Let's Get Ready

Outkast had phenomenal success with 'Stankonia' and next in line is New Orleans native Mystikal, who is already living it up on MTV with the unimaginatively titled 'Shake Ya Ass'.

Southern rap is traditionally of a harder, more agressive variety. The ragga-inspired style that Mystikal favours sometimes brings to mind the mad and manic Busta Rhymes. Unfortunately he does not have Rhymes' sense of humour or originality.

The rap assault is often too one-dimensional. Mystikal's brash and speedy rapping sometimes serves only to cover the fact that some of these tracks have little to offer in terms of hooks or musical merit.

Things work better on slower tracks, where the music has its own life, some nice jazzy arrangements and varied tempos.

Outkast appear on the track 'Neck Uv Da Woods' and this, together with the next single release 'Danger', are ultimately the tracks that save this album from being another bland product from the conveyor belt of rap. But only just.