Lil Jon has array of contributors

If Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz's Crunk Juice is Lil Jon's way of giving listeners a taste of the elixirs he sips from his diamond-encrusted pimp cup, then it's no wonder the King of Crunk stays so energetic.

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Before listening, you think all the songs will sound alike, but just as not all rock or country songs sound the same, neither do crunk songs. Besides, how could you doubt the man responsible for smashes such as 2003's Get Low with the Ying Yang Twins and Yeah! with Usher and Ludacris? The latter two joined Jon again on Lovers and Friends, one of two slow songs that briefly change the CD's pace and show a softer side of the crunk meister. The side is a drastic contrast to Jon's pimp talk as he vows to never love nor pay a woman - in fact, she'd better have his money on Contract, on which producer Jazze Pha's hook tells women to sign "your name on the dotted line because you belong to me."

Sadly, though, the song is so catchy that even the most liberated woman might find herself singing along.

The CD has its share of chants to represent your hometown and threats of what Jon and others will do if disrespected. Over a fun array of beats, including the Washington, D.C., Go Go music style of Aww Skeet Skeet, featuring DJ Flexx, East Side Boyz Big Sam and Lil Bo rap on two songs.

Answers are given as to the whereabouts of Chyna White - the trash-talking woman heard on Jon's hit Bia Bia - and are heard via a collect phone call she made to Jon from jail, in which she praises Jon's success and quickly tells of plans to enhance it after she's released.

Lil Jon produced or co-produced every song except a crunk-rock Rick Rubin cut and the Neptunes' Stick That Thang Out, featuring Ying Yang.

It's interesting that the man who was sought after by so many for a crunk hit this year has artists featured on every song, including Snoop Dogg, 8 Ball & MJG, Gangsta Boo, Nate Dogg, Trillvelle and Jon's protg, Lil Scrappy. The CD's last song, Grand Finale, featuring Jadakiss, T.I., Nas, Bun B and Ice Cube, is a true hip-hop song featuring lyrical skills at their highest - and with Ice Cube's contribution so impressive you'd think he never left the rap game.

What keeps the pace high throughout is that the songs don't fade out, so it's one continuous crunk flow. The only breaks offered are in the humorous interludes by E40, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock, who instructs women to "get low, lower than a pregnant ant's stomach!"

If high-energy variety is what you're after, this juice is one you'll love to sip.

Reach C. Samantha McKevie at (706) 823-3552 or samantha.mckevie@augustachronicle.com.