Welcome to the Zoo is the debut album of
Gorilla Zoe, an Atlanta rapper in the mold of
Young Jeezy, whom he replaced in the Bad Boy group
Boyz N da Hood. It's a well-produced album featuring a few appearances by fellow group members
Jody Breeze and
Big Gee, along with Bad Boy hotshot
Yung Joc (on "Take Your Shoes Off" and "Juice Box").
Gorilla Zoe's best attribute is his resemblance to
Jeezy: both Atlantans have raspy voices, slow flows, simple rhymes, and a shameless obsession with the illegal drug trade, in particular cocaine.
Welcome to the Zoo's lead single, "Hood Nigga," is characteristic of the album, in terms of production and subject matter if not catchiness. ~ Jason Birchmeier