House, R&B, Soul & Rap > G House, R&B, Soul & Rap > Rap > up to 5 GBP

Advantages: Good beats
Disadvantages: Bad Language

The Documentary is the best West Coast street-rap album since DJ Quik's 2002 LP Under tha Influence. All of the G-Unit solo albums thus far have been aesthetically unified, a rarity in hip-hop; the tracks on The Documentary actually sound like they belong on the same album. Dre produces five of the album's 17 songs, applying his recent stripped-down cinematic style, and many of the record's other producers follow his lead. Superstar beatmakers like ...
...fitting their usual approaches into the album's fabric. The end result is a rich, triumphant sonic tapestry; you can hear every dollar that went into it. The Game is not a particularly singular rapper. His hoarse, guttural voice doesn't possess any of the relaxed menace of classic West Coast rappers; he sounds more like Tha Dogg Pound member Daz Dillinger than Eazy or Snoop or The D.O.C. He has an appealing confidence and an unforced lyrical toughness, ... Read review

Advantages: Hip Hop Legend Lyrics
Disadvantages: Not the old ghostface

...bright to be dimmed; The Big Dough Rehab easily picks up where Fishscale left off. "At The Cabana Skit" kicks off The Big Doe Rehab the right way. Ghost has a knack for being a comical tuff guy, via his interludes and skits, and his personality shines bright on this one. After some light-hearted lyricism on the opening skit, Ghost gets down to business. Beanie Sigel stops by on "Toney Sigel AKA The Barrel Brothers," and the lyrical jabs from both ...
...this time around that element is missing. With that factored into the equation, this may be why the ladies aren't loving Ghost this time around. The bottom line is that if you are a fiend for grimy beats and grizzly word play, then check yourself into The Big Doe Rehab. ... Read review

Advantages: no 50cent the game is evolving in to 1 of the best rappers in the world
Disadvantages: no dre beats

...ONE NIGHT 7/10 DOCTOR'S ADVOCATE 9/10 OL' ENGLISH 10/10 CALIFORNIA VACATION 8/10 BANG 9/10 AROUND THE WORLD 8/10 WHY YOU HATE THE GAME 9/10 this is a good album. Dr. Dre and the rest of the Aftermath crew (except for Busta Rhymes) are notably absent, but you don't miss them so much. None of the beats here are as good as the best from the Documentary, but most of it's still pretty good anyway. Meanwhile, the Game has become one hell of a rapper, ... Read review

Advantages: A couple of good dance tunes
Disadvantages: Repetitive lines

"51/50 Ratchet" is the debut album from the Louisiana rapper Hurricane Chris. When this dropped, 2007, the musician was only eighteen years old, and to fit in with what is expected of young rappers, espcially ones from the Dirty South, he has come out with some 'ringtone rap' with his hit single "A Bay Bay and "The Hand Clap" which followed on from it. 1. "Getting Money" (feat. Nicole Wray) This track get the album off to a shaky start as it isn't ...
...have to say tha I expect it though because he basially summarises his life stroy to the lsitenr in order to make up a little introduction for you before getitng itno his music. This little contextual information can be overlooked though as it doesn't bring out anything out of the ordinary. **Two Stars** 2. "A Bay Bay" This is the big single from the album and as his debut, it manged to catapult him into fame at the start of 2007. From there the ... Read review

Advantages: street music!
Disadvantages: too much street music!

Having been a big fan of fifty cent when he first burst on to the scene, and also a big fan of G Unit, i have to be honest, my interest has waned of late thanks to a couple of mediocre releases and an attempted cross-over into more radio friendly music. With the release of G Unit's anticipated sophomore album, it gives us a chance to see whether they really have crossed over, or if they remain true to the streets which raised them. Starting with ...
...definitely get you to pick it up if you saw it in the store. The album opens with Straight Outta Southside - a supposed ode to Sean Bell who was shit by police, but it doesn't actually make any reference to him, apart from once! It seems to be a cover of straight outta compton by NWA, but is nowhere near as good, a definite miss to open the album! We then lurch into piano man and close to me, two decent songs but forgettable nonetheless. Finally ... Read review