Z Ro’s latest Power is a collection of work done by the MC sometime before his current bid and after his last one. Not to be mistaken with his last official studio effort I’m Still Livin the king of the ghetto doubles back with this underground gem as an appetizer for his next untitled and probably unworked record due out sometime after the end of this bid.

Z Ro opens up the album with a freestyle warning haters in his normal combative tone on the smoked out “Bud Sack”. Ro sends a clear message to a couple of up and coming H-Town MCs on “I’m A Gangsta” which is a reworked version of some of his previous artistry. Ro then reaffirms his “fuck friends” motto on the harrowing “My Life”. Z Ro is at his best when he sticks to his niche of spitting about real life issues like the ever humbling “Greed”. West coast vet Spice 1 shows up on “Staying Alive” while Z Ro does his best slowed down impression of the Bee Gee’s hit by the same name. Ro gives a shout out to Officer Tony and a special “fuck you” to Lloyd Banks on the laid back “Going Down In The South”. Z Ro puts in his best production work on the album on the Duke and Point Blank assisted “Nigga Like Me”. Ro reaffirms his view of “fuck friends” on his own rendition of Whoodini’s hit “Friends”. Spice 1 shows up again alongside Pimp C on the antagonizing “Murder Ra”. “M-16” is a remake of the track by the same title featured on his last release I’m Still Livin. Ro closes out the album on a strong note with one last brutal warning on “No Games”.

Z Ro’s latest Power is not to be mistaken for an actual studio release as most of it is either old throwaways or leftovers from his three previous releases on Rap-A-Lot. Z Ro proves a point by self producing every track on this collection which turns out to be a gift and a curse. His production skills are still in there toddler stages which in the long run can only grow stronger. Thanks to Ro being Ro the mainstream mixtape turns out to be a pleasant surprise from far out in left field. Hopefully Mr. McVay can get out, drop an album full of built up raw emotion, and stay out when his current bid is up in 2000-anytime!

VERDICT – 13 / 20
LYRICS: 4
PRODUCTION: 3
DELIVERY: 3
CONSISTENCY: 3