Mann: Mann's World – review

LA rapper Mann was in nappies when Dr Dre's The Chronic cemented California's position at the centre of global hip hop, and his debut is in part a slick homage to this west coast heritage. The gangsta stylings are largely missing, but the loping tempo and mosquito-whine synths are unmistakable throwbacks to early90s G-funk. By comparison it's pretty sanitised stuff: "Gold Herringbone" recasts the sun-kissed menace of "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" as an upbeat tale of success against the odds, and Snoop's turn on "The Mack" is avuncular, late-period Dogg. Still, forget his antecedents and Mann's good-time rap is effective enough.