Latest CD releases reviewed.

LIL JON & THE EASTSIDE BOYZ
Crunk Juice TVT
***

Best known as the fellow who hollers "yeah" on tunes by Usher and other r'n'b boys-to-men, Lil Jon's star time looks like it has arrived, thanks to the rise and rise of crunk. Booming, bassy party music that is as much about punky hardcore as it is hip-hop, crunk, according to its chief cheerleader, is music to get crazy and drunk to. As an entrepreneur, Lil Jon is no slacker: Crunk Juice energy drinks are already shipping out of shops and delis throughout the US. As a producer, he also knows how to get the dials dancing. Aww Skeet Skeet is a bass bonanza, while there's a monster groove pumping on Grand Finale. Shrewdly, Lil Jon and his crew also realise their shortcomings as MCs, which is why Usher, Ludacris, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and a dozen more step up to the mic. www.liljononline.com

Jim Carroll