Purple Ribbon All Stars Big Boi Presents... Got Purp? Vol. 2 CD

GOT PURP? VOL. 2 is the debut release from Purple Ribbon, the record label headed up by Outkast's Big Boi. Big Boi has always seemed the more gangsta-fied of the duo, and without Andre Benjamin's outré experimentalism to temper Big Boi's hardcore tendencies, GOT PURP? is steeped in straight-up, funk and R&B-flavored hip-hop. In fact, the album recalls Outkast's 1994 debut SOUTHERNPLAYALISTICADILLACMUZIK, more than it does the duo's bestselling, genre-crossing later albums STANKONIA and SPEAKERBOXXX/THE LOVE BELOW.

Comparisons to Outkast aside, however, GOT PURP? is a solid collection that works as the perfect soundtrack to cruising through Hotlanta in the '64. The album features a revolving cast of performers, including Killer Mike, Bubba Sparxxx, Konkrete, and members of the Goodie Mob. In addition to slamming, soon-to-be Dirty South anthems like "Kryptonite," there are delicious nods to old-school soul and R&B like Sleepy Brown's "Me, My Baby & My Cadillac" and Scar's smooth and groovy "U Got Me!!!"CMJ (p.4) - "Every track is a standout....[With] the Prince-esque psych-croon from Sleepy Brown and a Chaka Khan-style roller-skate jam from newcomer Janelle Monae..."