M-1 - Confidential

M-1's solo album sounds exactly like what it is: a solo album by one half of one of the more political rap duos to gain prominence in the past decade. Strangely, his vocals seem low in the mix, making the beats take precedent over his messages. The beats don't stick as hard as those on Dead Prez's albums, and M-1 himself doesn't have enough personality to carry an album by himself. That's problematic. What's good is that M-1 is a good lyricist, and some songs overcome the shortcomings found all over. "The Beat" is a highlight, with a pulsating production, and "Gunslinger" swings like any good Bo Diddley homage should. "Been Through" features the most R&B-indebted production and features Ghostface," which is a solid recipe for success at this point.