Barber Shop 2:
Back In Business - Soundtrack

Release Date: 3 February 2004

Reviewed By: Keya Modessa

1. Not Today - feat. Mary J Blige, Eve

2. I Can't Wait - feat Sleepy Brown, Outkast

3. Fallen - feat. Mya, Chingy

4. Pussy - The Clipse

5. Never - feat. Keyshia Cole, Eve

6. Unconditionally - G-Unit

7. All - Olivia

8. Things Come And Go - Mya, Sean Paul

9. Wanna B Where U R - Floetry, Mos Def

10. Barbershop - D-12

11. One Of Ours - Mobb Deep

12. Private Party - Olivia

13. On The Weekend - Morgan Smith, 3LW

14. Make It Home - Spitfiya, Anthony Hamilton

15. Your Precious Love - Avant, Keke, Wyatt

Twista - Kamikaze
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'Barbershop 2 - Back In Business', brings back the winning formula, that took the skills of wielding scissors and electric razors to the big screen.

The soundtrack delivers a mixed variation of current and mainstream hip-hop's styles, infused with R&B. It rises above it predecessor, as it is decidedly more up-tempo and stacked with a mixture of musical elements taken from a wide variety of urban styles.

As well as featuring brand new tracks from artists like D-12 (delivering the title track - Barbershop) and G-Unit (Unconditionally), the album also includes an exclusive track by Sleepy Brown (I can’t wait). Sleepy, may better be remembered from the Atlanta based group, The Dungeon Family, who had their humble beginning in the early 90’s.

The album never settles in one place or restricts itself. Instead, it is a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, lefts and rights; something which has obviously been played up following the release of the original soundtrack two years ago which was a little bit thin on the hip hop.

Eve, who reprises her role as Terri Jones, appears on two of the soundtrack's cuts. She features with the Queen of RnB, Mary J Blige, on the track, 'Not Today', as well as on the remake of Luther Vandross', 'Never' by Keyshia Cole.

Mya teams up with St. Louis hype man Chingy delivering an energizing remix of her number, 'Fallen', which once again clusters sweet RnB with spontaneous deep-based hip hop beats. She later features alongside Sean Paul as an encore in, 'Things Come & Go' which bring out a flavour in Mya not seen quite so often.

Tracks, which I personally feel and which have to be given props are 'All' and 'Private Party' both sung by New Yorker, Olivia. Now the girl must hold some talent because she and Mya are the only artists who feature twice on the album. Her first offering taken from the album has her singing over a Lil' Jon beat from Damn by the Youngbloodz.

Other acts that feature on the soundtrack include the outstanding UK group, Floetry, Spitfiya and Anthony Hamilton, all of whom bring some unconventional, rough edged, RnB to the album, which is always fresh to listen out for.

The album culminates to a slightly smoothed out vibe - nothing too heavy and thankfully nothing too sugary either, which really sums up the album.

Rating 3/5

Favourite tracks

3. Fallen
12. Private Party
14. Make It Home

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