Rolling Stone (9/13/01, p.108) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Creates some novel MC combinations....the pairings come off suprisingly well, like a peanut butter and banana sandwich..."
Entertainment Weekly (7/27/01, p.71) - "...It's an animated family affair, supercharged with intensity." - Rating: B
Dating back to the days of A Tribe Called Quest, manager Chris Lighty and his Violator team have been responsible for the platinum and gold success of many rappers. And when he finally launched his record label under the Violator umbrella, Lighty was already responsible for breaking a generous portion of hip-hop's established artists. On VIOLATOR THE ALBUM: V2.0, the second installment in the Violator compilation series, the label introduces us to its new talent, and refreshes our memory in regard to their veteran performers. Busta Rhymes rips a Neptunes-produced gem with "What It Is," featuring Kelis, and LL Cool J returns for a cameo appearance on "Put Your Hands Up." The album also features such estimable rappers as Ja Rule, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, and Rah Digga, among others. With all this plus the added flavor of Noreaga's "Grimey" and Missy's appearance on "Ex," VIOLATOR makes its mark once again.