Chingy - Powerballin' (CD)

All Music Guide

Delivered a little over a year after the multiplatinum debut, Powerballin' initially comes across as a futile attempt to position Chingy closer to the street and further away from pop. However, it eventually becomes apparent that the album is not much different in scope from Jackpot. Apart from further emphasis on fame and riches as indicated in the addition one more vehicle, three women, and a lot more jewelry on the otherwise similar cover what separates this from the debut is the high number of deflated hooks. So, in effect, it seems less poporiented. The Trak Starz are on board again, but they share a good amount of the production duties with a couple newcomers. David Banner produces and Nate Dogg assists on "All the Way to St. Lou," unsurprisingly one of the best tracks on the album. Most of the other guest spots are for nought, including a sleepwalking Janet Jackson appearance on "Don't Worry." Chingy does little to help his own cause, improving little if at all as an MC. One... moment in "Balla Baby," the lead single that isn't half as sharp or excessively fun as "Right Thurr," takes the cake as the dumbest rhyme in a 2004 hit: "I like 'em black, white, Puerto Rican or Haitian, Japanese, Chinese or even Asian." This, admittedly, is almost evened out by a sobadit'sgood line in "Leave Wit Me," an otherwise flaccid R. Kelly collaboration that recycles "Holidae Inn" and Cassidy's "Hotel" for the umpteenth time: "Outside I got a fly drop/ You hungry?/ Round your girls up and we can all go to IHOP." Jackpot is superior in every aspect, indicating that Chingy's cannonshot success left him too selfsatisfied and complacent. Powerballin' also sounds rushed, which could be chalked up to striking while the iron's hot. In Chingy's case, a supbar 2004 followup would surely fare better commercially than a polished 2006 followup. - Andy Kellman, All Music Guide Read more Less