While an early Eminem feature stands as a major highlight; Royce can never seem to outshine his Bad Meets Evil partner; the album’s magnum opus is a Christmas narrative entitled Power and Royce seems to know it. It’s the only song allowed to go long as the rapper sings the title bit like a career crooner.

The rest of the Book follows the same theme; Royce reminiscing à la Masta Ace on his last two albums; but he’s best when free to rap without conceptual restrictions. He’s worst when he’s just talking, as on the Skits, because his bravado gets annoying when it isn’t encased in clever rhyme schemes.

my rating : 3 of 5

2018