3 out of 5 Stars

Redman doesn’t quite deliver on his latest effort, Red Gone Wild. As a whole it is rather mundane, lacking memorable beats, lyrics and anything else. It isn’t bad. It just isn’t really good either. The problem is that there’s nothing to grab the listener’s attention.

“It’s about to go down!” Those words begin Young Buck’s sophomore effort, Buck the World, and he couldn’t have been more accurate. For the next seventy minutes, G-Unit’s Dirty South ambassador launches a high intensity lyrical assault, which begs the question, “Who is the G-Unit general?”

Ludacris and DJ Green Lantern, two of hip hop’s most notable artists, team up to produce The Truth Shall Set You Free. Unfortunately, The Truth is that this collaboration is not what it could have been. The album is saved, however, by the unmistakable voice and rhythm of rapper Ludacris with the production work of DJ Green Lantern, commonly referred to as The Evil Genius.

On his fifth effort since signing with Def Jam in 2000, Ludacris spits nothing but heat. Release Therapy comes equipped with the same quality that hip hop fans have come to expect from one of ATL’s most recognizable MCs. Luda keeps listeners on their toes, seamlessly moving from rapid fire, to a slow flow — all in the same phrase. And the entire album is filled to the brim with witty metaphors: “catch me on more 24s than Kiefer Sutherland” and, “ I stay in heavy rotation like a washing machine.”

The Johnson Museum ushered in the Year of the Pig with a most extravagant affair last Saturday. From the Buddhist blessing recited by monks from the Namgyal Monastery, to The Story of Ong Tao performed by the Cornell Vietnamese Association, the afternoon was rich with Asian culture and history.

With food and drink aplenty, art lovers from all walks of life gathered in the lobby of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art for the Opening Reception for Winter Exhibitions this past Friday.

Anticipation built as hungry minds craved the start of the festivities. Then, with a subtle, yet strong explosion of sound from the Molly MacMillan Trio, the night was off and running. Some art aficionados remained in the main lobby, where large hair screens full of Chinese characters watched over the extravagant affair. Visitors munched on delicious snacks, ranging from quesadillas to cheese and crackers, and enjoyed a variety of beverages. Others meandered from room to room, drinking in the newest work to grace the museum walls. With six new exhibits being shown, and painter Jim Hardesty giving a brush painting presentation on the top floor there was enough art to satisfy even the most insatiable connoisseur.

Continuing their shift toward more electronic based music, Georgia’s Of Montreal, cooks up a wild mix of instruments and sounds in their latest effort, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? Their newest album is an impressive assemblage of genres including rock, techno, hip hop, and funk.