Silkk The Shocker Based On A True Story CD

When New Orleans label No Limit first hit the big time in the late 1990s, it was Silkk the Shocker who released the first major album (CHARGE IT 2 DA GAME) on the heels of founder Master P's multi-platinum breakthrough. When the company reemerged in 2004 with a Master P comeback, Silkk the Shocker again followed, this time with his fifth record (and his first in three years), BASED ON A TRUE STORY.

Always a distinctive vocalist, the Southern rapper improved his lyrical acuity by leaps and bounds during the hiatus. Over the span of his first four albums, Silkk reveled in all the usual trappings of gangsta rap, going gleefully over the top, more concerned with starting the party than with thoughtful lyrics. While BASED ON A TRUE STORY's themes stay true to the customary topics of girls, riches, prowess, and more girls (and, as it is on No Limit, basketball), "Why You Mad" and "We Don't Dance We Bounce" are practically introspective, rife with clever turns of phrase. However, that certainly is not to imply Silkk has forgotten how to throw a party, particularly on Petey Pablo-boasting single "We Like Them Girls." With BASED ON A TRUE STORY, Silkk the Shocker rises to new heights of his hip-hop skills.

There are two interesting things about Silkk the Shocker's fifth album, and that's more than usual. One is that it's been three years since his last album and he's grown when it comes to rapping. It's not by leaps and bounds, since he's still more a party chanter than a lyric dart thrower, but he pauses and asks questions and that's a relief from his old thug spitting. The second is how old-school No Limit the album is, recalling the label's heyday even with its slick recognition of Lil Jon's domination of the South, 2004. In its mix with Petey Pablo guesting, "We Like Them Girls" is the slamming, Lil Jon-inspired single and a solid jam for a weekend roll on 24s. The excellent Southern boot to the head "Playa Playa" is the album's other great track, ending a tight run of tunes with one speed bump. The creeping "Got It on Lock" with woop-woop synths segues into the ominous "We Don't Dance We Bounce" and the funkier "Just Do It" with great care, but when the Petey Pablo-less mix of "We Like Them Girls" follows five tracks after the single mix, you've got to wonder why the album gives up on the great flow. Producer Myke Diesel takes the Lil Jon sound to the underground on his many cuts and XL grabs the same bit of Spandau Ballet's "True" that P.M. Dawn did for the nice breather "Be There." If these sound like great strides to get some aboveground attention, Silkk's constant lyrical venom will keep him off the radio. It's good to hear the little bits of this new, questioning Silkk -- but his anger wrestles with his skills and comes out the winner more times than not, making the album lose its punch on repeated listens. Based on a True Story recalls the good (underground and hard) and the bad (sleazy and cheap) of the old No Limit and displays a bit of growth for the rapper. The slow rate at which he's developing is barely worth watching for outsiders, but the thugs understand and can trip on this for one summer, maybe two. [Based on a True Story is available in a version with profanities removed.] ~ David Jeffries

Photographer: Christian Lantry.

Personnel: Silkk the Shocker; Petey Pablo, Curren$y, Master P, Pop , Germany, Motor Bike Mike.

Recording information: Shocker House.

Vibe (p.191) - 3 discs out of 5 - "Silkk maintains the gangsta rap status quo....Flavoured with his syllable-squeezing, rapid-fire delivery..."