Ryde or Die, Vol. 1

Recording information: Festival Studios, New Orleans, LA; Platinum Island Studios, New York, NY; Powerhouse Recording Studios, NY; Soundworks R.
Known for his blazing tracks on records for Jay-Z and DMX, producer Swizz Beatz assembled a group of new tracks that features such hip-hop all-stars as the Lox, Big Pun, Juvenile, and the aforementioned Jay-Z and DMX. RYDE OR DIE VOL. 1 is jam-packed with energy and hot-to-death beats. There are several outstanding cuts. "Down Bottom" has Juvenile dropping his trademark Southern-style rhymes over Swizz beat, while "Platinum Plus" features Jermaine Dupri, Mase, and Cross. The title cut is a killer with the Lox, DMX, Drag-On, and Eve flippin' over the classic EPMD cut "Headbanger."
There are some can't-miss tracks from DMX ("Bug Out," "Some X Shit"), Jay-Z ("Jigga My Nigga"), and Jadakiss from the Lox ("Kiss of Death"). RYDE OR DIE VOL. 1 is what a compilation album should be. In addition, there's the smooth R&B cut "I'm a Ruff Ryder," featuring Parle and producer Dave Hall. Another highlight is "The Hood", a major thug posse cut featuring Drag-On, Beanie Siegal, Mysonne, Inf Red, NuChild, and Jadakiss.