Slaughterhouse SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Audio Mixers: Arnold Mischkulnig; Doug Wilson; Jason Schweitzer.
Photographer: Chad Griffith.
Something of a halfway house for label-troubled rappers, Slaughterhouse brings together four rappers who have been often caught up in red tape. The slick 2009 debut is ample reminder of the deep talents of Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9", Crooked I, and Joell Ortiz (particularly the uniquely drawling Budden). The lines are occasionally silly, but more often they are clever and ear-popping, and they're almost always provocative. Plus, despite the many chefs, the four egos play off each other almost flawlessly. SLAUGHTERHOUSE both stands as a solid record in its own right and a good omen for its four members.

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B