.40 Cal reviewed
Dipset Presents .40 Cal
Broken Safety 2
(Koch)
Dipset’s plan for manifest destiny includes keeping .40 Cal on an incredibly short leash.
If .40 Cal is supposed to represent the next wave of Dipset artists (Cam’ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones), the crew — commonly known as The Diplomats — are moving cautiously. So cautiously, in fact, Broken Safety 2 could be one of the most restrained hardcore albums in 15 years. Granted, that’s all relative. “Give Me Some Head” (and its appropriately sophomoric/mysogynistic set-up skit) are pro-nappy head in true Don Imus/Isaiah Thomas-era fashion. But the album is almost embarrassingly by the book, hitting all the hustla/lovuh man/banger notes as it sees fit. It’s kind of sad it’s such an afterthought, because “New Anthem” could have rocked clubs from Manhattan to Milan.
— Kevin Keegan
