Producer 's highlight reels were stacking up exponentially when his solo debut for was released, after numerous delays and a handful of suspense-building underground mixes. The week came out, three singles featuring his handiwork were in the Top 20, including his own A daring way to introduce himself to the masses as an MC, the enterprising recorded the song during his recovery from a car wreck that nearly took his life -- while his jaw was wired shut. Heartbreaking and hysterical ("There's been an accident like Geico/They thought I was burnt up like Pepsi did "), and wrapped around the helium chirp of the pitched-up chorus from 's the song and accompanying video couldn't have forged his dual status as underdog and champion any better. All of this momentum keeps rolling through , an album that's nearly as phenomenal as the boastful has led everyone to believe. From a production standpoint, nothing here tops recent conquests like ' or but he's consistently potent and tempers his familiar characteristics -- high-pitched samples, elements -- by tweaking them and not using them as a crutch. Even though those with their ears to the street knew could excel as an MC, he has used this album as an opportunity to prove his less-known skills to a wider audience. One of the most poignant moments is on where the self-effacing examines self-consciousness in the context of his community: "Rollies and Pashas done drive me crazy/I can't even pronounce nothing, yo pass the Versacey/Then I spent 400 bucks on this just to be like 'N*gga you ain't up on this'." If the notion that the album runs much deeper than the singles isn't enough, there's something of a surprising bonus: rather puzzlingly, a slightly adjusted mix of -- a side-splitting ode to legends of baby-making that originally appeared on , just before that MC received his own chain -- also appears. Prior to this album, we were more than aware that 's stature as a producer was undeniable; now we know that he's also a remarkably versatile lyricist and a valuable MC. ~ Andy Kellman