Nappy Roots

"If it’s crunk, don’t fix it” appears to be the guiding ethos behind Wooden Leather, the latest effort from Kentucky-fried rappers Nappy Roots. The sextet sticks to the tried-and-true formula of bouncy beats, Southern drawl, and party vibe that constituted its immensely popular major label debut, Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz. The disc begins appropriately with the fat thump of "Good God Almighty,” followed closely by first single "Roun’ the Globe,” a testament to the universality of human experience. Along the way, Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton add soulful crooning to "Leave this Morning” and "Push On” respectively, while crunk king Lil’ Jon crashes the party during "What Cha Gonna Do? (The Anthem),” destined to be a boon to car audio repairmen everywhere. A fun ride that gives weight to the group’s declaration, "the whole damn world is country.”