Hip-hop stars usually mess up when they try to veer too far into R&B.  Big Daddy Kane's career was killed by it.  Ja Rule was transformed from superstar to national punchline within weeks because 50 Cent criticized him for his rhythm and blues sensibilities (yet did the same things months after he became a star).  LL Cool J's legend status has been questioned simply for his wish to constantly please the females' ears.  Nelly risks the same thing on this half of his two-album flood, Suit.  He stuffs this side with stars too, but this one comes with more suprises.  Whether they are good are not is up for debate.

Frequent Nelly collaborator the Neptunes help him kickoff this album with their infidelity anthem, "Play It Off".  While the lyrics are almost as asinine as anything he's ever said and the beat very familiar sounding ("Frontin", anyone?), the song becomes catchy after repeated listens (should you get that far).  "Pretty Toes" is one of the best songs Nelly has ever made (the list isn't exactly the longest).  Ignore the lyrics altogether; let Jazze Pha's entrancing beat and voice hypnotize you into thinking Nelly is a good singer/ rapper.  The other first single, "My Place", with it's hook provided by Jaheim, sadly shows how subpar a singer Nelly is.  Jaheim sounds echelons ahead of Cornell in the voice department, and the fact that they're covering a classic Teddy Pendergrass doesn't help.  "Paradise"'s beat is almost good enough to make it a good song, but the story has been done so many times before it's not even possible for it to be enjoyed.  "She Don't Know My Name" connects Nelly with another singer far beyond himself, as Ron Isley and Snoop Dogg guest star.  The annoying beat, done by Outkast's Big Boi, makes this unlistenable, and Snoop phones in another "Beautiful" leftover.  "N Dey Say" may sound very familiar to you; perhaps it's because he pulls a Ghostface and takes an old song and sing/ raps right over it.  The track?  Spandau Ballet's classically corny, yet still classic "True".  "Woodgrain And Leather Wit A Hole" is just utterly bad; it comes complete with an extradorinarily long and stupid intro, coupled with off-key Nelly singing over a weak beat.  "In My Life" is a sappy, corny song.... and it's perfectly syrupy pop. Mase and Avery Storm add some authenticness (Mase? Authentic?  I don't believe it either) and Nelly doesn't even sound bad here.  "Over and Over" is a country song; no ways about it.  Tim McGraw sounds perfectly comfortable because this is his genre, not Nelly's.  This is Nashville music, and that is not a compliment.  "Nobody Knows" is pop puke that wastes Anthony Hamilton, like most of this album does to it's singers.  And "Die For You" is an emotional song in which he talks about his love for his son; it's a sweet song, and a rare good one on this album.  It's also a fitting close to the album which simply lacked class at times.

While the album has more than a few highlights, it's dark moments overpower the good music.  The fact that there are more guest spots then actual Nelly appearances actually helps, as it at times hurt Sweat.  This is a step above Nellyville and Sweat, but besides big Country Grammar fans, people are still waiting for Nelly to make a good album.  But perhaps after two failures released on the same day, are they?

iPod Worthy: "Pretty Toes", "In My Life", "Die for You"

Blehhhhhhhh: "My Place", "N Dey Say", "Over and Over", "She Don't Know My Name"

Overall: 2.5 out of Six Shots