Week of April 15-21

LifeSource Presents... The Package: Bootleg Edition
Life Source
Life Source records emerges onto the independent scene with "The Package". The production on this CD is held down by life Source who keeps the beats slow, rugged, and grimy; which gives each MC the perfect opportunity to go for theirs. "War" by Mr. Knoxville is an expression of life lived by most black men in America. "Tho Dem Elbowz" by TN1 is a straight club banger that will definitely blow up in clubs and on radios throughout the dirty south. "Mental Mindstate" by Mr. Ike & Twigg and "Gotta Get It" by Rodney are my favorites. This CD gets the Rnation/Hip Hop Encounter nod of approval and can be purchased on the site.

Uncle Luke Something Nasty
Luke Records
Captain D a.k.a. Uncle Luke p.k.a. Luther Campbell returns with what I personally hope is his last album as an artist. The reunion with former 2 Live Crew member Mr. Mix who produced "Eat the Pussy", "We Want Big Dick", "Save Me From The Devil", and "Hoe Stories" can't save this CD. Luke does more rapping on this CD than ever before which is a major let down. He even shows a case of "don't forget about me" syndrome on the cut "if it wasn't for us". Appearances by Snoop Dogg, Daz, and Kurupt on "Hoes" really hurt this project more than it helped. On a positive note, the best cuts are "B-otch" featuring DJ Smurf and Kizzy Rock and "Party Don't Start" with Kid Capri. I reget to say that this album is mistitled, instead of Something Nasty, it should be called Something Horrible.

95 South Free Ballin
Ride Out
After an unsuccessful major release, "Tight Work 3000" on MCA Records, 95 South returned back to the underground scenes with a new CD. Free Ballin is more street orientated than previous releases. Jay-Ski, as always, provides all the production. But this time around he stepped it up a notch. The group keeps true to their uptempo formula with cuts like "Drop It Ta Da Flo", "Roll It Up", and "Hey Yi Hoe". They use a ruffer approach on "Who Da Pimp", and "Please Believe That". This release will definitely gain them some new fans and keep the old ones.