Twista spins new winners

Twista

“The Day After” (Atlantic)

* * * 1/2

AFTER more than a decade as one of hip-hop’s most critically revered but commercially overlooked figures, this rapid-fire Chicago rapper became a mainstream star in 2004 thanks to the good-natured hits “Slow Jamz” and “Overnight Celebrity.” Both were from his spectacular “Kamikaze” album, a masterful marriage of top-notch production and unrivaled rapping skill and style.

The trend continues on this explosive follow-up. The title song introduces the album on a dramatic thematic note that hints at a plot line dealing with a terrorist-minded Twista. That story never fully materializes, but the real story here is Twista’s rapping.

He flows in a tag-team fashion with choice Al Green and R. Kelly samples on “Do Wrong” and “I’m a Winner,” respectively, perfectly playing off each singer’s voice as if they were recording together.

Then, on the confrontational “Heartbeat” and the smooth “Holding Down the Game,” Twista alternates between computer-enhanced voices and his normal tone, in effect facing off against himself in dazzling displays of lightning-quick delivery and more traditional rhyme styles.

When Twista teams with Pitbull on the party-starter “Hit the Floor” and with Pharrell on the sexy “Lavish,” it’s clear that the guests can’t keep pace with their gifted host.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.