Nigga Please
Little things like mental illness, drug addiction, or criminal behavior are hardly deterrents if ya wanna be a star. In fact, if utilized properly, such defects can become major career boosters. Take Ol' Dirty Bastard. A perennial fixture of perp walks in Brooklyn, ODB hasn't let minor scuffles with the boys in blue impede his crossover dreams. Nor has he let a seemingly silly thing like being totally out of his ever-loving mind slow his musical mustang down. No, boyee. Our man Bastard knows that everyone loves to watch a train wreck, and a train wreck is what he will give the fans. Luckily for all concerned, ODB's sophomore solo CD is more than just an exercise in poor mental health and bad chemical combos: it's funny as all get out and one of the most outrageous rap records... ever. Sure, ODB's drugged-out, insane-in-the-membrane rantings and delusional ravings can wear a bit thin, but not before tracks like the string laden "I Can't Wait"--in which Dirty offers shout outs to theEskimos, theMarines, and himself--and a careening cover ofRick James's "Cold Blooded" have you holding your sides. Titles like "I Want P***y" and "You Don't Wanna F**k With Me" pretty much sum up the vibe. But if you check your PC concerns at the door (Dirty insults and offends everyone with equal precision) and allow the beats of such masters as the Neptunes, Irv Gotti, andWu-mateRZAwaft over you, you will find yourself lovingNigga Please. In an age of cleaned-up thugs and radio-ready party anthems, ODB has made a record that should give parents nightmares and hip-hop fans sweet dreams.--Amy Linden