Master Of Ceremonies

Album review

Master of Ceremonies is Styles P’s first album since landing a feature on one of the biggest rap hits of 2010, Rick Ross’ “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast).” None of this newfound fame is squandered as big money names like Pharrell, Busta Rhymes, and Rick Ross himself fill the guest list, but Styles is as uncompromising and hard as always, filling the middle of this effort with dark, stark, and dirty reminders of life in the ghetto and/or life as a gangster. The highlight of all this “real talk” has to be the future-minded “Children,” where Pharoahe Monch helps deliver a message of little hope for the next generation, but “I’m a Gee” is a close second as it drives home the thought that most gangsters are truly “caught in the game” and certainly wouldn’t be there by choice. On the flip side are simple and effective weekend numbers like “Ryde on da Regular” and the Rhymes/Ross feature “Harsh,” while Styles’ LOX crew are all present, with Jadakiss landing on the fierce and crooked monster called “It’s OK” while Sheek Louch appears on two mixtape-styled numbers. Inspired production from the likes of Pete Rock, Warren G, Statik Selektah, and Black Saun help keep this well-rounded effort on P’s top shelf.
© David Jeffries /TiVo