Blink-182 drummer goes hip-hop

Travis Barker is a drummer and a very talented one with inventive beats at that. But he’s still only a drummer.

The release of his solo debut “Give the Drummer Some” is more than a bit unconventional, and for Blink-182 fans, the hip-hop crossover is also a surprise departure.

An all-star cast of rappers, including Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, Rick Ross and Game, lends rhymes to tracks on the album, and while some sound refreshing against the sound of real drum kicks, others don’t quite blend in with the one-man band. Overall, Barker’s drumming skills are overshadowed by the rappers’ lyrics and there is a lack of cohesion among the 12 songs that makes it sound more like a collection of remixes than a proper album.

Some fans might enjoy hearing their favorite rappers do something different on the tracks, but ultimately the concept of the album is more unique than the actual music.