Watermelon Chicken And Gritz

04/09/2002 9:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Dan Leroy

Hip hop's latest down-home success story, this Kentucky sextet sounds ready to follow Southern brethren like OutKast and Goodie Mob to national prominence. Their debut doesn't manage the musical invention of those groups (or even lesser-known acts like Que Bo Gold), but beyond the bedrock of bounce beats are some impressive tracks nonetheless.

The irresistibly slippery "Ho Down" expands its fatback funk into a singalong chorus, while "Po Folks" is the sort of lazy country rap that's quickly becoming its own subgenre. And look out if the daring "Shoiz" gets released as a single; its stop-start synth groove makes it even catchier than the current hit "Awnaw," and just weird enough to blow up. But while the tunes don't all meet that high standard, the real strength of Nappy Roots is the unpretentious verses of R. Prophet, Big V, Skinny DeVille, Clutch, B. Stille, and Scales. Whether the topic's reality or just ridiculous, they're always looking out for the little guy--something bound to resonate with fans burned out on bad boys and bling bling.