Beanie Sigel

Beanie Sigel's music is moody, depressing and totally engaging. Given that The Solution is his first album since serving a year in federal prison and being shot in an attempted robbery, it's a little disappointing that the Philly native is fixated on caviar dreams. Over synth-heavy beats, Beanie buffers his impact with flossy raps about passing the patron ("Shake It For Me") or loving money, cash and cars ("'Bout That (Let Me Know)"). Reuniting with Scarface on the uplifting "Rain (Bridge)" and the introspective "Dear Self (Can I Talk To You)" is reassuring, but not enough.