The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Lil Scrappy

by David JeffriesAh, to be young and crunk. You don't need to worry about being deep in the world of crunk, but if you don't have the right amount of confidence and swagger you can come off as desperate. Party rap has been this way long before Luther Campbell made the South its new home and long before Atlanta's Lil Jon was crowned the King of Crunk. The King presents two of his most skilled subjects on King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Lil Scrappy or King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Trillville, depending on which version you choose. Both contain the same tracks -- half by Trillville, half by Lil Scrappy -- with the only difference being who's on the cover and who gets to go first with their set. Considering how most crunk CDs should come with expiration dates ("Not crunk after May 30th") and run out of ideas after eight or so tracks, this split CD is smart marketing. The hits -- Trillville's "Neva Eva" and Lil Scrappy's "Head Bussa" -- are great examples of the differences between the two acts. Trillville come from the 2 Live Crew school of irresponsibility, but they're more concerned with looking tough than sleazy. Past the boisterous and fun "Neva Eva" there's the "Weakest Link," which cops the game show's "You're the weakest link, goodbye" dismissal and morphs it into an infectious chorus. Using the carnal creak of mattress for "Some Cut"'s backbeat is a brilliant bit of production from Lil Jon, but the rest of the highlights are Lil Scrappy's. Scrappy is a lot less concerned with partying and less crunk, but his deeper skills show his future is brighter than Trillville's. "Head Bussa" takes longer to sink in than "Neva Eva," but it's more street smart and more rewarding in the end. "Bootleg" has some great observations on the shady world of CDs that sell out of inner-city gas stations, while "Crunk Radio" has more to say than most interludes and skits. Lil Scrappy can't lose when he combines Twista's rapid style with dancehall's right-on-the-beat stutters. "Diamonds in My Pinky Ring" and the simply awesome "E.I.L.A." are the best examples, but there really isn't a whack track on Lil Scrappy's set. Just to add to the party, Lil Jon throws a slow, grinding track by newcomer Bohagon at the end. It's short but a slick enough reason to keep an eye out for his release, especially if Lil Jon keeps up with this don't-wear-out-your-welcome format.