The Neptunes

Clones consists of original Neptunes songs as well as tracks they've produced for other artists. The album is as eclectic as the duo's client roster, which has included Britney Spears, Busta Rhymes and Usher, but one constant is the grit and muscle they bring to everything they touch.

The best Neptunes tracks are slightly idiotic and almost totally idiot-proof. To a rapper in
need of a hit, this must seem like a good thing: Just buy one of those brilliantly simple
synthesizer riffs, add two and a half verses and watch your song climb the charts. They
helped Mystikal go pop, helped P. Diddy stay pop and helped Justin Timberlake leave pop
behind. It's true: Tracks produced by the Neptunes aren't cheap, but once you'... More >