8Ball and MJG

The bluesy psychedelia of 8Ball and MJG's past work is supplemented by a harder nu-South sound (think Young Joc or Boyz N Da Hood) with mixed results. The tough snares and snaking melody of lead-off single "Relax and Take Notes" are hot, especially when paired with Notorious B.I.G.'s hook, but the Three 6 Mafia collaboration "Cruzin'" is a formulaic R&B jam. More successful are collaborations with Killer Mike (lonely weed anthem "Runnin' Out of Bud") and Pimp C (the predictably aggressive "Whatchu Gonna Do").