Master P

Down but not out, the once-mighty Master P makes another comeback bid. MP Da Last Don is exactly what fans have come to expect from the New Orleans rap mogul; it's a lengthy double-disc jam-packed with keyboard beats, crime-related wordplay, lots of big name guests and plenty of "uhhhhh"s. Snoop, E-40 and Bone Thugs also appear.

The beats speed up without losing their deep post-Cali bump, especially on the nonstop "Make Em Say Uhh #2." The artiste camouflages his rapping by passing work to his brothers and collecting chits from Bone-Thugs and Snoop. Political analyses are essayed. So the brutally predictable solo smashes by said brothers, the cold Silkk the Shocker and the crude C-Murder, are less fun. But they're also less aggravating. In addition to givens about social services and law enforcement, we get "N*gg*s don't kill n*gg*s--media kill n*gg*s," "why the government don't protect superstars," "no Grammy nominations," and complaints that his taxes are too high. We get all the usual misogynist ugliness and black-on-black crime. We get Snoop calling Puffy out without going so far as to utter his name. "The ghetto's got me crazy" I know--that's the cliche P patented with his groan. But "too legit to quit"? Where have I heard that before? (Grade - C+)