The late '90s were a period of massive growth for regional hip-hop cultures, as local scenes multiplied with each wave of young rappers. My Homies does for Houston what E-40’s Element of Surprise did for the Bay Area and Master P’s MP Da Last Don did for New Orleans (all three albums were released in the banner year of 1998). Scarface positions himself as the father of an entire region, sharing his success with the scene that he helped to build, which in turn fuelled his personal triumphs. The double album is an awesome display of the talent and diversity of the Rap-A-Lot family. The album’s sonic imprint is as distinctive as its vocals. Produced almost entirely by the three towering architects of Houston hip-hop — Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, and Mr. Lee, in addition to Scarface himself — My Homies exemplifies the city’s taste for woozy, syrupy beats and fat wallops of funk. Face’s hard-bitten delivery stands alone in this crowd, although he generates a singular chemistry with 2Pac on “Homies & Thuggs.” Meanwhile, “F**k Faces” is a perfect example of this organization’s ability to appeal to a wider audience without compromising its core values.