Recently in Reviews Category

DJ Nice is on a roll with the projects this year. First the Budden joint and now Joell...I see a pattern. Lol. No bullshit, I haven't taken this out of my ride in five days. I'm eating up the lyrics like it was a free Pizza Hut buffet. If it's one MC this year to bring the essence of hip hop music back its Joell Ortiz. Shout to DJ Nice and Legend for shinning the spotlight on an MC that deserves it. If you haven't figured it out by now this joint is all Joell...new shit, classic tracks and rare jewels that you more than likely slept on. Zzzz

The only "exclusive" mixtape series that matters. Well, at least for some east coast shit it is and the south joint ain't what they used to be either. I like how Rated R addressed the atrocity that was them not winning best underground mixtape DJs..."this shit speaks for itself". Yes it does homie and the Potent Product series stays crisp like an all white Lexus.

First off I'm not a Fat Joe fan, so him hosting is pointless to me cause he ain't been the same since "Flow Joe" in my eyes. He does his thing and he got his money when he switched his style up, I aint mad at it but I can't fuck with his new music like that. I understand the "beef" thing and it def raises the level of exposure but beyond that it's not necessary cause it always comes down to the music on the mixtape...not the next mans beef. Suge White gets it in so I'll listen regardless.

Pop-Off Productions is back at it again and shout to Don Notz for actually mixing these joints too. I'm doing two reviews in one this time so fuck it. Heirs to the Throne pretty much speaks for itself and the Prodigy joint just compliments it perfectly as well as the HNIC 2 album dropping on the today, I believe. I don't know about you, but I'm actually going to BUY the Prodigy album. It's like cats are broke now and think music is free. No C4 group rips for me...you cheap bastards!

I'm just glad they didn't call this project "best of both worlds". Hahaha...seriously tho. Thank you. On one end, you have DJ Rhude, the quintessential DJ with his ear to the ground unearthing those rare jewels in the form of dope tracks that the masses need to hear. Then on the other end you have DJ 2Mello, combing the earth for the next R&B sensation who again needs to be heard by the masses. What do they both have in common you ask...they both break artist in their respective genres. 

Green Lantern once said "I don't get exclusives, I make them". That's what I enjoyed about "Welcome...". The blends took on the feel of actual commissioned tracks. I like the direction of mixtapes being artist centered. Just slapping multiple Lil Wayne tracks together doesn't make an artist mixtape. That's a quick money getter. To each his own, but I'm not really a fan of that bullshit.

I'm diggin' A-Smooth's moniker..."The New Youngest In Charge". Thing is he has the skills to back it up which is always a good thing if you're going to put it out there like that. Class is def in session if you're talking mixtape skills...track list wise...not so much. Mixtapes with 80s and 90s hip hop are a dime a dozen and make it that much harder to stand out.

Shout to DJ 4Sho...taking that road less traveled with the mixtapes. It's easy playing MCs that cats might have never heard, the hard part is doing it consistently and that's what 4Sho is bringing to the table. It says "east coast overdose edition" below the title so you know I had to listen to this joint. That mainstream east coast shit right now is like dropping your cell phone in a shitty toilet...it sucks.

Silverback gorillas are some mean son-of-a-bitches. Not the animal you want to run across in the jungle without some sort of weapon. I guess you could say the same for Sheek as an MC. He's not the most lyrical cat but his intensity is unmatched and he will verbally slap the shit out of you. In all honesty with all the D Block and Sheek mixtapes out the only reason I wanted to peep this was for the Dub Floyd mixes and to hear if Sheek stepped it up lyrically at all.

He hails from Yonkers, he has a new website www.divmusic.net and he's poised for big things. I mentioned his website because when you're talking the internet you have to have a home base and his spot is exactly what every atist should strive for; something that is simple, looks good and is easy to navigate. I think 2008 might be the year artists truly invest in themselves. If you don't spend $ on yourself you can't expect anyone else to either.