Chopper City in Da Ghetto
RAP PAGES — BY ALLEN S. GORDON
Posted to rec.music.hip-hop + alt.rap on (publication date not stated in the post)
THE B.G.
Chopper City in Da Ghetto
Cash Money/Universal Records
The B.G. is no newjack to gangsta rap. His status on the underground rap scene is legendary--four albums all before the age of 18. On this fifth and latest album, Chopper City in Da Ghetto, B.G. continues the same program that made him a neighborhood superstar amongst the locals.
The key ingredient to vintage B.G. lyrics is the positioning of the objects and subjects he observes. A talent that the B.G. shares with only a few rappers--Ice Cube, Jay Z, Scarface, Ghostface Killah--is that detective's fine attention to detail. On songs like "Trigga Play," "Hard Times," "Bout My Paper" and "Plan Went Sour," every piece of information has more than one meaning, and every clue relates to the situation at hand. Stories are told from first, second and third person at different junctures in the songs.
The B.G. flips his style from storyteller to anthem rapper on the solo songs "Cash Money Is An Army," "Uptown My Home" and "Get Ya Shine On" featuring the Big Tymers. Then he goes into freestyle-battle MC mode on most of the collaborations with his comrades The Hot Boys, Big Tymers and Juvenile on "Rid'n," "Comin Round," "Play It Raw" and "Cash Money Roll." This crew understands that in-studio friendly competition makes for better songs, which makes any song B.G. does with Juvenile, Lil' Wayne and Turk an event.
The musical score to this episode of "As The Magnolia Turns," provided by Mannie Fresh, is nothing less than 17 stellar compositions. Bounce, funk, blues, house--all twisted with that Hip-Hop attitude--match perfectly with the B.G. Old fans will be pleased, and new fans will be amazed.