Obie Trice

Must have been some fire that Obie Trice saved Eminem from. Getting a helping hand from your buddies is one thing, but when your debut solo effort is crammed with a veritable who's who of rap, you must be living right. Trice (who made his name guesting on releases from his Shady Records peers) finally takes the spotlight, and the results are exactly what one expects from hip-hop's Herve Villechaize. Trice's perfunctory mic skills don't merit more than a sidekick role; he lacks 50 Cent's lazy charisma and Em's lyrical prowess. But Trice makes the most of his inside connections and has fun with Cheers. The Eminem-helmed "Got Some Teeth" is propelled by a loopy soundtrack that bounces like a bad check. Em produced about half the album; Dr. Dre, Timbaland and others filled out the remainder. With this kind of assistance, the album's success was preordained. But it won't stand the test of time -- even after a few spins, the monotony starts to creep in. "We All Die One Day" can't be salvaged, even though it features Eminem, 50 Cent and G-Unit's Lloyd Banks. With its ominous production, singsong chorus and lyrics espousing triumph over adversity, it could be any Slim Shady tune issued in the past couple of years. Obie Trice: real name, no gimmick ... and no real talent to speak of, either.