Return of the Bumpasaurus

Having been quite visible in the R&B and pop markets thanks to such hits as "Baby Got Back," "Beepers" and the erotic "Put Em on the Glass," Sir Mix-A-Lot had his share of detractors in hardcore rap circles -- which can be every bit as rigid and dogmatic as jazz purism. The Seattleite gives his detractors a vehement tongue-lashing on his fifth album, Return of the Bumpasaurus, which is essentially a fun and escapist party album despite all the anger it expresses. True to form, the distinctive Mix effectively combines the hard-hitting, the gritty and the intense with healthy pop quirkiness. Once again, he makes a mistake by not including more social or political commentary -- one of his strong points. But when it comes to party songs, he still delivers the goods.