Thanks to the success of Arista's hip-hop reissue compilation Profilin' the Hits, the duo
2nd II None earned a contract with the label and recorded a second album, eight full years after their debut. Produced by long-time friend
DJ Quik as well as
2nd II None themselves,
Classic 220 keeps the vibe old-school. Even though the production and beats are updated for the hip-hop world of the late '90s, KK and D focus on simply moving crowds like they did with classic early singles like "Be True to Yourself" and "If You Want It." The classic-in-waiting here is "Up 'N Da Club," an irresistible party anthem that grows better with each listen. Though
Classic 220 doesn't peak as many times as
2nd II None's debut did, it's an intriguing return to form for a hip-hop crew that never made as many records as they should have. ~ John Bush