On Top of Our Game [PA] (CD - 2006)

Whether or not Dem Franchize Boyz are really on top of their game, as the title of their sophomore release claims, seems to be a subject of debate among hip-hop heads. But judging from the success of their self-titled debut, the popularity of the hit singles "White Tee" and "I Think They Like Me," and the deluxe packaging of this second album, they are certainly at their commercial apex.

The music on ON TOP OF OUR GAME offers more of what listeners enjoyed on their debut: smoked-out, head-nodding beats, raps from the Franchize clique, and hands-in-the-air, chant-along choruses. Producer Jermaine Dupri gives the whole set a colossally booming vibe well-suited to any bass-heavy sound system, and guest appearances by Bun B, Trey Songz, and Three 6 Mafia add a bit of glitter.

Jermaine Dupri inherited a wasteland, tumbleweeds and all, when he became president of Virgin's urban division. One smart, early acquisition was Dem Franchize Boyz, a group from Atlanta that had some independent releases and a minor national smash ("White Tee") to its credit. A remix of "Oh I Think Dey Like Me," originally released on the group's first album for Universal, was placed on the Young, Fly & Flashy compilation, the first shot from Dupri's now-Virgin-distributed So So Def label, released during the summer of 2005. Retitled "I Think They Like Me" and bolstered by appearances from Dupri, Bow Wow, and Da Brat, the track hit number one on the R&B/hip-hop singles chart and crossed over to the mainstream chart's Top 20. The group's rise coincided with the even greater success of "Laffy Taffy," from fellow Atlanta group D4L. And then, a rivalry took shape within the "snap music" movement. D4L claimed to be the originators of a two-step dance called the "doin' it" dance, and they might've even had some weight behind their argument since "Laffy Taffy" became such a phenomenon. DFB, who thought otherwise, followed "Like Me" -- a hype, relatively propulsive, and straight-ahead track -- with "Lean wit It, Rock wit It," a two-stepper with finger snaps that's neither as gimmicky nor as bizarre as the D4L hit. Where D4L chose to ride the spare, left-of-center sound of "Laffy Taffy" all the way through their own album, resulting in a hollow affair (reflected by severely underwhelming sales), DFB show up with a lot more to offer. Even without the reappearance of "I Think They Like Me," the group's first So So Def/Virgin album would be durable. Though it's not without a couple inane tracks, the sinuously hypnotic "Lean wit It, Rock wit It," as well as several energizing moments -- all made with booming machine beats, jolting synthesizer patterns, stabbing horns, and infections group chants -- make the album a strong one. Once again, Dupri proves to be a shrewd businessman. ~ Andy Kellman minimize