State Property Presents the Chain Gang, Vol. 2

Album Review

The second State Property compilation, following Freeway's elevation to full-fledged star status, is an improvement over the first, with more to offer in every capacity imaginable. Lead single and leadoff track "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," with a hollow percussive effect that can only be called the TiVo beat (it also resembles the sound of popping popcorn kernels), is a strong breakout track for Young Gunz. However, the duo is hardly a match for the likes of Beanie Sigel, Freeway, and newcomer Peedi Crakk, not to mention guests Jay-Z and Dirt McGirt. The extensive track listing is an attraction, but there's a little too much in the way of thrown-together filler to make it an end-to-end success. Why couldn't three minutes be taken away from anything involving Oschino, in order to add three minutes to Freeway's too-short "Still in Effect"? Incidentally, just about anything involving Oschino — excepting "Blow," with its show-stealing appearance from Twista — can be bypassed. Even considering its faults, the disc speaks well for the future of the crew. The mostly utilitarian and occasionally stellar production work, from an extended cast that includes Darrell Branch, D. Dot, Boola, Bink, Chad Hamilton, Alchemist, and Black Key, easily overpowers the work done on the first State Property comp. And, thankfully (mercifully), Dame Dash didn't feel the need to tie this one in with a movie.