are some of the better rappers on the roster, more dexterous, clever, and hook-conscious than their mentor, . That doesn't necessarily mean that their debut, , is better than 's record, but it does mean that it's frequently exciting and invigorating. Like most late-'90s records, the album runs way too long and is bogged down by filler, but the very best moments equal anything that has been released by , and in many cases even surpasses it in terms of lyrical skills and energy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine