Welcome To The Zoo

Welcome to the Zoo is the debut album of Gorilla Zoe, an Atlanta rapper in the mold of Young Jeezy, whom he replaced in the Bad Boy group Boyz N da Hood. It’s a well-produced album featuring a few appearances by fellow group members Jody Breeze and Big Gee, along with Bad Boy hotshot Yung Joc (on “Take Your Shoes Off” and “Juice Box”). Gorilla Zoe’s best attribute is his resemblance to Jeezy: both Atlantans have raspy voices, slow flows, simple rhymes, and a shameless obsession with the illegal drug trade, in particular cocaine. Welcome to the Zoo’s lead single, “Hood Nigga,” is characteristic of the album, in terms of production and subject matter if not catchiness. – Jason Birchmeier