Kingpin of the Bay's Livewire clique, J. Stalin has been extremely busy over the last six years, releasing dozens of projects, expanding his empire, and signing a gang of new artists. On Bottom of the 9th, he takes a break from the usual crime-addled steez and focuses more on the ladies, while giving ample shine to L'Jay, Livewire's resident crooner. Though this album is definitely more hardcore than your mother's R&B, it's still primarily love jams (other than the street-savvy "Oakland Boys" and the ominous "Haters"), with the requisite singing, breathy romance raps, and shimmering synths. As usual, the production is heavily influenced by the '80s (in a good way), oozing with familiar melodies and layered keyboards. Standout selections include risqué jams like "Hands on the Wall," "Show Me What U Got," and "Too Soon." After countless features, it's nice to hear L'Jay repping for a whole album.