Record Rack / In Brief

* * * Illegal, “Untold Truth,” Rowdy/Arista. Gangsta rap from artists under 15 is invariably tame, but on their debut album, 14-year-old Jamal and 13-year-old Malik thumb their noses at boundaries. Backed by funky beats, they boast, cuss and deliver searing, hard-core commentary on the horrors of growing up in the ‘hood. Their hit single, “Head or Gut,” is the best cut on this often unsettling album.

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