Pick 3

AMG Review of Pick 3

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

In keeping with the lottery-themed title and presentation of Chingy's second solo album, Powerballin', 49 Productions mobilized a bizarre quasi-reissue of Without Warning's self-titled album from 2000, and threw in a DVD including a previously unreleased video. Without Warning was Chingy's pre-fame group, and the tracks here (most of Without Warning, along with a couple other cuts) indicate that his MCing wasn't in need of many refinements when he inked his deal with Capitol. His two partners in the group are competent, but he's the obvious star; his voice and flow are both immediately traceable. Devoted fans will want to snap this up, especially so if they prefer Chingy in non-pop mode. (The Steve West ad that appears in the inner sleeve of the package deserves an award of some sort: "The debut solo release featuring 19 tracks of real music." If that's not a selling point, what is?)