Consumer Guide Album

City High: City High [Booga Basement/Interscope, 2001]
I like the way this Fugees-configured r&b defines its concept and cohort. Not every high schooler who dresses gangsta just needs respect and motivation, but enough of them do to make a nice little audience base. The vocals are smooth, the hooks suave, and with age-appropriate overlays of sentimentality and distortion--degree-bound female imprisoned for succumbing to underage Adonis, FBI forcing another to betray her G for her baby boy--this gives those well-meaning kids a voice. If you believe the hit "What Would You Do?" has too much Ricki Lake in it, as it does, try "Sista" or "Cats and Dogs," which have just enough. A-