It's only been about 10 months since his last (and his worst) solo, and thank God he didn't wait too long. Of his 10 albums, this is probably his 2nd best one (I don't have his debut solo from 1993). To his catalog over the last 17 years, he has 3 I'd give 4.5 stars, 1 I'd say is borderline 4/4.5 stars, 3 I'd give 4 stars, and one is border 3/3.5 stars. This one is his strongest of his last 3 albums, 5 years and goes back to being hard/street oriented and not as much Pop/radi friendly songs as his last 3 albums. Of the 13 songs on here, 2 are classics, 2 are ok, the other 8 are good or real good songs. Guests are on 8 of the 13, rapping on 3 and doing the hook on 5 songs. Production is nice as well. Cool & Dre, Infamous, Scoop Deville, and Raw Uncut all do 2 songs, Scram Jones, Just Blaze, DJ Premier, Street Runner and Dope Boyz all do 1. A nice album to have and his best album in quite some time.
#1 - 9 (nice beat)
#2 - 8.5 (nice old school beat)
#3 - 9 (tight beat and storyline about the growth of crack)
#4 - 9 (f/ Clipse & Cam'ron -- good beat)
#5 - 8.5
#6 - 9 (f/ Young Jeezy -- nice beat)
#7 - 7 (f/ Trey Songz)
#8 - 7 (f/ Rico Love)
#9 - 10 (CLASSIC -- f/ R. Kelly -- great beat)
#10 - 10 (CLASSIC -- f/ TA & Too $hort -- great beat)
#11 - 8.5 (f/ Lil Wayne, who thankfully only does the hook)(
#12 - 9 (nice beat)
#13 - 8 (f/ Busta Rhymes on the hook)
Joseph Cartagena -- b. 8/19/72 -- Bronx, NY
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