'The GMG Takeover'
'Adrenaline Rush 2007'
What The Critics Say
With a title that references his breakthrough 1997 album Adrenaline Rush, Twista's 2007 effort is ambitious from the get-go and recalls a time when he represented hardcore hip-hop more than the chart-topping possibilities of guest-starring on R&B-flavored cuts. Twista's fast delivery and sharp verses make him one of the greatest guest rappers in the game, but his iffy relationship with the full-length remains intact, since Adrenaline Rush 2007 is about five cuts too long and shamelessly panders to radio with some uninspired, over-polished moments. "Give It Up" with Pharrell sounds like a track the producer designed for Gwen Stefani, while the too-smooth "Love Rehab" with R. Kelly is only interesting when Twista thanks his beloved for concealing a weapon from the police. While it's moments like these that make the album's title feel like an afterthought, "Say Say" with Cee-Lo and Jazze Pha is filled with infectious hip-hop nostalgia and old-school spirit. "Seven Day Hustle" and "The Come Up" are dedications to hip-hop in motion, while the grimey and satisfying "Trouble" could have fallen off the original Adrenaline Rush. Thanks to an infectious hook and prime sparring between Lil Wayne and Twista, "Whip Game Proper" is a crowd-pleaser that doesn't pander. Little else will have appeal past the hardcore fan base, but they've always been better than most at ignoring the man's shortcomings (limited subject matter, only one style of delivery) and focusing on his strengths (amazing speed and a punch-in-the-gut kind of wit). ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Picking up where 2004's Kamikaze left off, The Day After is heavy with R&B, slickness, and hooks. In other words, it's the kind of album the hardcore lovers of Adrenaline Rush are going to sneer at while the radio heads and clubbers go nuts for it. You could be cynical and say the album is Kamikaze all over again with Pharrell and the Neptunes replacing Kanye West for the singles, but if The Day After is a contrived attempt at going platinum again, it's an inspired one. With its smoother-than-smooth chorus courtesy of Trey Songz, "Girl Tonite" could melt the paint off the walls twice as fast as Kamikaze's "So Sexy." "When I Get You Home" with Jamie Foxx and Pharrell could be "Slow Jamz"'s little brother, but "I'm a Winner" tries a shade too hard to recapture "Overnight Celebrity"'s fire. The opening "The Day After" is the only other time the album sounds forced, as it tries to push and shove the listener into believing Twista is the same old thug he's always been. He's not, and winning tracks with Mariah Carey and Snoop, plus a successful nod to the reggaeton phenomenon with Pitbull, are arguments that he shouldn't be and that superstar collaborations are what he does best, at least for now. The thumping "Heartbeat" and the easy rolling "Chocolate Fe's and Redbones" are where the meat of the album lies, both marrying old-school Twista with new-school, platinum Twista. An album of those kind of tracks and he'd have a classic, but for now, you'll just have to settle for great singles, worthy filler, and a couple missteps. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
To say that motor-mouthed Twista and producer Toxic took their time getting Kamikaze out is an understatement. Released nearly five years after his last album and promoted by the rapper since 2001, Kamikaze finally dropped in one of the least popular months for music buying, January. The long-talked-about Timbaland team up ended up on Timbaland's album, and Kamikaze's original single, "Tattoo," landed on Toxic and Twista's Legit Ballaz project instead. Seems like Kamikaze is doomed from the start, but it's actually a fair album for two main reasons: the new lead single, "Slow Jamz," and the killer guest productions of Kanye West. West is at the helm for "Slow Jamz," producing, singing, and delivering what could be the couplet of 2004: "She got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson/Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson." Between the speedy Luther Vandross samples, Jamie Foxx's verse, and West name-checking all of the heroes of pillow-talk radio, there's just enough room for Twista's rapid rap. Twista's style is stunning, doubly so for any aspiring rappers, but for those who just listen, it lacks the depth to carry a full album on its own. Still, his in-and-out appearances on other artists' tracks whetted the appetite for more, and Kamikaze delivers past the single. "Still Feels So Good" is a worthy sequel to Adrenaline Rush's "It Feels So Good," "So Sexy" features a slinky R. Kelly appearance, and "Get Me" finds Toxic's production coming off as cinematic where elsewhere it's just anemic. Two slower numbers toward the end -- the introspective "Hope" and the Bill Withers-sampling "Sunshine" -- go a long way to expand the album's narrow spectrum, and Twista's skills adjust nicely to the mellow pace. Whatever the reasons for Kamikaze's delay, it does make for near-perfect timing for the both stunning and limited rapper. One album per five years, monthly guest spots, and the occasional brilliant single equal just the right amount of Twista. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
'Legit Ballin''
What The Critics Say
Twista lives up to his official title as the world's fastest rapper and Chicago-style rap ambassador on his 1998 release, Mobstability, with the Speedknot Mobstaz. After breaking out on Do or Die's platinum single, "Po Pimp," in 1996 and releasing his major-label solo debut, Adrenaline Rush, in 1997 for Atlantic's Big Beat imprint, this follow-up hit record stores in 1998. Joining Twista are fellow MCs Mayz (whose smooth flow compliments Twista's rapid-fire attack perfectly) and Liffy Stokes. Literal snapshots of street hustling and violence are sliced between musical tracks that are equally focused on lurid, violent, and macho imagery typical of '90s hip-hop. Highlights include the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony callout "Crook County" and the reworked West Coast groove of the single and title track. With some nice hooks and Twista's incessant, precise flow, there aren't too many Midwestern efforts of this era that are more impressive than Mobstability. ~ Vincent Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Twista's Adrenaline Rush is an uneven debut, fluctuating between gritty hip-hop and party-ready rap. He has enough charisma and skill to make many of the pedestrian beats engaging, but it's only when he has a genuine song, like the first single, "Emotions," that Adrenaline Rush truly lives up to its title. ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide
