Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Produced by Greg Street under Atlantic Records, Six O'Clock (Vol. 001) is a compilation of 21 rap songs, featuring popular artists such as Outkast, Jermaine Dupri, Trick Daddy, Erick Sermon and many more. With a complete playing time of over 73 minutes, the album provides nonstop rap that keeps heads nodding and never gets dull.

Most artists appearing here are from the South, including Atlanta's Ludacris with "Beatbox" and Jermaine Dupri & Tigah with "Somebody Better Tell 'Em." In addition, the CD features the "Gangsta Shit" remix by Outkast, as well as Slip-N-Slide Records' own Trina & Deuce Poppi with "Thug Like Me" and Trick Daddy with "They Don't Live Long."

Although the remainder of the songs come from underground or unknown rap artists, they're still very much worth listening to. Fortunately, all the rappers included in the CD actually CAN rap for a change. On the whole, Greg Street and the rest of the mixing and engineering crew did a great job with incorporating original beats -- they make the album run well from beginning to end.

Some of my favorites from the lesser known artists include "Drama" by Big Ball and "In Memory of Screw" by the Wreck Shop Krew (featuring Big Mo, Zero, D. Gotti & Ronnie Spencer). The former, a fast paced and bass heavy track has beats similar to Lil' Wayne and Mystikal songs, while the latter is slower and more comparable to Tupac's work, with a melodious hook reminiscent of the Dove Shack and Warren G's classic, "Summertime in the LBC."

Six O'Clock is a great CD to pass time with, or in my case, to do chores with. But as is predictable, after an hour or so straight, the endless rap style gets redundant and actually makes me sleepy! So with this in mind, I'll say the album is ... decent. I suggest shorter listens... half-hour sessions or so.