** Sunz of Man

THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

(Red Ant)

These days, you need a scorecard to figure out who's "keeping it real" in hip-hop. Sunz of Man, the Brooklyn branch of the Staten Island-based Wu-Tang empire, gets a leg up on authenticity just from the association, but the quartet's 72-minute debut offers more listless moments than stellar ones on its trek toward enlightenment. Even with guest turns from various Wu members (including Raekwon, RZA, and Method Man), The Last Shall Be First bogs down in its apocalyptic philosophy, muddled theology, and grave -- albeit vivid -- depictions of street life.

Guest producer Wyclef Jean (Fugees) could've added some levity to the proceedings on his remake of Earth Wind and Fire's "Shining Star," but he eschews the original's major hooks (guess that would've been too Puffy for the Sunz). RZA's cuts (notably the subtle "Can I See You" and the menacing "Inmates to the Fire") shine, as does 4th Disciple's sticky urban-soul/Impressions homage ("The Plan"). But the scant rewards of the Sunz' debut don't match the disc's hype. Keep it real? Maybe they should just work on keeping it interesting.

-- Mark Woodlief