There's a lot of boyz in this 'hood. The contributors to this soundtrack include "Goodie Mob," "Ol' Dirty Bastard," "dead prez," "Brand Nubian" and "DJ Spooky." One of the advantages of gangsta rap is that it tells a story, and even without seeing the movie, you can get a feel for the story from the raps.

The theme is laid down on the opening track, "Sex, Money And Drugs" from "Big Punisher." The story is the same, only the names have changed. You get the impression that the real story is "survival of the phattest." They do the talk, but do they walk the walk? If they're all rappin' who's really happenin'?

What we get is a dozen versions of the same story, like a strange reverse game of "sevens," whether it's "Goodie Mob" rapping about the "World I Know," or "Mobb Deep" letting us "Feel My Gat Blow." They all want us to "Take A Walk In My Shoes" even if they're $150 Nikes. It's just "Thug Poetry" hosted by "Noreaga," and the credentials for admission are "Selling D.O.P.E (Drugs Oppress People Everyday)" played and paid by "dead prez." You can be sure they all collected a few.

The sanest man may be "Psychopath Nut," the jail rapper "Bey," played by "Momolu Stewart," whose rap is almost a relief from the loops and samples that are too polished for the dirt and grit the others try to portray. Yes, it's entertainment, but where's the edge? We're talking prison bars here, not fern bars.

"Why," written and performed by "Jerome Goldman," gives the best feeling for what this album lacks - "cold blood."