Kinfolk

Album Review

Featuring Ali from Nelly's St. Lunatics crew along with Gipp from Goodie Mob, Kinfolk is a casual collaboration and should be approached as such. If you're looking for a great marriage of the St. Louis sound with dirty Atlanta beats, it happens here and there and while it's interesting to hear Gipp over a Nelly-styled dance beat, it's not much to build an album on. Instead, Ali & Gipp supplement their easygoing chemistry with high-profile friends for an old-fashioned rhyme exchange over mostly club tracks. A grinding Nitti beat finds Nelly acting as energetic hypeman on "N da Paint" as Ali and Gipp compare rim sizes, their harems, and the fatness of their pockets. Trife uses a flute and drum machine for the minimal booty highlight "Go 'Head," while Trak Starz's hypnotic work on "Lean'n" is just another reason to ignore the album's shortcomings. Even if Ali, Gipp, and all their guests don't bother to bring their best or say anything new, and even if the very good "Get on the Floor" with David Banner is way too close in sound to "Go 'Head," Kinfolk's familiar feel is welcoming, comfortable, and supported by nostalgia. Brandy's "Almost Doesn't Count" figures into "Almost Made Ya," elements of Genesis' "That's All" are found on "I Told Ya" (featuring the dream team of Cee-Lo and Bun B), and best of all, "Forever and Ever" goes new jack swing and twists Guy's "Let's Chill" into a "Pimpin' All Over the World"-styled swagger fest. Good-time music delivered well, Kinfolk is a worthy weekend album. [Kinfolk was also made available in a clean version, with all explicit material removed.]