When a rapper does well in the
R&B
or
pop
markets,
hip-hop
's hardcore tends to view the artist with suspicion, however strong his or her rapping skills might be. That was exactly what happened to
Candyman
when
"Knockin' Boots"
(a catchy single that sampled
Betty Wright
's
"Tonight Is the Night"
) enjoyed considerable crossover action. Some hardcore rappers questioned
's legitimacy, but make no mistake:
Ain't No Shame in My Game
proves that the Angeleno's rapping skills are solid. While this decent debut album has its share of lighthearted
-flavored fare (including
"Playin' on Me,"
"Melt in Your Mouth,"
and of course,
), more aggressive, in-your-face tunes like
"Today's Topic,"
"5 Verses of Def,"
and
"The Mack Is Back"
demonstrate that
has no problem handling hardcore b-boy
rap
. The overall result is a generally likable, if a bit uneven, album. ~ Alex Henderson