Belly [PA]

Performer: Original Soundtrack
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Producers include: R. Kelly, Irv Gotti, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Dame Grease, Knobody. Engineers include: Stephen George, Pat Viala, Ed Raso. Personnel: Ja Rule (vocals, rap vocals); Mya (vocals, background vocals); Andy Katz (vocals); Noreaga, Raekwon (rap vocals); Gregg Landfair (guitar); R. Kelly, Kendall D. Nesbitt (keyboards, background vocals); Percy Bady (keyboards); Anthony Harmon (bass guitar); Anthony Kilhoffer, Stan Wood, Larry Sturm, Stephen George (programming); Roy "Royalty" Hamilton (drum programming, background vocals); Cynthia Jernigan, Chandra Crawford, Gordon Chambers, Sparkle (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Doug Wilson; Kevin Krause; Ted Wohlsen; Mario Rodriguez ; Jean-Marie Horvat; Ken Ifill; Patrick Viala; R. Kelly; RZA; Rich Keller; Stephen George; Tommy Uzzo; Tony Kelly; Troy Hightower. Recording information: Battery Studios; Chicago Trax Recording, Chicago, IL; Clinton Studios, New York, NY; Daddy's House R; Hit Factory, New York, NY. The soundtrack from the 1998 debut film from hip-hop visionary Hype Williams consists of a hodgepodge of hip-hop and R&B. The majority of the album showcases the talent of hip-hop's heavyweights in the post-Biggie/2Pac mass-consumption era of hip-hop. The soundtrack also serves as a coming-out party for a promising next wave of MCs. The songs on the album reflect the central theme of the film: the paper chase from the disenfranchised point of view and the treacherous road to the riches that ensues. The opening track, "No Way in, No Way Out" by R. Kelly project Lady, is an R&B rendering of this central theme. The soulful D'Angelo builds poignantly on this theme with his defiant anthem "Devil's Pie," produced by the spellbinding DJ Premier. Aside from two R&B ballads (including a decent remake of Stevie Wonder's "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" by Bad Boy wunderkind Jerome), the remainder of the album features a number of blazing hip-hop tracks with fierce, sinister beats and hardcore MCs committing verbal murder. On "Grand Finale," the three male stars of the film (DMX, Method Man, and Nas) team up with the growling Ja Rule for a skills exhibition over a fiery composition. DMX gets versatile on "Top Shotter," using his rabid flow over a dancehall rhythm with assists from raggamuffins Mr. Vegas and Sean Paul. Ja Rule goes solo on the icy "Story to Tell." Jay-Z collaborates with his Roc-A-Fella prot�g�s Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek on "Crew Love." The Wu-Tang Clan chime in with the eerie "Windpipe" and Noreaga wistfully laments the loss of loved ones on the moving "Sometimes." The LOX and Made Men grab listeners by the throat on "Tommy's Theme" and the final cut, "I Wanna Live" by NAS' entourage Bravehearts, encapsulates the social Darwinistic themes of the film and soundtrack. Overall, a solid album. ~ M.F. DiBella Given that Belly a) is the debut feature film of Hype Williams (the only bona fide auteur to emerge from the music video side of the rap industry), b) was underwritten by Def Jam and c) casts three rappers (Method Man, Nas & DMX) in the lead roles--it shouldn't take rocket science to determine that someone had a lot of chips stacked on the soundtrack. It shows: the track listing reads like a who's who of East Coast rap. Although the disc does shine a light on unknowns like Hot Totti, Lady and Ja Rule, most of the gems here are from established stars. Gang Starr's "Militia" remix (featuring Rakim) & D'Angelo's "Devil's Pie," are both enhanced by the tighter-than-tight production skills of DJ Premier and there are also nice tracks backing Raekwon and young gun Noreaga. But the standout cut is the reggae beat "Top Shotter," ridden by DMX alongside Mr. Vegas and Sean Paul. Not only does it feature the two hottest dancehall vocalists of 1998, but even critics of DMX will find that his gravelly "Here comes the boom" flows perfectly over the raw kick of a dancehall riddim.

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