The Desire Boys, from New Orleans’ Desire Projects, have a novel approach to rap. They don’t humiliate women, they don’t glorify illegal activities and the only time on this CD that they use the word “nigga” is to say that they won’t incorporate it into their lyrics. This is not to say that they are a troupe of wusses in camouflage: “Chillin N Charity” is particularly dismal and well, chilling (as in cold-blooded). The protagonist of this song has “got to get mine” or in other words, he comes from a broken home in the ghetto so he feels it is his right to rob whoever comes along except this time, he’s picked an armed victim who fires back and our hero ends up in the Emergency Room of Charity Hospital where he prepares to meet Jesus, rapping: “I’m chillin’ up in Charity—will I live or will they have to bury me?” As a modern Morality Tale, this far surpasses the more common musical thuggery.