Bizarre Blue Cheese 'N' Coney Island CD

There's a ying/yang thing to the cover of Bizarre's Blue Cheese 'N' Coney Island, one that seems to say, "I may be the shower cap-wearing weird sicko of the overall humorous crew D12, but I also have my serious side." The album itself isn't so half-and-half, but with Bizarre delivering successful, meaningful tracks like "So Hard" along with his usual gross-out material, the rapper demands and deserves reconsideration, even if he hasn't gone through a total reinvention. Since 2005's Hannicap Circus, Bizarre starred in the reality television series Celebrity Fit Club and lost his D12 brother Proof to a senseless shooting. Neither of these two extremes have changed what Bizarre will put into a rhyme, and for better or worse, Blue Cheese has heaping helpings of cocaine talk, gunplay, and ideas so sick and disgusting, they make big bossman Eminem look rather pleasant. Still, if you can stomach it, the payoff is some hilarious pining for a homeless girlfriend ("She's Homeless"), a funky weed song of which George Clinton would approve ("G-14"), and a truly great club track that tops D12's "Purple Pills" ("Fat Boy"). The track list may be long, but the filler is minimal, something helped along by the big guest list including Kuniva, Tech N9ne, and most importantly King Gordy. The chemistry between Bizarre and Gordy benefits from years together on the Detroit grind, and everything else benefits from Bizarre's maturing skills. While any form of the word "mature" probably shouldn't come in close contact with the rapper, Blue Cheese shows significant growth and big-league talent. ~ David Jeffries

Additional personnel: Monica Blair, Razaaq, 7 Nation, Stretch Money, Dub, Gam, K.B., King Gordy, Maestro, Scarchild, Tech N9ne, Twisted, Kuniva, Young Miles.