Archive for Reviews

The mixtape, which suffered numerous delays, finally dropped earlier this month. I was definitely surprised and had already accepted not being able to hear it anytime soon!

It turns out the music was well worth the wait. Fabolous acted out the mixtape artwork and laid to rest a good selection of beats.

Adding to the tape's "last rights-feel" was DJ Drama, who decided to change his knickname from Barak O'Drama to DraMcCain for this project. Regarding the switch, Drama explains how he's "starting to feel like a Republican, giving out the death penalty and killin' you niggas!" (More..)

This mixtape had me at the Lou Bond sample.  My love affair with the mysterious singer's "To The Establishment" stems from Outkast flipping a baseline for "Wailin',"one of my favorites off ATLiens.  Seven years later, when Brother Ali used the intro vocals and piano as the framework for his hauntingly beautiful "Picket Fence," I was sold.  Once I heard that familiar hum and piano cascade in "Alright", the second track off of Starlito's latest effort, Renaissance Gangster, I knew I was sticking in for the long haul.

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Download: 4:57

The Brazilian-born, Florida-raised emcee, Laws has been creating a great deal of buzz around his impressive 4:57 mixtape, hosted by DJ Don Cannon.

The Grammy award-winning group of producers, The… (MORE... )

Yesterday, XXL Magazine and DJ Whoo Kid gave us a handful of new tracks from some of the best new artists in the game with their 10 Freshmen for '10 mixtape.

The tape helps to defend the new class of emcees against bitter fans and critics who argue that a different group of ten are more deserving. It also serves as a quick glimpse into each artists' style.

Regardless of whether or not these are the best freshmen emcees in the game, I applaud XXL Magazine for continuing to create a great deal of buzz around ten hard working artists each year.

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Joe Scudda, the flannel-wearing, PBR-drinkin emcee uses his Not Your Average Joe EP to show how he breaks the common stereotypes associated with rap.

Joe describes "average" as "common, typical, and ordinary," and often pokes fun at the many artists who fall victim to these traits in an effort to fit in with the crowd.

In the following video, which introduces the EP, Scudda talks about these artists and their behavior in a comical manner, over the dark "Think About It." (more...)

Alley Boy's movement is taking off quick, and with the numerous co-signs coming his way, it'd be a shame to sleep on Definition of Fuck Shit, hosted by DJ Holiday and The Empire.

Some have said that the project was the most anticipatedmixtape since Young Jeezy’s Trap or Die.

Those are some big shoes to fill, but his music does give off the same "larger-than-life trap feel" that Jeezy and Gucci have perfected.

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A few hours after his hometown team won the Superbowl, Curren$y released what his loyal fans had been searching for during the game’s commercial breaks, Smokee Robinson.

The mixtape’s artwork is crazy, and most likely received a… (MORE... )

B.o.B. fans have been anxious for new music ever since TJ Chapman (one half of B.o.B.’s management) tweeted out the good news that Atlantic Records finally set a serious release date for B.o.B. Presents the Adventures… (MORE... )

Last week, Mick Boogie, NVME, and Duck Down Records teamed up to release their Survival Kit mixtape.  The project pays tribute to hip hop greats, KRS-One and Buckshot.

Named after the recent Survival Skills… (MORE... )

XO’s One One Ten was one of the many mixtapes dropped on January 1st.  It was also mentioned in the LA Times, along with my favorite project of the new year, Yelawolf’s Trunk Muzik.… (MORE... )