In 1990, Quality Records envisioned
PG-13 as the West Coast equivalent of Philadelphia's
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince -- and, to be sure, there were some parallels. The members of this South Central L.A. trio didn't have the rapping skills of Will Smith, aka the Fresh Prince; while Smith was an excellent rapper,
PG-13's members were merely decent. But, like Smith, they favored a clean-cut, unthreatening image;
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince were often described as "the Cosby kids of rap," and
PG-13 had a similar outlook. Unlike so many of the rap albums that were coming out of the area in 1990,
Rollin' Wit da PG is hardly gangsta rap. Like
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince and Salt-N-Pepa, they provides pop-rap that is commercial but still has some grit and integrity. Even though crossover items like "Plug da Mic" and "The Barney Miller" have a lot of R&B and pop appeal, they're still meatier than your average
Vanilla Ice number. Most of the tunes on this CD are apolitical, but the L.A. residents tackle social issues on the single "Teenage Reporter," which addresses topics like gang violence, prostitution, and crack cocaine. Although lyrically solid, "Teenage Reporter" was an odd choice for a single; if Quality was marketing
PG-13 as a crossover rap act and was going after radio airplay, why didn't it release a single that was more escapist and lighthearted? Although not mind-blowing,
Rollin' Wit da PG is a generally likable, if slightly uneven, debut that might have done well with the right marketing and promotion. But the CD received very little attention, and they never recorded a second album. ~ Alex Henderson