Following a series of soulful, jazzy 12" singles -- all included here -- Brooklyn-based underground rapper
Doujah Raze delivers his self-assured debut album, building on their strengths. The imaginative use of vintage jazz and soul samples (occasionally sped up
Kanye West-style, as on "When Misery Needs Company") provides strong and varied settings for
Doujah Raze's solid, predominantly positive-themed raps. The mournful, testifying single "Plastic World" is the album's standout track, with the old-school party rap "Irish Cream" a strong second, but there's very little filler to be found on this thoughtful, entertaining record. ~ Stewart Mason