Planet Asia & DJ Muggs - Pain Language (DJ Warrior) [click to listen]

Anyone who’s as excited about the left coast duo of Planet Asia and DJ Muggs putting together this mixtape, don’t worry: Pain Language is everything that it should be. DJ Muggs’ sinister samples and murky organs are the perfect playground for Asia’s intense, crisply-delivered bars. Even though it clocks in at a mere 38 minutes, it’s only the newfound Pain Language duo throughout, and it’s a solid listen from top to bottom. Personal favorites include the assertive “Respect Mine” the mummified bounce of “Nine Milli,” and Planet Asia’s “Cops and Coke Sales” freestyle over Game and Travis Barker’s “Dope Boys,” but there isn’t one subpar offering here. If these two continue working together, the west coast doesn’t have a choice but to continue winning.

Torae - Allow Me To Re-Introduce Myself (Legend & DJ Nice) [click to listen]

Judging by the title, Brooklyn emcee and DXnext alum Torae [click to read] feels the need to remind Hip Hop heads of who he is. And once you listen, it’s crystal clear: who he is: a classically east coast emcee who’s armed with some of the best production in the business. Even though Allow Me is feature-heavy with guest spots from Skyzoo, Chaundon, Tanya Morgan and others, Torae’s punchline prowess and to-the-point flow prospers well in down-the-line tracks. Plus, many of the songs feature the same guests, so this—along with beat duties primarily delegated to Khrysis [click to read], 9th Wonder and Vega & Deuce’s soulful, buoyant backdrops—keeps the disc sounding cohesive, despite a cluttered tracklist. Torae’s verses also consistently keep up with his peers’: and as long as it stays that way, his respect will always be where he deserves it to be.

OJAYZISZ [click to listen]

"That Bloke From Oasis, Said I Couldn't Play Guitar...Someone Shoulda Told Him, I'm A Fuckin' ROC Star." I think its safe to say that line will ring bells across genre platforms for years to come. The undercover ether that was Jay-Z's grand entrance at Glastonbury was G.O.A.T. for centuries as far as music goes. That moment will go down in the music hall of fame. With that said, it only makes sense to bring Oasis and Jay-Z in unison to craft this OJAYZIZ mixtape. Brought to you by 2DopeBoyz, Cookin' Soul and HipHopDX, the intro is definitely one to remember. If you're not a fan of Oasis, this is the mixtape to introduce you. As odd as it sounds, Jay-Z over the acoustic "Quick Gangster" meshed well together. "Where Did Brooklyn Go" sounded a lot different than the original, but I'm not sure that it took away from the mash-up. This project wasn't so much the headnod music that will have you thumping down the block as much as it was the creativity. For being done in one night, this was a solid drop (aside from the moments where it sounded rushed)...now imagine if they would have taken a week?

Add-2 - The Tale of Two Cities Volume 2 [click to listen]

Chi-town, windy city stand up for a second. Let It Bang for a minute. Let this spin for an hour, and ask yourself if you're a real Hip Hop fan. Add-2's [click to read] presence on the M.I.C. is quite impressive. The fact he comes off with different flows and deliveries all in one mixtape, is something special. For those who want to categorize this as a mixtape, you have the right to do so, but front to back, it plays more like an album. Add shows versatility seeing as how "Players Ball" sounds a lot different than a song like "Certified Track Killa." Being as how he's from the Chi, there will always be Lupe Fiasco/Kanye West similarity references, but we hear the potential. Subtract 3, multiply it by 4 then Add 2.

Esso x 2DopeBoyz - The Gardens [click to listen]

If you're not familiar where The Gardens is, you might have to head uptown to Harlem - Lennox and 145th if you hop in a cab. "Mr. Young and Ignorant" is back with this short EP over all Lil Wayne Tha Carter III [click to read] instrumentals. Not only did he use the instrumentals, but he even used autotune like Weezy Who isnt doint that nowadays? it seems more of an epidemic than "A Millie" (Did you peep the chorus on "Kid From Harlem"?). "Misunderstood" and "Let The Beat Build" qualify as the standouts on this EP. "Fuckable" is skippabble, but at a short seven tracks..this seems like a project that was meant for experimentation. Sometimes I feel like I need to "Close My Eyes" and hear Esso [click to read] on some original beats, but I think he's still holding out for the album. Some will argue that the creativity on this project is lacking due to the fact he used someone else's beats/ideas and recreated them with new lyrics, but isn't that the basis that hip hop has been driven on? Taking others ideas and making them your own? (ie. sampling beats, using '70s Disco choruses, biting lyrics, remixing accapella albums). Nothing wrong in doing things because you can, but 2009 will be the year of creativity. Time to think outside the box and stop relying on past blueprints. Make your own and come hard, 'cause that will be the blueprint for the full circle music is coming to. "Go Hard, or Go Home" and hang up the jersey. Continued on page 3 »