Is this a classic? Maybe not, but it is a fun hip hop record and one which really doesn't deserve to be hated on and one that every time I play I enjoy more and more. While Shaq has a fairly basic flow he spits some comedic lines which add to that fun factor mentioned earlier. The featured rappers are nice also which this album no doubt needed, and the beats are funky from Erick Sermon (who handles four of the ten tracks), with Def Jef, Meech Wells, K-Cut and Ali Shaheed Muhammad who is of course a member from A Tribe Called Quest doing the rest of the work. It's always a joy to hear a few of the best from this. Best Tracks: (I Know I Got) Skillz, I'm Outstanding, I Hate to Brag, Shoot Pass Slam, Boom

The beats, by No I.D. are a blend of trap rap, pop rap and soulful tunes. There isn't much I love at all. The topics range from what the title will infer, Chicago's violence, to chick songs, to the old days. Common has never been a rapper I've loved, but here it's even less so. Some of the rhyming such as 'money' with 'funny' sounds like he used the first rhyme that came to mind. Overall it's disappointing. Common spits some knowledge but isn't at his best and the production is quite underwhelming as well. Best Tracks: The Neighbourhood, Speak My Piece, Kingdom

As I wrote this, this was the last Naughty album as a trio and most would say their worst together, and I can't disagree with that. It's more poppy than their previous albums so it will turn pop-rap haters off once they've reached the middle of the album. I think these guys were one of the better groups at touching pop rap though, largely thanks to Kay Gee who produced it so well and Treach sounding so great over the beats. Some of the grittier sounding tracks like 'Ring the Alarm' are more than decent as well and 'Live or Die' is quite menacing too. I'm probably overrating it being a long time fan, but there is still enough enjoyable stuff for the ears and there is nothing bad. Although if you were to make a top ten or twenty list of their best songs, 'Holiday' is the only possible one from this album that could make it I'd say. Worth a listen for fans but otherwise check out there first three albums. Scrapes in for a 4/5 from a long time fan. Best Tracks: Ring The Alarm, Holiday, Jamboree, Radio, Would've Done the Same for Me, The Blues

'Hot in Herre' was one the early hip hop tracks I was obsessed with as I was really starting to get into the genre in a major way. I had it on a mixtape and used to listen to it on a walkman on repeat. At this time Nelly was everywhere. 'Dilemma' was massive and on the radio constantly. I never liked it the way I did 'Hot in Herre' though. The other singles '#1', 'Air Force Ones' and 'Pimp Juice' are some of the other stronger songs, with only 'Work It' not fitting into that category. Aside from that, a number get boring with 'CG 2' being one of the main offenders. Overall it's a decent pop rap album from one of guys who made rapping and singing popular. 2.5-3 /5 Best Tracks: Hot in Herre, Pimp Juice, Air Force Ones, Dilemma, The Gank, #1

I have given this a number of spins and tries but I come away from it with little. I had to look up what 'Bicken Back Being Bool' means but that makes for a catchy memorable hook. Apart from that.. ehhh. Nothing much.. I've seen this compared to GKMC, but YG doesn't make me pay much attention at all to what he is saying like Kendrick can. This trap shit is way passed its shelf life and YG isn't captivating, nor does he bring much new to this rap game.