DJ Clue: The Professional 2

Both The Professional, DJ Clue's major-label debut, and its sequel open with a brief intro from Puff Daddy praising Clue's professionalism and skill, gushing over his ability to transform mix-tape skills into fame and fortune. His sentiment speaks volumes about mix-tape DJs' evolution from shady characters selling artfully constructed bootlegs to hip-hop power players who command the resources of major corporations. Clue began his career selling legally questionable mix tapes out of his trunk, but has since attained platinum success, endorsement deals, and a prominent place on Jay-Z's historic Hard Knock Life Tour. Given his power and popularity, it's not surprising that Clue scored a slew of huge names for The Professional 2, offering listeners a veritable Whitman's Sampler of commercial hip-hop flavors. Like its predecessor, it leans heavily toward the thuggish side of East Coast hip-hop, dominated by the Wu-Tang, Ruff Ryders, and Roc-A-Fella camps. But it also pays tribute to the importance of Southern and West Coast hip-hop with foul-mouthed turns from Trina and Trick Daddy and classic G-funk from Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound. With such a huge and varied lineup, it's not surprising that The Professional 2's quality varies wildly from track to track. The album is mostly held together by Clue's endlessly repeated catchphrases, the most intrusive and instantly recognizable trademark since Puff Daddy grunted and ad-libbed his way through countless mid-'90s Bad Boy releases. It's also awash in filler, particularly in its second half, a wasteland but for solid entries from Redman, Jay-Z (with a terrific remix of "Change The Game"), and newcomer Bathgate, a vocal and lyrical dead ringer for Jay-Z. The album's first half is far stronger, boasting a classic Wu-banger from Raekwon and Ghostface Killah ("Cream 2001"), an impressive Jay-Z freestyle, and "What The Beat," which features Method Man, Eminem, and Royce The 5-9. But a pair of dis tracks from Li'l Kim and Foxy Brown illustrate everything right and wrong with the album: Clue impressively got famous rivals to dis each other on the same project, but their witless verses inspire nostalgia for the comparatively witty battle between Eminem and Everlast. The Professional 2 has its moments, but without a sense of purpose beyond selling albums, it feels mercenary and impersonal, better as fodder for homemade mix tapes than as its own project.