Release Date:
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Artist:
Various Artists
Normally this sort of album is a total waste of time: some star “presents” a bunch of artists you’ve never heard of and slaps his name at the top like it’s some trusted brand. That said, Jermaine Dupri has never been half as interesting as the artists he’s discovered and/or produced (TLC, Usher, Da Brat), so it’s not surprising that this collection occasionally bucks the trend. Hotly-tipped newcomer T. Watters slings swift rhymes on “Throw’d Off” and benefits from the album’s best hook, a twisted tabla line that sounds like something Timbaland would’ve cooked up. Kato also impresses with the cold, battle-rap blow-off, “So What.” Young Capone doesn’t fare as well: He sounds reasonably energetic spitting about how fucking cool he is on “I’m Hot,” but isn’t it about time producers quit using police sirens as backing tracks? Bigger names like Da Brat, Stat Quo, and Bow Wow check in too, but there’s nothing here that’s absolutely essential—just a primer on what’ll be next to bubble up from the Dirty Souf.