Various Artists - West Coast Bad Boyz, Vol. 1 (CD)

All Music Guide

West Coast Bad Boyz, Vol. 1 was the first significant shot from Master P, the mastermind behind the South's fiercely independent gangsta label No Limit. Master P was the executive producer of West Coast Bad Boyz, Vol. 1, organizing the entire project, reigning in big names like Too hort, finding unknown rappers and defining the sound, which is essentially cheaply-produced G-Funk. Nobody on the compilation is a particularly gifted rapper, nor is the music original or even interesting (it occasionally is terrible, as a matter of fact), but West Coast Bad Boyz, Vol. 1, along with its successor, illustrates what some hip-hoppers mean by "keeping it real" -- i.e., keep turning out the same hardcore rap, without any musical or lyrical innovations. And, if you agree with that viewpoint, West Coast Bad Boyz, Vol. 1 probably is a record for you. If not, it's a mighty rough ride.

- Leo Stanley, All Music Guide