WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1999

Compilation could be a bit 'Ruffer'

By Wes Woods

On-Line Forty-Niner

At least "Ruff Ryders-Ryde or Die Vol. 1" has good beats.

Which is not to say the compilation is garbage, but the lyrics on this disc are generally worthless.

The instrumentals, primarily produced by Swizz Beats - who produced "Ruff Ryders Anthem" and most of DMX's "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood" - are memorable, however, with their innovative use of strings, melody and loud drums.

And while there are many entertaining ways to point out one is a ruff ryder, this album does not do it. Even with hip-hop heavyweights Jay Z, DMX, Big Punisher, the Lox and recently retired Ma$e, "Ruff Ryders" fails to add any originality to its somewhat tired subject.

The Lox takes hip-hop to new lows with its uninventive, repetitive and bland use of vulgarity. While many lyricists can generally find entertaining ways to put profanity into their raps, the Lox uses it just to fill out its songs.

On the opening track "Ryde or Die," the artists take a classic instrumental - from EPMD's "Headbanger" - and create a snoozer. Boring, profanity-laced lyrics full of empty threats are yelled out by every rapper on the track.

Lyrics from the Lox such as "F- you and your son, y'all lowered in scum, show me the money, I'll show you a gun, m-----" are boring enough, but even the group's vocal tones are a little too mellow for such arrogance.

On the Jadakiss effort, "Kiss of Death," the symphonic strings and catchy melody save the lone Lox member from, well, the kiss of death.

The song features the resistible lyrics of "Call me J to the wah, and everything you got in your living room, I got in my car, except for the bar ..." all delivered in a long-winded monotone.

Even the DMX efforts, "Bugout" and "Some X S-" leave a little to be desired.

"Bugout" is a minute's worth of a well-worn Ohio Players sample and plenty of yelling about nothing in particular. At least DMX's voice entertains as usual. "Some X S-" follows the same vein, except it lasts nearly five minutes.

The true standout of the disc is "Jigga My N--," with an infectious hook that will be remembered hours later and a hum along, mid-tempo beat.

Jay-Z even steals a page out of Snoop Dogg's notebook, with a vocal small take of "What's My Name" with his "... went solo on that ass, but it's still the same, Brooklyn be the place where I serve them thangs ..."

But while "Ruff Ryders-Ryde or Die Volume One" does not provide any groundbreaking efforts, it does feature some infectious instrumentals.