It’s been said that “Virginia is for lovers,” however, lately they’ve been known in Hip-Hop circles as having some hot-ass producers. Starting with the original “rumpshaker” himself–Teddy Riley–to today’s A-list knob turners the Neptunes and Timbaland, Norfolk, VA native Nottz has been doing his best at carrying on the tradition. Having produced recent fire-starters for the likes of Scarface, Ghostface and G-Unit, Nottz has now laid his beat-game down for his crew to catch wreck. Unfortunately, Nottz unique landscapes end up sounding better contoured to emcees that posses a little more skill. DMP emcees Big Shot, Blackndeckah, Killah Khi and Star Boy show signs of ingenuity, but those glimpses are few and far between and even Nottz production talents can’t cover that up. 

    Starting with “Call the Ambulance,” the stop-and-go synth beat is littered with today’s standard “I’ll fuck you up” rhymes and continues with “Bang Ya Hammerz” and “Durte Muzik.”  However, the gun lovin’ rhymes on “Mr. Smif-N-Wessun Man” work because of their originality.  Though gun rhymes have been done to death, DMP flip the script and describe stories of how they’re chosen firearms always jam up on’em (“Mr. Smif-n-Wessun man/is something wrong with my nine/when I cock that fucker back, boy/I get a click, every time”). Guests Petey Pablo and Krumbsnatcha come through to help the cause and show Nottz’ production talents some much needed abuse, and the rolling thumps of “OHH!!!” bring the DMP spitters outta there shell for some dirty south shouts.  But overall, redeeming value is low.

    Though the beats aren’t knockin’ all the way through, there’s more than enough boom-bap for the Durte Muzik clan to kick it to. If they had just created some more meaningful material, this could’ve been a solid listen all the way through.