Black Rob: Life Story : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Just when you thought Bad Boy had fallen off, Black Rob emerges from Puff Daddy's camp with a glossy collection of thug-themed hip-hop pop. Life Story is headed up by "Whoa!," a pounding, get-crunk sure shot that marries Rob's weighty delivery to Juvenile's trademark "HA" rhyme scheme. The single may appear to be a well-timed gimmick hit, but solid skills underpin Rob's laid-back flow. He coasts through his debut release like a cocky veteran, spitting grim confessions ("Life Story") and baller mantras ("PD World Tour") without breaking a sweat. The Bad Boy production team performs respectably, churning out the kind of hook-heavy cuts that get request lines jingling. But Puff's threadbare formulas make the album sag in places - "Muscle Game" is marred by his silly mumbling, and "Spanish Fly" is another lazy pillaging of an Eighties hit (Jennifer Lopez reprises Madonna's "La Isla Bonita"). P. Diddy's meddling aside, though, most of Life Story is, well, like whoa! (RS 838)

KATHRYN FARR