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From kiddie kings Kris Kross to queen mother Areha Franklin, producer Jermaine Dupri has been one of the forces who has revitalized black pop with hip hop attitudes and techniques. On his supposed solo debut, Life in 1472 (So So Def), he remains mostly in the background, handing the mike to rappers ranging from legendary old-schooler Slick Rick to 1998 hitmaker DMX, with femme input provided by Da Brat, Li'l Kim, and others. The result is crass and clever, arrogant and catchy--a celebration of living large that's hard to resist even if you don't approve.
Anybody who's ever called in sick with the rockin' pneumonia or the boogie-woogie flu owes New Orleans's Huey "Piano" Smith, whose rollicking excursions with his well-named Clowns are collected on the perfect, budget-priced This Is . . . Huey "Piano" Smith (Music Club). The follow-up to Rockin' Pneumonia? Why, High Blood Pressure, of course.
Playboy, July 1998
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June 1998 | Aug. 1998 |  |