At Rah Digga's best, ripping lines on her single "Tight" or showering you with disrespect on "Straight Spittin', Part II," she recalls a young MC Lyte--before her lipstick and rouge phase--a street-smart tomboy with the right blend of talent and attitude to hold her own. It doesn't hurt that Digga's blessed with one helluva voice--a coarse, rough-hewn flow that's strong enough for a man, but made by a woman. Little wonder that she throws her lot in with the roughnecks, but wisely avoids most (though not all) of the standard thug clich駸. Production--handled by an assortment of producers, including Busta Rhymes, DJ Premier, and Rockwilder--is consistently strong, especially on cuts like "Lessons of Today," "Tight," and even the crossover pitch "So Cool," with crooner Carl Thomas. Her time with the lackluster Flipmode Squad is best forgotten--let Digga stand on her own. --Oliver Wang