Although they were immortalized in Warren G's Top Ten hit "This DJ," Twinz were an overlooked branch of the G Funk family tree who made good use of their connections to create the steady Conversation in 1995. Twin brothers Deon and DeWayne Williams wisely allow Warren G to dominate their album, and he skillfully wears the hats of producer, songwriter, additional percussionist, and background vocalist. Yet it's the female vocal support by Nanci Fletcher and Tracey Nelson which adds a shimmer to tracks like "Round and Round" and "Good Times." The enjoyably clichéd "Eastside LB" incorporates Deniece Williams' "Free" as deftly as Warren G "regulated" Michael McDonald's "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)." But unlike the latter, the Twinz' clever interpretation did not become a huge hit. In parallel fashion, Conversation makes good use of proven post-Chronic elements (funky '70s synthesizer samples, arresting diva vocals, loc'ed lyrics), but the Twinz were unable to catch the Dr. Dre wave, which swept many of their Long Beach peers to success. Lack of a distinctive identity contributed to their obscurity, since the brothers' party raps are overshadowed by the dominant female vocalists and striking production elements. Those familiar sounds and themes give Conversation a pleasantly familiar consistency which should appeal to Snoop and Nate Dogg fans who might have missed the Twinz during the '90s G Funk explosion.
© Vince Ripol /TiVo
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