Ruck otherwise known as Sean Price from the duo Heltah Skeltah has a more than decade long rap sheet in the game. From being within a small group of east coast artist who actually got a positive shout out from Pac on All Eyez On Me to his infamous involvement in his group’s debut album Nocturnal a little later in 1996 Sean Price has been there, done this, and seen that. Wait just a second… you might just say to yourself because since the turn of the century you probably haven’t heard much if anything from Ruck a/k/a Sean Price. Through a tough battle with alcoholism, heavy drug abuse, and just a regular nine to five it the literal and lyrical beast returns with the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2005 solo debut Monkey Barz.

10 For Triad kicks production off on the album opener “Like You” where Ruck humbly spits “Wu Tang Clan aint nothing to fuck with/ Duck Down Click aint nothin to Wu Tang”. North Carolina producer 9th Wonder makes his deep basslines breath as Ruck painfully inflicts “you supposed to lie to the cops and tell the truth in the booth/ except you tell the truth to the cops and lie in the booth” and playfully asserts “R. Kelly your verse when I piss on your 16” on “P-Body”. ILLMIND’s rambunctious production on “Cardiac” makes the track turn out to be a massive heart attack for your ear. “I remember when DJs would check for a record/ now these niggas want a check for a record” complains Ruck on the Khrysis produced “Stop”.

9th Wonder shows up once again to lace the humbling backdrop for “Violent”. Ruck’s lyrical significant other, Rock shows up again on the album’s tightest produced gem “Church”. The track listing may deceive your eyes as the hook on “Church” is “oops upside your head” which just happens to be to be the title of the preceding song. Khrysis proves to be the album’s most consistent producer but it’s his brilliant use of strings on “One” that makes him the premier beatsmith. On “Director’s Cut” Ruck turns in a disappointing performance because he takes too long of a  pause after every two or four bars. Phonte and 9th Wonder both contribute a little Little Brother essence on “Let It Be Known”. Sean Price saves most of himself for the end as he details the stresses that come along with being a broke mediocre rapper on the very introspective closing effort “Mess You Made”.

At times Jesus Price Superstar can be dull and boring, mainly due to its predictable production, but the biggest letdown of the album is the lack of quantity, clocking in at just over 47 minutes distributed amongst 16 tracks. Sean Price is able to keep the listener guessing as he spits very simple yet over the top one liners all the way through the album. With two appearances from his old rhyme partner Rock on this album Heltah Skeltah fans will be salivating at the mouth for the should be soon coming reunion tour.

VERDICT – 14 / 20
LYRICS: 4
PRODUCTION: 3
DELIVERY: 4
CONSISTENCY: 3