A king lives to reign. But what when he dies? There’s gotta be someone to reign after him. The Young Gunz, Chris and Neef, might be the guys who lead the Roc-A-Fella in the next decade – after Jay-Z’s retirement. “Tough Luv”, their debut, proves lyrical ability and everything else to be one of the respected groups in this game.

What is a Roc-A-Fella record? At least three typical things:

1. A mostly trumpet-laced intro that sounds like the hymn of an emperor. The Young Gunz’ “Future of the Roc” is nothing else there, a production by Bink! ma kes you turn the volume in your car up!
2. At least one single that’s able to get some (and I mean a lot of) airplay without sounding too cheap. “Friday Night” already did that – Just Blaze, who’s proven his capability to bring the heat to the clubs, made that one, and it’s already been on the charts and in the clubs and everywhere else. We’ve got some other joints here aspiring for radio time and dancing people, for example the “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” Remix with Chingy. “Tough Luv” definitely features enough of those tracks to get the ladies and the clubbers – and make numbers.
3. Some non-chart stuff that makes people listen and actually makes people give you props as a real MC, not just as a chart-clown. Despite of their name and their young age, Chris and Neef prove on this album that they actually do have stuff to talk about – peep the once again Just Blaze-produced “Tough Luv” feat. Denim or “North of Death”. Not that they would come that deeply on all of the tracks though, the aforementioned “Tough Luv” is first and foremost a representer, but still, the Young Gunz show that they’ve got topics besides girls and all the rest – “Never Take Me Alive” feat. Jay-Z is another example.
4. Now this point might be included in #1 to #3, but it’s still worth a separate mention: The Roc has tight music, great producers and actually entertaining (!!!), not-boring albums! “Tough Luv” has a line, a certain red cord, but doesn’t the same all over! Yet, the record stays vivid and fresh.

And that’s it. Another album that you better listen to, ‘cause it’s far from that allday everyday garbage they want you to buy nowadays. Chris and Neef is worth listening, and also worth buying.