In its fourth effort, Schoolly D changes pace to adapt to the new standards of the game and deals with Afrocentric and political themes, without fully tackling them and remaining anchored to the thug-braggadocio.
The production is simply excellent, like the one of the best hip hop artists: its funky and jazzy rhythms are supported by excellent samples (taken from James Brown, George Clinton, JBs, Bill Whiters, Sly and Jimi Hendrix) that mixed with simplistic skinny beats create a perpetually cool sound. Schoolly D's lyrics are simple and don't differ too much from the past — except for the aforementioned thematic updates — but are delivered with a determined and hardcore rapping style that is fresher, smoother and technically cleaner than ever. It seems to dominate every track with a curiously more dope voice than usual and if it weren't for the excessive number of skits and interludes inserted here (7), this too underrated record would easily be one of the best five of the year.
There are a lot of tracks among the finest in Schoolly D's catalog. "It's Like Dope" boasts a single looped single line in the background on jazzy rhythm to do the intro, then Schoolly D enters and destroys the rhythm, classic stuff. "Black Jesus" has a fresh funky rhythm, excellent, beautiful sample from "Changin'" by Brass Construction, the MC from Philly here lets the rhythm breathe rightly and then attacks the beat with a syncopated and slow delivery in one of the strongest tracks here. "Godfather of Funk" is the closing to the whole record: skit, then good fresh jazzy-funky rhythm, really well executed & produced, Schoolly D attacks it with a fast and smooth delivery, excellent tune.
The title track is composed by a simple looped line, tight beautiful sample from "Soul Power 74" by Maceo & the Macks, introductory scratches to the title track, the rapper lets the beat breathe for over a minute and a half and then attacks with a decisive and determined delivery, hardcore, constant, clean, flowing, hook with soul sample from the homonymous song of Billy Paul, and left in the wild on the hook, then fantastic jazzy bridge again from "Soul Power 74". Schoolly D lets run around the bridge freely and then returns to attack with a second sharp verse, projecting this cut among the strongest of the year, a very heavy classic, great effort. The piece is then inserted in the 1990 cult movie "King of New York".
Loaded with three singles ("Gangster Boogie", "Pussy Ain't Nothin'" and "Livin' in the Jungle"), the album is released by Jive and distributed by RCA under BMG, nevertheless, it falls to appear in the charts and is received with mixed reviews by critics, despite it being, in my humble opinion, one of the best hip-hop album of the season and the best of Schoolly-D.
Rating: 7.8/10.
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