Words by Francesca Djerejian Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
As "The Godfather III" example shows, it's good policy to have low expectations for the third go-around, especially when it comes several years later. That sums up The Professional 3, which in spite of a few quality cuts is little more than a glorified mixtape that recycles tracks and relies on a stale formula. It's 2006: Clue isn't discovering new talent like he used to, New York rap is under the Dirty South's shadow, and a Clue tape doesn't hold the same weight with a Gangsta Grillz beside it.
Apart from the appearance of former A-Team member and Desert Storm protégé, Ransom, Clue plays it safe. The "Where Are They Nows?" of former Professional fame are replaced by present day heavyweights such as The Game and Young Jeezy, and mainstays like M.O.P. and Jadakiss get the veteran draft. Ghost producing rumors aside, the Clue tracks are decent, as are the Heatmakerz, Develop, Kanye West, and Swizz Beatz cuts.
The album begins with the Nas song "War", where hip-hop's grim reaper clowns the rookies, explains why it's his year and gets religious: "God wished me out his nuts, the Devil swallowed me up I burnt a hole in his guts." It's no surprise that Fabolous is all over the album, but aside from a decent performance on "Tha Boss," Loso doesn't appear to be blessing Clue with his A-game. Cam'ron, a far cry from his "Fantastic Four" days, lazily spits a succession of throwaways over Clue's melodramatic beat for "Middle Finger U."
When it comes to repping the dominant region of the day, Clue tries to bring the South and New York together. A case in point is the Young Jeezy and Juelz Santana duo "F--- Off," probably an outtake from their joint mixtape that never dropped. The Dirty South and Jerz form a random lineup on "Clear Da Scene," with Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Ransom trading verses over Develop's banger.
Thankfully, some of the vets do come as hard as they used to. Styles P is one of them, as he defends his "hardest out" title on "The Animal." Another high point is when Philly's finest -- Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, and Freeway -- spit murder raps on "Liberty Bell," where once again, Cassidy is a hard act for Freeway to follow. Professional O.G.'s Mobb Deep are featured on "The Gold," and Havoc outshines Prodigy with his portrayal of a hungry stick up kid: "Dudes come in heavy but they leave out light, homie / married to robberies leave ya holy in matrimony / He leaving out the club, security round him / But you ain't thinking bout that when your stomach is growling / I can taste it so bad my heart is pounding / thinking if I get this n---- be a couple a thousand / Told my dude follow his whip make sure you don't lose him / Almost got caught at the light 'Run that, you stupid?' I got an eye for this sh-- and I don't need no specs 'cause can see I can see the ice glisten through your five percent / Saw him stop at a deli prolly for some dutches, bout to creep 'til jake pulled up to motherf---ers / nervous a little something, but that sh-- wore off, yeah right about the time when the jake peeled off / Dude taking too long, f--- he buyin the store? F---in' run up in that bitch and lets catch them all."
A far cry from the first Professional, Part 3 is good for a few listens. Hip-hop isn't dead and neither is Clue's career, but neither are coming with the classics like they did back in the day.
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