Leave My Name Out

LMNO's first solo LP following his departure from the renowned Visionaries crew, Leave My Name Out is a dark recording relaying this California rapper's personal thoughts, theories, and social convictions as its chief artistic mission, spending most of its running time dealing with God, politics, and issues addressed with empty aggressiveness. With a flat musical foundation and LMNO's inability to make any of his faux-intellectual observations or rebelliousness sound convincing, this recording falls short of its hype, despite all-star guest appearances from Evidence (Dilated Peoples), J-Rocc of the Beatjunkies, and Kut Masta Kurt on the turntables. LMNO, guilty of being a self-described "thinkaholic who gets frolic without a wallet" on this output, never gets past second gear and leaves the record with few highlights. The Evidence-produced "Grin & Bear It" is the most dynamic moment, with LMNO's inspired vocal flow and the album's best groove barely keeping these 15 tracks afloat. Perhaps the first poor release from Battle Axe Records -- look for better outings from this talented MC and beat collective.