me In' is one of my favourite rapping performances with a darkish beat, making for a few of my favourite moments. Best Tracks: Death Row East, EPMD 2, Rare, Count Me In