1997 Rush Associated Labels Recordings

Tameka L. Hicks 9

The summer release of Def Jam’s How to be a Player soundtrack unfortunately is almost as funny as the movie. Even with a cast of hit-making entertainers, this soundtrack tends to be exhaustingly humorous.

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From the sleazy rhymes of Foxy Brown to the ghetto rapping of Master P, this compilation overflows with musical variety.

Rapper Foxy Brown makes two appearances on the track with Big Bad Mamma, featuring R&B group Dru Hill, and I Gotta Know, with the rapper Playa. Although she can be irritating, Foxy Brown has the overall best song on the album.

Like the player she claims to be, Foxy raps, So far/ I’m been through this year with no bra/sheer shirt/shakin’ my na na/ this here hurts/got em sprung/let em know I’m the isis/but for the best effect you gotta use your tongue. And my favorite line of all, Foxy/chocolate baby/got milk.

Other artists on the soundtrack include singer Rick James, rappers Too Short, Crucial Conflict and Tupac Shakur. Surprising as it may be, none of these artists make a strong influence on the soundtrack.

But Master P stands his gangsta ground with the track How to be a Playa, featuring rappers Silk the Shocker and Fiend.

On this track he raps, Star 69 to get you whipped/mama told you never mess with a southern pimp/I got this pimp game from my grandfather, big daddy/ he said keep yo’ four women in your candy-painted Caddy.

Not much hard work was put into this album. But I have to give a big thumbs up for the player of all time, Max Julien, also known as Goldie. His words in the intro and outro of the album were touching.

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So there I was a prisoner of my own illusion, dwelling in the convention hall of the players. Sucking oil out of candlesticks, making bow ties out of bra straps, trying to be the one man you know, like, trying to be the one.