Revved-up races, rumbles, leather-jacketed tough dudes and a few fast women striking encouraging poses from curbside - all visual elements that helped "Biker Boyz" at the box office. Sadly, the audio side of this motorbike experience can't capitalize on these same features.
"Biker Boyz: Music From The Motion Picture" is a mixed bag of rap beats and metal fanfare. The album is top-heavy with fist waving rap/rock collaboration, and then drifts into mellow terrain. There are also a few radio friendly, pop-oriented rap tracks tossed in, and the token slow/love-making jam "Don't Look Down" by David Ryan Harris.
Rap master Redman gets things going with the first single off the album, "Ride." The slow beat is the perfect underscore for this funk doctor's free flowin' rhymes. The track is laden with bass - perfect for guys who want to pimp it on their car stereo.
The Crystal Method collaboration with P.O.D. ultimately sounds like a Limp Bizkit knockoff. However, their electronic remix talents turned "Boom" into the only track worth listening to.
The rock gods of Metallica join hip-hop heads Ja Rule and Swizz Beatz on the dark, heavy tune "We Did It Again," and Papa Roach joins forces with N.E.R.D. for "Don't Look Back," a bouncy rocker with an expansive chorus.
Metallica, Ja Rule, and Swizz Beats unleash the thunderous "We Did It Again," which has Ja screaming and growling like a death metal maniac. It doesn't bode well for any future he might want in death metal, though - the track itself is sludgy and generic.
Mos Def's "Kalifornia" is a five-minute-trip that comes off like a Marvin Gaye inspired slice of progressive scat soul. If any one-track stands out on the album or originality, it is this one with its down tempo, mournful groove.
Mystic ("No Competition") and Non Phixion ("Say Goodbye To Yesterday (Remix)") keep the ante high, while Michelle Ndegeocello's soul ballad "Liliquoi Moon" provides a down tempo vibe.
This soundtrack is all over the map, failing to provide a smooth listening experience. While there are a few choice tracks, the listener needs to reach for the fast-forward button a little more than should be necessary.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
