Barbershop 2: Back In Business Soundtrack CD

Mary J.Blige &Eve/G-Unit/Mya & Chingy/Floetry/Mos Def/D12/Mob

Original score composed by Richard Gibbs.
Original score composed by Richard Gibbs.
Personnel: Brandon Bennett, Olivia , Samuel Christian (vocals); Craig Love, Michael Chavarria, Tal Hertzberg, Steven King (guitar); Sandra Billingslea, Natalie Leggett (violin); Maxine Roach (viola); Eileen Folson (cello); Ravi Best (trumpet); Clark Gayton (trombone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Bill Reichenbach Jr. (horns); Dave Robbins , Cheron Wilson, Luis Resto (keyboards); Ron Fair (percussion); Organized Noize (programming, drum programming); Errol Jr. "E Poppi" Mccalla, Denaun Porter (drum programming); Patrice Bowie, Mya Harrison (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: John Frye; Dave Pensado; Eminem; Phil Campini; Neil Pouge; Jason Schweitzer; Patrick Viala; Peter Mokran; Phil Tan; Serban Ghenea; Steve Sola; Steven King.
Recording information: 54 Sound Studios, Detroit, MI; Chung King, New York, NY; Dunn Deal Studios; Encore Studios, Burbank, CA; Hardware Studios, Orange, NJ; Hit Factory Criteria, Miami, FL; Larrabee East, Hollywood, CA; LPF Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Pilot Recording, New York, NY; Record One, Sherman Oaks, CA; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Skyelab Studios, New York, NY; Sound on Sound, New York, NY; Stankonia Recordings, Atlanta, GA; Stone House Recording, Chicago, IL; Stonehouse Studios, Hollywood, CA; Streetlight Music, New York, NY; Teamwork Music Studios; The Dungeon; The Enterprise Studios, Burbank, CA; The Hit Factory, New York, NY; The Studio At The Sunset Marquis, West Hollywood, CA.
If they put the Barbershop 2 soundtrack out with only the first three tracks and nothing else, it would still be an essential collection of urban beats and you'd still be a sucker if you didn't pick it up. The empowering "Not Today" is a home run for Mary J. Blige, Eve, and producer Dr. Dre while Mya's coy "Fallen" gets winningly roughed up in a remix. Sleepy Brown's loopy "I Can't Wait" tops them all with absolutely stellar lyrics ("You're a Tyner/Meaning the real McCoy") while OutKast's guest spot shows their Midas touch is still in effect. The Clipse's vacant cut screws up the flow, but the collection recovers with Keyshia Cole's smoky interpolation of Luther on "Never." Some killer tracks by Mya and Sean Paul, Floetry, Olivia, and Morgan Smith are dispersed throughout the disc's second half, and they're surrounded by cuts that are almost as worthy. The hilarious bits of dialogue that opened and closed the first movie's soundtrack are unfortunately gone, making the whole collection feel like a slick mixtape you'd have a hard time topping. It'll take you forever to stop playing the opening triple threat, but the rest of Barbershop 2 only needs a little trimming. ~ David Jeffries
In urban communities, the barbershop, equal parts business and tradition, has come to represent hope, promise, history and people coming together. A surprise hit movie during the summer of 2002, BARBERSHOP, captured that spirit with a sweet, smart script that shone new light on the age-old story of a quirky community that squabbles but bands together when faced with difficulty. The film's sequel finds all of the major cast members (including Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer) returning, with the addition of Oscar nominee Queen Latifah.
The soundtrack for BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS, features a cross-section of the best R&B and hip-hop has to offer, from the dark "gangsta" stylings of G-Unit to the intellectual neo-soul of Floetry & Mos Def to the classic R&B of Ashford & Simpson as covered by Avant & Keke Wyatt. The collection also boasts many impressive new artists; of particular note is Twista-style rapper Spitfiya who is joined by the crooning of the very able Anthony Hamilton on "Make It Home," and Southern shooting-star Sleepy Brown, backed by Outkast on "I Can't Wait." The BARBERSHOP 2 soundtrack echoes the feel of the famous neighborho