By the time recorded his third solo album, he was recognized as a founding father of the L.A. . In an era dominated by , he'd posited an alternative based on intellectual lyrics and virtuosic microphone technique, and his work -- both solo and with -- helped inspire future crews to return to 's basic elements. stuck around via a series of independent side projects and underground supergroup collaborations, and finally returned to his solo career with 2001's excellent . For all his lyrical talent, has sometimes been plagued by erratic production, and -- despite a few cheap-sounding drum machines in spots -- takes steps to remedy that situation with a stronger, funkier set of beats. It also backs off the overambitious concept of , instead simply letting 's winning personality shine through. He's his usual reflective self on the excellent about how you have to experience the bad to appreciate the good, and where he's grateful just to have his basic needs met. But there are plenty of exciting moments as well. and are showcases for his tremendous wordplay and rapid-fire rhyming skills, respectively, and the shifting samples of the title track make it one of the best productions in his catalog. samples 's as the basis for a witty riff on overindulgent kids who haven't learned to hold their liquor or drugs. Those are just the top highlights on a strikingly consistent album that's packed with imaginative, smooth-flowing rhymes, and a simple joy in creating them. ~ Steve Huey