Def Jam's How to Be a Player

Featuring an unreleased Tupac track (”Troublesome”), a reunion of the legendary rap duo EPMD (”Never Seen Before”), Rick James’ triumphantly funky return (”Hard to Get”), and other slamming jams, Def Jam’s How to Be a Player sounds more like the ultimate summer party tape than a soundtrack. Pick to click: Foxy Brown and Dru Hill’s ”Big Bad Mamma,” a groovelicious riff on Carl Carlton’s ’80s goof ”She’s a Bad Mama Jama.” A-