Aiming for credibility among hardcore hip-hoppers, Delicious Vinyl was careful not to include a lot of pop-influenced material on Tone-Loc’s second album, Cool Hand Loc. But sadly, the inventiveness he displayed on “Wild Thing” continued working against Loc among b-boys and hip-hop’s hardcore, who still resented the success he’d enjoyed in the pop market. Though not quite as strong as the triple platinum Loc-ed After Dark — either commercially or artistically — the album is a respectable and satisfying effort. The former L.A. gang member tends to overdo it with boasting lyrics — a problem he shares with quite a few other rappers — but his boasts are often quite clever. Sadly, Tone-Loc didn’t have much longevity; after Cool Hand Loc, little was heard about him. – Alex Henderson
more »