After the successful and controversial
I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier (1992),
Willie D left Rap-a-Lot Records and chose to release
Play Witcha Mama independently through Wrap Records. The decision was a costly one, for though the album features a handful of great songs, most notably "Is It Real (My Mind Still Playin' Tricks on Me)," "Play Witcha Mama" (featuring
Ice Cube), "Creepin'," it went largely unheard beyond the
Geto Boys fan base. The productions are highly influenced by the G-funk sound of mid-'90s West Coast gangsta rap, and as usual, the lyrics often delve into taboo subject matter.
Play Witcha Mama isn't
Willie D's best album, nor is it is most characteristic, but it well may be his most underrated. ~ Jason Birchmeier