Ever since
Too Short returned from his brief retirement in 1999 with
Can't Stay Away, he's sounded increasingly comfy with letting his supporting cast flavor his albums, and
What's My Favorite Word? is no different.
Short invites his usual guests -- longtime Cali standbys
Ant Banks,
E-40, and
B-Legit; Atlanta rabble-rouser
Lil' Jon; and the one and only
George Clinton -- along with a few surprise ones:
Twista,
Petey Pablo,
Big Gipp, and U.G.K. members
Bun B and
Pimp C. This lively cast of characters certainly colors the album and makes it more than just another
Too Short album, even if that's precisely what
What's My Favorite Word? is. The highlight here is
Lil' Jon's two-part "Quit Hatin'," which begins like your typical Eastside Boyz club-banger à la "Bia', Bia'" and "I Don't Give A..." and then transitions into a screwed-style interpretation given a further Texan feel when
Pimp C steps up. Elsewhere,
Short spits mostly pimp game as you'd expect, though perhaps a bit more laconically and with a bit more sang hooks than usual.
What's My Favorite Word? isn't extraordinary relative to
Short's dozen-plus other albums, yet should still please his fans, particularly those who enjoy his usual post-
Gettin' It supporting cast. ~ Jason Birchmeier