Joe's status as a larger (not just literally) profile emcee after the emergence of Latino rappers as a viable force in hip hop has led to the many high profile guest appearances that wouldn't have been likely a few years back. Big Pun and now Fat Joe are kicking down doors on the way to getting more commercial acceptance of Latinos in this game. We have people like the Beatnuts, but they never get the recognition they deserve. Hopefully the sitution is changing now.

There are many collaborations, with only two tracks being solo joints. Most of the album is nice, but the obvious commercial tracks don't fit in too well. The Buckwild-produced "Walk On By" featuring R&B vocals and Charli Baltimore is an example. This is so obviously made for the radio, and with the player talk, and Charli Baltimore's poor parting shot, "screaming Charli Baltimore in Spanish" is lazy writing or just plain weak. This type of song has been done better before. Just check "Bet Ya Man Can't (Triz)" which is superior, but sounds similar to Pun's "Still Not A Player", indeed, even featuring the big man on the hook!

The single, "Don Cartagena", has a harder edge to it, but a commercial appeal with Puffy on the hook trying to woo the Latino quarters with his Spanish. Hmmmmm.... "John Blaze" is an all-star team up featuring Nas, Big Pun, Jadakiss and Raekwon with a Method Man vocal sample all cut up on the hook, allowing each rhymer to come in and freak it.

The Beatnuts appear to produce "Misery Needs Company" with Noreaga guesting for a nice dark sound that is found throughout the album on songs such as "Find Out" and "The Hidden Hand" which is a well-intentioned, if over-used, narrative of unequal rights and injustices. The opening track, "The Crack Attack", is cool, as is the Big Punisher-featuring "My World" and "Terror Squadians".

The whole album features a whole host of producers, some with big reputations and others still making them. Armageddon returns to produce and guest on the nice "My Prerogative", but Rashad Smith producing a laid back track for Layzie and Krayzie Bones to freak "Good Times" just doesn't work, and sounds weak.