Gangster & A Gentleman

Styles P, Styles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 9, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B000068TND
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,149 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Styles doesn't disappoint, July 31, 2002

By 

Reviewer (NEW YORK CITY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gangster & A Gentleman (Audio CD)

The solo effort from Styles of the Lox was one a CD I was really looking foward to listening to. With the blazing singles "Good Times" and "The Life" how couldn't you have high expectations for Holiday Styles? Especially with the let down of Jadakiss's solo debut, I was expecting a little more out of the Lox's resident gangsta.

Well, on to the CD. Styles P really does a good job of showing his versatility on this CD, with tracks like "Lick Shots", "I'm A Ruffryder", and "Black Magic", as he switches easily back and forth from the hardcore killer to the gentlemen. With great lyrics and dark beats, Styles gives you the dark gutter feeling all the Lox albums have. The title track, produced by Alchemist, who was also responsible for Jadakiss's "We Gonna Make It", is a perfect example of this.

What makes this CD so good is Style's distinct delivery and flow, as well as good guest appearances from Lil' Mo, Eve, Angie Stone, and the rest of the Lox. Unlike Jadakiss's debut, which had only a few solo cuts, Styles P leaves some tracks just for himself, like "My Brother", one of the better tribute songs out. Some of the only gripes I have with this CD is the running time, which is a bit long, and the absence of DMX, the lead Ruff Ryder. Other than that, I would say that Styles solo effort was a great success.

So, if you're a fan of hardcore East Coast rap or a fan of the Lox, then this CD won't let you down. This should be a sign of better things to come for the Ruff Ryders, as planned upcoming releases from Eve, Jadakiss, DMX, and a new Lox album look to make the Ruff Ryders emerge as the top record label in the game.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive debut, December 18, 2002

By 

Lynn Robinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gangster & A Gentleman (Audio CD)

I always though Jada and Sheek were the top MCs of the LOX, but Styles himself to be a solid MC himself. The title of the album is on point because the tracks are balanced between gangsta rap and more social, "gentleman" rap. Nearly every track on the album is solid. The only songs I didn't like were And I Came To and Get Paid. Lick Shots, I'm a Ruffryder, We Thugs, and The Life are solid gangsta tracks. Noboby Believes Me is one of the most original songs I've ever heard. Y'all Know We in Here is a good up-tempo, club track. A Gangster and a Gentleman, Black Magic, Daddy Get That Cash, and My Brother are good introspective songs. Styles is a solid MC by himself, but he also gets help from his guests. Jada and Sheek stop by, as do Eve, J-Hood, Swizz Beatz, PK, Angie Stone, Lil Mo, Cross, and MOP. Production is also solid, provided by Swizz Beatz, Saint Denson, P Killer, The Alchemist, Rockwilder, DJ Twinz, Mr. Devine, DJ Shok, Clue and Duro, and Tank. This is a very impressive debut by Styles, featuring excellent tracks, lyrics, MCing, guests, and production. Much better than Jada's debut.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gangsters ride, gentlemen live your life......, July 25, 2002

By 

J. Highsmith (Mitchellville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gangster & A Gentleman (Audio CD)

After blessin' us on 2 LOX CDs and 3 Ruff Ryders' Compilation CDs, David Styles finally gets a chance to shine on his own. The LOX are famous for their guest appearances on several CDs in the past few years. Everyone knew that Jadakiss would eventually have a solo release out, but the same people that were screamin' for a Jada CD were also calling for a Styles solo CD as well. "A Gangster And A Gentleman" gives Styles Paniro a chance for his fans to hear both sides of his rap personality. Most people have heard his gangsta side on several occasions, especially since the LOX left Bad Boy Records. On the first single "Good Times", Styles impresses me by showing me that he can carry a song on his own. 95% of people that have heard Styles, have only heard him on collaborations with his group. By using a sample of Freda Payne's "I Get High (On Your Memory)", Styles definitely has a thug national anthem for the Summer of 2002 that will atleast push "A Gangster And A Gentleman" to gold status. After listening to his CD, you can tell that Styles is trying to please both audiences. Everything isn't as grimey as you think. Songs like "Daddy Get That Cash" w/Lil Mo, "Y'all Know We In Here" w/Swizz Beatz and P.K. and "And I Came To" w/Eve & Sheek are clearly attempts to get Styles radio play and to show the ladies and the "sensitive thugs" that he can also display different rhyme styles. Styles is at his best when he keeps his grimey ways. "Lick Shots" is classic LOX. Jadakiss' verse is almost as good as any verse on his "Kiss The Game Goodbye" CD and Sheek and J-Hood represent something lovely. The best beat on the CD is clearly on my favorite song on this CD, "We Thugs (My N*****)" w/Jadakiss & Sheek. DJ Clue & Duro should have saved this hot beat for Fabolous, Paul Cain or Joe Buddens. When the LOX go back and forth line for line, there aren't many groups out that can top that. The production is on point for the whole CD with Swizz Beats, DJ Shok, The Alchemist, P Killer, Icepick and others contributing tracks. The only complaints that one could have about this CD is that 1) it sounds the same as any other LOX record, 2) some of Swizz' beats could use a little retooling. "...And I Came To" is just plain boring, even though Styles, Eve & Sheek have tight lyrics on the song and 3) there are too many skits on the CD. At 24 tracks and almost 80 minutes of material, everything would flow better without all of the skits in between songs. Other songs worth checkin' out are "Soul Clap", "Black Magic" w/Angie Stone, "I'm A Ruff Ryder" w/Jadakiss, "Y'all Don't Wanna F***" w/MOP, "Nobody Believes Me" w/Sheek & Cross and a heartfelt tribute to his murdered brother, "My Brother". As an added bonus track, you also get "The Life" w/Pharoahe Monch, that was included on the Soundbombing III Compilation CD. Overall, Styles shows that he has tremendous potential on his debut CD. Finally, he has been given a chance to shine outside of the LOX and believe me he shines very well.

James' Top 5

1. We Thugs (My N*****) w/Jadakiss & Styles
2. Good Times
3. I'm A Ruff Ryder w/Jadakiss
4. Lick Shots w/Jadakiss, Sheek & J-Hood
5. Soul Clap