Mixtape Review: Jadakiss’ “Consignment”
WHAT’S THE VERDICT ON JADAKISS’ “CONSIGNMENT” MIXTAPE? READ THE REVIEW HERE.
EP Review: The Wurxs’ [BGA] “2nd Win”
THE WURXS [BGA] ARE AN OFF-SHOOT OF BLACK THOUGHT – CHECK THE REVIEW ON THEIR NEW EP!
Mixtape Review: Jon Connor’s “The People’s Rapper LP” [BGA]
BREEDING GROUND’S JON CONNOR IMPRESSES ON “THE PEOPLE’S RAPPER LP” – READ THE REVIEW
Mixtape Review: Beanie Sigel’s “Broad Street Empire, Vol. 1: Lost Files”
BEANIE SIGEL HAS A FEW STORIES TO TELL – READ THE REVIEW ON HIS “BROAD STREET EMPIRE VOL. 1”
Mixtape Review: Mac Miller’s “Macadelic”
READ THE REVIEW ON MAC MILLER’S “MACADELIC” MIXTAPE – DOES IT TOP “BLUE SLIDE PARK”?
Mixtape Review: Game’s “California Republic”
THE REVIEW IS IN ON THE GAME’S “CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC” MIXTAPE – IS IT HIS BEST WORK?
EP Review: Chamillionaire’s “Ammunition”
Rating: 6.5 / 10 After the Grammy-winning single “Ridin’ Dirty”, Chamillionaire seemed to drop from his musical plateau. With him, followed the deceleration of the mainstream obsession with Texas Hip-Hop, and the infatuation seemed to end as quickly as it began. The Texas representative was rolling on empty for a while, but his new EP Ammunition seems him attempting to reload and revive his once sizzling career. The project begins with a spoken intro, “Your Connect”, where Chamillionaire subtly analyzes, breaks down, and boasts about how he is “the quiet one you need to look out for”. The intro sets the stage for a running theme of forced Mafioso references that severely hinder the momentum of the record. “All Mine” contains a Scarface sample (the movie, for clarification) that reeks of triteness. “On My Way” is the only attempt at a slower paced sound, but it proves to be lackluster. As does, “Running Laps”, the EP’s first real track. His bars are passing, but the production here and throughout the project comes off as hollow. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKLZfT0OVmA] The record does have its moments, though, like on “You Gon’ Learn”. The traditional boom-bap sound is a refreshing safe haven away from the rest of the pedestrian instrumentals, and guest Saigon provides a note-worthy verse. “Won’t Change” is the best song here, and the only one that truly evokes a southern cool. Soulful guitar strums and wavy bass-lines are welcomed with Chamillionaire, and they match his gruff voice well. “Let’s Get That” is a brighter spot on the EP, with a quick paced flow paralleling the equally fast snares. A remix of the song, however, is also featured. The song isn’t good enough to have a remix on a 9-track EP, where material is scarce to begin with; it’s essentially the same track twice. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiqmNQbMv0] The quality of Ammunition does not comply with that of a Grammy-award winning artist. Chamillionaire has proven he can fire more accurately than this. There are too many dark spots here to fully overcome, and not enough light to see full potential. This is not to say Chamillionaire is out of bullets just yet, maybe the clip just jammed this time around. Stream the EP here and listen for yourself.
Mixtape Review: QuESt – “Fear Not Failure”
QuESt FROM FLORIDA IS GAINING ALL TYPES OF PRAISE LATELY – CHECK HIS MIXTAPE REVIEW HERE
Mixtape Review: Add-2’s “Save.Our.Souls”
ADD-2 CAN COUNT COMMON AS A BIG FAN…READ OUR REVIEW OF THE CHI-TOWN SPITTER’S MIXTAPE
Mixtape Review: Mickey Factz Presents: “Mickey MauSe”
MICKEY FACTZ TAKES US BACK IN TIME ON “MICKEY MAUSE” – CHECK THE REVIEW
EP Review: Young Gliss’ [BGA] “The Glimmer EP”
Rating: 7.5 / 10 After a quick play of Young Gliss’ latest project, to say that he is a rookie would be “technically” accurate due to his sudden exposure, but misleading all the same. In any case, the newest 14-track outing from the Philadelphia MC has him showcasing his skills for a little less than an hour alongside several featured MCs, and although they may initially draw you in, it’s the skills from Gliss that hold your attention. The Glimmer EP may have a different reason behind its name, but the flashes of promise shown throughout the project is well-worth noting and watching for in the future. One of the best things about The Glimmer EP is the choice in production. It’s not overpowering like most instrumentals that garner radio play, but instead sounds smooth and melodic, to the point where it’s easy to zone out to the music before you realize it’s over. The project plays more as a collection of songs as opposed to a flowing album, but that’s not a negative in this case; if anything this gives him a little wider of a platform to show what he’s capable of, and from him holding the microphone solo on “100 On The Dash” to splitting MC duties with others on posse cuts like “No One Can Stop Us Now” (which features Prodigy, Jon Connor, Killer Mike, Lo Keys & Just Shawn), he takes full advantage. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7lHg-17j54] Gliss isn’t the type of MC to weaken his flow just to fit a punchline, and that dedication to the deeper content in his rhymes is also well-represented here. Songs like “Expect Delays” (feat. Chris Young the Rapper) and “Awake” show the introspective side of Gliss, but not in a cliché, uninventive way. Although at times the project does seem to hit a lull due to possibly a few too many uninspired features (I’m just not feeling Dosage’s guest verse on “Everything”, I’m sorry), Gliss does a great job of keeping the focus on himself regardless. As alluded to earlier, the entire project is a reflection of Young Gliss as he showcases his lyrical ability, and he seems hell bent on gaining recognition his way. Choosing to have an EP that’s longer than nine songs is unconventional, and choosing to not rely on his All-Star family connection is even more honorable in a Hip-Hop environment where rappers name-drop to get ahead. He could’ve easily spring-boarded off the popularity of his cousin and legendary Roots drummer ?uestlove to gain looks, or name-dropped Philadelphia MC and Roots affiliate Dice Raw to grab Hip-Hop heads’ attention, but he instead chose to forego that and make people interested in him through his music. It’s slightly ironic that with all of that said, The Glimmer EP could’ve been better if it wasn’t for some of the features weighing it down as a whole. Even with its slight flaws, Young Gliss still proves that he’s one to watch for in the upcoming months, and with his emergence, it’s hard to deny the fact that Philadelphia may be one of the biggest places to find talent right now. Download the EP here, and listen for yourself. Also, check out our interview with him at SXSW from earlier this week below: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1zUU0TMwGWY#!]
Mixtape Review: Wiz Khalifa’s [BGA] “Taylor Allderdice”
THE VERDICT IS IN ON WIZ KHALIFA’S “TAYLOR ALLDERDICE” – CHECK THE REVIEW
Album Review: Iron Solomon’s “Monster”
IRON SOLOMON DELIVERS MEGA-LYRICISM ON “MONSTER” – READ THE REVIEW!
Mixtape Review: Big K.R.I.T’s “4Eva N A Day”
BIG K.R.I.T.’S “4EVA N A DAY” MIXTAPE IS HERE…CHECK THE OFFICIAL ALLHIPHOP.COM REVIEW!
Mixtape Review: Don Trip’s “Guerilla”
DON TRIP MAY BECOME ONE OF THE STORYTELLERS OF HIS TIME. CHECK OUR REVIEW OF “GUERILLA”!
Mixtape Review: Pill’s “The Epidemic”
CAN PILL BOUNCE BACK FROM HIS RECENT LABEL DRAMA WITH “THE EPIDEMIC”! CHECK OUR REVIEW!
Mixtape Review: Yelawolf & Ed Sheeran’s “Slumdon Bridge” [EP]
Rating: 8 / 10 The best way to describe Yelawolf’s musical pattern as of late is to simply say “Expect the Unexpected.” Since his Shady Records release Radioactive, the Alabama native has been doing everything in his power to remain at the top of his game, including taking the unorthodox road of releasing another EP while promoting his album. The “Slumdon Bridge” EP has him teaming with up-and-coming UK singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran to make something quite unlike anything you may have heard this year. Although the EP is only four songs, it’s well worth the download and sparks the question if they’ll work together again in the future. To be clear, this is a collaborative effort from Yela and Ed, but that becomes obvious by the end of the second track listed. The surprise is how well they actually mesh; Yelawolf takes the lyrical route, while more often than not Sheeran provides the powerful melodies that lace the songs even while Yelawolf rhymes (during the intro to “You Don’t Know (For F**k’s Sake)”, Yelawolf even refers to him as the “Melody Man”). Sheeran even ventures into spitting a “rhyme” in the same song, but it fits well with the flow of the EP. The best part about the project is the fact that within such a short amount of time, Yelawolf figured out a way to show off so many different styles of his lyricism. From the storytelling angle on “London Bridge” to the building rap crescendo on “You Don’t Know (For F**k’s Sake)”, to the all-out aggression on “Faces” (which was done so well it could’ve been slid on the end of “Radioactive” as a bonus cut), to the patterned flow on “Tone”, it all feels like Yelawolf from start to finish. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki8mLcUzf-c] Aside from the somewhat obvious flaw of brevity here (you can listen to the entire EP in under 15 minutes), there’s not too much to complain about unless you’re looking for the “Hard White” sound from Yelawolf. This isn’t that type of project, but that’s not a bad thing in this case. It’s a unique project from start to finish, and it is well worth noting that Yelawolf and Ed Sheeran are talented enough to pull this off without seeming like a gimmick. It’s the most unlikeliest of teams, but it works. Here’s to hoping that we see more of them together in the future. Download the EP Here (via DatPiff)
Album Review: M-Phazes’ “Phazed Out”
Rating: 8.5 / 10 As music continues to evolve and touch listeners all over the world, it becomes more clear that talent knows no boundaries. The Australian Hip-Hop producer M-Phazes has been criminally underrated for quite some time, but that could very well change with this latest Coalmine Records release. Phazed Out has M-Phazes teaming up with the legendary DJ Rhettmatic of the World Famous Beat Junkies to add a new spin (pardon the pun) on previously released songs from the label, and it couldn’t have been done any better. Alongside the many cosigns that are present between tracks from the likes of DJ Premier, Sha Money XL, and more, the songs flow smoothly into each other, with the occasional exhibition by Rhettmatic to remind you that he’s legendary for a reason. The mixtape-album format could easily fail if executed improperly, but the chemistry between M-Phazes and Rhettmatic allows no room for sloppiness and it reflects from the beginning of the project until the concluding DJ drop. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Fdx3ysc5k] In addition, the underground Hip-Hop arena is well-represented; Emilio Rojas, Termanology, Heltah Skeltah, Masta Ace, Torae, Sadat X, Mela Machinko, and much more all make appearances throughout the LP, and there’s not a single weak link as far as the quality of their cameos. Saigon delivers a rugged verse alongside Bekay and Inspectah Deck on “The Raw”, Skyzoo and CL Smooth show off their “Perfect Timing”, and the Brown Bag All-Stars take turns on the mic on “What’s It All About.” Through it all, however, it’s the original production of M-Phazes that shines through as the main draw to listen. [Audio: M-Phazes – “Perfect Timing”] This 12-track LP is a joy to listen to from start to finish, and if you’re looking to sling accusations, the majority of the blame for that joy lies squarely in the hands of M-Phazes. The seamless blend of his production, the underground artists, and the revered cuts and scratches from DJ Rhettmatic makes Phazed Out a must-listen by almost any standards. If M-Phazes continues to slide out projects like this, it’s a matter of time before his underrated status evaporates completely.
Mixtape Review: Emilio Rojas’ “Breaking Point”
THE REVIEW IS IN ON EMILIO ROJAS’ NEW MIXTAPE, “BREAKING POINT” – READ IT HERE!
Mixtape Review: Knowledge Medina & Numonics’ “Never Enough” [EP]
Rating: 7/10 Independently, you may have heard of both of the people responsible for Never Enough; Knowledge Medina is a battle rapper to the core and has several appearances on GrindTimeNow.net (videos of his handiwork are all over YouTube, if interested), while the Florida producer Numonics has silently crafted a name associated with quality Hip-Hop, working with the likes of Co$$, J NiCS, REKS, and more. It makes sense for the two Florida representatives to work together on an EP, and Never Enough should please a majority of Hip-Hop fans despite its flaws. Numonics is rock-solid with his production throughout the EP, setting the stage perfectly for Knowledge Medina and friends to spit without having to worry about overpowering instrumentals. The duo channel Hip-Hop in almost every aspect, and it reflects throughout. It’s also notable to mention that Numonics created the title track while recovering from a near fatal heart attack. And, from Medina rhyming about his daughter on “Promise Me”, to the state of music on “DOA”, to just the typical posse cut on “Rhyme Over Reason”, the project showcases enough talent in its brevity (only nine tracks) to warrant respect for all involved. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyEpFAKjyhc] However, the biggest issue with the EP is the fact that most of the guests featured seem to outshine the host MC. REKS destroys both of his features with ease on “DOA” and “Above and Beyond”, Co$$ delivers a stand-up verse on “Can You Let Me Be”, and J NiCs & Jon The Barber elevate their stock on “Rhyme over Reason.” Due to his style and cadence when rhyming, it’s easy to become a little bored with Medina’s bars, even when they are well-constructed. Although this isn’t always the case (Medina’s verse on “Rhyme Over Reason” is one of my favorites featured), it’s a reccurring theme that sticks out like a sore thumb in comparison to everything else, and will surely bring up the question if battle rappers can truly make quality songs in the future. All constructive criticism aside, Never Enough is still a well-executed project that aims for the Hip-Hop heads more so than the radio listeners. Depending on your side of the argument, that could be a good or a bad thing, but regardless of your perspective the Florida tandem adds another nice project to their ever-growing checklist of accomplishments. If you have a little time, give it a download and evaluate it for yourself. Photo credit: ImageShack
