The People's Champ Retains His Title

There's something about these Houston rappers and their money. They have it. They flaunt it. They rap about it. They spend it on "grillz" and "purple drank." So why do the listeners and fans keep giving them more? Because of artists like Paul Wall.

The Swishahouse spokesman is just one of many rappers coming out of Houston who have found great success on the national level with their joining the ranks of Mike Jones, Lil' Flip and Chamillionaire. Paul Wall first found fame after appearing on Mike Jones' first commercially- distributed single, "Still Tippin'," from his first major label album, "Who Is Mike Jones?" and eventually went on to release his first LP, "The People's Champ," in 2005.

Thanks to his charming flow and catchy, materialistic rhymes, Wall went platinum easily, and looks to do so again with his sophomore album "Get Money, Stay True."

What "Get Money, Stay True" is able to do best is capture the magic that made Wall's first album work so well and turn it up a notch. There is more of the trunk- thumping bangers meant to be played at high volumes, preferably in residential areas - Southern looping beats that run so slow they never really go anywhere and of course, those Southern trademarks from diamond coated grills to "sipping on sizzurp."

Wall never takes himself out of his boast, brag and party comfort zone and covers up a whole lot of redundancy with top-notch productions and easy-to-follow, solid raps that drop just enough punch lines to keep the listener hooked.

"I'm fresh like green bananas / I'm fly like Continental / Cuz I stay up on my grind late night like Jimmy Kimmel," he rhymes on "Everybody Know Me," which also features a smooth guest shot from Snoop Dogg on one of his best verses in recent memory.

"Get Money, Stay True" was produced by Houston's great beat maker, Mr. Lee, who handled a handful of tracks on the album including the kickoff track, "Get Your Paper" - an excellent opener with an instantly gripping, synthetic organ backing and features emcee Yung Redd on the chorus - and "Call Me What U Want," on which Wall raps his life motto: "Call me what you want / As long as you don't call me broke."

The late, legendary DJ Screw gets honored on producer Russell Howard's work, "Bangin' Screw," which sports a "chopped and screwed" - or slowed down vocals and usually altered - chorus with an addictive synthesized beat with the occasional clap.

The final track on the album, "Slidin' On That Oil," is a preview of what's to come for the Houston emcee. The song is a product of new rap group, Expensive Taste, which is made up of Skinhead Rob (the Transplants,) Travis Barker, currently the drummer for (+44) and best- known for his work with Blink-182 and Wall himself. Barker is solely responsible for producing the track, but Rob and Wall compliment each other very well and demonstrate their talent without stepping on each other's toes.

Although the album is much of the same and runs short at under 60 minutes, "Get Money, Stay True" enlists numerous guest stars that helps keep the album fresh and enjoyable for the entire time. The People's Champ may just keep his title for another year.