As the spluttering "Fight Club" and "My Life Style" remind, the South Bronx heavy weight has always been more about passion and attitude than staggering ability. To compensate, he's loaded JOSE with A-list guests who seem to do all his work for him. R Kelly provides the killer hook for "We Thuggin'", Busta Rhymes adds spark to the remix, Buju Banton's ragga toasting sets off "King Of NY" and on standout track "What's Luv?", Joe's barely present, leaving Ja Rule and the angel voiced Ashanti to make it a guaranteed hit.

Perhaps not as creative or essential as his guests' output--or indeed his own 1995 album Jealous Ones Envy, from which JOSE takes its name--this unashamed stab at the commercial jugular could be the bridge to the mainstream he's been looking for.--Dan Gennoe

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