Slum return with their fourth full-length, a new line-up and that same gritty neo-whatever sound that will have your girl bumping this all summer. That weird guy in the turban (Bataan) is out of the picture, leaving T-3 and Elzhi to hold down the ship. Fortunately for those of us who check for lyrics this new line-up is an improvement lyrically over the last couple LPs. Two up and coming Motown beatmakers, BR Gunna (Black Milk and Young RJ), supply the bulk of the thirteen tracks, with a couple prime guest production shots. Kanye West produced and featured on the first single "Selfish(1)," a radiostation lock matching Kanye's comedic force and knack for catchy loops with the Villa's knack for making ladies weak at the knees. Jay-Dee returns to the picture on another of the album's standouts "Reunion(2)." He also chops up "More Bounce To The Ounce" on "Do You(3)," featuring Michigan OG, MC Breed. The ultimate cameo comes from Dirt McGirt on "Dirty(4)," which should be up for a single release. They keep it in the family the rest of the way with Phat Kat on "Zoom" and Dwele supplying falsetto on the triple-x "Count The Ways(5)" and the 2-stepping "Closer(6)." 16 tracks total.

reviewed by JMS