By the time
Lighter Shade of Brown released their eponymous album in late 1997, they had run out of momentum and their music no longer had the freshness that it did on Brown & Proud. That said, the group was still capable of cutting some supremely engaging fusions of Latin rhythms and hip-hop, and there are a few tracks on the album -- including the
Rappin' 4-Tay duet "World Famous" -- that kick like their old stuff, and that's what makes Lighter Shade of Brown worthwhile for long-time followers. ~ Leo Stanley