One strange thing about D-Nice's second solo album is how, in "25 ta Life," he claims to not be into treating women like hookers, when a song from his debut -- "Pimp of the Year" -- painted a very different picture.

And no disrespect to Too Short (at least everyone knows where he stands), but you can't give him a guest spot on your record and expect to be considered anti-womanizer.

Whether or not "Pimp of the Year" was intended as a spoof, it's all but impossible to not see a contradiction.

At any rate, To tha Rescue is a slight dip from Call Me D-Nice; even with a revolving door of a supporting cast that includes Too Short, Naughty by Nature, and KRS-One, D-Nice wasn't able to put together an album that progressed from his debut.

The album isn't without its winning spots, however.

In "Time to Flow," he sounds tougher than ever; he steps up and swaps verses with Treach without sounding any less intense than his sparring partner.

On "No No No," a track produced with Skeff Anselm, he delivers some lines worthy of KRS: "But don't talk about thieves/'Cause on the whole, America's the greatest country that was ever stole." D-Nice's own productions aren't as strong as ones from his brethren.

This places the album a notch below the debut.