Bring It On (2005)

It's too bad that some hip-hoppers feel like they have to talk tough — ''tap skinz'' and ''hit 'em in da head with a brick'' — especially when they can't quite pull it off. Take Ali Dee, for example. He's a talented producer: Bring It On is chock-full of fun piano samples and melodic female vocals laid over prancing bass lines and drum tracks, which are as varied as they are irresistibly funky. On the microphone, however, Ali sounds like he's trying too hard to impress his older brother's friends. C

You Might Also Like

• Music Review Bring It On! | Gary Susman
• Music Review Gomez | Mark Bautz
• Flashes NOW CHEER THIS
• Music Review How We Operate | Michael Endelman
• The Week Latin Quarter | Evan Serpick