producers: m-boogie

guests: dj revolution, yeshua dapoed, jean grae a/k/a what? what?, born allah, melo d, e-rule, others.

"Gangsta's don't dance, we boogie". Not only Mack 10 said those words. And while M-Boogie is no gangsta, and does not plan to cater to them, he still gets us dancing. Dancing with his trademarks bouncyness, that has your head nodding like the question "you want another gold nugget?". We know M-Boogie from the releases on his own Ill Boogie (ex-Blackberry) label and one of them was the "Laid In Full" record. This right here happens to be the second installment, what makes it a series.

M opens the record himself with a short introduction, where he explains the difference of this chapter, to the last one. Quickly following up, Yeshua dapoED and J-hon take on the first track "A Different Design". The style of the beat is recognizable Boogs, while Yeshua keeps it steady, saying "it doesn't have to be complicated all the time", focusing on the good old art of rocking the mic. Working as the transition, a short "Yeshua Representin'" phone shout, paves the way for an even doper cut: Born Allah is ripping through "Someone To Hate". The energy level is pushed a notch further, with a chopped horn making this dramatic and Allah's talent to braggingly talk shit, has this result in a true banger.

Now it's "Buckshot Representin'" and the B.D. Emcee is handed another animated beat, that he uses to spit "The Real". Listening to this, you wonder how he ever could choose to rhyme over one of those weak tracks he was heard to utilize lately. This right here fits him quite nicely for real. After "E-Rule Representin'", E steps to the mic to do "Mind Wars". And it seems like M-Boogie is stepping up a notch with every offering. The bass on this is thick and only the slower pace and string plucks are holding the track back. The Ill Boogie signed Akbar is made to step to "Hot Ya Hot (Remix)". The beat does not keep us too happy, having borrowed a little too much from the Premo school of things. Akbar's pleasant voice and solid bragging delivery are also held back, by the unneeded call and response hoopla.

But that's nothing that could bring the album to a full stop, as the beat to "Triple Seis Representin'" is ridiculously dope and tragically only used for this shout. The beat he rhymes over on "New York, New York" is not without kudos though, so this Terrorsquadian can use it to boast and rep NYC as much as his heart can handle. Another Ill Boogie alumni follows next with Mykill Miers rhyming over "World War I". Quite violent in design, it's still a step back from the previous cut. So Born Allah has to return with the title cut "Laid In Full", and he has to prevent a feeling of already being used to these exciting beats and rhymes. He does cook things up, so that they start to boil during the backdrop beat to "Rasco Representin'". Things are returning to medium heat on the Pri The Honeydark cut "Can I?". Then again, this lady comes off more than correct. However it's her female comrade Jean Grae b/k/a What? What?, that takes home the title of best lyrics on this album.

Her "How To Break Up With Your Girlfriend" will be remembered as one of the highlights of 2001. The beat is okay, actually more than that, but with the proper alternative version, this track can blow up big time. This lady is going through the theory and then through a list of 25 ways of how to split up with your girl. This is hilariously funny, brilliant and nothing shall be quoted her, to not spoil the fun. This track is actually reason enough to get the album. So the best track of the record is definitely found, but there's still some more to check out. Newcomer Sandman does "Tellin' You" and he has a Planet Asia sound to him. This tells you two things: this resemblance makes it hard for Sandman to stand out as an individual, but also that he's, just like Asia, not wack. We then are wrapping things up with the two "Patience" cuts of the Ill Boogie Battle Series, one being with Born Allah and DJ Melo D, the other with Grand Agent and DJ Revolution.

Yes, hip hop used to be strictly party music, to get your dancing or boogie on. This record would work as such, an hour of pure party ready tunes. But this also being a big pleasure to pump in your ride and at home, takes this record further in appeal and hopefully exposure, than a simple 'move your booty' album. Actually, this record will reinstall our believe in bouncy beats, just as it does revive it. And the pleasure of bobbing our heads along to this record, will be all ours too. Good stuff this is.