Fast and the Furious
This album is ostensibly the soundtrack to the car-chase flick of the same name, featuring Gotti's own Murder Inc. soldier,Ja Rule. It's chock-full of samples previously utilized to better effect byTha Alkaholiks,Dr. Dre, and Swizz Beats (who, on the misguidedLimp Bizkit/DMX/Redman/Method Mancombo, "Rolling," actually reworks one of his own beats). According to the liner notes, the album was "conceived and created by IRV GOTTI" (note the block caps), but it's unclear why Mr. Gotti wishes to take full responsibility for this half-baked mixture of posturing hip-hop and ineffective R&B.; The most obvious clunker is the aforementioned "Rolling," which comes off as a wan retread of theBeasties' "What You Want?" Vita's right behind them with a pointless word-for-word cover ofMadonna's "Justify My Love." The album's not a complete washout, though.R. Kellysteps in to save the day with the lovely "Take My Time Tonight," andNate Doggadds his inimitable brand of L.B. funk to Shade Sheist's "Cali Diseaz." And perhaps most notably,The Fast and the Furiousoffers a chance to catch Petey Pablo before he really grasps the brass ring.--Rebecca Levine