Debut's verdict undesirable

ALBUM REVIEW

By Wes Woods, On-Line Forty-Niner

Monday, October 26, 1998

Despite some fabulous first person narratives, Prime Suspects' album "Guilty Til Proven Innocent," on No Limit Records, does not quite measure up to past No Limit successes.

The debut of E, Skinew and Gangsta T provide interesting introspective tales of day-to-day living, murders and drug-related incidents (much like Scarface, but without the yelling). Sadly, the basic, bare-bones production fails them most of the time.

The album's production - by Beats by the Pound - leaves much to be desired. It drags on for 20 bass-pulsing tracks, using medium to tedious-paced drums and synthesizer inserts here and there. Usually, No Limit varies the production for its artists, but not with this effort.

The album starts off promising enough, with the pounding, keyboard twinkling of "All 4 One." With Master P leading off, the track is a menacing piece of work. "Money Makes ... " with Silkk the Shocker and Kane and Abel, also rumbles with successful results. The depressing, mellow tone of "Liquidation Of The Ghetto," with Mystikal, wins with lines like "Good and bad, right or wrong, lurking the land, you chose your fate gracefully, save your soul if you can ... "

Other nice efforts are "My Old Lady," about selling drugs, with Snoop Dogg and Fiend, with its snail-paced and spooky production and "Here I Go Again," with a contagious hook and light, laid-back feel to the moderately-paced drumbeat.

"Soldier 4 Life," a reworked version of N.W.A.'s "Niggaz 4 Life," was a welcome surprise. The beat is the same as the original, with upbeat drums and catchy keyboard, but provides a lot more bass. E, Skinew and Gangsta T also use the original lyrics, but update them to accommodate their New Orleans third-ward perspective.

For the most part, however, the production ends up wearing the listener down with the same sound. Even with the Prime Suspects members more than holding their own on the lyrical end.

With Prime Suspects appearing solo on the 10 of the 20 tracks - No Limit artists are usually on more - it appears executive producer Master P had much faith in them. Unfortunately, it is the production team that should have had help.