Rap-a-Lot/Noo Trybe | Performance 6.5 | Sound 7 | Just in case the buying public was wondering whatever happened to Big Mike after the success of his first album, 'Somethin' Serious,' the largest of the Geto Boys steps back to the mic to answer that question with his sophomore release ' Still Serious.' One of the interesting things about rap these days is that it's gone regional. East coast rappers, for the most part, sound like east coast rappers and west coast rappers sound like west coast rappers. And while these two factions battle it out on wax and in the press, it seems as if everybody else has selectively forgotten that there are more than two states in the hip-hop union. However, what seems to be even more ironic is that the rappers in the fly-over states such as Big Mike just don't seem to care. From this release it's obvious that they'd ...

Music Evolution, Columbia Records | Performance 7 | Sound 7 | Buckshot LeFonque's second record (a Branford Marsalis project) Music Evolution is a radical musical trip that shoots you though a musical experience that pushes the limits of standard Jazz, R&B, Rap, Rock and Hip Hop. Most notable is the title cut "Musical Evolution" which couples a tight hip hop beat, a catchy melody and lyrics that explore the roots of rap in 50's Jazz. Other cuts of note are the super funky "James Brown Part 1,2" and the hard rocking "My Way (doin' it)".

Various Artists, Paramount - Virgin Records | Performance 6.5 | Sound 6.5 | This record is comprised of a who's who in futuristic, techno music. From the melodic Sneaker Pimps and Duran Duran to the more hardcore Moby, Orbital and The Chemical Brothers this record has a wide variety of music to enjoy while you surf the net or to test the performance of your system.

Homework Virgin Records | Performance 6 | Sound 5.5 | Eurotrash music rules! This record is in no way punk, it is much more a funk thing with that "Dieter and the Sprockets" German nightclub feel. The best track on the record is 'Da Funk' a cut that has a really catchy hook that has become completely lodged in my head for the past two days. `Da Funk' is now being played on two stations here in LA. If you are looking for a fun Eurotrash record for your summer soundtrack Daft Punk could fit the bill for you!

Life After Death Bad Boy/Arista Performance Disc 1 = 7.5 Disc 2 = 5.5 Sound = 7 Being that this release came so close to the death of it's artist, it is impossible to separate the man an his music. In that respect this album is sad, because it is apparent that Biggie Small's talent had so much more room to grow. One of rap music's current problems seems to be the pull between becoming a successful, respected rapper on one hand and selling records and getting rich on the other. Or as it's stated on the track 'Going Back to Cali,' ". . . What's your plan? Is it to rock the tri-state, almost gold, five G.'s a show date, or do you want to see about seven digits . . ." It is unfortunate that artists sometimes get caught between such a pull, but music is a business, as most producers know ...