After becoming the mot successful rap group to come out of the state of Kentucky with their first two nationally successful albums Watermelon, Chicken, and Gritz and Wooden Leather Nappy Roots all but disappeared from the scene for the better part of a half-decade. With those five years behind them, one less group member, and a brand new label deal Ron Clutch, Big V, Scales, B. Stille, and Skinny Deville are back to represent for the bluegrass state with their latest effort The Humdinger.

On the opening "Beads & Braids" the Nappy boys profess their independence as well as their affiliation to one another over a country-twanged backdrop courtesy of Sol Messiah. The album’s first single "Good Day" features a wealth of Kentucky specific terminologies that most outside of the state won’t be able to grasp. The Anthony Hamilton assisted "Down N Out" personifies the group’s ability to vividly paint the portrait of all individuals who are suffering through the current state of the economy and these high ass gas prices. The laid back "Tinted Up" serves as the group’s ode to the nationally recognized whip game.

Producer Sol Messiah returns with another guitar laden favorite with the spacey and breezy feeling "Kalifornia Dreamin." When I was at the album release party I figured that "No Static" was a tribute to Kentucky’s late great golden child Static Major but as listen to the album I’m not so sure that’s the case. Maybe it is; apparently I don’t know how to interpret songs on albums because I don’t listen to entire albums and because in somebody’s hood Rocko is the shit. Funny! "Don’t Stop" turns out to be another white sand smooth ode to the nationally recognized whip game. At least that’s how I interpreted it.

To put it plain and simple The Humdinger doesn’t hold the luster that Nappy Root’s past albums held but it will still be at least a regional force to be reckoned with. The group seemed to keep the music naturally Kentucky which is always a good thing but throughout the collection the high impact flare of past tracks such as "Aw Naw," "Po Folks," or "Nappy Roots Day" is definitely a major missing element. Nonetheless the Nappy Roots fellows do what they do best in vividly illustrating life within Kentucky yet outside of Louisville.