CD Reviews

Reyes Brothers

Ghetto Therapy | Lightyears

By MATTHEW GASTEIER | December 4, 2006

2.0 Stars

Mellow Man Ace, who had the first hit Latin hip-hop single in 1989 (“Mentirosa”), and Sen Dog, of the seminal group Cypress Hill, are actual brothers. They’re also hovering around 40, and even if their music never addresses this anomaly in the hip-hop world, their tired insistence on sticking with the West Coast’s gun-busting, weed-smoking clichés is predictable. What’s surprising is how poorly their guest stars perform, from Snoop Dogg sounding about as excited as he did on that AOL commercial to DJ Muggs providing a beat that echoes Ghostface’s “Saturday Nite.” But it’s hard not to feel bad for Ghetto Therapy, delayed as it was through the summer, released after Ludacris had already gone through Release Therapy, and now desperately trying to regain past East LA glory. And that’s about when “If I Die” starts to seem like a real head nodder and “H.A.R.D.” proves G-Funk doesn’t have to sound tired. Even when they’re past their prime, legends still get it right once in a while.

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