Firewater

by Andy KellmanApparently a going-away party and a prelude to solo flights, tha Alkaholiks' fifth album -- their first since 2001's X.O. Experience -- is their weakest, but it's still a good time. With a title like Firewater, it's apparent that the trio won't be doing the unexpected, which is exactly what the fans expect. What prevents the album from being on par with the likes of 21 & Over and Coast II Coast is that the MCs have slowed a little with age, so neither the productions nor the lyrics are as fresh or as wildly hedonistic as favorites like "Make Room," "Hip Hop Drunkies," and "The Next Level." Tha Alkaholiks could be faulted for taking roughly 15 years to release their five albums, but the trio could also be rewarded for consistency. (They never released a mediocre album.) Bound to the expectations owed to their group name and first singles, J-Ro, E-Swift, and Tash should all benefit creatively from the split. Craziest boast on the album: "I'm the black Bryant Gumbel."