(Interscope)
When you take a sequel to a hit movie that features the all-time best rapper-turned-actor, it should not be surprising to find an all-star collection of hip-hop stars on the soundtrack. But the \Barbershop 2: Back in Business"" soundtrack does not merely feature a world-class assemblage of talent to support the Ice Cube flick. While it sports a stunning array of the last decade's premier talent, it also manages to maintain a consistent level of fun and listenability, which keeps it from sinking to the level of filler that plagues most star-studded soundtracks.
The list of stars featured on the album is truly staggering. From Outkast to Mary J. Blige to D-12, the soundtrack covers all its bases. Mya contributes two tracks, while 50 Cent performs a song with G-Unit and Mos Def guests on a Floetry track.
But it's not the stars alone that make the album so strong. It's the high level they almost uniformly reach and the way their songs flow together in terms of tone and style. The whole soundtrack seems to maintain a laidback, but still fun and danceable ambience. Blige kicks things off with ""Not Today,"" featuring Eve. The song is simultaneously funky and forceful, but overridden by a welcome laidback sensibility.
""I Can't Wait,"" the rejoining of Sleepy Brown with Outkast, is a fun and coolly entrancing treat. Songs like ""ever"" by Keyshia Cole with Eve offer loving nods to '70s funk, while the guys from G-Unit slink comfortably into the groove of ""Unconditionally.""
The soundtrack does still feature a couple of low points, though. Mobb Deep's ""One of Ours"" isn't bad, per se, but it is sad to hear a classic rap outfit performing eight years past their prime on such an unremarkable record. Meanwhile, it is even sadder to hear Chingy amidst such an otherwise outstanding group of performers. Chingy is truly the black fly in hip-hop's Chardonnay. And never has that been more clear than on Mya's ""Fallen."" The song is mostly solid, but there is no reason for rap's most destructively untalented superstar to rear his ugly head on such a wonderfully enjoyable collection.
The soundtrack for ""Barbershop 2"" is a lot like the first ""Barbershop"" movie. It's fun, laidback and immensely likeable, with a strong and cohesive set of talent. If nothing else, this is certainly an album to throw on when friends come over. It is just as certain to provide a nice backdrop to the second ""Barbershop"" movie.
-Amos Posner
