Obie Trice – 'Second Round’s On Me' (Interscope/Shady) Released 21/09/06

This album further proves that Obie Trice doesn’t have it in him to let anyone down. In the mist of 50 Cent-mania, back in 2003 Trice actually went platinum with his debut album 'Cheers', and with his sophomore effort as good, if not better than his debut a million units sold is the least he should be expecting.

After listening to joints like 'Wake Up', 'Lay Down' and 'Ghetto' (which features the singing talents of Trey Songz) it’s quite possible that the bullet still lodged in his head from the New Years Eve shooting he was involved in has sharpened up his rhyme skills. 'Cry Now' hears the Detroit MC spit lines like, “Mama hyperventilate/ Tucking her son underneath the State (Michigan)/ Hip-Hop’s my fate since cassette tapes,” over a beat produced by Witt and Pep, and the end result will leave you breathless.

Obie Trice is the silent assassin. He’s never in the news. He doesn’t really endorse any kind of product, and even when he was shot it wasn’t reported for weeks on end like some other shootings have in the past. With this put in to perspective, it’s obvious that his lyrics are real and the hunger heard in his voice is not caused by weed smoke. 'Kill Me A Mutha' and 'There They Go' find Obie getting on his more violent grind and with his understandable flow and tidy delivery he puts out a couple of gangsta-inspired bangers! The second round’s on Obie so drink up.