Mix {|Nelly|}, {|Chingy|}, and a very beneficial helping of {|Ludacris|}, and you’re close to the sound of {|Huey|}, the St. Louis rapper who burst onto the scene with the infectious club track Pop, Lock & Drop It. The single had the necessary simple hook, catch phrase, and accompanying line dance to make it a Chains Hang Low or Chicken Noodle Soup-sized phenomena. The big difference was that the verses equaled the chorus for a change, since Huey has skills and swagger to burn. The two minor complaints about his first full-length, {|Notebook Paper|}, are that executive producer {|Mickey MeMpHiTz Wright|} pimps his new Hitz Committee label a little too often for what should be a Huey showcase and doesn’t take full advantage of the rapper’s ability to go street. Aye and Closet Full of Clothes surround Drop It with other club flavors – {|Lil Jon|}, crunk style for the first; Southern, syrup-sippin’ sounds for the second – while 2 Nite is polished and just waiting for a crooner like Bobby V. to add a verse. It all works to varying degrees, but when the vicious Money Ova hits with {|Yo Gotti|} and an especially hard Diamond it seems like the hood is right where Huey should be (Nobody Loves the Hood notwithstanding). Still, smooth numbers like When I Hustle – featuring {|Lloyd|} and the biggest-name producer on the album, {|Jazze Pha|} – and the rest of the gloss end up sounding more like highlights than missed opportunities. While more outside help might have shown them the way to something stunning, it’s a testament to Huey and the Hitz Committee team that they made a rewarding rather than just promising debut out of some everyday beats and ideas.
