Begining with Ice-T's effort, "New Jack Hustler," the listener immediately gets drawn into this gem of an album. "New Jack Hustler" ranks right up there as one of the greatest as well as underrated rap songs of the 1990's. It has a thumping beat, infectious samples and lyrics that are both angst-ridden and prescient.

The rest of the album is extremely solid and does not bear the burdens of being dated. The medley, "For the Love of Money/Living for the City" is a true diamond in the rough on this album. The song features incredible harmony by Troop as well as an inspired rap by Queen Latifah.

The song 'Lyrics 2 the Rhythm" is a bit mediocre and 2 Live Crew's effort, "In the Dust" is not very good as it detracts from the rest of the album.

Though the movie did not endure (as it was not all that good), the soundtrack is quite outstanding and can be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

as you all remember, new jack city never climbed the box-office charts, but the soundtrack was a rare gem in new jack swing's catalog. Recorded in '91 (when new jack swing was on the downslope), brief moments of revival sprung up with the release of this album. It had arguably the best lineup of artists for a soundtrack of all time. starting with the most controversial rapper of the day, ice-t, and his now classic gem "new jack hustler", the tone of the album right off the bat is hardcore, brash, in-your-face kinda feel. Things get pumpin fast with the next track, a then relatively unknown crooner chris williams and his breathtaking "i'm dreaming". its uptempo beat and melodic chorus makes you want to get up and dance. Keeping with the uptempo feel, Guy enters the next track with "new jack city". Not really a classic guy track, but still an enjoyable listen and quite a rhythm and get on the floor too. Things get slowed down a bit with johnny gill's always refreshing vocals with "i'm still waiting". He sounds as rich as ever, and is complimented with such a memorable hook. Keeping it slowed, keith sweat (a new jack legend already at this point), expands on the balladry for the album. An enjoyable listen, but not as classic as I'll give all my love to you". Next is an unknown artist by the name of danny madden. as far as i know, he has never recorded another track, much less an album. He should have tho, as he sounds just as convincing and pleasant as the heavyweight balladeers of the day. Next is my favorite track, for the love of money. Featuring an all-star cast of troop, queen latifah, and levert, this track should have shot up the charts. Troop/levert's sweet harmony and latifah's spontaneous rhymes compliment each other like peanut butter and jelly. The following track had originally been a "pop" track on their album but for the soundtrack, it was remixed into a "new jack" song and what a difference production made. Color me Badd's "i wanna sex you up" shot up the charts in a hurry, claiming the #1 for R&b. it was the most successful single off the album, and that says a lot, especially with industry heavyweights at the helm. rounding out the album is essence, f.s. effect and 2 live crew, all rap acts to give new jack city a truly "new jack" rhythm. essence does pretty well with the task, although the rhymes, at times, are a little spotty. the chorus, however, is catchy and rhythmic, making it the follow-up track to C.M.B. enjoyable. f.s. effect returns to the hardcore, brash feel ice-t introduced us too. they excel at it as well, making you come into their world and feel the rage. and then we visit 2 live crew. sad to say, but "in the dust" was a rather dissappointing listen. the rhymes are generic and spotty, the production is bland, and it just sounds uninteresting. if there was a sore thumb, it would have to be 2 live crew, which is sad because of their unherald success, especially being given the honor of performing the last track to an already stellar album. All in all, if you are even the casualest of new jack fans, new jack city soundtrack is a must-have. first-rate new jack r&b/rap that will forever be a distinctive chapter in new jack swing.

In 1991, you make a soundtrack with names like Johnny Gill, Color Me Badd, Keith Sweat, Guy, Ice-T, and 2 Live Crew its going to attract mainstream audience's. Its a really good cross-section of Rap, house, and R&B styles (New Jack Swing Era) in keeping with the attitude of the flick. The album kicks off right with a visceral cry of urban-poor rage, Ice-T's "New Jack Hustler," (also a perceptive linkage between the United States' capitalist, materialist values and the drug-pushing, murder, and gang warfare that runs rampant in its inner cities), and the one album wonder's F.S. Effect convey the same type of energy with "Get It Together (Black Is A Force)." Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill provide two of the finest numbers on this collection; Gill's "I'm Still Waiting," is one of the more popular songs the one time New Edition member recorded, and Sweat's "(There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again," is one of the better New Jack Ballads of the early '90s. While Guy's "New Jack City," and Troop's cover of the O'Jays' "For The Love Of Money," titled "For the Love of Money/Living for the City," are the albums better New Jack Swing moments; Aaron Hall's vocals are in prime form, sounding dope. Uptown vocalist Christopher Williams contributes a well put together (vocally) song, "I'm Dreaming," and the soundtrack also contains Color Me Badd's huge mid-tempo hit "I Wanna Sex You Up." The disappointment in the rap area is "In The Dust," from 2 Live Crew, seems to be the soundtrack's throwaway, but the very underrated Danny Madden's "Facts Of Life," (heavily influenced by the ojays) derserved more attention, because he wasn't a Guy or Babyface clone. Essence, A Dutch group that sounds exactly/shockingly like The Cure, also contributes to the soundtrack with "Lyrics 2 the Rhythm."