Don Cartagena

09/01/1998 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Billy Johnson Jr

During Fat Joe's five-year career, he has proven to be one of the few dedicated, hardcore MCs underground fans can count on. Remember this when considering Don Cartagena's trendy elements including the Mafioso title, numerous all-star appearances and radio-friendly sampled songs.

For his third album, the South Bronx, New York native doesn't allow any of the elements mentioned above to clump his record's sound with his competition. For instance, Nas, whose record with The Firm last year was disappointing, resurfaces on "John Blaze" with lyrics comparable to those found on his 1994 debut Illmatic. Posse record "Bet Ya Man Can't (TRIZ)" samples Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real," promising to liven up dance floors with its racy battle-of-the-sexes chorus. Still, Joe spikes the album with "My Prerogative," featuring Armageddon's ingenious electronic jerking instrumentation, which is patterned like DJ scratching.

Each of Don Cartagena's 15 songs is a good listen, including signature contributions from everyone from Big Pun to classic producers DJ Premier and Marley Marl.