Keep It Pimp & Gangsta [PA]

hough Dirty's lazy, sleazy style occasionally sounds mild-mannered compared to the genre's more aggressive purveyors (Petey Pablo and the like), with KEEP IT PIMP & GANGSTA, the duo stakes its claim as the definitive keeper of the pure Dirty South flame. All the classic elements are here: the sing-songy, drawl-infused rapping (which Nelly distilled, exaggerated, and brought to the mainstream), the bare-bones production (most tracks consist of little more than a stuttering bass/drums pattern and a single endlessly looping synth melody), and the thematic combination of gangsta and old school party lyrics. Both Big Pimp and Mr. G Stacka are immensely talented rhymers, spitting out rapid-fire tongue twisters with enviable clarity and a buttery, relaxed sense of rhythm. Most importantly, however, Dirty has a distinct awareness of the humor inherent in its schtick, and the group's playfulness keeps KEEP IT PIMP & GANGSTA fresh from start to finish.|