This L.A. duo, protégés of
Mack 10, have had regional hits in the past, but broke out nationally with
Wake Up & Ball.
Wake Up & Ball stays safe within the confines of West Coast hip-hop styles, with its time-tested blend of
George Clinton and
Roger Troutman-inspired G-funk.
Comrads do mix the formula a bit in tracks like the dancehall-tinged "Bom Bom" and the R&B-laced track "Wanna B Gangstas." Those pleasant diversions, unfortunately, are few and far between. Too often, the album wastes its time on filler like "Murder Murder" and "Thug Niggaz." Mediocrity tends to dominate throughout
Wake Up & Ball, an average effort that does little to raise the status of West Coast hip-hop. ~ Jon Azpiri