*** EDO. G, ‘The Truth Hurt,” Ground Control/Nu Gruv

When Ed O.G & Da Bulldogs debuted at the onset of the 1990s with their brilliant “Life of a Kid in the Ghetto” album, the rap world was full of multidimensional artists who weren’t afraid to explore a variety of topics, from relationship woes to political concerns to parental responsibility to their rapping prowess. With the strong-voiced Ed O.G at the helm, the Boston-based crew covered each subject with equal parts entertainment and education value.

Now known as Edo. G and rolling solo, the rapper returns with a third album (in stores Tuesday) that isn’t as strong or as focused as his earlier work, even though it includes several rock-solid selections. Edo. G matches the power of his earlier releases on the forceful, DJ Premier-produced “Sayin’ Somethin’,” where he acknowledges his vices and expresses love for his daughter. His straightforward delivery hits hard on the somber, Pete Rock-produced “Situations,” while duets with the Roots’ Black Thought (‘Nothing Ventured’) and Gang Starr’s Guru (‘Work for It’) prove that he’s as skilled as the genre’s elite. Edo. G tones down his political and female-centered bents here, making more time for boasting and, inadvertently, reducing the impact of a noteworthy album.

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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.