There's a lot of people in New York saying that New York hip-hop is back. It's an answer to the dominance of hip-hop from other U.S. regions in the last 15 years, namely the Dirty South. Ask someone to pick sides, and it gets as ugly as getting into a discussion about the Mason-Dixon line. Ain't Nothing Greater, or A.N.G., is the name this Brooklyn MC goes after, and true to the MC that he is, there could be a number of meanings to his name. Taking on the bravado and pride of Muhammad Ali, A.N.G. could be saying that there is no other greater MC than him. Yet if one looks into the history of the music, and the importance of Brooklyn and New York City to hip-hop as a whole, he could be easily proclaiming that there ain't nothing greater than NYC. The cover shot has him holding "The Rap Bible" and a microphone as a torch, an updated interpretation of the Statue Of Liberty, but suggesting that when it comes to representing the huddled and frustrated masses in the boroughs, it may very well be that guy around the corner with a notebook and hot mic ready to strike.

Lighter Fluid (Explode) continues the traditions of New York hip-hop by tapping into the strength of such artists as Juelz Santana, M.O.P., and Mos Def, and coming across as a rapper with knowledge of what it takes to me a quality rapper and lyricist. A.N.G. isn't new to the scene, he had been involved with a group or two in the late 80's before finding a bit more stability as a solo artist. A few years in jail for first degree assault forced him to take a time out from his surroundings and his life, to rethink things and perhaps re-establish things once he got out. Much of those thoughts were put to paper, some of which are presented on this album.

If one were to ask what does New York hip-hop sound like today, one could easily suggest this CD without hesitation, as it contains the roughness of the artists who are out there, mixes the uncontrolled frustration of the streets while reaching out for a bit of pop accessibility ("Mount Up" could easily be mistaken as a song from the D-12 camp), and showing a bit of Jamaican flavor along the way as a bit of dancehall stylee pops up every now and then. "Some" could easily be turned into a hit single as is, with his tales of the hustlers and gamblers who have to always be ahead of the game, but by saying so he is telling people below him that they need to step up a bit in order to see him eye to eye.

You will hear references to the bling and the women, but it's not the emphasis of the songs or his music. The tales of living the good life is one of the themes, but it's not exactly a good life with the reality of the world we live in. A.N.G. tells stories of his experiences from the past and present, knows what the struggle can lead to, offers a toast to those who still have to fight the good fight, but finds inner strength through family and friends. It's not the umpteenth variation of Scarface. it's the life of someone who is able to present his music and his story his way. A fine accomplishment.
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