Though highly respected in rap's hardcore, was never a platinum seller. no doubt encouraged her to be more commercial on her third album, -- a generally softer, more melodic, and often R&B-ish effort than either of her first two LPs. But even so, the album is far from a sellout -- 's music still has plenty of bite, substance, and integrity. Like before, she's at her best when telling some type of story instead of simply boasting about her rapping skills. Especially riveting are (a poignant reflection on the destruction caused by crack cocaine), (a warning about how a one-night-stand can lead to AIDS); and which describes a young man's life and death in the fast lane. 's change of direction proved to be short-lived -- with her next album, , she returned to hardcore rap in a big way. ~ Alex Henderson