In Brief

*** Heavy D, “Heavy,” Universal. Suave as ever, the clean-cut rapper again demonstrates that he’s one of hip-hop’s most consistent artists with his seventh album. A nimble lyricist who focuses on his sex appeal and his superior rhyme skills, Heavy provides a legitimate alternative to hard-core hip-hop. The New Yorker’s production contains a winning combination of rock-like, sultry and R&B; tracks.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).

Hear the Music

* Excerpts from albums reviewed and other recent releases are available on The Times’ World Wide Web site. Point your browser to: https://www.calendarlive.com/soundclips