Gangsta smooth. I don't mean like outta the hood gangsta. I mean the dressed to kill, ladies man, ridin' in the back with his hat pulled down type classy gangsta. The respectable hoodlum who made something of his humble beginnings, Mafia influenced gangsta. Their tag, their attitude, their sound - all smack of something slightly to the left of legal, but definitely not evil. FLC are one of the rare breed of "rap" bands (generic tag, but they hold that sort of vocal presence) whose persona filters through the beats to add to the mystery. Singer Huey has been dipping into his Barry White collection for some vocal aspirations, often singing in a forced baritone low voice (kinda like the opposite of high-voice I guess). And then there's song "Love Unlimited" that basically praises "Barry White - Saved Your Life" throughout the whole number (for the record, I made the Barry White connection before he started repeating it over and over - which kinda freaked me out).

For those unfamiliar with the Criminals' big hit "Scooby Snacks" (maybe you remember - "Robbin' banks all whacked on the Scooby Snacks"), the Criminals place a sort of musical hip-hop influenced, but smoothed out, classy rap style. Phat beats and repeated looping guitar and bass lines create simplistic platforms of rhythms on top of which Huey lays down his accomplished and well thought-out rhymes.

The first few songs are kinda slow moody pieces that don't really show the spark "Fun Lovin' Criminals" are capable of. Not until the 4th song, "Korean Bodega," do they start to weave in some plucky hooks. "Back On The Block" employs a warm (electric?) xylophone and sax for the set up, before them smooth ass raps coming spilling across this more jazzy number, showing the musical range the Criminals employ.

"10th Street" is an all out, fuzzed up, cop siren blaring free-for all, melding an almost country click and bounce with attacks of mass distortion. It's a pleasant eye opener compared to the rest of this release's laid back stroll. Along with the almost hard-core rant and metal guitar run of "Southside," one wonders what just might comprise the music library of the FLC to draw from such varied influences.

Then there's the "bonus" song not listed as a track, but has song credits in the sleeve entitled "Fisty Nuts" (which is a nickname for member Fast), and sounds about as rock-a-billy rompin' as a guitar line can get with a shouted break of "Fisty Nuts" for lyrics.

There seems to be a sort of sly, "talkin''bout Shaft" attitude permeating a lot of the more slippery numbers on "100% Colombian," with a lot of wicked ease flowing through the bumpin' but groovin' music the band is mostly laying down.

This album seems to have two distinct modes. The super-low, laid back pimpin' it on a Saturday night rendezvous, or the louder, up-tempo'd free for all, you better come correct jams. The slower numbers all sound a lot alike with similar structures and vibe and executed with the same delivery. The louder, more intimidating offerings, show more dynamic, and those are the songs that'll stick in your head more immediately.

The "Fun Lovin' Criminals" do what they do well with an abundance of attitude and style. If you've dug anything they've done previous, this will not disappoint. Never heard of the FLC? Then go steal yourself a copy proper.