His record label was right. There isn’t Enuff singing in the hooks. But that’s only because Masta Ace, as good as he as a rapper; even in comparison to Eminem, who’s single-handedly raised the bar since Ace released his last album six years ago; isn’t as good when it comes to making whole songs. Even when he’s being exceptionally creative; listen for the clever wordplay in Alphabet Soup; it’s lyrically self-defeating because he’s forcing himself to rhyme within a narrow boundary as opposed to saying whatever he wants.
The intro skit, entitled Release, comes across as irrelevant and unnecessary if Masta Ace didn’t really just get out of prison, and I don’t think he did. He should’ve scrapped all the silly skits and interludes. There are seven in all. But those are my only major complaints about this otherwise decent return set. Stand-out songs include Every Other Day and Talk A Walk. I like I Like Dat too, but only during the verses. The breaks; one of those hooks where the beat changes for the worse until the rapping starts again; sort of ruin it.
my rating : 3 of 5
2001