By William E. Ketchum III & Legend

88-Keys - Adam’s Case Files [click to listen]

Adam's Case Files is the long-awaited mixtape prequel to The Death of Adam, 88-Keys' [click to read] debut album that investigates the life and untimely demise of fictional character Adam and the power of the "The letter P." Kanye West was so wow'd by the album that he hopped on to be its executive producer, and after hearing Case Files, it's easy to see why. 88-Keys instrumentals are genre-bending and experimental, and the artists he enlists—Grafh, Tanya Morgan, and others—all stay on task. Even more gratifying is the way that Keys' samples tell the stories just as much as the emcees/vocalists do themselves, which adds to replay value. When the samples and the lyricists mesh, it's audible perfection: check Guilty Simpson [click to read] telling off wifey while the sample wails back that he's "Just LIKE A Man," and Kid Cudi complain about a new jumpoff being a bugaboo on "Wasting My Minutes" as the sample echoes his sentiments. And on songs like "Young Dumb & Full Of…" and "True Feelings," 88’ proves himself as a capable emcee as well. Adam may be dead, but good music lives on.

Nas - The Nigger Tape (DJ Green Lantern) [click to listen]

When was the last official Nas mixtape we’ve heard in the past year or two? I can’t recall. That mere fact, makes us expect this less. The official jumpoff tape before the album drops next month comes firing like the cops Nas speaks of on the third track ("Cops Keep Firing"). From top to bottom, there is not one track to skip over, not even the skits. "Black President" and "Association" just speak that real ish. On "N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and The Master)" and "Ghetto" featuring Joell Ortiz [click to read], he drops that knowledge while Joell Ortiz goes in brutally. Round that up with one of the best singles ("Hero") Nas has put out since “If I Ruled The World”, an unreleased track ("Surviving the Times"), a couple remixes and a timeline mix of every major song in his catalogue and this holds to be one of the best mixtapes of the year. The funny thing is they might have only used only three tracks from the actual album, so all this material is still new to your avid Nas fan who should be left drooling after one spin of this Green Lantern tape.

50 Cent - Sincerely Yours, Southside (DJ Whoo Kid) [click to listen]

Looks like Curtis is going hard this year. This is a quick change of pace considering he’s been coming more street than I can remember since Get Rich Or Die Trying [click to read]. This time he decides to jump on some '70s and '80s classics. "I’m Rising To The Top" is smooth like Luther Vandross serenading his lady. "My Heart" samples Taana Gardner's “Heartbeat” on point so much that a young’n might mistake this for the original. "This Is for You" takes it back to the good times where music was more fun than business. Artistry is so often compromised nowadays for mere pennies, and you can’t knock 50 Cent [click to read] for being so creative. I’m sure there will be people who take this blueprint and apply it to their own product in the near future. Lyrically, Curtis isn’t shocking us, and listening to classics you haven’t heard in some years definitely boosts the strength of the material (not to mention the crossover promotion), but one thing to take note is that Puff Daddy mastered this in the '90s. Even though 50 Cent’s creativity is definitely shown on here, it’s not something that hasn’t been done before. The problem is, most of the new generation wasn’t here to hear it, so to them this is still “new” and “innovative” and 50 is a genius for pulling it off with such precision.

LL Cool J - The Return of the G.O.A.T. (DJ Kay Slay) [click to listen]

LL Cool J’s a legend: I get it. His longevity is essentially unparalleled in rap: I respect that. Hip Hop should follow the lead of other genres, and do a better job of showing respect to its veterans: I agree. But with all of that being said, this new mixtape with Kay Slay isn’t much to write write home about. LL sleepwalks over both newer tracks and legendary instrumentals, making the former songs look like contrived attempts to keep up with the young’ns, and the latter tracks looking like desperate grasps to past glory. From scattered flashes of brilliance over the past few years, we know that LL still has the lyrics and delivery to make strong records; but he seems to be too content with his legacy to spit hungry verses. Return improves substantially in its second half, with tracks like the Lil Mo-featured, trademark Ladies Love Cool James track “I Cry” and the street soul of “New York Gangstaz.” But the high moments on this mixtape, aside from the aforementioned joints and seeing him hold his own in the star-studded “5 Boroughs (Unreleased Version),” are the previously released “The Truth” and freestyles by Sheek Louch [click to read] and Grafh over classic LL tracks. His capabilities are still intact—let’s just hope that he has the work ethic to make this next album worthwhile.

Young Jeezy – The Prime Minister (DJ Infamous) [click to listen]

These artist websites are popping up more often aren’t they? ThisIs50.com has people following the format for promotion, which isn’t such a bad thing. This time we get a new Jeezy [click to read] mixtape out of it. For those of you who follow "the Snowman," we know that his music always rides out for the summer months. With the windows down, whip thumping and speakers blasting, we all know Jeezy rides out. "I’m Here," "Translator" and "Prime Minister" are examples of that. "Put On" with Kanye West is a pretty solid single to go with considering the genius Yeezy is with this music ish. At a short 12 tracks, no Young Jeezy fan will be left disappointed. Are we due for a DJ Drama [click to read] tape before the album comes?

Bishop Lamont - The Confessional (DJ Whoo Kid) [click to listen]

The Confessional continues the streak of mixtapes from Dr. Dre protégé Bishop Lamont. Considering the amount of time that’s passed since the left coast emcee was signed to Aftermath, this may be as close as listeners will get to an officially-released album; but it gets damn close. Even though this writer doesn’t think that Bishop Lamont has the “it” factor to absolutely blow up, he still shows competent emcee skills. Wielding an authoritative delivery and solid lyrics, he switches between cocky gangsterisms (the Busta Rhymes-assisted “Kissin Tha Curb”) and lady-pleasers (“Right”). Engaging conceptual songs like the “What People Do” and “The Greatest Trick”—the former looking into the extent people go to get money, and the latter telling grim hood tales—add replay value as well, as do guest appearances by heavyweights like Busta [click to read], Ras Kass [click to read] and others. But the real star of The Confessional is the Aftermath production team: Dr. Dre’s fingerprints are all over this, as Denaun Porter [click to read], DJ Khalil, Nottz, Scott Storch and others all contribute incredible instrumentals that are consistent with the "Head Doctor’s" legacy. Definitely one of the more technically complete mixtapes to get released this year.

Young Buck - The Cashville Takeover (DJ Rip) [click to listen]

Radio interviews, on-stage insults, internet fuckery and embarrassing phone conversations aside, Young Buck [click to read] has always been one of—if not the—most consistent members of his former G-Unit crew. Now that he’s unquestionably out of the crew, Buck’s got his own collective to hold down: Cashville Records. With his group/label’s first release, Cashville Takeover, he hints that his leadership and CEO skills are just as strong as his talents on the mic. Solo songs like “The Interview” and “Kill Me A Nigga” see Buck offering his usual doses of honesty and gutterisms, and he uses songs like “Re-Up” and “Godz Plan” to show chemistry with his new label-mates, Outlawz [click to read] and Sosa The Plug. Sosa is a capable emcee, but The Outlawz are the surprising differences on Takeover, as the duo’s growth since working with 'Pac is evident on all of their appearances here. It’s good to see Buck moving on, because with his individual talent, his established fan base and his strong roster, he may be able to capture even further success—as long as fans don’t let the phone call audio don’t get in the way of good music. But if Lil Wayne [click to read] can kiss a man and go platinum in a week, anything’s possible, right?

Gemstones - Testimony of Gemstones [click to listen]

In the intro of Testimony of Gemstones, the Lupe Fiasco [click to read] signee surprisingly bears his heart over The Cool’s “Free Chilly” instrumental, insisting that his previous musical path “lead people to destruction,” and that from that point on, he’s using his talents to make more meaningful records. Even though Gemstones [click to read] revisits “Untamed Beast” mode several times here, his strong lyrics and flawless delivery make them all bearable. But when he’s sticking to his new plan, the results are unquestionable: “Fly Away” sees him utilizing the same singing voice found on Lupe songs like “Just Might Be OK” and “He Say She Say” to speak on poverty in inner-city Chicago, and he uses the stirring “Skeletons” to force transgressors to be accountable for their actions. Testimony further establishes Gemstones as a bonafide, versatile talent who, if given the support, can release some incredible music.

Curren$y – Fear & Loathing in New Orleans [click to listen]

If you don’t know who Curren$y is, let me catch you up real quick. He used to roll with Young Money and Lil Wayne (Tyga [click to read] was his replacement), but word around the block is that he used to ghostwrite for Weezy F. I’m not sure the truth in that, but regardless, Curren$y has been hitting us with a mixtape every month to keep his name in peoples ears. This tape is no different than anything else you’ve heard from the hot Spitta. He even calls people out on the title track with lines like, “Niggaz listen to my mixtapes, and jack my swagga then get on TV with it and I gotta look at it.” "Lost in Transit" is one of the standout tracks of the tape that I wish would have been longer. The other track that should grab you by your feet, pull you and drag you is “Calm Down" featuring Ced Hughes.” Its funky groove makes it easy for both of them to trade bars with such braggadicious poignancy. Even sampling Daft Punk on "Intergalactic" is a nice experimental track to groove to. If you’ve been following Spitta for a while, you know what kind of serving you he’s feeding with.

D12 - Return of the Dozen Volume 1 [click to listen]

D12’s latest mixtape, Return of the Dozen, has a lot going against it. First off, it’s the group’s first effort without the slain Proof [click to read], who was easily the group’s most charismatic member and the glue that held everyone together. Secondly, there’s not one appearance from Eminem, the group’s ringleader and infinite selling point. But with that being said, the mixtape holds itself together surprisingly well. Each of the members seem to have notably improved not only their rhyme skills, but their group chemistry—the verses all mesh together incredibly well, as if they know that they know that all they have is each other. The group’s deft combination of street rap and grim humor is still intact, as seen on tracks like “Cheatin In The Bedroom” and “I Am Gone.” Plus, all of the guest appearances here are well-done: former nemesis Royce Da 5’9” shows up to spit fire alongside everyone on “Plead For Your Life,” and Detroit mainstay King Gordy makes a strong case to be a new member of the group with his seamless contributions throughout the mixtape on songs like “I Am Gone” and “The Situation.” “13 Emcees” reads like a “Who’s who” of Detroit’s best street emcees—D12, Guilty Simpson, Quest McCody, Stretch Money and others—and not one of them disappoints. Hopefully the album has more of the group’s two star members, but if you can get over their temporary absences, Return of the Dozen is a solid effort.

Kardinal Offishall – Limited Time Only (Clinton Sparks) [click to listen]

How classic is that door close/"Konvict" drop? Add that with the “Get Familiar” stamp and that should spell success. Being as how this is the OFFISHALL (no pun intended) mixtape from Akon [click to read], Kardi [click to read] and Clinton Sparks [click to read], I commend the sincerity he broke down on the intro. He tells a brief story of his career and the ups and downs he’s faced through it all. He speaks on the hardships of being on a label and seeing your dream almost vanish. Then he jumpstarts the tape with his lead single but when that Clipse [click to read] feature kicks in, the track breaks windows from a block away. Five tracks in and you even get a 16 from Akon himself. And by that I don’t mean a singing verse, I’m actually talking about an Akon 16 that translates to him rapping (he didn’t sound half bad actually). Even the Estelle track bangs. Real talk, if you’re sleeping on Kardinall Offishall, this tape should snap your neck and wake you up like a cold bucket of water while you’re sleeping. You need to get familiar.