Big Hits 1980-2000: Black is a bizarre double album of good funk and soul mixed with commercial pop and rap. The first album is the best, featuring some truly good songs from Eternal, Soul II Soul, Dayton, and the Whispers. Many of these songs were only briefly big hits, but have maintained their quality over the years. The second album is where things go haywire, including Vanilla Ice and Paula Abdul songs that may have novelty value, but do not fit into the proceedings. Lesser dance songs like N-Trance's jock rock remake of "Stayin' Alive" are also included, taking the album far below the standards set by the first half. But there are a few good rap songs on the second album, including classics by Arrested Development and Redhead Kingpin & the F.B.I.. The album is very mixed, but the first half is really good and will appeal to a wide variety of music fans. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide