It's summertime and you know what that means -- ice cream, scant clothing and summer blockbusters. With the likes of "Men in Black" and "Air Force One" currently hogging up screen time at your local movie theater, Def Jam's "How to be a Player," the story of a debonair Casanova and his salacious exploits, might not exactly make it into the Valhalla of movie classics usually reserved for cinematic pearls like "Star Wars" and "E.T."
However the movie doesn't give up that easily. Along with the movie's debut comes "How to be a Player: The Soundtrack," an R&B frozen drink. That's right, this soundtrack is the perfect musical sipper for the summer -- an intoxicating blend of old school, new flavors and a shot of hip-hop beats and rhythms.
If the movie doesn't suit your tastes, maybe the soundtrack, a musical songfest cooked up by the likes of Rick James, Tupac Shakur and madam rapper Foxy Brown, may get you motivated.
Beginning with an intro by jungle artist Goldie, the soundtrack heralds itself as "the propitious movement to expound that which eludes your mental capabilities the most."
The first track, an eargasm of slick jeep beats featuring Foxy and R&B group Dru Hill reeks of unadulterated R&B funk.
Along with the strains of "Bad Mama Jama" in the background comes the low tenor of rapper extraordinaire Foxy, while the voices of Dru Hill ring in with the chorus.
For old school hip hop lovers, there is "Superfreak" favorite James. Complete with jheri curl and guitar riffs, James asks ladies why they play "Hard to Get." Musically facelifted for the times, James shares the stage with rapper Richie Rich to the give the song an up-to-date groove.
Foxy waxes poetic on the next track with Playa. Using a line from the poet Robert Frost himself, Foxy announces "everythang that be glittering ain't gold."
Another track spoofs song classic "Casanova." The music is courtesy of the family trio LeVert, and the lyrical wizardry is provided by Rappers Mase and hip-hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. A nice ditty with a simple bass line, the music reminds us of our youth, and the lyrics are reminiscent of today.
The unlikely tag-team of Too Short and George Clinton is the force behind "It's a Cold Day," a track which features additional vocals by Belita Woods. Clinton and Wood provide harmony and Too Short "does his thang" as rapper.
Beats, rhythms and a star-studded ensemble of some of the brightest lights in the R&B landscape will make this album successful. To borrow from the ghetto vernacular, this album is pretty "tight."
Thus, if the cinematic experience of "How to be a Player" fails you, try the musical experience. Buy the soundtrack.
