The invasion from the City of Champs continues to produce music to keep your car bumpin and you head noddin. The platinum beachhead established by Mack 10 was followed up by solid sales from AllFrumTha I is now followed up by the Inglewood trio called the Road Dawgs on their debut album, Don't Be Saprize. With the goal of bicoastal domination through their Double I connection (Illtown-Inglewood, a musical "gang" that includes Mack 10's Hoo Bangin' stable and Naughty's Dirty Jerz peoples), an album that shows some solid musicianship plus industry cred that would surprise many if they thought these were some kids fresh out the 'wood.

Check the steez, though -- guest appearances by Mack 10, MC Eiht, CJ Mac, Kay Gee from Naughty, Ms. Toi from Militia, Ice Cube, Coffy Brown, and more. Not to mention past appearances on Naughty's Poverty's Paradise, Rotten Razkals' Rotten Ta Da Core, AllFrumTha I's debut, Mack 10's The Recipe, and the soundtracks for Caught Up, The Substitute and I Got The Hook Up. Not the rookies one might believe, hence the title of the album.

The album is a steady groove with something for most hip hop heads. After a slow start, the order of the album is effective, each song better than the last. Gangster minded ballers in the west and the east will quickly adopt the lead single "Bouncin" (which has a strange resemblance to Bad Azz's single) and "Gangbang Shit" as anthems to lean out of lowriders by. More straight up heads will be feeling Kay-Gee produced "Break Yourself," with the kind of pianos that producer was once known for, and the live bass and smooth melodies of "Qrown Me." "Bonafide" and "Murderfest 99" give the same kind of east-coast gangster feel that conjures up images of MPVs instead of Impalas.

The three voices of the group are distinctive -- BR the Swamp Rat emanates a Method-like charisma, while laid back Brooklyn bred Boobie is closest to the stereotypical west coast MC in his slang. Gangsta Luv features a quicker paced delivery that marks him as probably the best technical MC of the trio, and often with the most intricate concepts. Each one shines in different parts of the album, making something that one may have thought was an extinct concept -- an enjoyable gangster rap album.