Twista’s time has come. Like so many artists who blew up when the Neptunes blessed them with a surefire hit, it took fellow Chi-town native and beat genius Kanye West to lace the world’s fastest rapper with his #1 “Slow Jamz” for the world to see him as a rap superstar. E’rybody knew Twista was a dope lyricist. Bad Boy and Roc-A-Fella Records have both tried to pry him loose from his major-label contract. Yet now, after his smash featuring Kanye and the often-overlooked Jamie Foxx, we’re all listening more closely to his beats. (OK, I’m speaking for myself.) And they’re hot, thanks to Toxic for the majority, Kanye for three and R. Kelly, Jazze Pha and Red Spyda for one each. The funny thing is, “Slow Jamz” is not even my favorite Kanye track anymore. “Overnight Celebrity” is funky and funny, and “One Last Time” features a voice that is so catchy, it’s been stuck in my head since first listen: “I got some good news, man, some good news. We gon’ come up and we just make these quick moves.”
Twista’s angry and in-your-face on “Get Me,” where he blasts: “If you want me, if you hate me, come and get me. Here I am,” and refers to himself as Twista Corleone. He rivals Rick James, b**ch on “Pimp On” featuring 8 Ball and Too Short. R. Kelly succeeds in making a jam for Twista that is “So Sexy,” and “Still Feels So Good” is oh-so-soulful. But Twista really proves his ear for talent is impeccable when he enlists two of today’s hottest soul singers, Anthony Hamilton and Cee-Lo on “Sunshine” and “Hope,” respectively. Plus he picks Ludacris–my personal favorite rapper of the moment (I’m still reciting his verse on Nas’ “Made You Look” remix)–to collabo on “Higher.” I’m not crazy about “Like A 24” or “Badunkadunk,” but once you add Southern stunna T.I., Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Young Chris of the Young Gunz and the bubbly “Drinks” into the mix, the CD is good to the last drop.
