Lil' Cease: THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF CEASE A LEO
grade: A
good: More Dangerous, Get Out Our Way, Looking For A Lady, Girlfriend, Play Around, 4 My Niggaz, Dolly Baby, B.I.G. & Cease Forever
OK: Future Sport, Chickenheads, Work It Out, Mr. Nasty, Everything
bad: Long Time Comin', Won't Stop
overall: His voice sounds muffled.

Missy Elliot: DA REAL WORLD
grade: B-
good: Beat Biters, All N My Grill, You Don't Know, Stickin' Chickens, She's A Bitch
OK: Bussa Rhyme, Hot Boyz, Mr. D.J., We Did It, You Can't Resist,
bad: Dangerous Mouths, Smooth Chick, Crazy Feelings
overall: Her rapping is good, but her singing is just OK.

Naughty By Nature: 19NAUGHTY9... NATURE'S FURY
grade: B-
good: Ring The Alarm, Dirt All By My Lonely, Jamboree, Work, We Could Do It, The Blues, The Shivers
OK: Live Or Die, Radio, Would've Done The Same For You, Thugs & Hustlers, Wicked Bounce,
bad: Holiday, On The Run, Live Then Lay
overall: It was just OK.

Ja Rule: VENNI, VETTI, VECCI
grade: C
This album was decent, but there were a few songs that made me grade this album a C. Like the interlude, "187 Murda Baptiss Church," is just something you do NOT put together. Also, in "Only Begotten Son, " I didn't like the way he made himself seem like Jesus. The other songs are OK and some are just plain stupid. So I wasn't really impressed.

TRU: DA CRIME FAMILY
grade: C
It was average. Some OK, some dumb. I'm not used to Down South records anyway.

Snoop Dogg: TOPP DOGG
grade: D
This album is dookie. He could've done better. Cuz the only songs that are real good are "Snooparella," "B Please," and "Trust Me."

Case: PERSONAL CONVERSATION

grade: B
This album sounds just like his first one, so there's no growth. But he still does sound good. "Happily Ever After" is the best song.

Mase: DOUBLE UP
grade: A-
Good - Stay Out Of My Way, Get Ready, Same Niggas, F--- Me F--- You, Another Story To Tell, Blood Is Thicker, From Stratch, Gettin' It
OK - No Matter What, You Ain't As Smart
Bad - If You Want To Party, Do It Again, All I Ever Wanted
Overall - This album is sick, but the party songs ruin it. The best song is "Another Story To Tell."

A+: HEMPSTEAD HIGH
grade: B
Good - Up Top NY, Gotta Have It, Watcha Weight Me, What The Deal, Price of Fame
OK - Enjoy Yourself, Don't Make Me Wait, It's On You Staggering & Stuttering
Bad - Understand the Game, Parkside Gardens
Overall - It was pretty good. It was more harder than I thought it would be.

Slick Rick: THE ART OF STORYTELLING
grade: A-
Good - Kill Niggas, Street Talkin', Me & Nas..., King Piece of the Chess Game, Trapped In Me, Frozen, Adults Only, Memories, I Own America Pt.2, La Di Da Di Live
OK - I Own America Pt.1, 2 Way Street, I Run This, Why, Why, Why, We Turn It On, The Show Live
Bad - Who Rotten 'Em, Impress the Kid
Overall - This album has too many songs. Good thing most of them were good. The best ones are "Me & Nas...," "I Own America Pt.2," and "La Di Da Di Live."

Eminem: SLIM SHADY
grade: C
Good: Guilty Conscience, Brain Damage, '97 Bonnie & Clyde, My Fault, As The World Turns
OK: If I Had, Cum On Everybody, Rock Bottom, I'm Shady
Bad: My Name Is..., Role Model, Just Don't Give A F---, Bad Meets Evil, Still Don't Give a F---
Overall: Eminem is funny. I didn't like him at all until he came out with "Guilty Conscience." So I finally gave his album a chance and it was alright. His creativity and nonchalance stood out.

Ruff Ryders: RYDE OR DIE VOL. 1
grade: A
This CD is real good. I play it every day. It hypes you up in the beginning with "Ryde Or Die" then onto the string of the good songs. Near the middle of the CD it gets kinda wack. "I'm A Ruff Ryder" is this R&B song which killed the whole vibe and "Bugout" with DMX has the beat of this horrible sample. Jadakiss's "Kiss of Death" is by far the best song on there and is also the best song I've ever heard him on. That song is real hot cuz he's all by himself, so he gets an entire song to shine on. "The Hood" is aiight, "Do That Shhh" is aiight, but DMX tears it down in "Some X Shhh" which is the last song. I was expecting it to be little more street (cuz it had a few commercial songs), but it was, of course, excellent.

Nas: I AM...
grade: A-
This isn't the same Nas Escobar we've seen on the Firm album. This album is more thugged out, and it surprisingly has an intellectual and also a party side to it. "NY State of Mind Part 2" opens out the CD alright, then it goes into the controversial "Hate Me Now." I like that one, but with Puffy screamin' throughout the whole thing makes it kinda hard to feel Nas' rhymes! Another NY-Down South collabo is "Favor For A Favor" with Scarface and he also has a little tribute to Biggie and Pac in "We Will Survive." The CD gets real good starting with "You Won't See Me Tonight" with Aaliyah. All the songs following this song are the best. The one which really stands out is the last one, "Undying Love." So basically it was a good album, you could tell he tried to stray away from the Firm style he unfortunately brought to us two years ago.

Harlem World: THE MOVEMENT
grade: A
EVERY SONG ON HERE IS BANGIN'!! A lotta people might not agree with me, but that's just my opinion. The beats sound pretty original, but unfortunately they talk about the same thang: money and hoes. But I won't let that be a downside. My ex-husband Nas lays it down on "You Made Me" and All Out singer Rashad blows his heart out on "Not The Kids." Another bangin' track is "We Both Frontin'" where Baby Stase reps for the ladies. My husband, Huddy Combs, tears down every song he's in, and my other husband, Blinky Blink, does too. The album really shines on "You Made Me," "100 Shiestys," "Pointing Fingers," "Not The Kids," "Cali Chronic," "One Big Fiesta," "Across The Border," and "We Both Frontin'." So you see? That's almost the whole album, so it must be good. Pick it up if you ain't got it!

Foxy Brown: CHYNA DOLL
grade: C+
Her CD was aiiiiiight. I wouldn't dare give it an "A." But why she tryin' to jack Lil' Kim's flow? "Hot Spot" is just horrible and proves exactly my point. But, the real good one is "A Dog & A Fox" with DMX because he's like one of the best right now. The Roc-A-Fella collabos are blazin' too, which are "Bonnie & Clyde Part 2" with YOU KNOW WHO, and also "4-5-6" with Beanie Siegal & my man Memphis Bleek. The downsides are the intro, the song with Total, and the one with her brother Pretty Boy. But overall it was surprisingly pretty decent.

DJ Quik: RHYTHM-AL-ISM
grade: B-
I give Quik a "B" for originality, that's it. The lyrics are kinda subtle and repetitive, and they don't really show off his skills like he has done before on Cali radio freestyles. His beats are great, which is why I think he's a better producer than rapper. The best one is "Hand In Hand" with El DeBarge and Compton-representin' Second II None. (If you haven't heard it, you must be living under a rock.) I'm also feelin' "Down, Down, Down" and "You'z A Ganxta." But It seems like he only did songs for the West Coast though, and not for everyone else. So everyone else might not like it, but I (somewhat) do.

DJ Clue: THE PROFESSIONAL
grade: B-
The only real good ones on this are by the Ruff Ryders and the Roc-A-Fella camps. The joint with Mase, Foxy Brown, & Fabolous Sport is cool too. This album is outstanding when you listen to "Ruff Ryders' Anthem Remix" or "Thugged Out Shhh". It also has a lot of hardcore songs, which I LOVE. But I wasn't really feelin' these by Mobb Deep, Raekwon, and others like that. As you continue to listen to "Clueminatti's" album, it gets rather boring and you'll want to turn it off. It's not THAT bad... but you should listen to it first before you buy it.

Jay-Z: VOLUME 2... HARD KNOCK LIFE
grade: A
I think Jigga came through on this one. I wasn't really a HUGE fan of him before, until I heard "Hard Knock Life" on the radio. Then he became one of my favorites. Some people might call this album too watered down, but I think he spits his flows the best. My man Memphis Bleek shines on here too, on "Hand It Down," and also on "Coming of Age (Da Sequel)," and "It's Alright." Other Roc-a-Fella artists are on here too, which stand out on "If I Should Die," "Nigga What, Nigga Who," and "Can I Get A...". But the best song on there is "Money, Cash, Hoes" featuring DMX. And if you wanna hear it, go to my SOUNDS feature.

Fat Joe: DON CARTAGENA
grade: B
Joey Crack's CD was good. Standouts include practically the whole thing: "The Crack Attack," "Triplets," "Don Cartagena," "My World," "John Blaze," "Bet Ya' Man Can't," "Misery Needs Company," and "My Prerogative." He lets the WHOLE Terror Squad shine on this one, unlike on Big Pun's album which I hated. That includes the cuties Prospect and Cuban Link, and also Triple Seis and Armageddon. It's a good album, I guess, real hardcore.

Total: KIMA, KEISHA, PAM
grade: FAIL
This CD isn't good. Probably because that dike-looking girl Pam ruins damn near every song that she's in. And her album cover photos aren't flattering either. The only one that can sing is Keisha! Now that's not talent if only one group member can sing. But I do give Pam points for that much courage for trying to sing her heart out though. Anyway, the only reason why I bought this junk is because of "Trippin." So if you like that song, go out and buy the single. Don't buy this piece of trash called a "hot album" and expect it to be worthwhile.

112: ROOM 112
grade: A+
112's new CD is tight. That's all that's basically needed to be said. It can make you think, cry, dance, put you to sleep, or do somethin' nasty. The best song, in my opinion, is "Anywhere" and that interlude is nice too. "Crazy Over You" and "Love You Like I Did" are also in the top ranks. There's not a bad song on there, although it does sorta get repetitive. Just go get it and I hope you'll like this one too.

DMX: FLESH OF MY FLESH, BLOOD OF MY BLOOD
grade: B
DMX's second CD within 7 months obviously had him very busy, focused on BOTH music and his movie, Belly. But lowsiness doesn't show on his brand new album. It usually takes me a while to grow on albums, but I quickly liked this one even on the first listen. The bright sides are "My Niggas", "Bring Your Whole Crew", "Coming From" with Mary J., "It's All Good", and "Slippin'". My favorites are "No Love 4 Me" and "Keep Your Sh!t The Hardest". The cover photos are kinda reminiscent of some horror flick, and some songs reflect just that. But just pay attention to the songs that I mentioned and you'll like it.