Like
Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift
,
E-40
's
Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift
was a 19-track album released on his son's label
Heavy on the Grind Entertainment
on March 30, 2010. Since both releases revolve around related material and similar-sounding beats, it's hard to consider these as two completely separate concepts, but
Night Shift
focuses a little more closely on songs for the clubs. As an old-timer (who has proudly served over 20 years in the rap game),
seems a little out of his element here, spitting
Luther Campbell
-style pickup lines "Make that booty earthquakeâ?¦left cheek, right cheek, let me see it vibrate" (
"Show Me What U Workin' Wit'"
) and
"Stilettos & Jeans"
sounds too '90s to keep up with current trends (rhymes like "you say you are a cougar, f*ck it, I'm a lion" are telling of his age bracket).
Lil Jon
's production would have been a welcome addition to make this truly club-oriented, but instead,
returns to the sounds of his roots, with simple arrangements and skull-pounding kicks. Tedium starts to seep in by the halfway point, and considering that 38 songs were written in just over a year, it becomes obvious that not much fat was trimmed. If you accept that this is a case of quantity over quality and sort through the filler, the slow-moving (practically screwed)
"Over the Stove,"
comically profane
"Ahhhh Sh*t!,"
and instantly memorable
"How I'm Feelin' Right Now"
are solid thumpers, showing an apt return to form.
"Spend the Night"
is the most drastic departure, and a successful one at that, which ties together
Bjoerk
samples and hood swagger with a buttery hook by
Droop-E
. Overall,
's lyrics are as crude and entertaining as ever, and guest appearances by fellow veterans
Too Short
and
Snoop Dogg
-- as well as a couple dozen other rappers -- keep things moving. Fans of hard, sparse beats and hyphy drawl will find a lot to like here. ~ Jason Lymangrover