What was true of How Ya Like Me Now is certainly true of Kool Moe Dee's third solo album, Knowledge Is King -- the hardcore rapper spends too much time boasting and doesn't devote enough time to his real strength: meaningful storytelling.

Nonetheless, his soulful spirit and considerable technique make this effort worthwhile -- not remarkable, but certainly engaging.

The CD's strongest offerings include "Pump Your Fist," an angry denunciation of social injustice; "The Avenue," a description of a day in the hood; and the controversial attack on materialistic women "They Want Money." The latter was accused of being sexist, but Dee rightly countered that criticizing women who judge men by the size of their wallets rather than the size of their hearts or their brains isn't sexist -- it's honest.