Only two singles came from
Chingy
's second album, 2004's
Powerballin'
, neither of which matched the successes or strengths of
Jackpot
's
"Right Thurr"
and
"One Call Away."
Hoodstar
only makes it all the more apparent that the St. Louis MC's overnight popularity was like lightning in a bottle. Like a number of
rap
albums from the distant and recent past (
Cassidy
Split Personality
, for instance),
is broken into sections with themes, but the themes in this case -- the "hood" side and the "star" side -- aren't all that distinct. The hood side has songs titled
"Hands Up"
"Nike Aurr's & Crispy Tee's,"
while the star side has songs titled
"Ass N da Aurr"
"Brand New Kicks,"
so we're not exactly dealing with a modern-day
Death Certificate
. Once again,
does his best to balance his softer side (which he still does best, as in the
Tyrese
feature
"Pullin' Me Back"
) with unconvincing menace (as in
"Club Gettin' Crowded,"
where the presence of
Three 6 Mafia
only makes him seem all the more out of his league). The club tracks fall flat and pale in comparison to
"Right Thurr."
Timbaland
,
Jermaine Dupri
Mr. Collipark
Mannie Fresh
Kwame
, and longtime collaborators
Trak Starz
make for an impressive lineup of producers, but it's obvious that few of them gave
the first, second, or even third pick of their beats. ~ Andy Kellman