Michael "Big Mike" Barnett's debut, called to replace Willie D in the Geto Boys from 1992 to 1995, is one of the hidden gems in southern rap and in the vast Rap-A-Lot catalog. Production is mainly performed by the Convicts rapper himself and NO Joe, along with other producers of the record company, such as Mike Dean, John Bido, Pee Wee, Simon Cullins and Michael "Mike B" Banks, as well as UGK's Pimp C. The guests of the edition are 3-2 of Convicts, Scarface of Geto Boys, Tre'Mendous, Pimp C & UGK.
The rhythms made by the guys are very good: funky boom baps, minimal drums, pounding and slow, sometimes midtempo and downtempo, fantastic samples that vary between the relaxed mood of mobb music and excellent elegant g-funk synths. On this fresh, hard and optimal soundscape, Big Mike deals with simple g topics, especially crime, bravado, women and socio-conscious excerpts. Lyrically, it's not the strongest record of the year, nevertheless, the New Orleans MC is technically flawless and offers bars with a varied style, boasting a syncopated and quick delivery, confident and hardcore or a calm and relaxed rapping, adapting brilliantly to the rhythms chosen by the producers.
Released by Rap-A-Lot and distributed by Priority, the album flies through the rap chart stopping in fourth place, while on the Billboard 200 it reaches the top 40, finishing among the best-selling hip-hop records of the year and being certified gold by the RIAA in four months. Big Mike proves he has talent and can bring a solo studio album on his own: in 55 minutes, the guy kills many of these 14 cuts.
Highlights: "World of Mind", "Creepin - Rollin", "Smoke Em & Choke Em", "Havin Thangs", "On da Real", "Playa Playa".
Rating: 8.3/10.
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