Ill Will Records

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Nas, with Ill Will Records, has released a compilation album featuring the best rappers from Queen’s Bridge, N.Y., known as Queen’s Bridge Finest.

The first half of the songs on the album are typical hard-core rap songs. They talk about who the album is for, where the album is coming from, how tough they all are and how great they have become both monetarily and sexually. The usual.

The introduction (“”Intro””) is a good example of how to annoy the listener. Jungle and Wiz explain which hoods the album will go to. They list geographical locations. Places mentioned are North and South Carolina, the coasts, Montana, Salt Lake City, all of Utah, Florida, Alabama, etc. You get the idea. They’re very good at this.

“”Oochie Wally”” is a sex song. It’s explicit, which is expected. But often these types of songs are redeemed by wit and/or some form of comical anecdote. This one lacks either; instead, it is vulgar and crass. The chorus features women who say “”he really really really fucked my coochie.””

Ah, love.

Despite these bad moments, the album does manage to save itself from hitting bottom. Rap stands for “”rhythm and poetry”” and it’s in the second half that the album gets its “”A”” and “”P.””

“”Street Glory,”” “”Self-Conscience”” and “”Kids in da PJs”” are all songs with feeling and thought. The music is either tranquil or nostalgic and the lyrics actually have a theme to them.

There’s a contradiction in many rap albums these days. It’s as though the rapper must be explicit and conceited in order to sell an image, but then feels compelled to explain societal problems for his own artistic soul. This is one such album.

— Eric Dean