The idea of a new album from Heavy D would most likely greet most hip hop fans with a hint of trepidation. Sure, this is the Overweight Lover, who graced us with "Mr. Big Stuff," "Nuttin But Love," "Black Coffee," "Ain't' Heard Nuttin' Yet" and "We Got Our Own Thing." He also, alas, fell off mightily on the post-Boyz Waterbed Hev, which featured Heavy using Li'l Kim's style and sans the touch of the wonderful Eddie F. It was more painful because Hev helped found the player-draped -in-jewels rap style in those wide eyed glory days of the early 90s, upon which Kim, Jigga and a host of others have built their fortunes. Heavy also lost a step when his sidekick Trouble T-Roy perished in an accident, and another when hip hop groupie and alleged journalist dream hampton played kickball with his emotions. Not to mention losing the presidency of Uptown Records when Universal told him they didn't care whether he did the prez gig as long as he had another album in him, recording and politicking in tandem. Overall, the music has suffered, once imaginative and trend setting turned derivative and downright annoying on the last album. The idea of another collection of halfassed tunes by a washed up MC of the glory days would make a true head shiver back to the Kangol still hanging in their closet.

Has Heavy D made a Slick Rick like comeback from the depths of his personal hell? Somewhat. His sixth album, simply titled Heavy is a mixed bag, with some really enjoyable if not groundbreaking moments and some sure-fire yawns. The best song, "Like Dat Dhere," is a playful romp over a delicate beat that's midtempo and perfect for getting a smoothe groove on in your club of choice. "Dancin' In The Night" is a surprise, a purely sung and poignant moment that your boys will clown you for, but will secretly sing the words to in the shower. "On Point," featuring Big Pun and Eightball, must have broken some municipal law for too many pounds in one studio, but the result is solid and enjoyable, and the Chico DeBarge guest shot on "Ask Heaven" calls out the spirit of Tupac with none of the fire, and hence, none of the danger, for a mellow meditation.

But what happened on "Listen?" Q-Tip and Hev plop down another case for early hip hop retirement on a track and song that literally do next to nothing. "You Nasty, Hev?" Was this reject remixed from the first album, Livin' Large and never freshened up? Why do the Mount Vernon MCs (oh, you forgot Hev got Puffy into the industry?) feel the need to do sappy Latin tinged love rap songs like "Spanish Fly," which is supposed to appeal to the girls but ends up appealing to Pepto Bismol. Do east coast Latinas really go for this stuff? One shudders.

Most alarming is how Heavy's influence changed the Dirty South's hip hop choir boy Cee-Lo into a player trawling for prey in the club on "You Know." Very odd, and while a great track with solid sonic qualities ... it's just weird!

This is, however, geometrically better than the drivel of the last album and has at least four solid cuts -- in today's market, that's a great album, so worth the money. Heavy seems to be recovering from the anguished past he has led, and hopefully this signals a return to some seriously fun music from the big man -- not that we don't like the hard core edge of a "You Can't See What I Can See" or the dancehall feel of his Caribbean connections. Overall, Heavy is worth its weight at the checkout stands, and a solid signal of better music to come.