Money Waters

Money Waters is a natural storyteller who takes his sweet time telling a joke or dropping some hard-earned knowledge. You don't want to stop him, even if you've already heard it. The rapper is strongest when he and his homeboys are venting their Everyman tales of frustration about nagging wives, big-talking friends or "Broke Bitches" who won't help out with the lunch tab. But after attending last year's Millions More Movement event, Waters felt the need to speak on racial issues. Voicing his disgust with racism past and present, Swalhaggin finds Money calling for revolution while demonstrating his dynamic flow -- internal rhymes, attention-grabbing pauses and a conversational rhythm that rolls and bounces over his lyrics. Elsewhere, he warns a friend about the dope game in "Be Careful," bemoans the "Eva Changin'" world and lets guest Uncle Pauly lay down the law in "Niggallegiance," the spiritual centerpiece of the album, which comes off as a slightly preachy pep talk to black men, even if it offers no solutions. Money's mixture of blues and rap won't redefine either genre, but the combination makes a powerful musical statement.