Saturday 3 July 2004

Album reviews

After building a solid reputation as one-third of the Lox and as a solo artist, Jadakiss is primed to take another step forward in his career. "Kiss of Death" - the follow-up to the Yonkers, N.Y., artist's solo debut, "Kiss Tha Game Goodbye" - shows his growth as an MC.

In addition to hard-knock anthems like lead single "Time's Up" and the title track, Jadakiss addresses social issues ("Why?"). The reflective Havoc-produced cut, which features soulster Anthony Hamilton, is already creating controversy with lyrical questions like, "Why did Bush knock down the Towers?"

Other highlights include bass-heavy "Hot Sauce to Go" and "U Make Me Wanna" (with Mariah Carey). Unfortunately, DJ Green Lantern's mix-tape remix of "Time's Up" (retitled "The Champ Is Here") is missing. Still, with his signature laugh and throaty delivery, Jadakiss offers an impressive sophomore effort.

(Billboard)

Ball cap pulled way down over his eyes, Jadakiss casts a menacing shadow as he returns to the rap scene with his second solo CD, "Kiss of Death." But just when you think the former act on media mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' roster is going to be all gunslinging and diamond-studded bravado, he does an incredible job on "Air It Out" and "I'm Goin Back" of telling real, accessible stories about the lifestyles of hip-hop's supposedly rich but definitely famous.

Just when you thought both Mariah Carey and Indian rhythms on rap tracks had gone the way of the word "jiggy", both are used in surprisingly likable fashion on "U Make Me Wanna". And just when you think Jadakiss might actually have come up with an entire album of novel approaches and topics, the crafty wordsmith resorts to sneering bravado on "Shine" and "Time's Up" - quite capably, too.

(Atlanta Journal Constitution)



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