The album is a big jump forward from the material on her debut. The album's best song & easily one of the year's best is "Never", where she disses critics, rivals (WBLS on-air personality and rival in radio stardom, Wendy Williams) & everyone else that has negative comments to say about her. "A New Day" is very good, with a nice flow & a catchy hook this joint can potentially dominate urban radio. Speaking of dominating urban radio the album also includes "If I Could Go" (Featuring Lil Mo & Sacario) & "Live Big" [REMIX] (Featuring Fat Joe & Sacario), two of the summers biggest hits. "Take You Home" (Featuring Kelis) is the next song to hit radio playlists, and its a blazin' club number. For those who were feeling the latin influenced tracks from her debut, "We Can Get it On" with Noreaga will be an instant favorite. Though his cameo is almost non-existent, Petey Pablo's contribution to "Waitin On" is appreciated. Missy Elliott's contributions to the album were weak, but the beat produced by Martinez's exclusive production team on "Whats that Sound", is hot as all hell. The Tony Sunshine guested "... up Situation" is hot, and its very much like "Song Cry" from Jay-Z's last solo album -=The Blueprint=-.

Overall Martinez shows that she was signed for a reason and not just on the strength of her name in the hip hop community. Along with the tracks I listed, look forward to the beats, which are incredible and suit Martinez's sultry vocals better then those that appeared on her debut. Its very rare to find an album that is consistently well with beats that perfectly fit the song's theme & lyrically subject matter. Martinez has impressed me here because she has stepped up huge, but I know for a fact that their is so much more inside of her lyrically & musically and I just can't wait for her to let it all out and prove to the world that she could do it. A great deal of haters will be hushed, but no matter what people are always going to hate.


Animal House - Up, Close and Personal Part 2!   April 18, 2003
Matt V (Brooklyn, New York)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

After a long "Up, Close and Personal" album, Angie returns with something a bit shorter. "Animal House" is the face of Hip-Hop and Rap music, it brings the life to it. Of course she's already proved on "If I Could Go!" which features Lil' Mo and Sacario, which I think was the hottest song in 2002, forget about Nelly's Party tracks! This is some real Rap! Other songs to prove it's beauty would be songs like "A New Day" which brings you into the world of Angie and also "Never" which was one of the tightest songs on the album. Angie has never been a sexual rapper, but she keeps her relationship issued songs like "F***ed Up Situation" featuring Tony Sunshine, harsh name, romantic tune! To let the peeps still know she's got Latin flavour, she throws in "We Can Get It On" with N.O.R.E, a party Latin track. Speaking of party's "What's That Sound?" and "Live Big [Remix]" are two Old Skool Hip-Hop party tracks which really bring back the memories of the good old days when peeps still remember what RAP and HIP-HOP actually was (not the Rap of the present day!). She has to be one of the artist of the present day who still remember the defined meaning of the words: Rap and Hip-Hop. Everyone should respect her for that! Go Angela!


WOW, no disappointments here.   September 10, 2004
DP (England)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I simply love Angie Martinez, she's got so much flava and she can definitely work it.
I was well impressed with her debut UP CLOSE & PERSONAL and ANIMAL HOUSE certainly doesn't disappoint, her albums are the type that you can put on and let play.
My favourite song off ANIMAL HOUSE has to be F'ked up Situation, it's just fantastic the way she keeps her cool on the track whilst deep down inside she's hurting about a failed relationship but in true ANGIE style. I also love the last track very melodic and a great finish to the album, I'm not to sure about the interludes in-fact they crack me up on anybody's album, but she definitely makes up for the very few interludes there are with some tight songs.
I recently went through a break-up but I found this album a real comfort in a way that I didn't sit and cry all the time, I got on with life and I knew that Angie had my back.
I wish there was more female rappers like her, the Latin cross over is great, y'all remember LIVE AT JIMMY's? How fly was that track?



Angie Stands on her Own   December 31, 2002
Jania (X-iles for Life)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

When I bought this CD, it was on sale for $8.99. I thought, "Whatta deal," so I bought it and put it into the CD player in my car. I drove around the town listening to the CD - I didn't want to stop the car at all!

I'm giving Angie 5 Stars because she has definitely improved lyrically and musically on this album, although she can stand to get rid of the skit guys. This album shows her mostly standing on her own, dominating her songs instead of doing one verse and allowing the guest to dominate. Now the guests either get only one verse (Missy, Fat Joe, Sacario) or get to do the hook (Kelis, Lil Mo, N.O.R.E., Petey Pablo, Tony Sunshine). It's definitely a New Day.


perfect women   August 26, 2002
SID (BOSTON)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

the latio artist angie martiniez is a good rapper with a nice voice,she dos'nt look like a rapper but she's a perfect rapper u know that.
my top 5 songs in this album:
1.if i could go feat. lil mo (this song is 1 of my best songs this year.
2.live big the remix feat. fat joe.
3.animal house: feat. sacario.
4.fu**ed up : feat. tony.
5.waitin on.
and more good songs in da album (everyone has a choice).
u got to buy the album (trust me) if u like rap & hip hop.
there's nothing better than this album out there.
and there's nothing more to say guyz.