The Federal Review

07/13/2005 6:22 AM, AMG


E-40 began as a money-hungry gangsta rapper, as showcased here on Federal, with its respective Mob and Gangsta sides. Studio Ton handles the production duties, and guests including B-Legit are few and far between. The music itself is stark and definitely underground, a bit dated as well, characteristic of the early-'90s West Coast gangsta rap movement. Forty certainly improved his game in later years, thus making Federal somewhat of a curiousity, where it's most interesting to juxapose the youthful hustler here with the towering don of subsequent albums. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide