Violator: The Album
Compilations assembled to showcase record label rosters have become increasingly the norm. OnViolator: The Album, the featured artists--includingLL Cool J,Noreaga,the Beatnuts, andBusta Rhymes, are on different labels but have one thing in common--Chris Lighty's Violator Management company. "Vivrant Thing," Q-Tip's bouncy ode to women and theFlipmode Squad's playful "Whatcha Come Around Here For" foreshadow the album's up-tempo romp. Unfortunately, the majority of the remaining tracks are not the established artists' best work, but the compilation aptly exposes several up-and-comers. Nevertheless, names such asMobb Deep,Fat Joe, andBig Pun--all of whom appear here--make Violator a management company with an extremely street savvy clientele.--Celine Wong