Rollin' Stoned : Kottonmouth Kings : Review : Rolling Stone

These Southern-Cali stoner rock-rappers spend their fifth album hailing the herb in every conceivable way, but their presentation lacks focus -- well, they are potheads. The nasal raps, booming drums and spooky keyboard lines are obvious nods to Cypress Hill, but even the Kings realize that's a decade-old blueprint. So they take a stab at some faux Dr. Dre synth-funk ("Enjoy"), reggae ("Float Away") and even a piano ballad (the touching "Light It Up"), but it's not until MC Brad X rediscovers his hardcore past that the haze starts to clear. Standouts "Soul Surfin' " and "Sub-Noize Rats" are punchy skater-rock throwbacks that could kick New Found Glory and the rest of new punk to the curb. Once the Kings embrace this as their true musical calling, their message will be easier to inhale. And maybe they'll get better album titles, too.

KIRK MILLER
(RS 909 – November 14, 2002)