Foundation member Big Shug has been holding it down with the crew for over a decade, quietly making noise on such Gang Starr tracks as F.A.L.A. and the instant vintage The Militia. Now after a two-year hiatus, he returns with his sophomore opus, Street Champ.

Whereas Primo was practically all over Shug's Who's Hard?, he's only limited to three tracks, leaving newcomer MoSS to handle most of the production duties. And while MoSS shows flashes of greatness on joints like Warpath and After Me, he simply doesn't hold a torch to Primo's trio of bangers, Street Move, Play It and It Just Don't Stop.

Big Shug is at his best when he is comfortably placed between guest artists. Unfortunately that same aspect also leads to several instances where his rapping counterparts outclass him. While he keeps up with Singapore Kane and Dre Robinson on Spitfire, Shug is simply no match for the likes of Sean Price and Termanology on Leg Breakers and Warpath, respectively.

All in all, Streetchamp is essentially a doppelganger of Shug's debut, with MoSS handling the reigns instead of Primo. But maybe that's wherein the problem lies; had Premier not been limited to so few tracks, Shug may have been able to fully exercise his talents. Unfortunately, fans won't be able to tell with this LP.