“Ladies and gentlemen, thugs and b–. I want you to let this s– just bang”. From the intro on, this is an assumed request from the entire Ruff Ryders’ camp on their third album, “In the R We Trust.”.
They give you something to ride to and bang in your system. They bring madd new flavor with the help of new producers and artists.
With the likes of Irv Gotti, Timbaland, Petey Pablo, Fiend, and of course their undeniable hit maker from past Double R joints, Swizz Beatz it’s destined to have potential.
This CD has an essence that can seduce just about anyone with a good ear for music.
It’s bi-coastal and even reaches into depths to get that grimy “Dirty South” influence. With this in mind Double R combines unlikely stylistic rhymers.
This is evident on tracks like “They Ain’t Ready” with Jadakiss and Bubba Sparxxx, and “Eastside Ryders” which combines Tha Eastsidaz and Holiday Styles of the Lox.
These are just two of the more fiery tracks, but it’s not Tha Eastsidaz or Jadakiss’ best effort.
They have great flows, but with their solo efforts they are a lot nicer and grittier.
Even though these aren’t the most thugged-out tracks on the album, it does come with the tough street appeal that Ruff Ryders are infamous for.
They’ve become lyrical assassins with Cristal-laced lyrics throughout the several tracks including “We Don’t Give a f–” and “Gonna Be Sumthin.”
With lyrics speaking of gun toting, shooting people in the head and not caring. What is there for a thug at heart not to love?
But too there is an R&B element for the softer side of you.
Tracks like “U, She, and Me” by Eve talking about the usual; a cheating man. And track 16 with Parle, Ruff Ryders official R&B components speaking of a woman that they can’t seem to let go. Shows that even gangsta’s have hearts.
Now that you have something to ride to, they of course can’t leave you with out something that could be the next club type anthem.
So they bring in down South heavy weights. The flow of Ludacris, Fiend, and Yung Wun on track 9 have you wanting to bounce and nod your neck.
With all theses attributes the album still lacks the fire that one has come to expect from Double R. True enough they have added new feature artists to their line up.
Unfortunately, some of the featured artists out-rhyme the Double R veterans.
Something is missing some of the artist aren’t as hungry as when double r’s first Cd dropped. Except for the artist who haven’t accomplished solo success. By the end of the album you’ll be wondering if they should trust in the ‘R’.
However, because of the stylistic originality they keep coming up with, like the bikes that look like cars that they ride makes you keep coming back.