The Fix
What the world needs now isThe Fix--a brilliant hip-hop album  with the soul of a blues record. Dirty South iconoclast Scarface has never been  afraid to get deep; at this point a lot of his young-man wildness has been  replaced by a mature understanding of life's cyclical nature. Lyrically complex  and leaning heavily on somber chords, acoustic guitars, and scratchy soul  samples,The Fixis not a light and bouncy throwaway album, but one that  demands repeated listening. Nonetheless, this is also no crossover attempt--all  you get is superior hip-hop, accented with a touch of R&B; vocals courtesy ofKelly Price,Faith Evans, and Tanya  Herron. Standout tracks include "In Between Us," featuring an impassioned star  turn by guest MCNas(Nasir Jones), the  Kanye West-produced "In Cold Blood," and the gangsta lean "Sellout." But there's  no question that "On My Block," an instant classic, is hands down the best cut.--Rebecca Levine