While a decade is a minor blip in the grand scheme of history, it can be an eternity in the fickle world of Hip Hop. Emcees achieve overnight celebrity status one year, only to watch it blow away in the wind the next. The last decade has taken Chicago’s Twista on a rollercoaster ride through the industry. In 1997 he released the critically acclaimed Adrenaline Rush. Without a major marketing effort or radio friendly single, the album went gold. Collaborations with everyone from Do or Die to Diddy further solidified the Speed Knot Mobsta in the hearts of underground rap fans.

Issues with his production company and record label prevented Twista from capitalizing off the underground success of his major label debut. As a result, he was confined to collaborations and underground albums, via his independent label, Legit Ballin. It would be seven years before he returned with Kamikaze. The album reintroduced Twista to the rap world, propelled him to the forefront of the industry and spawned a number of hits, including the Kanye West assisted Slow Jamz and Overnight Celebrity.

2005’s The Day After saw Twista experiment with new styles, occasionally departing from the dark beats and signature rapid fire flow he became synonymous for. The science project was a commercial disappointment, alienating some core fans in an attempt to reach a wider audience. After learning from past mistakes, the Chi City emcee returns with Adrenaline Rush 2007, a welcome trip back to the future.

The album finds Twista rhyming like a hungry emcee instead of the platinum plus star he’s become. With Toxic commanding most of the production time, Twista seems comfortable over the soundtrack of dark, gritty beats and club bangers. On I Ain’t That Nigga, a track that serves as a warning to any foes who think he’s gone soft, he spits “I ain’t gon be frontin and fakin and acting petty all in my music/Unh uh, that’s too lame/ When it’s on it’s on, I’ll pop a nigga when you wrong you gone/You finna be wiped off the earth like a memory… what’s dude name?” The verbal assault continues with Charged, the Speed Knot Mobstaz assisted No Pistols, and one of the album’s stand out cuts, Creep Fast, featuring a rapping T-Pain going bar for bar with the Chicago rhyme sayer.

Versatility, without a doubt is the album’s strength. With many mainstream rappers forcefully following the “make songs for everyone” formula the Twista transitions from ruthless killer to club mode to ladies man with relative ease. Mr. Trapped in the Closet, R. Kelly supplies the beat and hook for Love Rehab. Although Kels dominates the track, Twista shines with the same finesse exhibited on Get It Wet from the first Adrenaline Rush.

Adrenaline Rush is arguably a classic album, but its successor will not be able to lay claim to the famous “C” word. The Pharrell driven lead single, Give it Up is a shameful attempt at crossover radio that finds Twista out of his element rhyming over the up tempo Neptunes’ beat. The album’s four skits, Wrist Stay Rocky and the Lil Wayne featured Whip Game Proper detract from the album’s otherwise cohesiveness.

Fortunately, Twista rebounds towards the end of the disc with the juke inspired Pimp Like Me and Ain’t No Hoe, featuring former rivals, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Easily one of the albums strongest cuts, the mid west invaders effortlessly flip flop between rapid fire and melodic flow over the slow, Cuzo produced track. With a solid sixth release, Twista proves that fame, fortune and more than a decade in the game isn’t enough to keep the well fed from spitting like there’s a nation wide famine.

Top 40 rappers, take note!