An in-between album that thrills more than the usual stopgap release,
Featuring delivers on its title as it casts rapper
Rich Boy as an asset to all sorts of collaborations. He's fine with the crossover club music and drops "You a messy-haired bitch, I don't even want your number" during the colorful kiss-off with
Yelawolf dubbed "Go Crazy," then put him with stoned ranger
Curren$y and he can easily glide across the indie beat of "Burning One." The man even goes above and beyond with challenging tracks like "Paradise" (vibrant and Euro-flavored synth music) with Lil Hick and Drae Jackson and "Hard Work" (dark and way off-kilter) with
Dom Kennedy and
Slim Thug. Solo cut "Pharaohs & Kings" belongs since it skillfully tells the story of
Rich Boy graduated from "Throw Some D's" to one of
Dr. Dre's favorite rappers, although it skirts the issue of why this talented MC is so unproductive. ~ David Jeffries