Coming off more like a veteran than his scant discography might suggest, Los Angeles-based rapper
Glasses Malone makes his proper debut with
Beach Cruiser, an album promised for 2007 and delivered in 2011. The delay was due to label problems according to
Mr. Malone, and as such, there’s a strange hodgepodge of logos on the back with Cash Money and Suburban Noize rubbing shoulders, but this is a worthy West Coast banger from end to end and much more coherent than expected. Names like
Snoop Dogg and
Mack 10 are here because of
Malone’s traditional G-funk style, while
Birdman and
Rick Ross find a home thanks to their host’s convincing pimp hand.
Akon and
T-Pain’s presences certify that this man is radio-worthy when he wants to be, and still, a highlight track with
Jay Rock proves he can hang with the new breed, like
Tech N9ne and such. Thanks to the large, powerful guest list,
Malone’s personality falls to the back at times, and his gruff
Plies-meets-
David Banner style certainly deserves more exploration. Still, his transfer from myth to man is hardly a letdown, and anyone with some
Kurupt or
Tha Dogg Pound in their collections will find his Left Coast grind satisfying and familiar. ~ David Jeffries