Heroin

iTunes Review

Even though it appears to be an album of brand new material, Heroin is in fact Rap-A-Lot’s attempt to collect and repackage various Z-RO songs from the past few years. And though it may have been released without input or even approval from the rapper himself, Heroin holds up as a capsule view of Ro’s recent output. The opening three songs provide a deadly combination. Mike Dean’s “Never Let It Go” is brawny Houston funk that would make Pimp C proud. Even though the song is almost a year old, mixtape favorite “Denzel Washington” holds up to the any of 2010’s massive street anthems. Most crucial of all, “Driving Me Wild” brings to bears all of Z-RO’s essential qualities — his deft rapping, soulful singing, and love for a brooding atmosphere. The remainder of the album is spotty but the material is never less than stellar, and “Do Bad On My Own,” “Eyez On da Prize” and “Come Back Wit It” confirm Z-RO’s reputation as one of the few true heavyweights of this era.