Ghetto Hymns

by Steve HueyDave Hollister's Ghetto Hymns is something of a concept album about the triumphs and pitfalls of love and relationships in the inner city. Of course, that doesn't mean it's always serious or realistic, but what matters is that Hollister knows how to mix hard-hitting beats with his own smooth singing and a number of cameo raps by the likes of Erick Sermon, Redman, Jazze Pha, and Too Short. The result is a record that, while it could have been trimmed a bit, will generally please fans of Hollister's former group, Blackstreet, and of other hip-hop/soul hybrid artists.