Queens rapper Royal Flush's debut arrived in 1997 at a time when New York's swiftly evolving hip hop sound had reached a distinct point. "Ghetto Millionaire" perfectly captures the mid- to late-90s borough sound. Flush's thick accent and tales of paper chases and project life, backed by quintissential New York production, proved a winning formula on this notably consistent 22-track effort. Guests are limited to similarly-minded Queens rappers Mic Geronimo, Noreaga, and his Wastlanz crew, each of whom appear extensively and contribute to the album's consistency. There is no weak point during the hourlong tracklist, and the rhymes and beats remain totally up to par.

Flush has a nice flow and delivery, and he shows charm and swagger as he recounts stories concerning the Queens lifestyle, even venturing into mafioso and reality rap. He is engaging and imaginative, although he does not break any new ground as a streets MC. The strong production features rolling basslines, horns and pianos for a very East Coast sound, with some beats sparklier than others. It's always smooth and clean. There aren't many flaws. The songs are a bit formulaic, because each follows the format of a looped beat, three verses, and rapalong chorus, so it can grow a bit monotonous. However, it's hard to fault Flush, because he has a style and executes it well. Even still, two of the best tracks, the classy party cut "N...s Night Out" (check for a young uncredited Ja Rule on the hook) and the heartfelt yet familiar "Dead Letter," with a similarly gorgeous musical backing, are those that break the formula. The album also lacks a surefire anthem or posse cut critical in Flush's brand of rap, but this may just be a byproduct of the LP's consistency.

Highlights are frequent. The exciting Noreaga collaboration "Iced Down Medallions" utilizes an effective horn fanfare, while the smooth "Can't Help It" is well-polished. Flush trades lines with pal Mic Geronimo on the rugged "Illiodic Shines" and again on the excellent Beatminerz-produced "Movin' on Your Weak Productions." The breezy "Shines" is immediately catchy and appealing with a strong hook, and "What a Shame" is a lyrical and musical standout. The bass-heavy Mic Geronimo duet "Regulate" is a streets anthem, and "Worldwide"'s verses hit especially hard. "Makin' Moves" is a late highlight, with a phenomenal beat anchored by muted trumpets and xylophone.

Even if you missed it the first time around, listeners will find nostalgia in "Ghetto Millionaire" because it so accurately portrays the New York sound of its time. In '97 so much great music was coming from the city that albums this good sadly went relatively unnoticed by the masses. Flush's name may not be well known, but like his buddy Mic Geronimo he delivered quality no-frills hip hop without exploring much new territory. This album still sounds great over ten years later, and it has an awesome feel.

This cd is a must have, a nice piece to have specially if your building up an unknown/undergound collection!!! Or if your a big fan of East Coast rap.
If you like artists like Cappadonna from the wu tang, showbiz from D.I.T.C. you will def love flush!

Lyrics: 80%
Flow: 90%
Production: 95%
X-Factor: 90%
Overall: 90%