Serve and Collect

Slim Thug's Boss Hogg Outlawz aren't a group in as much as they're a temporary compilation crew like Ludacris' Disturbing tha Peace. The big difference is that DtP appeared on Luda's major-label offshoot while the Outlawz are on Slim's Koch imprint and the street level feel to their releases sorts out accordingly. Plus, Slim was born and bred in Swishahouse's mixtape world, which explains why Serve & Collect flows so well, and most of these rappers moonlight in the Slim Thug-associated group Boys in Blue, which explains the excellent chemistry. Not that the students have become the masters, but Slim's high-quality contributions here — and unlike other "presenters" hosting a comp, his appearances are numerous — are often matched by crew members PJ, C Ward, and J-Dawg, and sometimes topped by Killa Kyleon, who's unstoppable on every appearance. Skeletal, aggressive beats dominate with C Ward's smooth "Rollin'" and R&B hopeful Rob Smallz's bitter ballad "Cheating," adding just enough variety. Houston's great Mr. Lee handles production on most of the tracks and there's no guest list, everyone is family. You'd have to land a spot on the Houston Rockets or move next to Z-Ro to get your Texas on any harder and folks who have worn out their copy of Already Platinum shouldn't bother to think twice. [Serve & Collect, Rovi