Twista's Category F5: A Review

After the disappointing Adrenaline Rush 2007 (read review), a supposed retread of his arguably classic debut that is anything but, Chicago's own tongue-twisting emcee has returned with his fifth studio album Category F5 (sixth if you consider his compilation album with his group Mobstability). It is the tightest record in his post-Kamikaze catalog, and is far more of a retread of Adrenaline Rush than its immediate predecessor is.

The first track reprises Twista's classic single, the title track from his debut, Adrenaline Rush featuring Buk of Psychodrama. This track, Misunderstood, also featuring Buk is a thrilling combination of slow and rapid flows, though this beat is just a bit less hard-hitting than the original collaboration. Following the pattern of his last three albums, the first two tracks are hard-hitting hypersonic street records: Misunderstood is followed by the equally strong American Gangsta. After these two records is another strong street track, Fire, marred only by an outclassed and overly nasal Lil Boosie; this track is as mellow as Adrenaline Rush's own third track Feels So Good, and Category F5'sTalk to Me, while not quite as intense as that album's Overdose, is a blistering barrage of lyrics over a looped soul sample, the kind of barrage that made the rapper such a coveted guest star between 1997 and 2004.

The album starts to falter with the Autotune stylings of both R. Kelly and Twista on Yellow Light, and the chest thumping of Walking on Ice with Atlanta rappers OJ Da Juiceman and Gucci Mane; the beat for this latter track is just bizarre enough to enjoy some success as a club record. Wetter, a remake of Adrenaline Rush's Get It Wet starts to bring things back on track, but an utterly unnecessary second AutoTune foray with Busta Rhymes on Billionaire reminds you just how uneven Twista records can be.

Category F5's reliance on synthesized bass heavy beats works exceptionally well for the rapper, even if the overall sound is more regional than that of his past few albums. There are enough solid tracks on here for the purists to enjoy. The Do or Die and Johnny P collaboration Yo Body ranks up there with their best collaborations, and both Gotta Get Me One, On Top, and Hustla round out the solid songs on the second half of the LP. The electronica inflection of On Top featuring Akon is a pleasant surprise even if it veers outside the sonic palette of the rest of the album.

As always the album is an aural assault; Twista's albums require your finger to be poised near the rewind button. Twista's rapid-fire wits are on display throughout and Traxster's direction seems to keep them from spinning completely out of control. That is not to say that Twista could not make as tight an album as this on his own, but the rapper seems to greatly benefit from a singular sonic vision.

It is far more cohesive than his last two albums, and quite frankly deserves the title of Adrenaline Rush 2009 given how heavily it draws on the original. It is worth a listen to hear some catchy triple cadence rapping from one of the style's pioneers, and from one of hip-hop's greatest talents.

View my other Associated Content music reviews here.