Mixtape Wrapup (May 2010)
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Cam’ron & Vado - Boss of All Bosses 2.5 (DJ Drama)
Cam’ron has reunited his friendship with Jim Jones, but musically, the Harlem emcee is all UN now—but Boss of All Bosses 2.5 shows that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The chemistry between him and up-and-comer Vado is approaching full swing, and the mixtape’s highlights showcase this. Opening tracks “Ya Lyin” and “Raise It Up” let them spit varying deliberate and bouncy rhymes, and the street flair of “It’s Our Party” is slightly reminiscent of The Diplomats’ glory days. Collaborations work without congestion as well: “Ya Killin’ Me” is a slow burner, which pairs their rhymes with a Kid Cudi chorus and a muddy Alchemist soundbed, the two spit heat alongside Fabolous on “I Don’t Believe Niggas,” and “The Council” lets Drama protégé Willie Da Kid hold his own alongside the duo. This is going to be a franchise that Cam and Vado will have to build brick by brick—especially with Cam’s illustrious Dipset history—but Boss of All Bosses 2.5 shows that they have a bright future ahead.
Cool Kids - Tacklebox (L.A. Leakers)
The Michigan/Chicago duo of Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks is truly one of Hip Hop’s most interesting cases: since 2005, they have released mostly free mixtapes (only one paid EP) while eating off of packed shows, merch and licensing deals. But The Cool Kids have perfected their formula, and with their Tacklebox mixtape with the L.A. Leakers, it’s more of the consistency they’re known for. With a set of simple-yet-effective trunk-rattling beats by Inglish, the two drop infectious rhymes about women, clothes and cars—perfect music for summer riding. Songs like “Fishing Lessons” keep the lo-fi brashness Inglish is known for, but “Great Outdoors” showcases crispier drums, and “Strawberry Girl” displays further versatility with its techno-tinged backdrop. Chuck holds his own as a producer, but the highlight of the tape still comes with an instrumental from Ski Beatz, who pays tribute to Chuck’s minimalist sound with his percussive and spacey soundbed for “Birthdays.”
Royce Da 5’9” - Bar Exam 3: The Most Interesting Man (DJ Whoo Kid)
Between Bar Exam 2 , his solo album Street Hop and his work with Slaughterhouse, Royce Da 5’9” is finally receiving the respect that his skill level demands. So with the third installment of his lauded mixtape series, he’s enjoying his place and showing more of his humorous personality. Don’t get it twisted: he rips the likes of OutKast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad” Rihanna’s “Hard,” and 50 Cent’s “Psycho” to shreds with his venomous flow and sharp punchlines. Original songs like the previous leak “Taxi Driver” and the Black Milk and eLZhi collab “Real Hip Hop” also bang. But Royce also uses BE3 to goof off: “I Hate Your Pants” is a sang persecution of skinny jeans, and the deceptively-titled and produced “In The Club” is an ode to fighting, not “beating it up.” Even “187,” his response to offending words from Saigon, is much tamer than the massacres of prior foes like Mistah F.A.B. The sly employment of DJ Whoo Kid’s comical commentary and scratches only add to the humor. Some will be upset with the switched demeanor of Bar Exam 3, but all in all, this is still the Royce that fans know and love.
See all of mixtape wrapup here........................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1552
Cam’ron has reunited his friendship with Jim Jones, but musically, the Harlem emcee is all UN now—but Boss of All Bosses 2.5 shows that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The chemistry between him and up-and-comer Vado is approaching full swing, and the mixtape’s highlights showcase this. Opening tracks “Ya Lyin” and “Raise It Up” let them spit varying deliberate and bouncy rhymes, and the street flair of “It’s Our Party” is slightly reminiscent of The Diplomats’ glory days. Collaborations work without congestion as well: “Ya Killin’ Me” is a slow burner, which pairs their rhymes with a Kid Cudi chorus and a muddy Alchemist soundbed, the two spit heat alongside Fabolous on “I Don’t Believe Niggas,” and “The Council” lets Drama protégé Willie Da Kid hold his own alongside the duo. This is going to be a franchise that Cam and Vado will have to build brick by brick—especially with Cam’s illustrious Dipset history—but Boss of All Bosses 2.5 shows that they have a bright future ahead.
Cool Kids - Tacklebox (L.A. Leakers)
The Michigan/Chicago duo of Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks is truly one of Hip Hop’s most interesting cases: since 2005, they have released mostly free mixtapes (only one paid EP) while eating off of packed shows, merch and licensing deals. But The Cool Kids have perfected their formula, and with their Tacklebox mixtape with the L.A. Leakers, it’s more of the consistency they’re known for. With a set of simple-yet-effective trunk-rattling beats by Inglish, the two drop infectious rhymes about women, clothes and cars—perfect music for summer riding. Songs like “Fishing Lessons” keep the lo-fi brashness Inglish is known for, but “Great Outdoors” showcases crispier drums, and “Strawberry Girl” displays further versatility with its techno-tinged backdrop. Chuck holds his own as a producer, but the highlight of the tape still comes with an instrumental from Ski Beatz, who pays tribute to Chuck’s minimalist sound with his percussive and spacey soundbed for “Birthdays.”
Royce Da 5’9” - Bar Exam 3: The Most Interesting Man (DJ Whoo Kid)
Between Bar Exam 2 , his solo album Street Hop and his work with Slaughterhouse, Royce Da 5’9” is finally receiving the respect that his skill level demands. So with the third installment of his lauded mixtape series, he’s enjoying his place and showing more of his humorous personality. Don’t get it twisted: he rips the likes of OutKast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad” Rihanna’s “Hard,” and 50 Cent’s “Psycho” to shreds with his venomous flow and sharp punchlines. Original songs like the previous leak “Taxi Driver” and the Black Milk and eLZhi collab “Real Hip Hop” also bang. But Royce also uses BE3 to goof off: “I Hate Your Pants” is a sang persecution of skinny jeans, and the deceptively-titled and produced “In The Club” is an ode to fighting, not “beating it up.” Even “187,” his response to offending words from Saigon, is much tamer than the massacres of prior foes like Mistah F.A.B. The sly employment of DJ Whoo Kid’s comical commentary and scratches only add to the humor. Some will be upset with the switched demeanor of Bar Exam 3, but all in all, this is still the Royce that fans know and love.
See all of mixtape wrapup here........................
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/interviews/id.1552
