Generally, Chingy is blank, as flat as tap water. [Oct 2006, p.150]

The Atlanta MC attempts the melodramatic, but to mostly underwhelming results.

While there's something joyful in the cacophony, the songs remain window dressing on the spectacle. [Oct 2007, p.94]

In fact, the flair that is championed on most Common albums is absent, leaving a vapid display of good ideas with unenthused delivery. This nonchalance has placed Universal Mind Control’s release, regardless of its intentions, in poor form, doing little for progressing Common’s ability.

Without the apocalyptic beats and emotional storm clouds that were once his trademarks, Vulnerable makes Tricky all but dispensable. [Aug 2003, p.156]

Too often these songs either sound recycled or just uninspired.

Something's off... ESG's doe-eyed charm... is missing. [Oct 2006, p.148]

A tepid debut. [May 2007, p.121]

Erratic. [Feb 2007, p.126]

There are soaring hooks aplenty, but there's little to fill the gaping holes in between. [Oct 2006, p.141]

That Brave on the whole is almost unapologetically poor isn't surprising--Jenny's never made a viable Album of the Year. But never before has the fly-girl-cum-cover girl been so listless. [Dec 2007, p.107]

While P's rhyme schemes haven't changed much, he has improved his musical backdrops significantly. [Feb 2002, p.121]

The majority of Kala is limp and unfocused. [Sep 2007, p.133]

The commercial techno sludge of Oakenfold's songs on Bunkka suggests that he should have thought twice about veering from his career path as DJ du jour. [Aug 2002, p.160]

With a thin vocal range and punchy delivery, will sings and raps his way through half-baked funk vamps like 'She's A Star,' failing to effectively update the sizzling 'Thriller'-isms to which he's clearly in thrall. [Nov 2007, p.94]

Sounds like a watered-down Pearl Jam spiked with a drum machine and a couple of extra synths. [Feb 2002, p.123]

Killa is mostly outmatched by his more charismatic Wu brethren. [Oct 2006, p.144]

While, Sov should feel comfy in this climate of likeable, marketable, off-kilter MCs, Jigsaw is too frenetic to function.