June 26, 2003 @ 9:00 pm

B.G. - LIVIN' LEGEND (KOCH/CHOPPER CITY)

Tony Green

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Four years ago, you couldn’t imagine Cash Money records without B.G.

Four years ago, you couldn’t imagine Cash Money records without B.G. He preceded Juvenile as the label’s solo star, coining the Webster’s-worthy nugget “bling bling,” but still managed to balance the crew’s gaudy escapism with a coldly fatalistic ’hood perspective. Since then, however, B.G. has joined Juvie on the ex-CMM conga line. Still, you can’t take the hot out of the boy, and Livin’ Legend revisits familiar B.G. territory. But half a decade past the New Orleans sound’s heyday, Legend’s Crescent City–thug vibe barely caresses the upper reaches of the crunk-o-meter. Producer Kidd’s N.O.-style beats are solid though dated (think Monsieur Fresh circa ’98). That’s not to say that there aren’t moments. Tracks like “Shoot ’Em Up & Bang Bang” and the bonus disc’s “Bling Bling Slim” highlight the slurred, eerily detached menace that propelled much of 1999’s Chopper City in the Ghetto. Problem is, B.G. hasn’t gone anywhere since then. He’s still calling out rivals, flaunting an itchy trigger finger, and flossin’ for the hood rats. Judging from this release, B.G.’s legend could use some revision.

Article tags: B.G, LIVIN, LEGEND, KOCH/CHOPPER, CITY 

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