Hustla's Handbook (Explicit Version) (2005)

Product Summary UPC: 00724347340628 Release Date: 9/27/2005 Buy.com Sku: 64009451 Item#: M2L9V4 Format:  CD Song Listing Disc 1 Song Title Sample 1. Like This - (with Nate Dogg) ~ Mack 10 2. Da Bizness ~ Mack 10 3. Pop - (featuring Red Cafe/Wanted) ~ Mack 10 4. Dome Shot ~ Mack 10 5. Don't Hate Me - (with DL/Wanted) ~ Mack 10 6. Testimony, The - (with Young Soprano/Pastor Steven Hamilton) ~ Mack 10 7. Step Yo Game Up - (with B Real/DJ) ~ Mack 10 8. So Gangsta - (with Butch Cassidy) ~ Mack 10 9. I'm A Star - (with Ruka Puff/Bigga Brown) ~ Mack 10 10. My Chucks ~ Mack 10 11. Keep It Hood - (with Bee Perry) ~ Mack 10 12. Cognac & Doja - (with Butch Cassidy/Young Soprano) ~ Mack 10 13. By The Bar - (with Kanary Diamonds/Wanted) ~ Mack 10 14. Mack Sinatra (Skit) ~ Mack 10 15. Livin Just To Ball ~ Mack 10 16. Ride Out - (with Chingy) ~ Mack 10 (P) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved. (C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc.. All rights reserved. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable Laws.   Album Notes and Credits Notes & Personnel Info Two of Mack 10's best efforts bookend Hustla's Handbook, a frustratingly overstuffed and spotty effort that dilutes its personality with filler that goes nowhere. With his homeboy Nate Dogg, Mack 10 kills with the opening "Like This," a track that's classic West Coast balling with a bit of David Banner crushing. Counting "Ride Out" with Chingy as a bonus track, the proper closer, "Livin Just to Ball," is far and away the highlight of the album, arguably a Top Five song in the G-funker's catalog. The rapper vividly reminisces about back in the day over Fredwreck Nassar's roller-skating jam on a track that sounds like it should be closing a much more purposeful album. The problem is that the rest of the B-list set of producers here offer either forgettable or derivative beats in a wide range of styles, some that just don't fit. You're four tracks in before "Done Shot" coats the lyrics with the kind of sticky G-funk Mack 10 is most comfortable with, and while the slick productions that sound like Jay-Z's discards are trying, it's the concessions the album makes to Dirty South crunk that are really misguided. "Don't Hate Me" is worthy, and the both the spiritual "The Testimony" and the sneaker-worshipping "My Chucks" are arguments Mack 10 isn't limited to gangsta material, but too much redundant thugging just supports this argument, bloating the album into something unnecessarily unwieldy. The West Coast faithful should check it for the towering highlights while casual fans can catch these bangers on the next hits collection. ~ David Jeffries A decade into Mack 10's career, it seems high time this West Coast hip-hop impresario (founder of the mighty Hoo Bangin' Records empire) and tireless MC laid out a blueprint for precisely how it's done. He has recorded roughly an album a year since entering the game, and HUSTLA'S HANDBOOK works as the perfect title for Mack 10's eighth release. His philosophy is simple but effective, and is summed up perfectly by a line from the forceful opening track "Like This": "so hood/so classy." And with a vigorous delivery backed by reliable G-funk beats, the Inglewood MC unfolds stark tales of gangsta living with the ease of one who's been there and the artistry of one who knows how to rap about it. Musical Guests Wanted Red Cafe   Compilation Appearances Friday (Explicit Version) Black Bossalini (A.K.A. Dr. Bo (Explicit Version) Gang Related (Explicit Version) Vol. 1-War & Peace (War) (Explicit Version) Players Club (Explicit Version) Section 8 (Explicit Version) I Want It All (Explicit Version) Vol. 2-War & Peace (Peace) (Explicit Version) Hempin Loyalty & Betrayal (Explicit Version) Save The Last Dance Ice Cube's Greatest Hits (Explicit Version) (Bonus Tracks) Old School Rap Vol.06 Thug Angel - Life Of An Outlaw (Explicit Version) Thug Angel - Life Of An Outlaw xXx N.w.a Legacy 2 (Explicit Version) Cash Money Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Explicit Version) Greatest Hits (w/ Bonus DVD) (Explicit Version) Dirty South Ballin (Explicit Version) Wild Nights 4 (w/ Bonus DVD) Friday:20th Anniversary Edition (Explicit Version) Ice Cube's Greatest Hits (Clean Version) Young & Thuggin' (Explicit Version) Forgotten Freshness 4(Explicit Version) Straight Gangsta Vol 2 Screwed Death Row's Greatest Hits Death Row's Greatest Hits(Explicit Version) Hard Truth Soldiers Vol 1 Thug Nation(Explicit Version) Death Row Archives:soundtracks(Explicit Version) Best Of Celly Cel 2 Featuring Master P In The Movies(Explicit Version) In The Movies Bone Appetit Snoop Doggy Dog Greatest Hits(w/ Bonus DVD)(Explicit Version) Thuggin Without A Cause(Explicit Version) Bone Collection(Explicit Version) Bone Instrumentals Pt 2(Explicit Version) Digital Master Vol 2.1 Paris Presents:hard Truth Soldiers V1(Explicit Version) Custom Cars Cycles Custom Cars Cycles(Explicit Version)   Associated Artists and Works Various Artists Various Artists   Technical Info Release Date : 09/27/2005 Original Release Date : 2005 Catalog ID : 73406 Label : Hoo Bangin' Number of Discs : 1 Studio/Live : Studio Mono/Stereo : Stereo SPAR Code : n/a UPC : 00724347340628