GET IT HOW U LIVE

Hot Boys: Juvenile, B.G., Lil' Wayne, Young Turk (rap vocals). Additional personnel: Big Tymers, Bun B (rap vocals); Mannie Fresh (guitar, keyboards); Ry "Meat Beaters" Corey (scratches). Personnel: Mannie Fresh (guitar, keyboards). Audio Mixer: Mannie Fresh. Recording information: Cash Money Studios. Unknown Contributor Roles: Joe K.C. Collins; Michael Williams; Rufus Thomas. Despite containing little else but typical gangsta fare, Get It How U Live! managed to parlay the four Hot Boys' catchy, varied styles into an amusing, if incorrigible, collection of hardcore rap. The production skills of multi-instrumentalist Mannie Fresh were as responsible for the album's success as were the rappers. Fresh's diverse enjoyable rhythm tracks were virtually unique in '90s-era rap in that they contained no samples or interpolations. Though ultimately lacking substance, the Hot Boys' tales will please fans of well-done gangsta rap. [A bonus track version was also released.] ~ Mtume Salaam

• Genre: Pop
• Format: CD
• Released: 6/29/1999