Rating: NN
Ruff Ryders house producer Swizz Beatz made his name with the hyper-dramatic Casio funk he put behind DMX, Eve and Ja Rule. In individual three-minute doses, the effect could be electrifying, but spread over an entire album the results are disastrous. G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories sounds hopelessly out of date from the get-go, since Swizz is still relying on cheesy keyboard plinks and hollow thug shouting to get his point across. Phoned-in appearances by Nas, Bounty Killer, Busta Rhymes and Lil’ Kim don’t help, while Swizz’s wildly anticipated collaboration with Metallica — he’s producing their new album — sounds more like a pale Judgement Night rehash than the future of music.