C-Murder is one of the big boys in the No Limit posse, which may raise your expectations for his debut album,
Life or Death. After all, so many members of the No Limit team survive entirely on marketing, not on the music, which often seems like an afterthought. There are times on
Life or Death when the music is simply tedious and pedestrian, but those are often saved by
C-Murder, who is one of the most charismatic rappers on No Limit. He's not necessarily original -- you can certainly hear elements of
Snoop Dogg in his delivery -- but he has the conviction and charm to sell his tales of sex, violence, drugs -- all the things that make the gangsta's world go round. [
Life or Death was also released in a "clean" edition, containing no profanities or vulgarities.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine