Lethal Squad Mixtapes: Dose #3 CD

The third "dose" of Universal Music's budget-priced, legal, and legit mixtape series does a fair job of creating an underground mixtape feel and a better job of rounding up some heavy hitters. First off, there's the million-dollar collaboration between 50 Cent and Ludacris on the "I Get Money" remix. Then there's Jermaine Dupri and Young Jeezy showing up for the So So Def remix of Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothing," Rick Ross pumping up the remix of Hot Dollar's "Streetz on Lock," plus David Banner, the Game, Snoop, and even Q-Tip. Newcomers to the world of mixtapes should know that the Lethal Squad series mimics underground mixtapes right down to the DJ shouting over the tracks, the two-minute snippets instead of full songs, and the dropping of "thrilling" tracks like "Bobby Valentino Speaks...," a self-explanatory nine seconds. The street-level releases are where the real exclusives and excitement go, and it's going to take something much more edgy to make veterans of the underground accept the Lethal Squad series as anything but major-label heresy. Still, this rather safe imitation can get a gangsta party started as long as no one is being snooty. ~ David Jeffries