Chingy: Hoodstar : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

The most distinguishing feature of one-time Ludacris protege Chingy could be that he smiles a lot. The moderately gifted St. Louis rapper has made the most of his boyish good looks, cutting two albums of gimmicky radio rap. His third album promises more of the same: some rougher songs for the guys, a lot of fluffy ones for the girls ("Dem Jeans") and (like his 2004 hit "Right Thurr") countless instances of his proudly exotic St. Louis accent ("Ass N Da Aurr," "Nike Aurrs and Crispy Tees"). Chingy is the least interesting part of his own songs -- he's upstaged by Tyrese's smoothness on the lovestruck ode "Pullin' Me Back," and he finds himself severely outmuscled by Three 6 Mafia on the otherwise sinister "Club Getting Crowded." Looks like this hood star is the odd man out.