MARIO
TURNING POINT

Singer Mario may only be 18, but he has already reached a crossroad on his path to manhood: player or poet? On the song “Let Me Love You,” Mario is a poet. Soulful and sincere, the song is a ballad worthy of school dances for teenagers and candlelight dinners for their parents. But the rest of the album is Mario’s sad attempt at being a player. The result is an album full of superficiality and fluff. Take the track “18” for instance. It sounds like Mario is dissing Usher on it only to turn around and try to emulate him on the track “Boom” which boasts Lil Jon’s trademark production, and a cameo from Juvenile. This is only Mario’s second album, so, hopefully, with maturation and better writing, he will blossom into the singer he is on his single, “Let Me Love You.” Only time will tell.

CAM’RON
Purple Haze

After being pushed back numerous times for over a year, Purple Haze finally drops and it is well worth the weight. It easily surpasses Cam’s previous effort Come Home with Me and it really has him and his crew at the top of their game. Strong beats, witty lyrics and addictive flows will keep this album in rotation until the next Dip Set release. People can hate on Cam all they want, but you never deny originality, trendsetting and risk-taking, all the calling cards of an amazing artist. Put your doubts aside and do as Cam says on the track “Family Ties”: “Pump this Dip in your veins/ Get dope like me....F##k Kerry and Bush/ You should vote for me/ On the real/ For real the last hope is me”.

LIL JON & THE EAST SIDE BOYZ
Crunk Juice

Not too many people have the formula to make a hit record or a party hype for that matter…but double platinum hit makers Lil Jon & The Eastside Boys not only keep the hits coming but they also know how to keep the party CRUNK!
 
“Crunk Juice” their follow up releases to the 2X platinum “Kings of Crunk” is just that…an on going party! Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys have turned boisterous rap over contagious bass thumping beats into not only an art; but a movement:  The Crunk Movement.
 
Keeping true to their roots “Crunk Juice/TVT” still possesses that gritty underground sound that infected the music industry a few years ago. The album’s lead single “What U Gon’ Do” featuring Lil Scrappy, who adds his “in your face” delivery to the club ready hardcore anthem. Hip hop vet Ice Cube lends his vocals to “Real N###a Roll Call” and although remiscent of his N.W.A. days, he does sound a bit awkward alongside the crunk veterans.

Whoever said that you couldn’t mix crunk music and some of hip hops most prolific emcees definitely needs to listen to “The Grand Finale” which is just that in all its splendor, featuring Nas, Bun B, T.I., Ice Cube and Jadakiss. “Crunk Juice” is the most intoxicating “mélange” and one of the hottest releases in 2004. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boys have done it again!!!!  The formula for their winning formula is; 100% unadulterated CRUNK and plenty of energy.