Reviews: December 2007 Archives

By Big Chew
Rapmullet.com

God damn, a best of GZA mixtape...thank you. Just so cats know this is A Riosound.com joint that was compiled and programed by Destro. Gotta shout out the cats who put this together. The GZA is the last of a dying breed for real. For those of us who feed off lyrics and complicated flows bundled with intricate word play it's time to rejoice. GZA is one of maybe three or four MCs that can spit 10 words back to back and say more than most MCs whole albums in 2007. Not only that his vocab is deep as deep can get.

Cats didn' rape his first solo album either, and thats were the average fan would have gone with it but if you really know his most lyrical shit came after that album...just the beats weren't as potent. "Knock, Knock"..."I'm the obscene slang kicker with no parental sticker, advising ya'll that wise words is much slicker". Crazy! and that's the first bar of the song. Now what about "Clan In Da Front"? "Let's get on this mission like Indiana Jones, the GZA, One who just represent the Wu-Tang click, With the game and soul, of an old school flick..." One of the first times you heard the GZA rhyme and he told you exactly who he was and what his whole style is. You don't get that from MCs today. "Exploitation Of Mistakes" is one of the illest stories ever told in rhyme and most cats don't even know about it. GZA uses so few words but the shit is descriptive as hell...he paints a motion picture with this one and theres no hook. Peep the profectic jewels off "High As Wu Tang Get"..."Yo, too many songs, weak rhymes that's mad long, Make it brief Son, half short and twice strong". Ahhhh, thats the shit: make it brief son, half short and twice strong! Words for MCs to live by. "Now watch me blow him out his shoes without clues, Cuz I won't hesitate to detonate, I'm short fuse"...if you don't know "4th Chamber" then you're not a Wu fan, that's simple math.

Cats did their thing on here with the track selection. Not really any mixing involved but back to back cats know their lyrical gems from the GZA. The GZA is a complete MC, probably one of the best to every touch a MIC and step in the booth. The epitome of a skilled MC, bars have double meanings woven in between a message for the masses. I'm diggin' the whole packaging of this project too...some collectors shit, now I gotta figure out how to get a hard copy. lol

By Big Chew
Rapmullet.com

A big review welcome to Burns Luciano...producer...former pro wrestler...ect. Not only will he produce some hot beats he will have you in a figure four leg lock tappin' out like beeeyyyyooootch!. I received over the last five days 27 "American Gangsta" remix mixtapes. True story. I won't be reviewing all of them, that's for sure. I am going to pick four or five and this is the first joint right here. Keep in mind "your gangsta is not defined by how many rocks are in your watch but more how many rock you move while on your watch"....LETS GO!

The original album American Gangsta by Jay Z is set up like a movie, it's a story and musically if you're remixing this album it essentially is a movie score and that is the first thing I hear when I listen to this project. Burns Luciano scored this properly. I'm big on music that has a "vibe" to it and well he captured the vibe of the whole thing from beginning to end. "Pray" has a big sound, guitars sounding large and the beat is essentially lacking any knocks to it but the instrumentation rides with the vocals so well you wouldn't know the shit was a remix. You can say the same thing about "American Dreamin". The beat is so crisp you think it should be the original, the shit was so well done I was hanging on every note to hear how the shit will end. That's quality production right there. "No Hook" lag a little...or should I say didn't pop off as well as the joints before it. It could be the sample but when the joints previous sounded like they could have been the "real" production for the songs, this sounded more like a blend. "I Know" has that bounce and at the same time is dark as hell; perfect vibe for Jay's bars too. In my opinion, "Say Hello" is the best joint on here. When that piano drops....ahh man forgetaboutit. The flute or horn or whatever that is on "Blue Magic" is crazy too. That shit is oozing and dripping soul.

I haven't listened to all the AG remix mixtape/albums but close to 80% of them and Burns Luciano got that A+ production that stuck the vibe of the lyrics to a tee. There is no possible reason why Mr. Luciano shouldn't have some major album placements in 2008. You gotta love mixtapes.

By Big Chew
Rapmullet.com

I'm glad Kayslay dropped before Christmas, it was a statement, cause truth be told these other exclusive DJs ain't doing shit in the game right now. The fucking internet leveled the playing field and cats are at home scratching their ass. Not Kayslay tho, dude still has those artist relationships where he can still pull a decent amount of exclusives...not to mention the respect.

It's funny style now that Papoose ain't have a major label deal cats want to forget he's still the most lyrical. Too many microwave hip hop fans right now, I hate that shit cause "Gift and a Curse" is classic Papoose over a dope ass beat....what else you want dude to do? Busta, like I stated before is gonna be on his mixtape shit heavy from now an in the new year and he owned "The Hottest for 08"...like a mixtape vet should. Big Lou getting it in on "Out of the Ghetto" as usual. He's def a cat to keep your ears open for in 2008. Maino sounding focused on "Be Me"... I hope he keeps it up for the new year. Kayslay has a few album cuts on her but the music is good so they "deserve" to be on here...can't always be about new. He rocked one of my favorite joints too, that Saigon and Grand Puba..."Get Busy". That beat is crack!! The sleeper joint is "Cold World" by Stacee Adamz...cats bringing some real shit to the table.

Kayslay is doing what Kayslay does...drop good music and talk shit. That's why you cop his joints and it's your theme music for a week or so. That's why you fuck with mixtapes in the first place. The title says "Return" but when Kayslay's on his game it's like he never left.

By Big Chew
Rapmullet.com

It's rare these days that DJs want to tell a story with a mixtape. One of the best mixtapes ever made called The Willie Bryant Story dropped earlier this year and was supremely slept on by the masses and I fear the same will happen with this project. We didn't review that project because we had a hand in making it but that was a mistake and once I get another hard copy of that CD it will be right there with this CD in the Rapmullet listening session. So if you want to know how I feel about DJ Osk's latest project just know I hold it in regards to Willie Bryant and that should speak volumes.

Can you believe there are hip hop fans who don't know who Pete Rock is? I mean how can you be a real fan if you don't know the history? I hope this project sheds some light on Pete's influence for the new jacks. I'm giving you a few highlights but honestly all you need to do is go listen to it on the Listening Session and form your own opinion...you will be happy you did. At the very least peep the interludes and learn some shit about Pete Rock. "Pounds Up" is my shit. Pete Rock and MOP need to work on some new shit cause the Osk blend had me open. "Thick Ropes" is all head nod and neck braces. "Run" by Ghostface is a hard track to blend cause Ghost is all emotion and if you use the wrong beat it will be exposed...Osk flipped it proper and he used two beats. The Saigon flip on "Do You Know" has the ill bass...that's why I'm fucking with it. I think "On The Mic" with Big Shug and OC is a true sleeper. OC is the first official "most lyrical" if you ask me. The vibe on "New York" is the shit too...thats what a quality blend will do...make you hear a track in a totally different way.

Two and three beat blends, precise transitions, and Pete Rock interludes make this a true street certified project. Osk builds the "story" of Pete Rock from his beginning stages right up till 2007 and he does it with music. One thing that sticks out the most to me beyond anything else is that Pete Rock is soulful. His production varies but the constant is the soul vibe that each joint gives off. Some might call it "real hip hop" but it's really just the soul that your hearing, music with some meaning.

By Big Chew
Mixtapekings.com

Cats refuse to starve so you already know what the other option is. Neck snapping concrete music; thats what it's all about people. Byno, Stack Bundles, Cau2g$, Chinx Drugs...man you know who's in the mob. Pudgee p keeping the music moving, good to see his name back on this project.

Pudgee doing his thing cutting up "Daily Dose"; Stack Bundles with that pharmacy flow. Cau2g$ follows it up with that hustle off the beeper music on "G$ Time". "Who you know poppin' like a pistol / mines is Riot rated and official"....shit gets no realer than that from Far Rocks finest; "Riot Mode" doesn't disappoint. The mixtape flips of the whole project were "Still Will"...hook crazy and bars were savage and Bynoe with "Riot Boys"; he owned that Jay Z beat..."bullets is on the house". Fuck the bullshit, "Bendin' Corners" is THE track that made this CD for me. I can listen to this joint ALL DAY! Stacks flow is as cold as a pool in the winter. "Lonley At The Top" got my review view mirror shivering...Bynoe ain't playing with you lames. You gotta peep "Make Music", Cau2g$ set off a 3 alarm fire on the booth...he was shifting gears on the flow like and Indy car...hook was kinda wack tho. Nod ya head to "My Pockets" and hit the third lane with "Fast Life" on that introspective shit.

It's all about the beats baby, the beats are serious on here. Then you add Pudgee P on the mix and you got yourself some street certified shit...it's that simple. I think the important thing to remember, even tho Stack Bundles is no longer here, is that the Riot Squad still has their best music ahead of them. One of, if not the only, crew of MCs to really really rep for NYC and mixtapes on a steet level. Some MCs wanna drive thru the hood and say they feed the streets while the Riot Squad actual does.

By Big Chew
Mixtapekings.com

DJ Obscene is my sleeper mixtape DJ of the year. He's been consistent with his projects and he's provided proper promotion with the best of them. Aliteration people, you gotta love that shit. This time out the box he's rollin' with Trae the Truth. He's got one of the illest voice's in hip hop today and he always brings his A game every time he steps in the booth.

Obscene cutting shit up lovely on that into...I can dig it. Damn, that "Texas Takeover" remix is crazy as cat shit. RIP Pimp C, he went in on this shit like the MIC vet he was. Paul Wall was shinning like a mutha fucka too. Speaking of Paul...that "They Know" freestyle is classic mixtape music....still chunking the duece too. Obscene gets his blend on with "Ride on 4's"...that joint was thick on some molasseses type shit; J-Dawg got bars. Peep Traes flow on "The Sandbox"...that shit is liquid man; and the beat soul in it too. If you're not fucking with Scarface's latest album you are not a hip hop fan, you're a fly by night hip hop groupie who wears man tampons...one of the best albums of 2007. "Girl You Know" is my shit..."girl you got more miles than and f350" LOL. It's always good to hear some new Magno..."84's Dyne Da Block" is cool but the hook got tired fast. The joint that fucked my head up was "Lunch Money on "In Cold Blood"...rewind this joint cause this is why you cop mixtapes in the first place. Chingo Bling gets some shine with "Freaky Gurl"...that flow is potent people don't sleep on Chingo. "Don't Need A Scale 4 The Work" is that gun in your mouth, tie up your wife and kids music. I think I busted and ear drum on this one too, now go pick up that Trae album..."Life Goes On". Couple of joints you need to peep at the end of this shit. Coast with "Bury Me A G" freestyle is lyrical shit and "Mouf Fulla Blang" remix is that self indulgent music at it's very best.

Skill wise on mixtapes Obscene is right there at the top with the best in the game. Hes a cat who understands and appreciates this art form and the things that it can accomplish. I think I've said this before but the mixtape revolution will not be televised...it will be showcased on Rapmullet.com and its all thanks to DJs like Obscene who keep this shit moving forward the right way.

By Big Chew
Mixtapekings.com

Do you hear that? No? That's because the buzz off this mixtape is minimal at best. How sad is it that Saigon's myspace blog post about retiring generated more buzz than his music. (shakes head) YOU ARE ALL SHEEP!! BAHHHHHH. For all the real mixtape heads out there its always all about the music, not the gossip and fake media bullshit. With that said, sometimes its best for an artist to just let the music speak for them...(clears throat).

I don't like Jay-Z and Saigon on a track together. The "Come On Baby" remix was wack to me. Jay-Z's verse was phoned in on some bullshit. "Flow is like the Cuban missile crisis"...what the fuck does that mean? You got this crazy ass beat that cats slept on and now a weak Jay verse completes it? Naw man. Nothing good is gonna come out when you got a working class MC (Saigon) and a white collar MC (Jay-Z) on the same track. I'm fucking with tracks like "What A Life". This is that music us commoners can relate to. Saigon's flow is perfected on a track like this all while dropping jewels. Speaking of jewels, "Get Mine And Go" is knocking with Saigon spittin' "I don't write bars, I write scars". In a time when the last thing MCs want to speak on is any type of upliftment or life lessons you get a track like "Wake Up". I could quote the whole song but I don't think most people can handle the truth. The story telling skills are sharp too people, don't forget that shit too. "In A Mess" is a vivid picture that sadly a lot of people have and are about to go thru. "Homegirl" with Al B. Sure is that classic mixtape music. This a joint that adds character to your mixtape and you can tell Saigon and Just Blaze had fun making this track too. My favorite track of the whole CD is "Who Can Get Busy". This joint will have you punching holes in walls, it's that hard. Peep it in the RM Ipod. There better be a Saigon/Scram Jones joint on his album. "How We Get Down" has that raw energy those to bring to the table each time out the booth. If we're talking about energy you have to mention "Ryders". I'm not a fan of Bleek but he did his thing on this joint and the beat is crazy as cats shit.

Whether he knows it or not, Hip Hop needs Saigon more than Saigon needs Hip Hop. There are really no MCs that are truly speaking to the people in a postive light and that's the void he fills. I truly hope he doesn't "retire". He has to know that he chose the road less traveled as an MC and the shit isn't gonna be easy but the light at the end of the long tunnel is the fact that he has Cormega potential. By that I mean he has the potential to establish a cult like fanbase and have a long successful career as an MC, all while speaking to the masses the truth that is missing in todays music.

By Big Chew
Mixtapekings.com

It's always an event when Seattle's own DJ Topspin drops a new double mixtape. In this case it's Velour Vibes 4 - SO(UL) AMAZIN'. If all you listen to is old CNN and maybe MOP then this might not be for you, but on the flip side you may just need some soul in your life right about now. Peep his website too: www.topsyte.com. That's how DJs should have their shit set up; simple, clean, to the point, and it serves as a home base to cop his CDs too. DJs take notes, the mixtape vets are constantly laying the blue print out for you.

Right out the box this double mixtape is pure, unadulterated, hip hop and R&B soul music mixed to perfection. Jon B is back with some new shit on "Watchin' Her". Dude stays with some smooth joints in the stash. Plus Topspin got the Jon B shout out too...that's big. I had Topspin's remix of "Buddy" on rewind for 10 minutes straight. That's how you cater a remix to the vibe of your CD. Normally I wouldn't fuck with Glenn Lewis but "ABC" is so well written you have to appreciate it for what it is...a dope soulful song; def that classic funk smooth shit. Now you would think with all the soulful vibes goin' on it would be hard to fit in a Young Buck verse but Topspin pulled it off with "You Ain't Making Me Go Nowhere". Tone Treazure got some heat with "Come With Me". I can dig it. The bass was working overtime on "Sex God" with Phonte and the Brand New Heavies; nod your head to this joint people. "I Found My Smile Again" by D'Angelo might not be a hit record but it's refreshing to listen to. The skills were breathing lovely on Mr.E's "I Need Some Lovin". I wish more cats just freaked instrumentation like that cause the vibe you get is crazy as cat shit. I had to mention the Clipse and Donell Jones on "I'm Gonna Be". This is my joint. Disc 2 is just more of the same, another tight into again. "Let It Go" was one of the best remixes I heard of "Let It Go" and the key thing is it stays in tune with the rest of the project. I never though I would listen to Amerie's track "1 Thing" ever again but Topspin's J-Dilla remix had me open...can't even lie. If you only get a chance to hear on song peep Topspin's flip of Sade on "Paradise". The Wu-Tang was a perfect fit too. I can listen to this joint all day. The joint that crept up on me was "Sloow" by J Davey. This joint has hit potential right now and it's funky.

The bottom line is Topspin is a dope all around DJ. He keeps the "vibe" consistent throughout this project which is a hard thing to do when you're actually mixing and playing some of the joints he chose to play. It fucks my head up how he can keep shit soulful all while working in joints from Raekwon and Young Buck. That's the mark of a quality and skilled DJ. He didn't work inside a box that had him strictly playing "new shit" and as it looks it took him two mixtapes to get what he hear in his head out to the masses. If that isn't the personification of "VELOUR VIBES" than I don't know what is.

By Big Chew
Mixtapekings.com

Is Mick Boogie still the go-to mixtape DJ in "the industry" for that proper promotion? You damn right and to his credit he's taken the internet and used it to his advantage. Just when you are starting to see some big name DJs take hits because of the "net" effect here comes Mick with a new blueprint. He's found a way to still capture a buzz for an artist or project, satisfy the internet downloader's and still provide a fix for those who still want to cop a CD after the fact. That right there is $$$ and proper promotion in the bank from all angles...while everyone wins; the artist, the label and Mick himself.

Busta Rhymes going in on mixtapes right now like the grizzled MIC vet that he is. You'll be hearing a lot from him now and into 2008, believe that. This is a dope concept too. J-Dilla was slept on by the masses and this type of project just helps spread his talent even further. Props to Mick and Busta Rhymes. "Takin' What's Mine" is neck snapping. Tell me those hand claps didn't have you open while Busta toyed with that beat. He breaks down his whole come on this track too. You already now how I felt about "Step Up"...it's on the Rapmullet IPod. Busta doing his best Nice & Smooth flow. Busta literally rhymed his ass off on the M.O.P assisted "Code Of The Streets". Did you peep the flow? Busta is lyrically as sharp as any MC out right now. "I feed the streets so much they call a ni99a fast food." That's Busta's whole frame of mind right now. Beat wise "Lightworks" with Q-Tip and Talib Kweli is some next level music; it borders on genius. Some people have heard "Baggage Handlers" before but it still is a crazy ass track. Rae on his verbal intercourse with those bars. "Psycho" is a lyrical beat down of astronomical proportions...although the hook was wack as goat shit salad. Paps lyrical sword stays sharp. Which poses the question as to why he, like Busta, isn't feeding the streets right now. "Other Side Of The Road" had my review view mirror shaking like a pregnant coke head looking for a hit. "High" still gets heavy rotation without this mixtape but it was a great fit on this mixtape.

The new joints, the rarities, Bustas commentary, Micks skills and ear...you had to know this is THE mixtape to have in your ear right now. I think mixtape fans as a whole should be happy Mick is dropping consistently, now if we could only get Wally Sparks to do the same. To all the MCs out there you need to follow Busta's lead and feed the streets what they want. Make it quality music, make it real and make it authentic. 2007 was for most of the year wack. We're getting some good music in the 4th quarter now but it's up to MCs like Busta to take the initiative and show cats what they need to be doing and how to go about doing it.

By Big Chew
Mixtapekings.com

I can't say I know all about Little Brother. I know who Phonte and Big Pooh are tho. Honestly, this type of music has always been Dimez's lane when it came to reviews. Doesn't mean I can't still do what it do. Once I saw it was a Pop Off Productions and Hevehitta joint I had to listen. That's the "Upstate" mixtape connection right there. I think this title is fitting for 2007 as well. No Justus (Justice) No Peace is literally America right now in 2007. Do the math on that people and while you're at it peep how these presidential candidates are getting down right now. I've never been a person big on voting but right now it's imperative that you vote and get a positive change started in this country. It will affect every facet of your life if the wrong people continue to lead this country...even your mixtapes.

This mixtape right here is the equalizer, the balance that the game so desperately needs. Too many cats rhyming about bustin' guns and selling drugs and not enough cats trying to see the ills in that behavior and inspire some positive living. The way Little Brother goes about getting their message out is probably one of the dopest things about the group. I think they recognize the fact you can't preach to cats, especially the youth, you have to talk to em like how that MC is when he rhymes about beating the block. That right there is what sets Little Brother apart from other MCs. Peep SkyZoo sliding thru on "Keep it To The Side" and you know what it is; a perfect example of what I was just talking about. I buggin' over the beat for "U Wonderin". That shit got me open and Buckshot didn't disappoint either. One more collaboration to mention before we move on. "Rise And Fall" is my joint and its not for AZ it's for this..."I could dumb down the rap for bitches and alcohol / but I'm to live and to proud to tap dance for these crackers dog / so...won't be no Gregory Hein'n." Then you peep the hook and its over...one of the dopest verses I've heard. Phonte hits with that straight head nod on "For You" but Big Pooh owns that beat...Popeye analogies and all. Who would have thought a Little Brother/Cormega colabo would be as powerful as it is on "Back At It". The most important bars in that song..."don't know how many ways to tell you we run it without being redundant." That shit was slick and it applies to 999,999 MCs today. I was even fucking with "Breaking My Heart" with Lil Wayne on it. That's a good sound for him.

On the mixtape side of things, the flow of the project was cool. You can tell Pop Off Prod and Hevehitta are students of the game. The drops fell effortlessly and rode right with the music...that shit is an art by itself. The skills were proper too and if I even have to remind you that the project was actually mixed you're probably not even a fan of mixtapes to begin with. The bottom line is I'm going to check for that "Get Back" album now.