All Natural: Second Nature

Chicago may be known as the Second City, but in terms of hip-hop impact, it doesn't even rank in the top five. Even Common, the Willie Mays of Chicago hip-hop, eventually left for greener pastures, leaving hungry acts like All Natural with the formidable task of establishing the city as an underground-hip-hop mecca. Ambitious almost to a fault, All Natural seems more than up to the task, following its acclaimed 1998 debut (No Additives, No Preservatives) with Second Nature, a smart, eclectic, overreaching album that runs nearly 75 minutes. Unabashed hip-hop purist Capital D's calm, authoritative flow effortlessly recalls the mic-wrecking skills of old-schoolers Big Daddy Kane and Rakim, while his lyrics and song structures reflect a similar fondness for hip-hop's past. With its jazzy, laid-back production and deft wordplay, "Elements Of Style" sounds like a terrific lost single from the early '90s, as does the infectious "Queens Get The Money," which delineates the all-important differences between scandalous gold-diggers and proud Nubian queens. "Mr. Sexy," meanwhile, takes listeners back to the days of Hammer-bashing with its infectious attack on an unnamed, possibly fictional MC who's made the unfortunate transition from real MC to thug to mincing, X-popping pretty-boy. All Natural has a flair for crafting memorable songs, as well as a sharp spiritual and sociological streak, but the album tends to drag in spots. Second Nature's sound periodically alternates between second-rate Wu-Tang Clan and uninspired battle-rap mediocrity, and the duo lacks the crucial spark of genius that separates the good from the great. Still, while it won't likely change the direction of hip-hop, All Natural's solid, likable second album is an impressive follow-up from a duo committed to finding success on its own uncompromising terms.