Kamikaze

Twista's warp-speed raps may have got him into the Guinness Book of World Records, but Kamikaze confirms that there's more to him than just outpacing the competition. He can out-boast them too. Straight out of the blocks he's taunting his peers, waving his bank balance, record sales and gangsta credentials in their faces, challenging them to come and have a go if they think they're fast enough. Though hardly abnormal rap behaviour, for once, having an ego bigger than America isn't without reason. "Get Me" and "Pimp On" may be stock gangsta frontin', but their respective bleak drama and cruising slouch would make Jay-Z nod along approvingly. But it's when he turns his hyperactive couplets to having fun that really scores. Relaxing to a G-funk strut, "Drink" has him cheekily working through the cocktail menu, recalling various ladies that the exotic concoctions (Sex on the Beach, Slow Screw) remind him of. Meanwhile, running through a list of smooth soul artists who will improve his pulling power, single "Slow Jamz" rolls out a satiny groove and a sly sense of humour: "I'm gonna play this Vandross, you gonna take your pants off." For sure there's a lot of uninspired droning about cash and guns, but when he finds his imagination, Twista makes being a pimpmobile-driving rap star sound like a lot of fun. --Dan Gennoe

Label: Unknown
Studio: Atlantic
Released: 2004-02-23
Format: Vinyl

Extras/Features:
Explicit Lyrics