Although one of the founders of gangster rap,
Schoolly D never enjoyed the gold or platinum success of the many gangster rappers who reached the top of the charts in the late '80s and early to mid-'90s. The Philadelphian had recorded four albums for Jive/RCA when he resurfaced on Capitol with the uneven and erratic
How a Blackman Feels. This isn't a bad album, but it isn't one of
Schoolly's stronger efforts either. The CD's most engaging offerings include "Die Nigger Die" and "King of New York," both of which are chilling, first-person depictions of a drug dealer's violent world. The album will be of interest primarily to
Schoolly's more devoted fans, while those investigating his music for the first time would do better to acquire Saturday Night: The Album or
Smoke Some Kill. ~ Alex Henderson