Between his first solo album, Hispanic Causing Panic, and his second record, Smile Now, Die Later, Frost dropped the "Kid" prefix from his name, which is only appropriate -- he matured quite a bit between the two records. Where Hispanic Causing Panic was a party record infused with the occasional self-aware/socially conscious vibe, Smile Now, Die Later is a politically charged album, a warning to all of his fellow Latino ghetto denizens to protect themselves. Since Frost's lyrical outlook has grown, it's only appropriate that his music has become richer -- now it draws from a variety of sources, from hardcore hip-hop and Latin beats, to deep funk and soul ballads. Like any mid-'90s hip-hop album, Smile Now, Die Later runs a bit too long, but if it's boiled down to its essential items, it is one fine listen. ~ Leo Stanley

Rovi