Kurupt is a 53-year-old MC, songwriter, actor, and occasional producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who relocated to Hawthorne, California, to become one-half of Tha Dogg Pound alongside Daz Dillinger. He eventually made his double solo debut Kuruption! under A&M Records almost three decades ago, following it up with widely praised efforts like Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha and Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey. After a period of mixed reception with Against tha Grain and Streetlights, Kurupt has returned to Death Row Records—now distributed by gamma—for his seventh studio LP, Tales From My Hood, which features production entirely by DJ Battlecat.
After the intro, “Sneacc Attacc” featuring Charlie Bereal and WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg begins spitting that gangsta rap over a g-funk instrumental, whereas “Me N the Boyz” samples “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” by Parliament to discuss the pursuit of wealth. “Special” featuring Jane Handcock finds the pair exploring romantic themes over a smooth beat, while the summery “Mystic River” represents the D.P.G.C. legacy.
D Smoke appears on “Wat U Do to Me,” bringing back g-funk vibes to kick off the second half of the album. Following “Love Letter” featuring Jane Handcock, which soulfully addresses the people in their lives, “West Coast Muzik” shifts back toward a classic g-funk direction, representing the West Coast hip-hop scene in its entirety.
“Mindstate” featuring Ill Camille initiates the final act of Tales From My Hood, embracing a jazzier sound and mature subject matter. “I Don’t Luv Her” featuring Akeem Ali and Soopafly brings the trio together to promise their soulmates exclusivity over a signature g-funk beat. The closing track, “Gunna,” serves as a final warning to those in his path.
Considering Kurupt’s status as a superiorly skilled performer, Tales From My Hood stands out as a significant achievement. It makes up for the mediocrity of previous projects and arguably surpasses Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha to become Young Gotti’s finest solo hour. DJ Battlecat’s production paired with one of the most underrated lyricists of all time makes for arguably the strongest album Death Row has released this year.
Score: 8/10