Self-Explanatory

So just how long are Ludacris’ coattails? I-20 is about to find out. Self-Explanatory is the debut from Luda’s Disturbing tha Peace protégé, and it’s actually got much to recommend. “Fightin’ in the Club” is a catchy shout-along with a beat that drops like a bag of bricks; “Break Bread” is an Atlanta posse cut that features Bonecrusher and Ludacris singing the hook while Lil' Jon lays down a sinister guitar lick over buzzing synths. I-20 isn’t nearly as playful on the mike as his mentor: His voice is deep and serious, lacking Luda’s light lyrical touch. It’s more suited to his empathetic portrayal of ghetto tragedy on “Kisha” than to a supposed party track like “Hennessey & Hydro,” which plods along like a party in its final, agonizing death throes. Ultimately, not much separates I-20 from a parade of respectable rappers, except, of course, for Ludacris’ endorsement.