State Property Presents The Chain Gang Vol. 2 CD

Parental Advisory.Beenie Sigel ,Freeway,Young Gunz,Sparks

State Property: Young Chris, Oschino, Sparks, Neef, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Peddi Crakk (rap vocals).
Additional personnel: Jay-Z, Lil' Cease, Young Gunz, Dirt McGirt, Twista, Oschino.
Producers include: Darrell "Digga" Branch, D. Dot, Spike, Jamal, Boola.
"Can't Stop Won't Stop" was nominated for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group.
Personnel: Dorinda Hampton, J.I. (vocals); Mike Peters , André Ward (guitar).
Audio Mixers: Carlisle Young; Manny Marroquin; Chach; R.O.C.
Photographers: Oluwaseye Olusa; Jonathan Mannion.
The second State Property compilation, following Freeway's elevation to full-fledged star status, is an improvement over the first, with more to offer in every capacity imaginable. Lead single and leadoff track "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," with a hollow percussive effect that can only be called the TiVo beat (it also resembles the sound of popping popcorn kernels), is a strong breakout track for Young Gunz. However, the duo is hardly a match for the likes of Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and newcomer Peedi Crakk, not to mention guests Jay-Z and Dirt McGirt. The extensive track listing is an attraction, but there's a little too much in the way of thrown-together filler to make it an end-to-end success. Why couldn't three minutes be taken away from anything involving Oschino, in order to add three minutes to Freeway's too-short "Still in Effect"? Incidentally, just about anything involving Oschino -- excepting "Blow," with its show-stealing appearance from Twista -- can be bypassed. Even considering its faults, the disc speaks well for the future of the crew. The mostly utilitarian and occasionally stellar production work, from an extended cast that includes Darrell Branch, D. Dot, Boola, Bink, Chad Hamilton, Alchemist, and Black Key, easily overpowers the work done on the first State Property comp. And, thankfully (mercifully), Dame Dash didn't feel the need to tie this one in with a movie. ~ Andy Kellman
State Property, a collective built around troubled but talented Beanie Sigel, were first seen by most of the public in a 2002 movie (fittingly enough titled STATE PROPERTY) starring said head rapper as Beans, a young gangsta who decides to lead his crew on a rampaging takeover of his city. Led by Beanie, the group is bolstered by the talents of a slew of the best up-and-coming young rappers Roc-A-Fella records could bring into the fold. Including the electrifying breakout lyricist Freeway and the alluringly dulcet-toned duo Young Gunz, State Property offer up a take-no-prisoners firestorm of violent flow focused by a righteously angry intelligence and the aptest of references.
Switching off and combining their talent in multiple manners on CHAIN GANG VOL. 2, State Property presents a balanced attack of solid raps. Chris and Neef of Young Gunz start things up with their trademarked trading-off vocals on the ferocious "Can't Stop, Don't Stop." Roc-A-Fella CEO and prolific megastar Jay-Z (who played a rival gang leader in the movie) drops in with one of his strongest, twistiest turns on "It's On." And when most of the members combine talents, the strongest tracks emerge, as on the dizzy "When You Hear That."