Latest CD releases reviewed

THE GIFT OF GAB
4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up Quannum Projects
***

He's the fastest rhymer in the west, and Gift of Gab's previous work with Blackalicious (especially 2002's fantastic Blazing Arrow album) and the all-star Quannum crew means you'll happily hitch a ride on any 4-D rocketships he's piloting. What stands tall here is, as always, how Gab can fire up a rhyme and pin your ears back with his delivery. Over beats from Seattle's Jake One and Vitamin D, Rat Race is a state-of-the-art missive in this regard, Gab flexing his muscles, knowing everyone will ooh and aah at his ability to come up with dozens of rhymes for matador without breaking sweat. Verbal dexterity aside, most of his lyrical interests don't wander too far from tried-and-tested themes, yet Evolution and Flashback will still coax smiles from the toughest of punters. Jim Carroll

LLOYD BANKS
The Hunger for More G Unit
**

Just as Eminem gave a helping hand to his old mates D12, it's now 50 Cent who's sharing the spotlight with some of his G-Unit chums. Half-a-Euro is the executive producer here, which means he made the "yo" calls to get Eminem, Hi-Tek, Timbaland and other G-Unit likely lads out of bed and into the studio to rap or produce with his boy. The CD sleeve depicts Banks pouting, frowning and counting a wad of cash in various urban locations, while the CD itself is an eyepopping parade of banalities about the usual gangsta concerns. Occasionally, the beats merit a second listen, but then Banks starts to rap about how he's so cool or he's so hard and that's the end of that. The sound of Monday morning in hip-hop hell. www.interscope.com

Jim Carroll