On his fifth solo album, the Vallejo star balances out his high-octane speed raps with super-catchy melodic hooks—the more talkbox, the better. (See “L.I.Q.,” where 40 describes a liquor-store visit in hyperreal detail over Zapp-style G-funk.) It’s also a lesson in Bay Area lore: “Earl That’s Yo’ Life” is half autobiography, half sly Too $hort homage; “Big Ballin’ with My Homies” is a grab bag of flows that’s rich with absurdist local slang.
- B-Legit
- The Click
- B-Legit, Harm & Keak da Sneak
- Celly Cel
- Mac Mall