Redman’s debut album is perhaps best defined by the way he balances punchlines with darkness. “Blow Your Mind” is about as upbeat as the album gets, bouncing along on samples from James Brown and Parliament, among others. Over a dark instrumental, “Hardcore” sees Redman issuing threats that are made almost goofy by their extreme outlandishness, but “Rated ‘R’” plays as a warning, over a funk guitar sample and gleeful scratches, about Redman’s take-no-prisoners attitude. He mellowed out eventually, but his brilliant, harsh delivery shines here.