L.A. Confidential Presents Knoc-Turn'Al CD

At first glance, this six-song EP by California player Knoc-Turn'Al would seem to be an unerring template for West Coast gangsta rap. The Tracks are littered with Dre-influenced G-funk (the good doctor makes a guest appearance as well), full of laid-back rhymes that reference Crenshaw, the chronic, and every conceivable variant on the gang- and ho-bangin' that's de rigeur in Cali.

There's even a G-rap rewrite of "California Girls" that uses towns like Pomona and Elsinore as girls' names to drive the point home. At one point, we even hear our hero choking on some particularly strong "Indo." However, the EP's second track "Muzik" marks a divergent road. Its rhythm totally bereft of hip-hop, the guitar-charged ode to the muse not only owes more to Led Zep than to NWA, its lyric is the most open-hearted on this disc. Think of it as a sign of Knoc's potential for an idiosyncratic follow-up.

Personnel: Knoc-Turn'Al, Missy Elliott, Dr. Dre, Warren G, Shade Shiest, Nate Dogg, Xzibit, Slip Capone, Timebomb, Jayo Felony, Butch Cassidy, Too Short (rap vocals).

Producers includes: Dr. Dre, Knoc-Turn'Al, Fred Wreck, Wallace Silbey Jr., Budda.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.