by Jason BirchmeierTo most urban/rap listeners, the Houston rap scene seemed more of a curious oddity than a serious breeding ground for great music. Purple World convincingly argues otherwise. It's a great album, plain and simple, on a par with the best albums that came out of New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles in 2002. The real beauty of Purple World, though, is how Big Moe sticks with his Houston peers. No, the Neptunes and Dr. Dre don't produce any tracks here, nor will you find P. Diddy or Snoop Dogg on Purple World. Instead, Moe teams up with Houston's finest: Lil' Keke, Lil' Flip, Hawk, D-Gotti, Big Pokey, Ronnie Spencer, and more. Plus, he works exclusively with producers Blue and Salih Williams, one of the keys to why Purple World is so amazing. These two may not be well-known, but they're incredibly talented. They have their own style -- smooth, melodic tracks that bounce along at a leisurely pace -- yet they're also not afraid to replay elements of popular songs like "Just the Two of Us" and "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)." The resulting beats are incredibly unique, much like Moe's sing-rapping. The big guy sings on every song, but his hooks never overwhelm the rapping. It's truly the best of both worlds. Purple World, and particularly the hit "Purple Stuff," cross the boundary between hardcore rap and pop-rap, offering you both at once. This, more than anything, is why it crossed over when so many other Houston artists failed to do so in the early 2000s. It appeals to everyone, from thugs to your little sister.