Totally Hip Hop

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Performer include: Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Clipse, Fat Joe, Outkast, Lil' Kim, Sean Paul, Wayne Wonder, Nappy Roots, Justin Timberlake, Angie Martinez, Benzino, Fabolous, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Mo, Cee-Lo, Trick Daddy, Brandy, Trina, Petey Pablo, TLC, Smilez & Southstar, Tweet. Editor: Mark Fellows. As the single continues its downward slide in relevance within the music industry, compilations like Totally Hip Hop become increasingly necessary. Consisting predominantly of the most popular hip-hop-oriented hits from the first half of 2003 -- with a slight diversion to include OutKast's "So Fresh, So Clean," and a couple other tracks, from 2001 -- this disc is tailor-made for radio listeners and video-program watchers who don't make weekly trips to the record store to buy all the new full-length releases. The strength in the selections can't be denied; even if you've long since grown tired of Fabolous' droning chorus in "This Is My Party," you can just skip back a couple tracks to hear Lil' Mo's sweetly addictive "4Ever," in which he takes on a supporting role. Everything here was a major hit, and when the disc was released, several of them were still on the charts. Although the disc won't be as timely in a few years, it'll still function as a time capsule for the period it covers. Other key tracks include Lil' Kim's "The Jump Off," Sean Paul's "Gimme the Light," Clipse's "Young Boy," Tweet's "Oops (Oh My)," Wayne Wonder's "No Letting Go," and Petey Pablo's "Raise Up." ~ Andy Kellman Much like its stylistic cousin TOTALLY R&B, the TOTALLY HIP HOP collection also casts a fairly wide net in defining its own genre. The inclusion of Mystikal ("Boucin' Back [Bumpin' Me Against the Wall]") and Ludacris ("Gossip Folks") on this collection falls into the no-brainer category, but when names like Justin Timberlake ("[Oh No] What You Got"), Brandy ("What About Us?"), and Christina Aguilera ("Dirrty") pop up, even the most open-minded rap fan will be surprised. The rationale lies in a generation of younger artists weaned on hip-hop who've let its influence bleed into their music, using hot producers like the Neptunes to get their creative point across. Analytical observations aside, the rest of this anthology stays fairly true to the course by erecting a tent big enough to house hot Brooklyn talent Fabolous ("4 Ever," "This Is My Party") alongside dancehall reggae superstars Wayne Wonder ("No Letting Go") and Sean Paul ("Gimme the Light"). Talent from south of the Mason-Dixon line also gets its props, whether its Petey Pablo ("Raise Up"), Clipse ("Young Boy"), or Hotlanta's Outkast ("So Fresh, So Clean").

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