The album kicks off with their anthem called "Ryde Or Die" which uses the same beat as EPMD's "Headbanger". This is the only song that was produced by DJ Clue and not Swizz. It is also one of the hardest hitting and best songs on the album. Sheik from the Lox kicks off the song. Though I am not a big fan of The Lox, he's my favorite lock.. His flow and lyrics are cool and give the album a hard hitting start: "Yo if gon' sleep on somethin, might as well be a bed - And if you gon' crack a nigga, might as well be a head- Cause if you targettin the L.O.X.- You might as as well target a box -That you gon' sleep in for years, all covered wit rocks- Cause I think not, I pop shots, I double what y'all got- Ya hotshots aint got blocks, ya punta muchacha..."   Jadakiss, Styles, Eve, Drag-On, and Dmx raps too. The chorus, like "Headbanger" has the crew yelling "The Ruff Ryders!" and Dmx yelling "What!". Dmx steals the show like expected. Though it's a good song, it's not creative. It's nowhere near as dope as EPMD's joint.

"Down Bottom" is the second joint on the album which is basically Drag-On and Juvenile. Now, I personally am a fan of Juvenile and the whole Ca$h Money Records click. There is not enough of Juve on this joint. The beat is cool as Swizz using these weird horns. In the chorus is kind of silly but is hardcore at the same time. It's one of those times when this album almost crosses those lines: "Do ya'll niggas bust ya'll guns? Hell yeah we bust our guns! Do you fuck them 'till they cum?  Damn right we make them cum! It's for the north! Head South, Head East, Head West ! Ruff Ryders gonna show ya'll niggas who rides the best..." Drag-On sucks compared to the wild and weird southern flow of Juvenile. "I Ruff Ryde your ass then -Cashin' for money - Juve aint gettin nothin'? Ha, Ha, Ha that shit is funny.." Unfortunatel, Drag-On has the first and third verse and Juve is only in the middle. I would have liked it if Juve and Dmx rocked it.. or even Juve and Shiek but hey, you can't always get what you want...

"What Ya Want" features Eve (the female Ruff Ryder) and Nokio from Dru Hill. Though the beat is cool with a dope salsa spanish vibe, Eve's lyrics are lame and the chorus is weak. It's nothing special.. like it was made for the radio and of course, I see the video for it often. One scene, Eve is in a dress trying to look elegant and the next, she's riding an ATV trying to look hard. Nokio's part in the chorus just adds to the fact that it's a commercial cut." What y'all niggas want? [what we want, wha?] - Can't touch [uh] - All y'all niggaz need [what we need in our life?]- Is right here with me [uh] - Sounds y'all wanna hear [who da, who dat?] -       Swizz beats [uh] - I'm the one you fear [why?] -  It's my time, feel me..." Just because you use the "n" word in the chorus alot does not make the joint hardcore.. It screams out for another emcee.  Even if Drag-On or one of the unknown Ruff Ryders like Cross or Infrared came on the mic.. Eve is just boring and cannot keep the energy throughout an entire song. The irony of it is that this could be a hit and annoying one too.

"Jigga My N*gga" is a solo joint by Jay-Z. Many people ask what the hell he's doing on this album!!!???! Well, Swizz did do the beat and he's been rapping with the likes of Dmx and The Lox in the past so.. he's in but his own song? It's another attempt to sell records. They should have put Jay-Z in a song so they can hope (or pray) for a chemistry among the Rock-A-Ruff Ryders... Still, this is an alright song though it is extremely repetitious and may get annoying after some plays. The chorus is Jay-Z with the help of a female voice, (maybe Eve): "..(Jigga) What's my mother fucking name? - (Jigga) And who I'm rolling with huh? - (My Niggas) uh-huh-huh-uh-huh- Niggas better get it right, bitches better get it right- Who? (Jigga) What's my mother fucking name? -(Jigga) And who I'm rolling with huh? (My Niggas) uh-huh-huh-uh-huh -Niggas better get it right, bitches better get it right..." Jay-Z does have some cool hardcore rhymes: "Got a license to kill so I stay the gat - Roc-a-fella, Ruff Ryders, nigga scared a that- Got a new motto this year, Don't Fuck With My Ones -Knock on your door, three in the morning, "It's just us and our guns!..." The song is a little too long and will probably be on the radio every single day.

"Takin' Money" is a short skit about the record industry where the label is hording the money from the artists.. like all Dmx-affiliated albums, the skit ends in violence.. It's totally unneeded but gives it a hardcore feel.   "Dope Money" is a joint by Styles and JadaKiss from The Lox. Now, I never liked the Lox but I am feeling this joint. This is one of the dopest songs on the album. I was surprised myself but's it's upbeat, hardcore lyrically and musically. They actually flow very rough aand rugged but with a cool feel.  The best part about it is that Styles and JadaKiss go back and forth line from line throughout the song and this is the only song in the album where emcees do that... Not many hip-hop albums do that anymore these days... The lyrics, about drugs, ar actually pretty cool: "..Couldn't live the life I live -  Why's that? - I could die any minute, I get high every minute. - Fuckin' with snake niggas, and sleepin' with foul bitches - Came thru on the lightest whip with two pounds in it- Pull over where the hustlers be -Why's that? - Cause I get chills when you talk of hustlin' Gs - So I'm always where the powder be at -What it mean - I can blow five bricks to ten in an hour if that -Stay away from where the cowards be at - Why's that? -Time is money god, and you can't get an hour back -Or I would do it again to get the power back.." I never liked Styles as an emcee because I never thought he could flow but he's good on this song. It's a very tight song and it gives The Lox a new hardcore image.. They are not about being "jiggy" or any of that crap. It's a good thing that they are trying to get the hell out of Bad Boy.. The chorus is pretty cool too. "..From dope money to rap money, and back to dope money (C'mon) - Loaded guns, the empty ones, over dope money (Let's go) -Car house in the smoke, over dope money (C'mon) -All my niggas will die over dope money (Let's go) -Bust your nine niggas, Side by side niggas (C'mon) -We hit the Rico laws, We go run and hide niggas (Let's go) - Death is the only thing that might divide niggas (C'mon) -So don't fuck around with them Ryde or Die niggas (Let's go)..." I am not ashamed to say that I like this song.

However, the next song is absolutely horrible. Swizz makes an R&B joint with the trio called Parle'. It's called, "I'm A Ruff Ryder" and it has nothing to do with the style or way of life of the Ruff Ryders. It's about some girl who left him and they're crying about it... What the hell is this crap?!? It does not fit in at all.. it's a piece of crap! Thank GOD they are not anywhere else on this album!  The chorus is trite and typical.. nothing special nor creative..."So you sayin' that you love me baby - But you're gone forever and more - And more, and more, and more - And I'm gonna be sorry baby -Cuz I want you more than before -And more, and more, and more..." In the background one of the sings, "I'm a ruff ryder!" Then, I think.. how the hell did they let you in and become one? Maybe it's the pain they feel.. You have to feel pain to be in the crew.. I don't know.. This song sucks and I refuse to talk about it anymore.

"Bugout" is a solo Dmx joint which is under 2 minutes and samples "Funky Worm".. It's a cool beat and sounds like a freestyle. It's cool. The dark man shines. "..I'm a say it so i know how much strenght is left - And curse all who will breathe in da stench of death (uh huh) - Though after the sixth day im buried -I will rise - And bomb da fluid in my veins and blood in my eyes (uh, uh)- And them guys that was laughin - Dont even smile anymore- How many 4 pound rounds can yo ass indulge?...." It's a cool song and makes the listener want Dmx to be on more of the songs!

"Kiss Of Death" is a solo by JadaKiss of The Lox. It's one of the better songs but nothing too special. As a play on his name, in the chorus, he makes a kissing sound. "Jay to the mmwwaa, hustle coke, ryde or die (uh) - Kiss hand-wash money, let it drip dry (uh-huh)- Jay to the mmwwaa, keep cowards on their toes (yeah) - Kiss push the drop, rock the ice, get the hoes (uh)- Jay to the mmwwaa got the smash on the block (uh-huh) - Kiss got the label's tellin' niggaz not to drop (tell 'em)- Everthing you get (uh-huh), you really don't expect (naw)- 'Cuz when you Jay to the mmwwaa, you kiss to the death..." Though it's not nearly as good as "Dope Money", it's way better than the stupid R&B joint that was before in the album..

"The Hood" is a huge posse cut featuring Drag-On, Beanie Seagal, InfraRed, Mysonne, and Nu Child. There's no chorus and the song has a slower mid-tempo beat. It's the energy of the emcees which lift the song up. All of the emcees seem like they are tyring to act tougher and rougher than the next like they had more time or dealt more drugs that the other ones. Beane Seagal and Mysonne do the best job on the lyrics. Mysonne kicks a rhyme like: "...See I'm dope like heroin -And my guns got scopes, so they zero in -From here on in, know I fear no men -And mutherfuck shootin' five, here go ten..." On the other hand, Drag-On has the worst verse. Read this rhyme: "..I'm the kid with the unlaced boots, but'll lace you- Leave a hole in your facial, the size of a bagel -All my bullets hit, never graze you..." That's pretty bad isn't it? Of course, he sounds a lot like Cam'Ron.

"Platinum Plus" is another posse cut but the emcees are completely horrible. This song has Jermaine Dupri, Ma$e, and Cross. This song sucks. The beat is decent but it's boring as well as trite. Lyrically, it's just sub-par. they claim that "If you ain't platinum plus, you ain't f*cking with us!" Aggh!! Ma$e and JD have no business being on this album. This and the R&B track should have been left in the trash.

"Buff Ryders" is a skit where some guy says he's a Ruff Ryder and spells it wrong.. Then, Eve calls him a Buff Ryder.. There's something funny about this stupid skit actually.

"Do That Sh*t" is another Eve solo joint which sucks even worse than the first solo joint she did. The chorus is lame..."..Y'all fuckin' with the right ones, UHH - Role it up and just lite some, UHH- Where my niggaz with the big guns? -And when you smoke that shit it's like, WHOA!!WHOA!!..."  The song could have been somewhat acceptable if there was another emcee. Once again, Eve cannot carry this song alone.. (and make it good).

"Pina Colada" features Sheik from the Lox and Pig Pun. Like I said before, Sheik is my favorite member of The Lox. I also like Big Pun but this song is somewhat dissapointing  The beat is cool and the lyrics are decent. It's the chorus which sounds silly. Some girl in the chorus raps: "..Where're my niggers with the big dicks? -Ahh - Where're my niggers with the hot whiips? -Ahh- Where're my niggers living better?  -We want Barettas and Amarettas, butter leathers and mad cheddar.  ..." Pun and Sheik do a good job lyrically and Swizz's beats are good too but the chorus is annoying.

Dmx has the final song which is called "Some X Sh*t". This is one of the best joints on the album. Dmx shines bright on this song. His style is dope. At first, he talks in a very calm tone and then, he get's all crazy as he yells. The contrast in styles is cool since they follow one another. "It's not like me to have my back turned to open places - I wanna see it when it's coming so I can open faces -I'm hoping cases got me paying to stay out of jail!! - Run these streets got me to preying to stay out of hell!!..." The chorus is filled with barking and Dmx going "Whoop! Whoop!"  as he raps, "Tell me how ya' feeling now, I know you'r illin' now! Tell me how ya' feeling now, I know you'r illin' now!.." This is an excellent song and a great way to end the album.

Now, is the album worth it??? Well.. yes and no... If you are a big fan of Dmx.. you may be disspointed since he's only on 3 songs... If you are a fan of The Lox.. you may be surprised by their new change in style. If you love hardcore music, you may be turned away by tracks with Jurmaine Dupri and Ma$e. If you love underground music, get Soundbombing II. This is more for the Hot 97 crowd. It tries to have something for everybody with an R&B touch "I'm A Ruff Ryder", spanish styles like "Pina Colada" and "What Ya Want", and they even give Jigga his own song. The production by Swizz is decent but there are hardly any scratching at all. Not all of the beats pound. Some of the beats and melodies sound vaguely like they were done with a cheap casio organ. Many of the beats are mid-tempo and they sludge their way through. On a good note, they are full beats and they are hard. The futuristic feel does give Swizz a specific and unique style. The lyrics are not all there. The only emcees with lyrical merit are Dmx, sometimes The Lox, Beanie Seagal, Juvenile, Big Pun and  Mysonne. Rappers (not emcees) like Ma$e and Jermaine Dupri have no business on this album. It's obvious that they are only there to sell records and that's not hardcore. Jay-Z falls somewhere in the middle.. he has some lyrical merit but he's also put on their to sell records... Overall, they are not creative. None of the topics or themes are new or fresh. It's all been done... drugs, sex, money, murder... they don't even rap about how dope they rap... Dmx is innovative in his style and delivery as shown in "Some X Sh*t". Besides that, it's all been done. The beats and sounds of the songs do have a futuristic feel due to Swizz beats but the computer futuristic robot thing has been done by Timbaland a while ago already.   The album does not flow too well either since the R&B tracks makes the album go in a complely left turn like the recording engineer recorded some group called Parle in between a bunch of Ruff Ryder songs. Bad songs like "Platinum Plus" and the Eve solos also make it boring. For the most part, this album is more of a compilation.. not an album. "El Nino" by Def Sqaud was a super-group album.. This sounds more like a soundtrack.. The original Ruff Ryder rhymers are hardcore in style, flow, and lyrics. The R&B group weakens their hardcore feel though. Especially since they have a cut called "I'm A Ruff Ryder" which displays the essence of the group, all Parle does is whine about a letter from their lover who left... ooh.. get over it! "Dope Money" and "Some X Shit" are the gems here. They are harcore jams with lyrics, energy and dope beats. Every song should be on this level but they do not come close. Dmx steals the show but I feel somewhat jipped since this is HIS crew and he's only on 3 joints... This is a rough ride.. I just hope volume two is better.
Beats: 7/10.
Lyrics: 6/10.
Production: 7/10.
Originality/Creativity: 4/10.
Album Flow: 5/10.
Hardcore Rating: 7/10.
[ Overall Rating 6/10 ]