This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
The South rises again — the Dirty South, that is.
Meet Nappy Roots, the latest proponents of the greasy, gritty, get-down brand of hip-hop perfected and popularized by the likes of OutKast, Goodie Mob, Nelly and Master P. This Kentucky-fried outfit’s recipe is a lot closer to the tasty crunch of the first two than the crowd-pleasing junk food of the last pair. Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz, the sextet’s major-label debut, is flavoured by intelligent, thoughtful lyrics about down-to-earth topics (Ballin’ On A Budget, Country Boyz), served up in the Nappys’ tangy, syrupy twang over a thick bed of snappy kinetic beats and fuzzy ’n’ freaky tracks garnished with rambunctious, inventive production. With 20 tunes that last 75 minutes, this meal might have a few too many courses for first-timers. But for those with an appetite for authentic down-home rap, most of it’s finger-licking good.
