Record Rack

*** Fredro Starr, “Firestarr,” In the Paint/KOCH. This member of the rowdy rap group Onyx maintains his signature sound throughout much of his fiery debut album. The New Yorker’s intense collaborations with Capone-N-Noreaga, the Outlawz and others will thrill hard-core hip-hop fans, while his reflection on pop-culture events on “What If” may fuel many a conversation between music and sports aficionados. The rapper (who also appears in “Save the Last Dance”) demonstrates that he can shine on his own.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.