Released at the end of the year 1990, precisely on November 13th, this is the only effort by an underground gangsta group from the Detroit scene that highlights its criminal nature: Eric Vance and Paris Lane decide to call themselves "Rap Mafia" and name the album "Criminal Mode".
The mixing is the work of Greg Reilly, the production is provided by Britton Turner of FLD Production, while the disc is released for the independent label Hittin' Home Records, linked to FDL. Turner's production is simple and minimal, offering tight lean rhythms, dark jazzy ("Criminal Mode", "Description of a Street Ruller"), funky ("Assassination of a Kingpin", "Get Away"), also going into in the g-funk with a bridge over the "Johnny"'s hook.
The rapping of the duo is as minimal as the beats: Vance and Lane offer a syncopated and irregular delivery, tight and rough, which doesn't clash with the musical mood chosen by Turner (co-author of the cuts), but often fails to raise the gangsta choices on a higher level. The title track, the single "The Underworld" (for which due group was arrested after simulated a drum exchange in the music video) and "Fuck That Bitch" are among the finest cuts.
Rating: 6/10.
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