**1/2 Funkdoobiest

THE TROUBLESHOOTERS

(RCA)

Funkdoobiest's third CD hits the streets like a souped-up Cadillac, fueled by bits of almost every rap influence: the spunky smooth musicality of hip-hop; the crusty, vinyl-scratching sounds of the old school; the Snoop Dog bugged-out spookiness of gangsta rap; and some full-bodied Latino spice blended in with a touch of lovely-lady R&B harmonies. And Sondoobie's convulsive rap technique is often overshadowed by a potent collection of guest rappers like L.C., whose rabid dog style takes a bite out of "The Anthem," a funked-up, plucky take on Bill Withers's "Just the Two of Us."

The snags here are tired-out Cypress Hill noises and the sometimes overwhelming smell of testosterone. The Squirrel Nut Zippers loop on the first track, "Papi Chulo," and the refreshing salsa rhythms aren't enough to make it interesting. Funkdoobiest fare best when they abandon ominous minor keys and experiment with sound. "Natural Fun," a cut turned over to the CD's smoothest MCs, skips with a playful hopscotch rhythm and slender instrumentation. And "Five Deadly Indians," Sondoobie's op-ed on Native American genocide, pumps with scary belligerence but succeeds thanks to the tight, well-organized arrangement.

-- Laura Worrell