Beanie Sigel

Beanie is a bull on the microphone, hammering out terse and often threatening lines. This lacks the confessionals of subsequent Segal releases, instead leaning on the bleak braggadocio of "Mac Man" and the fantastically-detailed fatalism of "What Ya Life Life." Segal is not the most rhythmically nimble, but the monosyllabic flow only reinforces his gritty persona.

The champagne-and-diamonds era of hip-hop is fading, and the music's movers and shakers
are addressing its excesses. Jay-Z -- the outgoing player president now slowly receding
into kingpin status -- attempted to pass the torch to the wilder, less flossy Memphis Bleek on
Vol. 2 . . . Hard Knock Life. But judging from The Truth, it may be his other protege, a
less-noticed Philadelphia raw dog named Beanie Sigel, who will be the true bear... More >

His beats are as tough as his rap, and damned if I know whether that's good or bad ("What Your Life Like," "Ride 4 My"). (Grade - **)