What the world needs now is The Fix--a brilliant hip-hop album with the soul of a blues record. Dirty South iconoclast Scarface has never been afraid to get deep; at this point a lot of his young-man wildness has been replaced by a mature understanding of life's cyclical nature. Lyrically complex and leaning heavily on somber chords, acoustic guitars, and scratchy soul samples, The Fix is not a light and bouncy throwaway album, but one that demands repeated listening. Nonetheless, this is also no crossover attempt--all you get is superior hip-hop, accented with a touch of R&B vocals courtesy of Kelly Price, Faith Evans, and Tanya Herron. Standout tracks include "In Between Us," featuring an impassioned star turn by guest MC Nas (Nasir Jones), the Kanye West-produced "In Cold Blood," and the gangsta lean "Sellout." But there's no question that "On My Block," an instant classic, is hands down the best cut. --Rebecca Levine