N***a Please

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s sophomore album is vastly different from his debut, but just as distinctive. As usual, the rapper’s modus operandi is going against the grain. Rather than collaborate solely with RZA, ODB brought on board a range of producers, including the Neptunes, who concocted the minimal, dry funk of “Recognize,” “Cold Blooded” and “Got Your Money.” N***A Please relies less on rapping than Return to the 36 Chambers did, and instead capitalizes on the appeal of ODB’s unhinged psyche. From the bloodshot rants of “Rollin’ Wit You” and “You Don’t Want to F**k With Me” to the angry chants of “I Want P***y,” N***A Please lets ODB further off the leash than ever before. The results can be thrilling, and they can be sad, often in the same song. The deranged crooning of “Good Morning Heartache” at first seems like a joke, until you realize that the pain of the song is very real. Don’t let this album’s weirdness obscure its stunning music—“All In Together Now,” “Cracker Jack” and the title track are among the toughest and most haunting songs of Dirty’s career.