Who Is Mike Jones? (2005)

Just as this Houston MC rhymes that his ''pockets stick out more than my belly'' on the organ-laced Jeep jumper ''Back Then,'' the self-proclaimed ''chubby'' rapper also sticks out among his crunkalicious contemporaries on Who is Mike Jones?. At least on the first half of his 15-track debut. Jones has a hefty presence — complete with slurred growl and creepy altered-bass voice effects — and it shines through early on. But at the halfway point, the materialistic shout-outs start sounding tired and the beats prove inferior. Guess Jones isn't the only one who's carrying a little extra weight. First half: B
Second half: C-

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