In Brief

** Canibus, “2000 B.C. (Before Canibus),” Universal. Being a quality rapper doesn’t always mean that you’ll make a quality rap album, as evidenced by the second collection from this quick-witted lyricist. Canibus sounds as though he’s trying to impress you with his better-than-average vocabulary and aggressive flow. But his delivery sounds forced, detracting from the impact of his often clever words. The production seems overly dramatic and uninspired.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.