The Wash joins myriad other plotless, hip-hop-fuelled B-movies that carry smoking soundtracks produced by A-list knob twiddlers. As the accolades for multi-platinum producer Dr. Dre continue to pile up, his emphasis on producing funk-heavy tracks like "On the Boulevard" and the self-titled track (featuring fellow ex-Death Row Dream teamer Snoop Doggy Dogg ) re-ignites the flame that made their earlier work on The Chronic some of the best in rap's history. Likewise, when Busta Rhymes takes his testosterone-fuelled flows to mountainous heights over some eerie, futuristic keyboard stylings from the good Dr. Dre on "Holla" it proves that anything touched by Dre (even in this executive producer capacity) is worthwhile. The only real disappointments come when some of the talented rappers assembled waste their air-time with shallow raps about fast money, slinky chicks and downright tomfoolery. Eminem and his bizarro D12 homies are unfortunately at their profane worst on "Blow My Buzz". Meanwhile, on "Get Fucked Up with Me," Xzibit touts the benefits of swigging brew and smoking doobies all day. Overall a well-balanced effort that should sit well with funksters into beats and rhymes by left-coasters Soopafly and Knoc-turn'al. When new soul star Bilal drops by to turn it out falsetto-style on "Bring 2" you know this one's a keeper. --Dalton Higgins