Slum Village - Detroit Deli LP

Have Slum Village become the Destiny's Child of rap? They certainly are survivors. As VIP group members fall by the wayside with each new release-this time around Baatin's gone MIA, last time around it was Jay Dilla—-they keep putting out the hits. "Selfish" is classic SV, with the banging beat supplied by Kanye West and soulful hooks courtesy of John Legend. Certainly, the combination of T3's clever disjointed rhyme patterns, Elzhi's smart, punchy flows, and a stellar production formula makes one miss Dilla's beat brilliance a bit less (although he does appear on the closing "Reunion"). However, the duo falls short because they fail to craft rhymes beyond predictable SV subject matter. Doesn't "Hood Hoes" sound strangely familiar? Outside of "Old Girl/Shining Star"-a unique spin on the pros and pitfalls of womanhood-Detroit Deli is light on themes. Oddly enough, guest contributions from Ol' Dirty Bastard ("Dirty") and fellow Detroit legend MC Breed ("Do You") don't add much to the lyrical mix. It's an extremely enjoyable and highly listenable album, but it sure ain't looking to enlighten the world with it's lyrical content. -Dalton Higgins