Anuthatantrum

by Steve HueyDa Brat's second album, Anuthatantrum, is a slight improvement over her debut, even if it lacks an instantly obvious single on the order of "Funkdafied." Her persona is pretty much the same (she doesn't take crap and likes to swear and smoke pot), and so is her flow. The main difference is that this time around, her rhymes are much more her own, without all the old-school quotes and obvious Snoop Dogg bites that sometimes pulled the focus away from her strengths on Funkdafied. Similarly, Jermaine Dupri's production is less indebted to Dr. Dre's G-funk sound, instead following the early-'80s urban funk direction he also hinted at on the debut. The two excellent singles, "Sittin' on Top of the World" and "Ghetto Love," sample Rick James and El Debarge, respectively, and there are some more laid-back moments with live keyboards and acoustic guitar work. (The "Stayin' Alive" cop on "Keepin' It Live" is far less inspired, however.) Of course, there's another ode to marijuana on "Let's All Get High," which features special guest Krayzie Bone; there are also a few songs where da Brat prides herself on being more spoiled than ever, thanks to her success. It's another brief album, but Anuthatantrum does show da Brat making subtle progress, and Dupri's production is inviting once again.