When The Neptunes produced their first album In Search Of in 2000, The Neptunes were respected as producers but not to the point where the were the must work with guys. The album (this one was made under their groups name: N.E.R.D.) was a chance for Star Trak to show their talents like the Clipse, Kelis while mainly showing their own flow over topic like drug abuse, homelessness, love and life in general.

This was a flow of rock and R&B with Hip Hop as a co-star. An alternative product that may have flown over the radar of some but was a great for those not trying to hear the typical beats the Neptunes usually do for the hit makers. Underground hits like “Bobby James” and “Survivor” showed Pharrell Williams as a singer (a role he has been famous for since) while it’s almost over showed the rock/hip hop mix.

In 2003 The Neptunes give us the Clones, which brings together the Star Trak Entertainment camp with seemingly all the people they’ve songs for over the last couple of years. The album is which is on their new label Star Trak Entertainment (distributed by Arista) is good but disappoints in that you don’t get to hear the same genius and creativity that gave the Neptunes their separation on the N.E.R.D. album. This album is more Pharrell and Chad Hugo the producers trying to put together a successful album and reap the benefits. It works on the surface

The album doe have a lot of serious cuts and does a good job of highlighting Star Trak’s talented roster, which has added Super Cat, Rosco P. Coldchain, Fam-lay, The High Speed Scene, Spy Mob, and Vanessa Marquez since their last go around. But it clearly throws a couple of people on the album for the shock effect (i.e. Dirt McGirt and his cut Pop Shit).

This to go with the play list of the tracks which place their alternative tracks in the middle of the action like they was trying to sandwich them so you would listen them, not letting stand on their own.

The beats are for the most part crafted for the artist and you depending on how much you listen to the individual artist it can get monotonous.

Busta Rhymes kills the track for ladies with the first song “Light Your Ass on Fire” a club banger for sure.

Clipse shine on the Album including the “Hot Damn” and clap filled “Blaze of Glory” featuring ‘Liva.

Pharrell and Jay Z let the ladies know the deal in "Frontin'" the lead single off the album.

Ludacris and I-20 bring the Atlanta spittage to “It Wasn’t Us” which features the horns and drums of a marching band. Marquez song Good Girl sounds like something Tamia on a 80’s beat till the breakdown hits you like a Janet Jackson break (something magical happening).

For someone who supposedly doesn’t smoke again Snoop Dogg still can converse about the green giants, as “It Blows My Mind” asks ‘do you want to smoke with me’. The beat makes you feel like you should be popping and locking.

Nelly uses one of the albums mellower beat to ask “If” you would be his girl through various situations.

Rosco gives you heat with “Hot” featuring Pusha T. Coldchain hits you wit the chorus: ‘You know I keep the chrome under seats and in da home wit out speaking you’ll give me yo chain. I’m De Vinci don’t make me pull you chain They call me Sco short for Rosco P. Coldchain.’ Pusha T kills it with: I peddle to the corner like a child on a big wheel.

Spy Mob hits you with the guitar and drum heavy rock song “Half Steering…” and The High Speed Scene gives you upbeat with their song F—k n’ Spend.

N.E.R.D. returns with the “Loser” cut that sounds a lot like a song you’d hear on In Search Of. The Clipse join in for this cut and give it additional Va. Flavor.

“Rock N Roll” the Fam-Lay cut tells the story of how crack and coke ruled the 80’s, letting people know ‘If you ain’t from the hood yall don’t know’ bout this!’

Super Cat comes out of hiding for “The Don of Dons, which shows the ‘Tunes ability to cater to reggae. Jadakiss comes in and kills the end of the song as usual saying: ‘could give a f—k about yo clock size,
n---a, my guns are grandfather clocks size’!

N.O.R.E. and Pharrell get together for “Put ‘Em Up” a party track with plenty of bass. While the happily engaged couple Kelis and Nas collaborate on “Popular Thug” not a typical Nas song but hot cause of the beat and bridge which Kelis charges that you: ‘make my record skip’ over loop keys.

Overall for the collaboration I’ll give it 3 and ½ globes. A decent product though a bit disappointed compared to the eclectic, against the run of the mill first effort. The beats are hot, and the collabos are good although maybe too much. It would have been nice to see the individual talents of the Neptunes come to play more than just making the beats for some of the hottest in the game to spit to. They have to bring in the dough though and they did it the easiest way they could. Good product but not to difficult to imagine considering the talent involved.

Comments, suuggestions or questions let me know
clayton@geoclan.com