No Limit's answer to Scottie Pippen, Silkk the Shocker, has become not only the label's #2 man in business but a hell of an artist in the meantime. Somehow, Silkk snuck around while nobody was watching and developed a few styles (a fascinating rushed style that confuses and only shows itself at the end like a drunken master, as well as a party song style in his more popular hits and a slower, thoughtful style that you can truly dissect) to keep you trippin and managed to get some of the best production Beats By The Pound has done in years as well. Made Man, the sophomore solo album from this prolific lyricist, is not even fairly called a "gangsta rap" album, as he only refers to violence and drugs in the most parenthetical fashions.

When you hear the beatbox track of "It's All Because Of You" with Mia X, or the fun bounce of "It Ain't My Fault II" with Mystikal, you'll shake your head and wonder if you put the right CD in. Innovative production? Well crafted lyrics? On a No Limit album? The same label that had, what, seventeen billion completely different albums last year? Who knew? Now well established with money and security, the label you never predicted is beginning to make some fine art as well.

Sticking with the formula of success No Limit grew up on, this album is riddled with guest appearances like Bonnie & Clyde's car was with bullet holes. Jay-Z, Master P, Mia X, Mystikal, Mya, O'Dell, Sons of Funk, Fiend, C-Murder, Snoop Dogg ... a whole season of Love Boat has fewer guest stars than this. They all sound coherent in the frantic, passionate "bout it" way of this rhyme collective, and in some places really bang. "End of The Road" is a tender farewell to loss and pain, over pianos reminiscent of Heavy D's "Don't You Know" from Hev's first album, with solemn vocals that push all the right buttons. "All Because Of You" borrows the Slick Rick phrasing of the soul classic in a song any old school head can appreciate with spit-laden beats and subtle keyboard stabs. Snoop finally sounds comfortable when he joins Silkk on "Get It Up," a playful, laid back duet that gives you what you want.

With 18 songs and 2 interludes, only perhaps two songs could be cut to make this album solid from start to finish, and those go by so fast they're barely worth mentioning. Silkk has shocked, all right, making a thoroughly enjoyable hip hop album with close to honorable morals in a way that's almost clean in a day and age of factory-homogenous beats and repetitive lyrics. Again, who knew? And really, who cares -- keep doing it Silkk, and we'll keep bouncin' with you!