In Brief

* * * Various artists, “Menace II Society” soundtrack, Jive. The point of this collection of gangsta rap tracks by 15 different artists is to immerse you in the sights, sounds, terrors and frustrations of the ghetto. Spice 1’s chilling “Nigga Gots No Heart” does this best, with Too Short’s “Only the Strong Survive” and Da Lench Mob’s “Guerillas Ain’t Gangstas” not far behind. Fairly consistent quality.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).