Writing this review has got me especially misty-eyed today, reflecting on my frustrated, perma-stoned youth in the suburban midwest (also someone just played Chingy “One Call Away” in the office). In New York, most people only know Twista as the fast guy who rapped on Kanye’s “Slow Jamz,” but in the midwest in the late 90’s, Twista was god. His breakout third album, and first with The Legendary Traxster behind the boards defined the original hip-hop sound of Chicago, alongside Do Or Die’s Picture This. While Twista’s previous efforts (as Tung Twista) sound sorta like Eazy-E high on speed & locked in the booth with a DJ Premier beat tape, Adrenaline Rush introduced a new sound that was tailor-made for Twista; a regional take on west-coast G-funk that slowed down the tempo to accommodate even more of his rapid-fire bars. Traxster’s portamento sine lead-laced beats soundtracked thousands of hotboxed Mitsubishi Eclipses in the suburbs of Chicago, St. Louis and Ohio in the late 90s. The title track is still perhaps Twista’s best-known song, a meanmuggers’ anthem featuring fellow Chicagoan Yung Buk aka Psychodrama that is a guaranteed fight in the club every time (amazingly, Traxster made this beat in 20 minutes). “Overdose,” “Unsolved Mysteries” and “Death Before Dishonor” are on the same tip, but Adrenaline Rush isn’t all weed-infused paranoid rage; check  Twista in late night creep mode on “Get It Wet,” “Emotions” and the excellent “It Feels So Good”; or the hilarious “Get Her In The Mood” skit for an example of some of Twista’s other…. um… skills. 13 uncensored tracks on double vinyl in original sleeve with printed insert; this 20th anniversary repress comes right on time as original copies are currently changing hands for three figures. Recommended.

• 20th anniversary repress
• double vinyl pressing
• printed insert with extensive liner notes
• music label: Atlantic 1997 / 2017

reviewed by Legit Baller 06/2017