Most Wanted (2001 Rerelease)

Struggling to cut through the suddenly cluttered myriad of Dirty South albums getting substantial distribution in late 2000, Kane & Abel's second post-No Limit album on their blossoming indie label finds them moving forward. Most Wanted bases a substantial amount of its content on the duo's drug bust, trying to turn this unfortunate incident into a positive one. As exploitative as this may be, it at least allows them to break away from strict cliché regurgitation. Yet for the most part, Kane & Abel stick to what got them to this point: gangsta posturing backed by thick Dirty South drum machine percussive rhythms. Despite the familiar feel of the production — a blend of No Limit's and Cash Money's sounds — there are few moments when the two Louisiana twins prove that their songs aren't merely generic, such as on the heavy metal guitar-sounding "Somebody Gotta Pay" or on the bounce sound of "Snakes" and "Lemme Get Up in Ya." The duo even contribute yet another entry into 2000's collection of booty anthems; "Shake It Like a Dog" isn't much of a departure from "Back That Azz Up" or "Wobble Wobble," surely Kane & Abel's attempt at commercial breakthrough. Even though this album rates above the majority of generic Dirty South rap circa 2000, it's still highly derivative. Had this album hit the streets a year or two earlier, it would have been an exciting album, but in late 2000, they come off sounding a bit like laggards, despite the album's appeal. Most importantly though, this is a positive step forward for the duo, who inch even closer towards being noteworthy rap artists.