The Longest Yard

The Longest Yard

Nelly's a smart guy. Not only does he have an acting role in The Longest Yard, but he also co-produced the movie's soundtrack and loaded it with tracks by himself and members of his Derrty Ent. stable including St. Lunatics' Ali, Goodie Mob's Gipp, Jung True (both solo and as a member of Taylor Made), King Jacob, and Prentiss Church. Fittingly for a movie in which we're meant to buy Adam Sandler as a former star quarterback, the music shows commercial instinct but ultimately lacks punch. Even a track like Ali & Gipp's "Let 'Em Fight," only reminds us how much harder Public Enemy hit 20 years ago (and we're not even talking lyrics but production here). Highlights include Murphy Lee, King Jacob, and Prentiss Church's "Stomp," which sounds appropriately bottom-heavy and sports cleverer than usual lyrics, and D12 featuring Eminem's "My Ballz," a goofball (sorry) of a song that actually grows catchier with each listen. The CD concludes with Nelly in his mellower mode, which should appeal to both fans of his 2004 R&B-inflected Suit, and women dragged to The Longest Yard by their boyfriends. --Elisabeth Vincentelli