Too Short Albums (20)
What The Critics Say
Too Short keeps the proceedings brief on Get Off the Stage, whose ten tracks, over half of which feature a guest, clock in just over a half-hour. If Short Dog is taking it easy this go-round, at least he sounds good doing it, as he works with a couple of the Bay Area's best rappers (E-40, Mistah F.A.B.) and a bunch of up-and-comers (Traxamillion, the Pack). At this point in his career, Too Short is more or less going through the motions, doing what needs to be done to make a living for himself and giving up-and-comers a platform to promote themselves alongside a legend. This became clear several years before the release of Get Off the Stage in 2007. Fans will be grateful for yet another latter-day album, especially one with such a fresh sound; everyone else need not pay mind. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
'American Pimps'
Release Date 9/26/2006
Tracks 22
Label 101 Distribution
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Pimpin' Incorporated'
Release Date 1/17/2006
Tracks 21
Label Up All Night
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
For his umpteenth album, Married to the Game, the original player, Too Short, keeps on keeping on, spitting pimp game over well-produced tracks, never breaking a sweat. As with his past few albums -- What's My Favorite Word? (2002), Chase the Cat (2001), and You Nasty (2000) -- Married to the Game doesn't offer anything longtime (or relatively new) Too Short fans haven't heard before. Yet the well-produced tracks (by the usual roll call of impressive collaborators: Jazze Pha, Ant Banks, Lil Jon, and Dez) may be reason enough for many listeners to add yet another Too Short album to their collection. There are a few really good songs that get the album off to a promising start ("Choosin'," "What She Gonna Do?," and "That's How It Goes Down" especially), but by the time the hourlong album reaches its midway point, it's pretty clear Too Short is lounging yet again, content to stride along with his routine, never going out of his way to go above and beyond the call of duty. As a result, most listeners should stick with Too Short's golden age (1988-1993), when he did go above and beyond the call of duty, making some of the most creative (albeit sex-minded) rap the industry had yet produced. Regardless, no other rapper does it quite like Too Short does, and even if he is taking it easy on Married to the Game, he still sounds phenomenal, especially if you're keen to well-produced Atlanta-style tracks with an old-school pimp's touch to them. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
'What's My Favorite Word?'
Release Date 9/10/2002
Tracks 14
Label Jive
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Ever since Too Short returned from his brief retirement in 1999 with Can't Stay Away, he sounded increasingly comfy with letting his supporting cast flavor his albums, and What's My Favorite Word? is no different. Short invites his usual guests -- longtime Cali standbys Ant Banks, E-40, and B-Legit; Atlanta rabble-rouser Lil' Jon; and the one and only George Clinton -- along with a few surprise ones: Twista, Petey Pablo, Big Gipp, and U.G.K. members Bun B and Pimp C. This lively cast of characters certainly colors the album and makes it more than just another Too Short album, even if that's precisely what What's My Favorite Word? is. The highlight here is Lil' Jon's two-part "Quit Hatin'," which begins like your typical Eastside Boyz club-banger à la "Bia', Bia'" and "I Don't Give A..." and then transitions into a screwed-style interpretation given a further Texan feel when Pimp C steps up. Elsewhere, Short spits mostly pimp game as you'd expect, though perhaps a bit more laconically and with a bit more sang hooks than usual. What's My Favorite Word? isn't extraordinary relative to Short's dozen-plus other albums, yet should still please his fans, particularly those who enjoy his usual post-Gettin' It supporting cast. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Over a dozen albums into his career by the time Chase the Cat came out in 2001, Too Short had exhausted his ideas years before. However, just because Short doesn't have anything new to say doesn't mean he's not worth listening to. In fact, it's rather remarkable how Short was able to sustain his career, album after album with song after song about sexual politics -- year after year after year. No matter how many times he hollers "bitch!" in his trademark dialect ("bee-atch!"), it never seems to lose its effect. And no matter how many times Short tells you his "Freaky Tales" and how to manage your relationships, you still feel like calling him Uncle Too Short -- the wise old uncle who's experienced it all and is always glad to give you advice about certain kinds of women and life. The reason he's still effective, even a dozen albums into his career, is because little has changed since the days of Born to Mack -- even then Short was a veteran, relating his firsthand experiences from the streets, and remains so on Chase the Cat. He works here with many of the same producers (SBX [Xavier Hargrove], Jazze Pha, Ant Banks) and rappers (E-40, B-Legit, MC Breed, Erick Sermon) that he worked throughout the latter end of the '90s. It shouldn't surprise you then when Chase the Cat sounds a lot like the preceding few albums: You Nasty, Can't Stay Away, and Gettin' It. Unfortunately, though, Chase the Cat isn't quite as inspired as those albums. Short often lets his guests do most of the work, and this approach works well on album highlights like "I Luv" (featuring Trick Daddy, Scarface, and Daz Dillinger) and "Domestic Violence" (featuring E-40). However, even if Chase the Cat is ultimately just another Too Short album, perhaps even one of his lesser albums, it should still satisfy longtime fans. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
You Nasty, the follow-up to Too Short's comeback album Can't Stay Away is an above-average latter-day effort by the industrious rapper. Strong production work by Ant Banks, Erick Sermon, and Jazze Pha is a highlight, as are a few notable songs such as "2 Bitches," "Anything Is Possible," and the title track. There's a good serving of filler here, of course, yet overall You Nasty is one of Too Short's more inspired, if sharply jaded, post-retirement albums. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
