This Time

In the early '00s, Beanie Sigel was on top of the world. Down with JAŸ-Z's Roc-A-Fella empire at the height of its powers, the Broad Street Bully had two hit albums (<i>The Truth</i> and <i>The Reason</i>), was a budding movie star (<i>Backstage</i>, <i>State Property</i>), and was embraced by both the streets and the critics. He assembled his own Philly-based supercrew (with Freeway, Omilion Sparks, Chris & Neef, and Oschino) and scored a gigantic hit with the anthem "Roc the Mic." Then things began to go sour; a year in prison, ongoing label issues, and various beefs took their toll. Though he kept putting out new material, he never recaptured his early success. In 2011 he announced his retirement—then returned to the game two weeks later. <i>This Time</i> is his sixth solo album, released just before he goes upstate for another prison bid (for tax evasion). Though relatively short at a mere 11 tracks, it's actually some of his best work in years, and his streetwise, amped-up yet world-weary voice still sounds great. "Kush Dreaming," "That's All I Know," "Dangerous," and "The Reunion" (with SP) are highlights.