Double Trouble

The Ying Yang Twins became successful in the early part of this decade due to their unusual vocal tactics, such as whistling or whispering, over a Mr. Collipark beat. Take out the attention-grabbing banter and all that is left is Southern-fried garbage that clogs the ears. But instead of adopting another oral accent as a gimmick, the Ying Yang Twins turn the focus of Chemically Imbalanced on its producers: Mr. Collipark and Wyclef Jean. In a battle of the beats scenario, listeners learn during “Intro” that the album is basically split between the two: Collipark mainly produces the first half, while the latter half is primarily overseen by Jean. Who wins?In round one, Collipark disappoints as he repeats his drum patterns and echoing beats reminiscent of past singles such as “Salt Shaker” and “Wait (The Whisper Song).” While the Twins creatively run down their career hits in the second verse of “Keep on Coming,” the song and others sound interchangeable with any of their previous Collipark offerings. “Jack It Up” and “1st Booty on Duty” provide nothing new from a creative or lyrical standpoint except to recall the glories of Southern T&A. Attempting to take a different route, the Twins get romantic on “Take It Slow,” but it is hard to think of rose petals and candlelit dinners as their voices growl corny come-ons.

In round two, Jean does not fare much better, wailing away whenever he can to try and outshine the Twins, especially on lead single “Dangerous.” Songs such as “Family” and “Leave” become forgettable since Jean lacks a distinct production style and the Twins are short on lyrical content. The energetic “Water” is the highlight of this album, though, as it mixes sirens and chest-thumping beats with a hypnotic aria underlying the chorus. With a sip of “Water,” Jean narrowly wins over Collipark. Although it does not matter since the listeners lose after hearing the entire album.