HEAVY D. & THE BOYZ “Big Tyme.” Uptown/MCA *** 1/2:***** Great Balls of Fire:**** Knockin’ on Heaven’s:*** Good Vibrations:** Maybe Baby:* Ain’t That a Shame

Heavy D. is a big guy--and he’s not afraid to admit it. The self-described overweight lover throws his weight around with a cool precision and unaffected attitude that easily separates him and the Boyz from most of rap’s make-believe macho men. The style and message are as upbeat as the many dance tracks here.

There are the usual quota of James Brown-inspired soul grooves on “Big Tyme,” something to be expected on a rap album these days, but D. stretches out too, raiding the heavy funk file with a vengeance. “More Bounce” pounces on riffs sampled from both Roger and funky superheroes Parliament, resulting in a simmering soul stew.

Pop crossover star Al B. Sure! throws down backing vocals and helps produce the down-tempo but eminently danceable love rap “Somebody for Me.” Looking for some Caribbean flavorings, the cool but corpulent crooner busts loose with a Jamaican rap style on “Mood for Love” and the current single “We Got Our Own Thang.”

“Big Tyme” is a new style of rap album, achieving a fine balance of deft beats, heavy attitude, funky lyrics and catchy melodies that’ll enhance Heavy D.’s already expansive rap rep.