by Matt ConawayThanks to a legendary feud with LL Cool J, Canibus was thrust on the hip-hop scene with so much hoopla you would have sworn he was being promoted by Don King. But after being labeled the next Rakim, Canibus' enigmatic debut, Can-I-Bus, was such a major disappointment it left the masses chanting a slogan Public Enemy made famous over a decade ago -- "Don't Believe The Hype." With his sophomore effort, 2000 B.C., Canibus remains a lightning rod for controversy, as he continues to chastise his arch nemesis LL. But Canibus also adds a new name to his hit list, as the LP's blazing title track contains a scornful diss of Wyclef: "You mad at the last album I apologize for it, I can't call it m************ Wyclef spoiled it." Though there is some validity to that claim, airing beefs like the one directed at his former mentor reek of irony. While the rugged drum tracks provided by a largely unknown squad of producers are more conducive to Canibus' cold and calculated flow then the melodic palette of Wyclef's, it is virtually a wash in terms of quality. Yet, there is no disputing that Canibus is an MC's MC. His authoritative vocals demand immediate attention and his brutal array of battle rhymes are utterly breathtaking: "100 Bars" and "Lyrical Modulation." While the pugilistic MC shows growth as an artist, Canibus' vast potential remains largely unrealized thanks to bland production.