Before The Game [click to read] emerged, Kurupt [click to read] held it down as the west’s most emotionally charged G. After bursting on the scene with classic cameos on virtually every early Death Row album, “Young Gotti” took beef to another level by attempting to take on half of the East Coast. Perhaps older and wiser, The Frank & Jess Story finds Kurupt putting family first, by sharing an entire album with his younger brother Roscoe [click to read]. While they complement each other nicely, the chemistry isn’t quite near the levels Kurupt and Daz reached on Dogg Food.
With only nine full songs, the rechristened “James Brothers” don’t bother with any filler. The “no frills” approach is a nice change, but it leaves little room for error. Almost a decade removed from arguably his best solo effort, Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha…[click to read] Kurupt‘s layered, intricate flow now sounds somewhat pedestrian. Seattle-based Cali transplant J. Silva provides serviceable beats, but at times the drum patterns are hollow and lack the force necessary to let Kurupt and Roscoe unleash the biting, uptempo flows they displayed on previous collaborations. On slower cuts like “All I Need,” which samples The Isley Brothers‘ classic “Make Me Say It Again,” this works well. But those who prefer a faster pace are left searching in vain for more of the high-powered beats Silva provides on “Game Been Missin'” and “Bustin’.”
To their credit, Kurupt and Roscoe may have created the first recession-proof album of 2008. The usual themes of fine women, weed and weather are here, and even when the subject matter starts to get redundant guests like WC, Too Short [click to read] and Daz Dillinger [click to read] make well-timed appearances to keep things interesting. The only time the formula flat-out fails is on the album’s second strip club anthem, “Lap Dance.” Similarly, “Like Dem Girls,” awkwardly places Kurupt‘s boo, Gail Gotti, on what would otherwise be a traditional DPG ode to casual sex.
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The album’s best and most surprising moments, come when Kurupt turns the ferocious flow he unleashed on DMX, Foxy Brown and countless other foes inward. On “I Got U” Kurupt tells his autobiography with brutal honesty, spitting, “I been engaged twice and this is the third / I watched but never really flipped me a bird / I shot but never really chipped nobody / in ’95 Pac said your name is Young Gotti / I been bankrupt / I fucked people up.”Roscoe follows suit, and even the singing on the hook can’t sabotage this from being one of the best tracks on the album.
The album’s highlights remind you that Kurupt and Roscoe still have plenty of bite left, when they’re properly inspired. Kurupt, Roscoe and J. Silva have enough experience between them to make a solid album in their sleep. But the casual listener hoping for a return to DPG classics such as Doggystyle or Dogg Food, would be better served waiting for the next Dogg Pound [click to read] album. If you’re a loyal DPG enthusiast, The Frank & Jess Story won’t disappoint. It’s not a must-have, but it’s a respectable addition to their distinguished catalogue.
