As the title indicates,
the 5th Ward Boyz's second album,
Rated G, is nothing but straight-up G-funk. The group works the standard booming bass and slinky keyboards for all they're worth, and they occasionally come up with first-class tracks like "Concrete Hell," which comes through with a subdued, muscular force. However, the group can't sustain that power throughout the course of the album. Frequently,
Rated G is simply competent -- it's well done, but delivered without much style or originality. None of the members is a particularly distinctive rapper, nor is the music exceptionally produced and arranged. Even with these drawbacks,
Rated G remains enjoyable. It is the work of talented, but not inspired, imitators and will do if
The Chronic and
Doggystyle are sounding stale. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine