Nemesis' second album, Munchies for Your Bass, was a surprising departure from their 1989 debut, To Hell and Back. While that CD was full of conscious lyrics à la Brand Nubian, this sophomore effort is more of a party album -- one with plenty of R-rated, sexploitive lyrics. Some hip-hoppers denounced Munchies for Your Bass as a sellout, arguing that when the conscious approach didn't result in multi-platinum sales for Nemesis, the Dallas group decided to take the easy way out and exploit sex. But even if this 1991 release was motivated by a desire to sell more CDs and seems less sincere than To Hell and Back, it's still an enjoyable party album. For those who are into R-rated fun, it isn't hard to move to infectious numbers like "Dallas We Come From," "S.O.U.L," and the single "I Want Your Sex" (which boasts a sleek, R&B-ish groove that recalls Steve Arrington's work with Slave in the late '70s and early '80s). A party atmosphere prevails on the urban contemporary-minded offerings, and it also prevails on the rock-influenced "Let's Have a Good Time" (which samples Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love"). One track that made some hip-hoppers question Nemesis' commitment to the Islamic faith is "Ali English and the 40 Oz. Thieves," a humorous, Beastie Boys-influenced number that celebrates the pleasures of malt liquor. Here's the thing: alcohol consumption is strictly forbidden in most sects of Islam, and in 1991, there were those who saw a major contradiction between Nemesis asserting "all praise due to Allah" only to turn around and encourage inebriation. But for those who can live with the group's contradictions, Munchies for Your Bass is arguably their strongest effort. ~ Alex Henderson