50 Cent: The Massacre

Herald rating: * * *

Also reviewed:
Tourettes: Misadventures of Johnny Favourite. * * * *

Savage: Moonshine * * *

John Legend: Get Lifted * * *

Timbaland and Magoo: Best of * * *

It's all in a name ... and local MC Tourettes lives up to his with plenty of outlandish outbursts. Through alter-ego Johnny Favourite, he tells of getting wasted, serving food to "fat Ponsonby housewives" and contemplating the general suckiness of life.

But it's not all down in the dumps. Thanks to his self-effacing wit - "You want fries with my dignity?" - it's easy to forgive his occasionally messy rhyme style. Being co-founder of an impressive young hip-hop label obviously has its perks, too - under-rated producers include Aardvark, Scratch 22, Ota and Spanish lad El Charvo, who give the album some of the most interesting sounds Aotearoa hip-hop will have heard this year.

Unlike the quasi-American stuff coming out of Dawn Raid, this is far more underground and psychedelic, drawing on retro samples, Spanish guitars, and on first single Loveable Losers, an insistent pop beat perfect for Tourettes' punky lyrics; Never Go Home is as twisted as something DJ Shadow might put out. Has the Kiwi version of the Streets arrived?

Perhaps, but not all names are true to their meaning. Savage isn't as threatening as he sounds - that huge gravelly voice might be the biggest in the biz but the grittiest his rhymes get are when he's discussing his friends turned "fallen angels" on Everyday Hustle, warning he's a "bodysnatcher" and alluding to an alcohol problem on the number one Moon Shine, (which also boasts the album's most beautiful rootsy groove and a great vocal from American R&B star Akon). Featuring the best beats out of all Deceptikonz albums, there's a nice surprise when funk guitars come in on Anything and a fantastic vocal from Aaradhna on They Don't Know. Elsewhere, Savage isn't about to dazzle with rhymes about the foreshore and seabed, he's a dancefloor king who has upsized his combo on every track. Big, Bang Your Head and Swing are phat, crunky anthems that will get the crowd seething when he performs them on tour next weekend. And there's enough diversity to survive the novelty factor of his hits so far.

Far more savage is the gun-blast intro of 50 Cent's latest offering but, unless you're a member of the National Rifle Association, you'll soon find this recurring theme tiresome.

C'mon, Fiddy, we already know to get rich or die trying. Do you need to remind us you have your "AK loaded", you're a "cold-hearted killer" and that "any nigga out of line gon' get it"? Guest star Jamie Foxx, who sings a soulful wee harmony on Build You Up must be wondering if his new friend is just joking around when he says he's "the one" on God Gave Me Style. Who says bragging is stylish? (Or accentuating your six pack by painting over the cover, for that matter?) Hip-hop irony? Who knows, but 50 is better when he lets his hair - or should that be hoodie - down on Candy Shop: "I'm the luurve doctor" and the poor man's answer to In Da Club that is Disco Inferno.

The remix from G-Unit's album is a goodie, too. Meanwhile there's nothing to suggest Dre's or Eminem's menacing beats are in danger of getting too up themselves - smokers' delights include the smooth and sumptuous Ski Mask Way and In My Hood but overall it's lacking the hooks that sent "the one" to the top in the first place.

Speaking of artists giving themselves props, John Legend's real name is John Stephens. An accomplished musician, songwriter and producer, until now, Legend's exploits could be heard on recordings with Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Janet Jackson. Then his big break came when Kanye West recruited him to sing on The College Dropout and signed him to his production company. This is not strictly hip-hop but fans of the genre will be impressed by his milk-chocolate voice and gospel-influenced soul, already making headway on hit single Used To Love U. A fantastic pianist, it's no wonder he's been described as the male version of Alicia Keys, although there's nothing particularly ground-breaking about his sound. Alright sounds like a modern, funked-up version of Hit the Road Jack and there are elements of Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. Elsewhere, he embraces an old-school hip-hop sensibility but it rears its head in sly ways. I Can Change features a small cameo from Snoop Dogg as well as trumpets blasting an Outkast hook on the same track.

He's not quite edgy enough to live up to the likes of D'Angelo, and it does tend to lag towards the end, but it's worth checking out.

Not all hip-hop legends are vocalists.. Timbaland and his right-hand man Magoo are behind some of the rap game's biggest stars, providing the beats for the likes of Jay-Z, Bubba Sparxx and good friend Missy Elliott for years. As such, this is a celebration of some of their freshest collaborations featuring the above artists plus Aaliyah, Twista, Jay-Z, Wyclef Jean, Brandy and more. Stand-outs include the twitchy, tongue-clicking club-banger Drop featuring Fatman Scoop, which could have been the inspiration for Snoop's Drop it Like It's Hot, the tongue-twisting rhymes care of Twista on Who I Am and the Digable Planet-style grooves of Clock Strikes and 15 After Da Hour.

Unfortunately they left out Up Jumps Da Boogie, the slamming early single with Missy and Aaliyah, and, it has to be said, few tracks were hits for the artists concerned. But you can't fault the beats.

Labels:
50 Cent: Shady/Interscope
Tourettes: Breakin' Wreckwordz
Savage: Dawn Raid
John Legend: Sony
Timbaland and Magoo: Shock