We have all heard the phrase, "levels to this," right? Insert the ILLUMINATI REJECT project to that sentence and walk away. This project is probably one the strongest ones to meet our review gauntlet.
OVERALL RATING:
For everyone who thinks lyricism is dead and that creativity in hip hop is no longer existent, we should play them some Nino Bless. We have all heard the phrase, "levels to this," right? Insert the ILLUMINATI REJECT project to that sentence and walk away. This project is probably one the strongest ones to meet our review gauntlet yet.
Admittedly, at first listen, it seemed that the project was going to have an average rating, but as the review process continued, we found gems in bar after bar mixed with some quality production to present something rap fans will definitely appreciate from both sides of the proverbial lyricism fence.
From the first half of the project, tracks like The Rise, Turn Around and Bamboozled provide the perfect example of his ability to not only rap, but DELIVER his words with exact precision.
Our playlist vote went to Silver Bullet feat. Cambatta. This is one of the most versatile tracks on the project, and it's lyrically bananas! With more of a southern sounding production, its combination is a lethal dose of music.
It's hard to truly criticize this project. The only real weak points to the album were some minor mix issues, like dropping the high hats in This Song Might Get Me Killed, and a lack of some breakdowns in the beat for Bamboozled. Additionally This Song Might Get Me Killed was a very long song. If they made a shorter version balancing verses and vocals, it might make some serious waves.
Overall, this project is one of the strongest examples of how to create your own genuine sound and creative brand through music. Everything from lyrics, production to the delivery and mix was on point. We would recommend this anyone enjoys rap music, period. You can download it free on DatPiff.com on the link below and see one of his videos off this project below.
From the very beginning, it became clear why so many people enjoy hearing his music, and why he might fling fans off his stage as seen on various YouTube videos.
ARTIST(S): Action Bronson ALBUM: Blue Chips 2
OVERALL RATING:
So, this is our first review on one of the most currently talked about emcees in the market. Known for his similarity to Ghostface, it became very obvious this guy was definitely an emcee who stood on his own regardless of what his voice and cadence resembled. From the very beginning, it became clear why so many people enjoy hearing his music, and why he might fling fans off his stage as seen on various YouTube videos.
His delivery is one of his greatest strengths, and the listener can feel this from the very first track of the project. He jumps off SILVERADO with a strong tone proclaiming "this is a grown man sport," and continues bodying beats track after track.
Some slick talk from Big Body Bes makes the intro and interludes entertaining and comical, while he continues to hammer out bars track after track. Honestly, this is a project for those who enjoy the wordplay and menacing lyrics of hardcore emcees. His ability to adapt to any beat and make it a masterpiece of lyrical onslaught is absolutely undeniable.
A few of the tracks have some pretty slick instrumentals and samples of saxophones in IT CONCERNS ME and FLIP YA. Additionally, you will find a few moments in the project where it's strictly acapella.
As with many projects, there are some downsides to this project, and we would be amiss if we didn't point out some of those flaws. JACKSON TRAVOLTA was worth a listen, but the mix on the lows was a bit too high and it Mayhem's delivery didn't really fill the beat well after hearing Bronson go in on the track. Vocals were a bit too low and the guitar riff needed to be in the forefront a bit more on the instrumental mix.
While the project was definitely lyrically ingenious, it did get a bit monotonous toward the end and made it hard to get through the whole album without feeling mentally exhausted. It would have been nice to have some more upbeat tracks with some simpler punchlines. It never hurts to give your audience a quick break from what they expect to hear if done correctly.
Some of the production on tracks like TWIN PEUGOTS and MAN THE MIRROR, and MIDGET COUGH seemed to drag on without much variation. This definitely made it easier to catch the thoughtful wordplay, but it took away the impact these tracks could have had.
Overall, this project was solid. One of the best we have done in a while, and we are looking forward to hearing more from this Queens native. If you haven't jumped on the Bronson wagon yet, you might want to give Blue Chips 2 a listen and see what you have been missing out on.
There are rarely groups that truly go outside of the box to deliver some good music mixed with great comedy AND dope production. This is definitely one of THOSE kind of projects.
ARTIST(S): FoulMowf & Hagan Lee ALBUM: Here to Hear
OVERALL RATING:
So, we received this project from some St. Petersburg emcees that redefine the meaning of UNIQUE. There are rarely groups that truly go outside of the box to deliver some good music mixed with great comedy AND dope production. This is definitely one of THOSE kind of projects. FoulMowf and Hagan Lee combine forces to create a completely unfiltered approach that will have you rewinding just to hear the wild punch-lines and metaphors used throughout the project.
Opening up the album with a completely comical sample; the beat drops to expose their absolute dedication to hard hitting production on "You Can Find Me." While opening up the album with a long track of features is usually not the best move, it did create the feeling necessary to understand exactly how diverse these guys could be.
Tracks like "Dominate," "Morning" and "Words" will definitely be one for the Hip Hop heads to save in the playlist. The authoritative flows and production on these tracks are enough to gain respect in any circle of emcees.
One of the most unique and hilarious tracks is "Smart Dummy." FoulMowf's off the wall delivery and completely insane lyrics are one of our favorites on this project. It's definitely not a track for those easily offended; but if you can take a joke, this will be one of those tracks that people play back for their friends simply because of how crazy it really is. The production definitely compliments the flow and it simply WORKS.
Overall, the project was solid and one of the most creative sounds we have heard in a while. There were some weak points to the project, which were mainly mix related, thus dropping their rating here. "Black Hoodie" was a dope track and concept, but the overall mix on the production could have used more strength on the low to mid-range frequencies. "Bad Seed" was another track that would have made the playlist easily had the mix had a bit more power to it. "Everything" had a great concept and sound, but the vocals needed more of bump in the overall mix; and "Strictly Commercial" somewhat drowned out FoulMowf's vocals a bit. These are a few of the examples of tracks that needed some engineer work, but also made us question what would happen with these guys on a project with a very polished mix and master.
This project is definitely a must have for those who enjoy a different sound that is both creative and still true to its roots in Hip Hop. One of the cool things about this project through the whole CD is the use of Hip Hop samples and references from ODB to KRS and more. While their sound is definitely new school, you can clearly hear the influences that heads will appreciate. This is not to say that they sound anything like Golden Age Hip Hop… believe us when we say that they have THEIR OWN SOUND. Download their project for free below and let them know what you think.
With the cover art of William Cooper's "Behold a Pale Horse," and titled, FIELD VISION, A-M-P makes it clear that his art is more than just rap music.
Artist: A-M-P (Tampa, FL) Mixtape: Field Vision
OVERALL RATING:
With the cover art of William Cooper's "Behold a Pale Horse," and titled, FIELD VISIONS, A-M-P makes it clear that his art is more than just rap music. Opening the album with an acapella over war sounds on "Draft Day," the feel of the album seems to be more political in nature but definitely takes quite a few turns throughout the playlist. It's safe to say that A-M-P doesn't necessarily stay in any one lane on this album.
Tracks like "Good Mood" and "Friends Mutual," put an unexpected twist on his style. Though it's versatile (and versatility is generally a good thing), it could also divert some listeners to pick and choose tracks as opposed to listening to the whole project in one take.
An obvious strength of the album is his more conscious tracks like "New Nation" where the wordplay picks up a bit, and his ability to paint the concepts through lyrics work well. A definite REPEAT TRACK would be "Someone to Hold" that has a strong vocalist hook, and the verses tell a clear story for any listener to sink into.
The production and arrangement of most tracks give them a good vibe and the mix on this mixtape was absolutely clean. The sound from track to track was even and there weren't much weak points on the mixes track by track. The mix held a lot of the weight in the final overall rating on this review. Minus a few bumps in levels here and there, we couldn't complain about this one on general sound at all.
While this project was generally well done, it didn't stand out a lot in regards to wordplay and delivery. The content was great and topics ranged from relationships to 120 lessons, but there wasn't enough fluidity between tracks; and sometimes the delivery was a bit too mellow on some tracks like "Good Mood." There were times when the laid back approach could have used a more lively approach.
Another pain point for this mixtape would be some of the hooks on tracks like "Shut 'em Down" and "Two Bad Chicks," which could have used a little bit of work on the hooks. It took away from the value of songs that had some potential.
Overall the album was clean and well diversified. I would like to see a more conceptual project from him in the future where he chooses a lane for that specific project and runs with it. A few of these tracks made it to our playlist. Get your copy online
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Every so often there comes an artist who projects a very sociable personality that is both authoritative and friendly. Infinite Skillz is one of those types of artists, and he accurately titled his mixtape, "You're All Invited."
Mixtape: You're All Invited
Artist: Infinite Skillz (St. Petersburg, FL)
OVERALL RATING:
Every so often there comes an artist who projects a very sociable personality that is both authoritative and friendly. Infinite Skillz is one of those types of artists, and he accurately titled his mixtape, "You're All Invited."
From the beginning of the mixtape, the energy is unmistakable. "Break It Down" is the perfect wake up track and his delivery definitely fits the mold of the production. His remakes of industry tracks like "Grind So Hard" are good remakes, but it would have been good to see them more distinctive to his style as opposed to sounding a bit too much like the originals. Perhaps that was the purpose, but it would have been good to hear it a little differently.
One obvious plus to Infinite's mixtape is that his ability to create hooks makes the songs catchy and memorable. Many times artists get caught up in the verses and forget the importance of a hook. This artist doesn't make that mistake and weaves both rap and vocal hooks that complement each track. Tracks like "Rogaine" and "Same As You" validate this point.
If one thing that could be said about him as an artist throughout this mixtape; it's that his ability to mold himself around beats makes him versatile enough to survive the changing trends. The only track that really didn't fit him well was "Pretty Nasty." While the track had a good hook and he was obviously on beat; it just didn't fit his persona very well and it came through on the delivery a bit.
The mixtape was an overall QUALITY PRODUCT, and it's FREE; so there's really no reason to avoid listening to it. It needed some work on the mixes that were missing a little low end frequencies, but everything above 120hz+ (rough estimate) seemed to be leveled well. Overall, 3.5 boots on this one. With some fine tuning, it could have been 4, but we'll be sure to keep our eyes out on the next one and watch the growth.
In an age where jackin' for beats is the normal part of the journey; there comes the inevitable throwback mixtape that will take that concept and turn it into an ingenious piece of work.
ARTIST(S): Beast Corps / Tony Touch
MIXTAPE: Spittin' to Da Oldies, Vol. 1 RELEASED: 2012
OVERALL RATING:
In an age where jackin' for beats is the normal part of the journey; there comes the inevitable throwback mixtape that will take that concept and turn it into an ingenious piece of work. This is how the collaboration project between Tony Touch and Beast Corps felt with their "Spittin' To Da Oldies, Vol. 1" mixtape.
It's one of those mixtapes that is niched to the 90's era fan mostly; blending the older production with an authentic DJ touch, and then adding some witty lines and comical punch lines to resemble a bit of the "spoof rap" people like Redman and Lords of the Underground were well known for. (Yes, reader, if you remember these names and beats, YOU will soon realize these "oldies" meant the music YOU listened to as a teen… pause)
If there's one thing that the listener becomes quickly aware of, it's to not underestimate the power of a remake with Beast Corps behind it. Their ability to not only match the flow and delivery down to syllables; but their odd ability to blend even the mixes similar like in "New York City Love" that was an NY rendition of "California Love" complete with effects and melody to match.
Not only was the delivery and mix similar to their originals, but the wordplay was complimentary to each track. In "Twinz Pt. II," you even get the Spanish rap twisted into the wordplay on a Big Pun remake when they say… "My blood is puro, my corazon is oscuro / hit these menudo n***az with a little puerto rican judo."
The DJ feel to the whole project was definitely much needed in this era of automated mixtapes. Having the Tony Touch name and brand along with drops of everyone from Parish Smith, to Lord Finesse, and even Method Man on the intro to their remake of "Bring the Pain" called "F**kin' Wit the Beast".
The bottom line on this project is that it's for the golden era lovers. If you don't appreciate 90's era production, you probably will not like this mixtape much. It's the risk taken when doing projects like these. The mixes definitely sound more golden era than contemporary; so it won't have that advanced HD feel that younger generations are used to. Honestly, it's not supposed to.
While we hesitate to call this a spoof mixtape; that's the best way we can describe the style of lyrics and delivery. There are a lot of funny lines and scenarios Beast Corps paints throughout the entire mixtape. It makes for a very entertaining compilation of remakes that both compliment the instrumentals and helps make the songs their own.
Unfortunately, this also means a lack of serious tracks that most golden era fans also enjoy. There's not really much substance in a lot of the tracks beyond the fact that it's made to have a good time. So, while the wordplay was on point and the blends and drops have the listener going; there was no real MEAT to the project that could push it beyond a house party favorite.
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ALBUM RATINGS
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It's not often you get a well-rounded artist who can deliver on differing styles of music with the same energy and quality as that which makes them most comfortable. J-Scriptz is one of those kinds of artists.
Artist: J-Scriptz
Mixtape: Afraid of the Dark
Release Year: 2012
OVERALL RATING:
It's not often you get a well-rounded artist who can deliver on differing styles of a genre with the same energy and quality as that which makes them most comfortable. J-Scriptz is one of those kinds of artists. His ability to utilize various styles and incorporate them into his project is probably one of his greatest strengths; but it can also be costly in reviews like these that pick apart every aspect of a project from lyrics to production to mix.
To start off, the mixtape had a good vibe to it. While, it would have been preferable to hear less features; there were a lot of tracks with serious potential on this project. His intro titled, "Angels in the City" presented a strong introduction with lyrics to match the hard hitting production. He made it very clear he can get deep on a track and utilize wordplay and voice projection to his benefit.
Tracks like "More Than Ever" showed a real life depiction of love and its joys versus its struggles. He shows his devoted side on this by saying, "It's unconditional, my love for you is overdose / your baby blues are the reason I lost my lonely hopes / you helped me build a lifeline / that perfect smile got me staring for a lifetime." The women will enjoy this track on the emotional value it presents.
Another repeat track, and probably the strongest track on the project was "Afraid of the Dark" (the title track of course). From the production to the lyrics this cut was a definite banger. Unfortunately, the mix could have used some work to bring out the snares and some other 1K-ish frequencies. A small amount of compression on the instrumental probably would have also helped.
This was the major complication of the review throughout the project. While the songs were well put together; production selections were strong; and lyrics were delivered with quality; the mix lacked throughout the project, and It left the listener wanting to FEEL MORE of the track and not just the lyrics. While the overall objective of artists like this are to make the music vocally dominant on the mix to give clarity; sometimes it's overdone and the overall track loses the support of strong instrumentation. It seemed to be the case on this project.
Nonetheless, tracks like "Afraid of the Dark" still boasted lyrics like, "Try to cope, steady looking for a better half, I'm satan's prodigy profiting from a deadly past / It's so inaccurate, swiftly thinking I captured it; murdering all these pacifists thinkin they know half of it."
The only other feedback that could probably contribute to a better project on the next one would be to enlist a few singers. "Father Forgive Me" definitely needed a singer for the hook and "No More" was generally good; but could have stood out more on the vocal hooks. It was too bland of a melody and slightly drowned into the background of the song.
Overall, this is a good project to download and listen to. There's a few repeat tracks that made our playlists; so support your indies and download this project today. IT'S FREE!!!
ALBUM RATINGS
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Without a doubt, Cambatta has been a boot slap favorite for a while with good reason. His ability to weave random mental pictures with insightful messages makes him one of the more respected emcees.
Artist: Cambatta Mixtape: Smoke & Mirrors: The Porch
OVERALL RATING:
Without a doubt, Cambatta has been a boot slap favorite for a while with good reason. His ability to weave random mental pictures with insightful messages makes him one of the more respected emcees. This mixtape is no exception to the consistency he puts out, and anyone who is a Cambatta fan will not be disappointed by this release.
His conversational rap style does his intro justice, with flutes bringing in a smooth, feel good type of vibe on the production. Despite his laid back style of delivery; his lyrics are rampant with clear wordplay over strong punch lines. Listening closely, tracks like Brief Conversation unfold with the following lines, "As I analyze life, question every facet / like what it really takes to get that legendary status."
His genuine feelings seem to come out on this mixtape, and anyone who enjoys analyzing life will appreciate his views and presentation of experiences and thoughts.
Like with most lyrical artists, there's always a smoke song, and Cambatta doesn't hesitate to drop one on his project called, The Chronic. Though it doesn't sound any bit like a Dr. Dre masterpiece; this artist paints his own legendary work with a feature from Rafijah Siano. This track is a definite repeat "offender" on the radio controls.
The thing with this project is that it's an easy mixtape to play on repeat and enjoy the vibe to. The mixes and production are strong and clean; and the composition of the music from the beats to the lyrics are simply THAT good.
The only downsides from this side that we could identify on this project were a few mixes that could have used more power on the kick frequencies and a few clean bass drops that could have filled in some air on a few tracks. Harry The Tubman was one of those tracks that were really great in concept and composition; but the mix took a little away from the impact of it. Nonetheless, listening from a lyrics and beat making perspective; the tracks that had these issues were still CLEARLY great tracks; which resulted in a high rating.
Overall, the album is SOLID. There's no question those who enjoy lyrics, laid back and heavy beats along with clear messages will appreciate what Cam brings on this project. This will definitely be on our MP3 rotations.
From "Bump This" to "Bail My Mind," this mixtape motivates a person to put up the house and cards for the game, so to speak. The feelings of nostalgia quickly rush to any listener that remembers the golden age NYS mind state sound of Nas.
Artist(s): Annex Mixtape: Plan 4 Success Mixtape (2011)
Overall Rating:
This mixtape is definitely REFRESHING! It seems like this year's been one with long intros, and this album is definitely no exception (oh lord, sigh); but then the beat drops in and ears go completely at ease again. From the beginning of that drop, it was apparent that this review would be a good one.
From "Bump This" to "Bail My Mind," this mixtape motivates a person to put up the house and cards for the game, so to speak. The feelings of nostalgia quickly rush to any listener that remembers the golden age NYS mind state sound of Nas.
Annex exhibits a strong control over his flow and delivery, and he seems to know what beats fit him best throughout the mixtape. Some of his delivery is reminiscent of AZ, and while that's a compliment, this will be the main challenge for Annex. Stepping away from that sound and creating more of his own will be critical for his growth as an artist.
There are definitely "album fillers" in this mixtape, but not enough to bring the ratings down. Tracks like "Shit Happens" which didn't have the strength of his initial tracks; and "Lights On, Lights Off" seemed to be an attempt at appealing to clubs and a larger demographic. This just seemed a bit out of place on this album, or wasn't the best selection for this particular project.
Overall, the tracks and beat selection were on point with him as an artist, so it's clear the producer had a good feel for the artist and his angle of delivery. This chemistry is so critical, and they pulled it off very well. This is definitely a project you can listen to straight through.
Lyrically speaking, Annex brought his A-Game. His ability to change his pitch and direction will determine his ability to make himself distinct from other artists that are probably influences of his musical preference, but with his talent, there's no doubt he can pull it off.
If you love Hip Hop, you will want to listen to this album. He's got some relevant tracks and shows a great promise. As we looked forward to this album, we continue to look forward to MORE of Annex in the coming months here at BSR. He's definitely become one of our most notable on talent alone.
So, we decided to peep out Kembe X's new joint titled SELF RULE for a 2nd Round review. Most times, artists have a hard enough time getting just a few good songs in ONE project; much less a group of successive projects that show TRUE growth.
Artist(s): Kembe X Mixtape: Self Rule Mixtape (2011)
Overall Rating:
So, we decided to peep out Kembe X's new joint titled SELF RULE for a 2nd Round review. Most times, artists have a hard enough time getting just a few good songs in ONE project; much less a group of successive projects that show TRUE growth. As usual, his ability to create intricate wordplay is probably the most ingenious part of his delivery.
He starts off the project with an inspiring Malcolm X speech for the intro. Their mix and choice of background music was definitely well done. This is actually something that could be said about a lot of the project, overall. The choice in production matched the lyrics extremely well throughout the project.
From "Introlude" with its smooth delivery and laid back production, to "Quarter and a Nightmare" with its odd use of melodies over smooth lines of rhythm; Kembe's ability to weave a story that pulls in the listener is undeniable. Any listener will notice, right away, that not only is Kembe X able to adapt easily to various rhythms; but his choice of production is phenomenal.
Some tracks worth a DEFINITE mention are, "Patience," which helped bring the project back into perspective and made it come alive midway when the track tempos starting blurring together. This track is a definite REPEAT BUTTON CULPRIT! The only thing it could have used was less saturation on the distortion of the vocals of the hook. It was a bit heavy and could have balanced out a bit better to sound less gritty.
Between "Backwards" with its old school "Midnight Marauder's" feel, and smooth bass riffs and woodwinds of "Don't Quit;" it's clear his influences are not just constrained to recent music. Kembe X seems to be rooted in MUCH MORE than today's superficial digi-songs. His music reaches back out to the listener and incites that old warm feel Chi-Town artists are known well for.
While we have a lot of good to say about this project, and the ratings speak the same; there were some slight downsides to the project that could have used some work. "Cold Summer" loses a little momentum, which he makes up with his ability to paint a picture with lyrics. "Don't Quite" could have used a little more work on the bridge and the feature artist, Alex Wiley, could have had better breath control in his delivery.
Despite the very minute flaws on this project; the quality, wordplay, production and overall mix puts Kembe X on a different playing field than many indie artists who are still trying to mature their sound. Peep out the download and HEAR HIP HOP REVIVING FIRST HAND!
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ARTIST(S): Action Bronson
Artist: A-M-P (Tampa, FL)
ARTIST(S): Beast Corps / Tony Touch
Artist: J-Scriptz
Artist(s): Kembe X
