Ghetto Heisman

iTunes Review

While some of his first-generation gangsta rap peers have since transformed, WC has never wavered in his unapologetically thugged-out stance. He may not be as rich and famous as some of his OG homies, but longtime West Coast hip-hop fans continue to appreciate his hood-centric steez. Released in 2002, Ghetto Heisman is his second solo album, and finds the Cali killer rocking over bump-heavy production from Scott Storch, Battlecat, Rick Rock, and Buckwild, among others. Rhymes center on the usual topics -- low riders, gang affiliations, and a ball-till-you-fall mentality, with strong guest spots from Snoop and Nate Dogg ("The Streets"), Ice Cube and MC Ren ("Wanna Ride"), and Scarface ("So Hard"), while Cube and Mack 10 co-star on the Westside Connection reunion track "Walk." Although Golden State G rap was waning in popularity when this album came out, WC and company sound as focused as ever, unconcerned with changing trends and continuing to drop some of the hardest, street-certified music in all of hip-hop.