Question, remember when Dipset was down the R-O-C? Well if you do (shoot... It was only five years ago!) you'd have to admit that it was a waaay better look for the Harlem-based Hip Hop movement...at least musically anyway. Why? The 'SWAGGER' my dudes...'THE SWAAAGGG!!!!' Let's face it, most heads prefer the more lyrical Cam'ron from the Confessions of Fire days, but the patented flow he adopted on his platinum Come Home With Me LP, gold-selling Purple Haze record and every Dipset compilation and mixtape after that was predictable but UNDENIABLY catchy, hilarious and honestly...dope! Why? 'THE SWAG' man...point blank! Then you had a dude like Juelz Santana with that undeniable poster boy charisma and rapidly improving flow (complete with that trademark 'AY!' ad-lib) and then there's Jim Jones, the self- appointed rock star and capo of Dipset who recently had the audacity and confidence to go at none other than the legendary JAY-Z and drop the hottst NYC single of '06 in Ballin'! Why...again you ask? that 'SWAGGER' folks...once you have that, the world is yours just like Nas or Scarface.

These days however, Dipset is hanging on to that swag by a thread thanks to a vicious mixtape from the Roc'S Tru-Life, inconsistent quality musical output, Cam'ron bricking with Killa Season, unwisely promoting 'no-snitching' on CBS's 60 Minutes of all places, being mocked by 50 Cent...and then there was that YouTube footage with him in front of his....ahem, "Pool". Hate to say it, but it's not looking too great for the Dips these days....they're in need some serious help. Enter Freekey Zekey?

Yes, after his breakthough performance in the video for "Hey Ma" and a semi-brief jail stint, Freekey Zekey's finally got a solo album out, named Book Of Ezekiel no less. But  even though his debut is named after a biblical text (and a play on his government name), don't expect anything miraculous, spiritually uplifting or heavenly here, Freekey's doctrine strictly revolves around his 'baller' lifestyle full of haters, expensive cars, numerous sexcapades, a million and one coke deals, incessant gun talk....and yes, you guessed it, MORE HATERS! Top tier NYC newcomers like Skyzoo, Joell Ortiz or Saigon need no worry about Zekey being serious lyrical competition anytime soon for he is good but nothing extraordinary, the kind of rapper who would have a hard time distinguishing himself in a neighborhood cipher with ten other new jacks. Look no further than "Hater What You Looking At," a good song where Freaky shows drive on a bouncy synth loop in the first verse but then 'eases off the gas' by the second and third, as if he's already bored of telling his critics to back off! 'Like This' fares somewhat better with its sing-songy flow boasting of a 'coke grind that's never falling off' and a chef game better than Betty Crocker; but in the end, it's okay, but nothing special. When Zekey switches to 'gangsta' mode on "Killem, Killem" with Juelz Santana and "Streets," things get more interesting and his confidence grows (particularly on "Killem..."). This makes for a more satisfying listen and appreciation for Freekey's potential.

But let's be real here, Freekey Zekey was never about being the King of New York or set out to try and be the best rapper alive like, say, a Lil Wayne. Again the M.O. is maintaining, reintroducing and celebrating the trademark Dipset swagger. It's all about style over substance and when paired with swag kings Cam'ron and Juelz Santana on "Daddy's Back," Freekey shows and proves and you quickly remember why you first fell in love with Dips. "730 Dip Dip" continues the hot streak and brings the playboy affair to more insane levels when Zekey is teamed with the rambunctious energy of Ash and Jim Jones.

When it's all said done, Zekey brings forth a decent LP with the things you've come to expect from one of his personality, image and affiliations. The problem is that there are no surprises here, nothing that hasn't been done before or done way better in the past. Dont get me wrong, there are some strong songs here, except that the club joints don't bang as crazy as "Oh Boy," the street joints aren't nearly as anthemic as "I Really Mean It" or "Gangsta Music." Even Zekey's "Crunk'd up' "is trumped by "Crunk Muzik" from 2004's Dipolmatic Immunity Vol.2. So that, along with uninventive song titles ("Where The Dutch?"), and a lack of thematic balance often leaves Book Of Ezekiel sounding more like a mixtape than a true full length long player. Still, it's cool to see some of that old 'Dipset swag' re-appear from time to time on this record; hopefully it's a sign of more exciting things to come.