If they put the Barbershop 2 soundtrack out with only the first three tracks and nothing else, it would still be an essential collection of urban beats and you'd still be a sucker if you didn't pick it up. The empowering "Not Today" is a home run for Mary J. Blige, Eve, and producer Dr. Dre while Mya's coy "Fallen" gets winningly roughed up in a remix. Sleepy Brown's loopy "I Can't Wait" tops them all with absolutely stellar lyrics ("You're a Tyner/Meaning the real McCoy") while OutKast's guest spot shows their Midas touch is still in effect. The Clipse's vacant cut screws up the flow, but the collection recovers with Keyshia Cole's smoky interpolation of Luther on "Never." Some killer tracks by Mya and Sean Paul, Floetry, Olivia, and Morgan Smith are dispersed throughout the disc's second half, and they're surrounded by cuts that are almost as worthy. The hilarious bits of dialogue that opened and closed the first movie's soundtrack are unfortunately gone, making the whole collection feel like a slick mixtape you'd have a hard time topping. It'll take you forever to stop playing the opening triple threat, but the rest of Barbershop 2 only needs a little trimming. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
Erica Grayson (A&R), Michael Chavarria (Guitar), Michael Chavarria (Bass), Doug Wilson (Digital Editing), Kyla Miller (Producer), Jeff Verb (Engineer), Denaun Porter (Drum Programming), Tammi Lester (Music Supervisor), Mýa Harrison (Producer), Scott Kleiklack (Engineer), Steve Sola (Mixing), Robert Teitel (Executive Soundtrack Producer), Charnessa Jones (Engineer), Ron Fair (Producer), Brandon Bennett (Vocals), Tim Hook (Engineer), Serban Ghenea (Mixing), Anita Camarata (Executive Soundtrack Producer), Mýa Harrison (Vocals (Background)), John Frye (Mixing), Ron Fair (Percussion), Errol Jr. "E Poppi" Mccalla (Producer), Michael Strange (Engineer), Eminem (Mixing), Olivia (Vocals), Lil Jon (Producer), Peter Mokran (Mixing), Jerry Hey (Horn), Ravi Best (Trumpet), Mary J. Blige (Engineer), Ari Raskin (Assistant), Shannon Braxton (Engineer), Denaun Porter (Producer), Organized Noize (Programming), Patrice Bowie (Vocals (Background)), Errol Jr. "E Poppi" Mccalla (Drum Programming), Tal Hertzberg (Guitar), Sha Money XL (Producer), Sandra Billingslea (Violin), Vada (Vocal Producer), Brian "Flostein" Slade (Engineer), Ronald B. Gillyard (Executive Soundtrack Producer), Maxine Roach (Viola), Jason Schweitzer (Mixing), Joe Stone Street (Engineer), Daniel Betancourt (Assistant), Steve Sola (Engineer), Ron Fair (Vocal Arrangement), Jason Schweitzer (Engineer), DJ Mormile (A&R), Luis Resto (Keyboards), Organized Noize (Producer), The Stereotypes (Producer), Paul Stewart (Music Supervisor), Corte Ellis (Vocal Producer), George Jr. Tillman (Executive Soundtrack Producer), Ethan Willoughby (Assistant), Carlisle Young (Engineer), Andrew Coleman (Engineer), Mýa Harrison (Vocal Arrangement), Megahertz (Producer), Sha Money XL (Engineer), Chris Carmouche (Engineer), Phil Campini (Mixing), Chris Brickley (Assistant), Gary Grant (Horn), Mike Anzel (Engineer), Craig Love (Guitar), Shorty B. (Bass), Daune "Daroc" Smith (Producer), Steven King (Mixing), Tal Hertzberg (Digital Editing), Tal Hertzberg (Engineer), Ronald B. Gillyard (A&R), Alex Reverberi (Assistant), Kendu Isaacs (Engineer), Paul Gregory (Engineer), Anthony Kilhoffer (Assistant), Tal Hertzberg (Bass), Eileen Folson (Cello), Mike Anzel (Digital Editing), Dave Robbins (Keyboards), Stizzle (Producer), Samuel Christian (Vocals), Steven King (Bass), Ethan Willoughby (Mixing Assistant), Cheron Wilson (Keyboards), Patrick Viala (Mixing), Steven King (Guitar), Dave Pensado (Mixing), Clark Gayton (Trombone), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (Horn), Donnie Scantz (Engineer), Natalie Leggett (Violin), Neil Pouge (Mixing), Steven King (Engineer), Havoc (Producer), Organized Noize (Drum Programming), Michael Chavarria (Engineer), Rob Skipworth (Assistant), Doug Wilson (Engineer), Phil Tan (Mixing)
