REVIEW: Soundtrack, Hoodlum (Loud/Interscope)

- Lang Whitaker

Now that just about every soundtrack compilation ever has been recorded, it's become interesting to see what will turn up on the new releases. Hoodlum, a movie about a "ruthless 1930's Harlem numbers racket kingpin" does the Harlem shuffle to several acts and churns out a combination of R&B, rap, and big band that is oddly satisfying.

Several tracks stand out. The Wu-Tang Clan weighs in with "Dirty the Moocher", a song pitting Ol' Dirty Bastard as the infamous moocher from the Cab Calloway standard. ODB handles the entire song by himself, until the very end when Dirty sings the "Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-hi" part to the Clan, and they holler it back. There are also several samples from the original Calloway tune included. Maybe the Wu guys took the album title a little too seriously last week, and that's why they reportedly kung-fu kicked their publicist. L.V. was last spotted helping Coolio try and convince Michelle Pfieffer to let them out of detention, singing the hook in "Gangsta's Paradise". He now turns up on "Basin Street Blues", a straight big band number featuring the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. L.V. more than holds his own as a vocal stylist, confidently blasting through the song.

Newcomer Davina teams up with the Wu-Tang's Chef Raekwon on "so Good", a hot-and-bothered lovers tune that is rising up the Billboard singles chart. Puffy Combs, 112, and Faith Evans contribute "I Can't Believe". I couldn't believe that Puffy had finally recorded a song that wasn't capitalizing on the Notorious B.I.G.'s death.

Erykah Badu channels Ella Fitzgerald on "Certainly", and Tony Rich turns in an equally soulful original called "Harlem is Home". Chico DeBarge emerges from his career drought with "No Guarantee", which was co-produced by brother El ("Who's Johnny?"- I used to love that song) Debarge.

If you're a Wu-Tang fan, this album is worth getting just to hear "Dirty The Moocher". If you're a music fan that likes to take occasional trips to places you've never been before, give the Hoodlum soundtrack a shot.