In an industry where unimaginative, cookie-cutter albums are the norm, it’s good to see a rapper break from the status quo and craft a creative, artistic work. Easily the most recognizable member of the hardcore Hip-Hop group Onyx (well, unless you’re talking about TV and movies. Then it would be Fredro Starr), Sticky Fingaz pushes the envelope of creativity in rap with his solo debut, Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones. Throughout the album, the artist uses the songs and interludes to tell the story of Kirk Jones, Sticky’s alter ego.


While Sticky Fingaz does share his real name with the protagonist, Sticky assures fans and critics that there is where the similarities end. Black Trash is actually not autobiographical; Sticky Fingaz’ alter-alter ego is just the main character in a well-written story.


Track Listing
1) Intro
2) Come On
3) Man's Best Friend feat. Black Child
4) Not Dyin'
5) Kirk Jones Conscience
6) Money Talks feat. Raekwon)
7) Why feat. X1
8) Oh My God
9) State Vs. Kirk Jones feat. Rah Digga, Redman, Canibus, Scarred 4 Life, Lord Superb, Guess Who
10) Kirk Jones Conscience II
11) Baby Brother feat. Dave Hollister
12) Cheatin'
13) What Chu Want feat. X1
14) Ghetto feat. Petey Pablo
15) What If I Was White feat. Eminem
16) Sister I'm Sorry feat. Choclatt
17) Get It Up feat. Firestarr
18) Kirk Jones Conscience III
19) Licken Off In Hiphop feat. Columbo The Shining Star
20) Wonderful World


Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones starts out with the symphonic introduction from the movie division of Sticky’s label Universal, then segues into the opening skit in which we first meet Kirk Jones. In this beginning scene, he’s stopping by a friend’s house after being released from prison. Immediately following this segment is “Come On” , a warm up for the rest of the album. Sticky Fingaz basically just freestyles over a strumming guitar and a bass heavy track. In the first verse, he spits:

"Oh you ain't know? /
Sticky Fingaz went solo/
And got the whole ‘hood in a choke hold /
You rappers get no dough /
Radio locked like I was po-po /
I make you have oral sex with the fo-fo /
I'm unstable, get cash under the table /
I blaze you, not even God could save you /"


“Not Dyin'” is one of my favorite songs on the LP. Producer Self constructs a fast, intense beat laced with strings and snares for Sticky to rap over. This frenzied sound complements Sticky’s wild style and grimy voice very well. For the actual lyrics, the rapper brags about how impervious he is to death in his typical off the wall and braggadocios manner.


Sticky Fingaz continues to flex his imaginative muscles with track 6, “Money Talks” . The lyrics to this piece are written so that it sounds like money is a sentient entity, rapping about itself. The lines describe the influence money has on people and society in general. Raekwon the Chef from the Wu-Tang Clan backs Sticky up here, performing the raps for the hook


The following song “Why” features Onyx compatriot X1 playing the role of Kirk’s friend Bruce. Bruce starts the song just giving Kirk a ride across town, but ends up an unwitting accomplice in a jewelry heist thanks to Kirk’s idiocy. For the lyrical delivery here, X1 and Sticky alternate their raps to create a dialogue, in the same style the duo came with on “Rob and Vic” off Onyx’ Shut ‘Em Down CD. The result is a very tight and natural-sounding conversation in a rap format.


After Kirk Jones is arrested for the jewelry store robbery, the listener is treated to his trial in “State vs. Kirk Jones” . Sticky Fingaz assembles an all star cast with Redman as the defense attorney, Canibus as the prosecutor, Rah Digga playing the judge, and Lord Superb, Scarred 4 Life, and Guess Who as witnesses. Here they modify that dialogue-style of rapping and adapt it to a courtroom setting. The rappers were exceptional at integrating their lyrics so that each line flows seamlessly, even though their individual styles differ. Producer Nottz successfully adds to the dramatic feel using ascending piano notes and long synthesizer tones.


Skipping ahead to track 17 takes the listener to the first single off the Black Trash CD, “Get It Up”. Another Onyx member, this time Fredro Starr a.k.a. Firestarr guest stars on this song, providing the gravelly background vocals. The infamous DJ Scratch (EPMD) produces the music, giving Sticky a beat with a rapid tempo. As far as the lyrics, it’s just more of the ‘get up/throw your hands up/fire it up’ fare, only Sticky Fingaz includes some of those psychopathic twists that he has become known for. He flows:

“Got cats online in ties and suits /
We come through VIP, button flies and boots /
Everybody getting comped, I ain't paying no admission /
I’m Sticky Fingaz, I can't even pay attention /
Love the freaks that tweek and be liftin’ it up /
Love the freaks that creep and be giving it up /
I got twelve inches, I'm well hung /
Nine on my d*ck and three on my toungue /
My manager, the b*tch name is Helen Wate /
Need a free show? Go to Hell and wait /
And if God only helps those who help themselves /
When I see something I want, I help myself /”



For some reason that is completely beyond me, Sticky Fingaz chooses to end this outing singing a Hip-Hop version of Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World. He does a fair job of imitating the jazz legend’s voice, but if Sticky ever needed to change his rap name, I would recommend tin ear.


One of the truly great things about the CD is that Sticky Fingaz actually found a way to make skits useful! Can you believe it? He uses the skits to progress the story line between songs, plus give more insight into the thought processes of Kirk Jones. Each skit is very well produced and performed. In fact, actor Omar Epps (In Too Deep, The Mod Squad) performs dialogue on each of the Kirk Jones Conscience segments to give the character additional depth.


All in all, Black Trash is a very good album. The concept alone makes it worthy of recognition, and Sticky Fingaz’ fiery delivery laced with lyrics that border on complete insanity guarantee the listener a fun ride. The only weak points on the album that I could detect are just a few sub-par songs in “Ghetto” and “Sister I’m Sorry”, and the fact that the instrumentation rarely varies from the piano, keyboard, and drum machine triad. Luckily, the producers vary their use of these instruments to the degree that most listeners won’t realize this fact (unless they’re trying to write a review on the album and try to describe a piano, keyboard, and drum machine repeatedly without typing the words ‘piano’, ‘keyboard’, and ‘drum machine’ over and over again).


So, if you’re looking for a good, fun rap album to blast while fleeing the scene of your latest jewelry heist, I recommend getting Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones by Sticky Fingaz. Kirk Jones may let you down, but Sticky never will.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving