June 27, 2005 @ 12:56 pm

Boyz N´ Da Hood - "Boyz N´ Da Hood"

by: Jamiyl Samuels

Since the untimely passing of the Notorious B.I.G., Bad Boy has suffered from a lack of street credible music. But this could all change with the ATL quartet Boyz N’ Da Hood, the first act released by Diddy since proclaiming his renewed focus on music.

Though members Jody Breeze and Young Jeezy have separate solo endeavors, “Making the Band” this is not. Along with Duke and Big Gee, the four effortlessly share the mic displaying cohesiveness akin to a group that has been together for years.

Tracks like the menacing “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me” and “Lay It Down” do not sugarcoat the thug tendencies of these hood representatives. The brazen hook to “No Talkin’” shows that the collective do not plan to follow in the footsteps of the materialism of Bad Boy’s past: “No talking/ no fussin’/ no flossin’/ we shooting to kill you/ your momma your daddy your aunts and your uncles your children…” The only time the “Boyz” touch the club is on the potential hangover anthem “Still Slizzard.” Guest spots are kept to a minimum and saved for the Scarface assisted “Happy Jamz,” highlighted by a standout opening verse from Big Gee.

Even with the standard gunplay and drug dealing narratives flooding the disc, it doesn’t seem contrived or forced. The ease at which the “Boyz” share the mic is what wins here.

Article tags: Boyz, N&#180, Da, Hood Boyz, N&#180, Da, Hood