Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)

Styles P's third solo full-length, Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman), was not titled haphazardly. The album, like the rapper's others, is a mixture of synth-heavy hardcore rap -- with enough gun and drug references to satisfy the hardest of all listeners -- and more soul-sample-driven contemplative (but nothing near backpack) hip-hop. The Phantom's a self-professed thug ("There's a part of me that loves being a gangster," he admits on "Alone in the Street"), bragging about his toughness throughout the entire record and bringing in guests like Jadakiss and Sheek Louch on "Gangster, Gangster," Ghostface Killah ("A twin ghost experience!") on "Star of the State," and Green Lantern on the excellent "Holiday" -- which includes the kind of line Styles is best at, simple but pointed: "I get ya, get the picture?/I'm the painter, you're the painted" -- to help keep things intense, both in production (beats are from Hi-Tek, the Alchemist, and Akon, among others) and lyrics. - Marisa Brown, All Music Guide