THE UK CORNER: 'True To The Game' album review by Fiona McKinson.

     *True To The Game Volume 1, the debut CD released from Stadium Entertainment, is a charity compilation featuring 14 new hip-hop and R&B tracks featuring emerging new artists paired with platinum and multi-platinum selling artists notably Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Macy Gray, Mario, T-Pain and others, with a portion of proceeds from the sales going directly to the Kansas City based Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

     Andrew "Rube" Foster founded The Negro National Baseball League in 1920, at a time when black baseball players were not on an equal footing with their white counterparts.

     The League went on to have a pivotal role in the black community outside of sport, stimulating networks in business and entertainment. The legacy comes full circle with artists afforded opportunities by pioneers such as Foster, giving back to the community in a philanthropic venture.

     From the start, the compilation is energy fuelled with Yung Joc offering a finger snap infused dance floor filler in Knock It Out Da Park - one of only three solo joints on the CD.

'True To The Game' CD cover

     Raiyn & Talib Kweli's Flyaway slows down the pace. They allow the listener to be reticent about the cause behind the music. Only a few of the songs directly reference the themes of baseball and the Negro League, most notably Hustle Boyz & Snoop Dogg's Tha Bigg League. Snoop, who has a youth football league, makes several references to black history.

     Beam Me Up featuring T-Pain, Rick Ross and Tay Dizm, takes it back to the dance floor demonstrating the credibility of this album. I was eager to hear the UK's Marsha Ambrosius' (formerly of Floetry) duet with Macy Gray on Still Hurts. Currently blowing up the airwaves, it did not disappoint, only that Ambrosius only took the hook rather than a verse, she left me feenin' for a Floetic reunion!

     Of course, GLC featuring his childhood friend Kanye West on The Big Screen shines with that smooth West magic making you rock! GLC appeared on West's debut and sophomore albums: The College Dropout and Late Registration. GLC and Kanye West were the first artists who agreed to participate in the project. But there are a number of standout tracks including a soulful Sam Christ featuring ever-quirky Big Boi of Outkast on These Past Days - it's worth listening to the lyrics on this one.

     Jarvis & Ludacris' Pretty Girl will be a hit with the ladies. The second half of the album is equally full of delightful surprises for example, Ray J on the hook and bridge of If I Told U. So, indulge your charitable sensibilities in musical style and lookout for the planned 2010 follow-up, True To The Game, Volume 2! ©

Track listing
1. Knock It Out Da' Park - Yung Joc
2. Flyaway - Raiyn and Talib Kweli
3. Beam Me Up - Tay Dizm, T-Pain and Rick Ross
4. Still Hurts - Macy Gray and Marsha Ambrosius
5. The Big Screen - GLC (Gangsta L. Crisis) and Kanye West
6. These Past Days - Sam Chris and Big Boi of OutKast
7. Pretty Girl - Jarvis and Ludacris
8. Make Your Way To The Dance Floor - Ziggy Nina and Chingy
9. Sweetest Taboo - Mikkey Halsted and Klass
10. If I Told U - Porta Prince and Ray J
11. Tha Bigg League - The Hustle Boyz and Snoop Dogg
12. Ghetto Love - Mario
13. Don't Know How 2 Act - DJ Pharris, Shawna, Paul Wall and Lil Scrappy
14. I Don't Wanna - Brandon Hines

Visit: http://www.truetothegamemusic.com

The UK Corner covers urban entertainment from a British perspective and is compiled by Fiona McKinson. She is a freelance journalist and creative writer based in London. Contact her at info@thetalentshow.co.uk.