Chingy: Powerballin' : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

MC's have long used rapping as a flirtation technique, but Chingy has forged an entire career out of the practice. On his 2003 debut, he perfected the art with the lighter-than-air singles "One Call Away" and "Right Thurr," and there's little deviation from form on his follow-up. Chingy is charming in presence and in singsong flow, but not particularly engaging. And Powerballin' is bloated with cuts such as "We Clubbin" and "Balla Baby": amiable, but aimless. He displays signs of life on "Give Em Some Mo" and the magisterial "We Do," with Southern rap legend Bun B, where Chingy taps his inner bravado: "Grill worth five Gs/My words ain't cheap, fool." But mostly, Powerballin' serves as a wink behind which there's nothing hidden. It's just a wink, ma.