Record Rack

** 1/2 Inspectah Deck, “Uncontrolled Substance,” Loud. While the Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man and Ol’ Dirty Bastard have enjoyed wide adulation and hefty record sales for their side projects, the Wu-Tang solo album that the hip-hop community has been impatiently awaiting is the one from Inspectah Deck. The Staten Island rapper’s keen insight into the nuances of street life, along with his ingenious similes and metaphors, has made him one of the genre’s most respected lyricists. But after his rock-solid recording resume with the Wu-Tang Clan and others, Deck’s solo bow sounds somewhat hollow.

While his lyrics provide striking images and are always engaging, the album’s production and a few weak choruses detract from his verbal mastery. RZA, Allah Mathematics, True Master and Deck normally provide solid beats at the least, but too many tracks here don’t spring to life as so many Wu-Tang soundscapes have. Raps about bettering the African American community and a few clever songs about male-female relationships add some depth, but without superior production and catchy hooks, Deck’s work flounders.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.