The aims of hip-hop mixtapes are to showcase the skills and knowledge of DJs involved and introduce listeners to the best material from a variety of different artists. Consequently, DJs from
Funkmaster Flex to
Clue get a chance to display their skills while they're enlightening their public on great jams coming their way.
Too $hort's version of a mixtape however, includes only artists from his own label (plus a guest shot when he can get it). And even though it includes no less than four DJs mixing the album (don't ask how), the tracks just barely lead into each other and are never actually mixed into each other. Still, it's all about the music and
Nationriders turns out to be a good compilation of West Coast bounce tracks. Naturally,
Too $hort leads off the affair with "Here We Go (Remix)" and "Tell the Feds" (the latter produced by $hort Records'
Quint Black). A few $hort acts (
Slink Capone,
Murda One, Nation Riders) get three or four tracks each, while the others (Jezabell, Zu,
Al Block, G-Side,
Dolla Will) get just one. The production is funky but just a bit overdone, leaving
Nationriders as a solid compilation that's best for those interested in
Too $hort but enjoyable for all kinds of hip-hop fans. ~ Keith Farley