By William E. Ketchum, III & Legend.
Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not (DJ Scratch) [click to listen]
Busta Buss [click to read] has been steady taking his Back On My B.S. movement to every part of the globe. I Bullshit You Not is the mixtape before the B.O.M.B. album that has DJ Scratch behind the wheel on the production side of things. At times throughout the mixtape, Scratch even managed to steal the spotlight from Busta's rhymes. The beats on this project definitely go above and beyond most people's albums. One of the standouts on the tape, "Death Wish" features Raekwon and showcases both emcees trading bars, '98 style. Lil Fame appears on "The Game Room," which was a left field gem that fit him better than it did Buss. The intro "Fat Of The World" and outro "Feel My Pain" were just the way to end the mixtape. Even with an overbearing amount of Spliff Starr features, the mixtape didn't lose a step in between. Some would argue the mixtape is better than the actual album, and truthfully at times, it almost seemed like it was, but as the appetizer to the B.O.M.B. meal, this makes for a good size serving to go along with the album. Some of these could have easily made the cut on there, but it just goes to show Busta is definitely on his bullshit.
Lloyd Banks - 4-30-09 (DJ Whoo Kid) [click to listen]
With all the controversy surrounding 50 Cent and no G-Unit album on the horizon, people wonder if the rest of the members of the Unit still have it in them. Lloyd Banks [click to read] is someone you can't question. The way he attacked 4-30-09, you would have thought it was one of his first mixtapes. Even 28 tracks deep, "PLK" does what he does best and even recruits some of the best up and comers for the ride. Nipsey Hussle on "Me And My Strap" has that gangsta-ness that will have every top down while riding on Crenshaw. Almost every track on the mixtape, aside from the Ron Browz feature, was a strong effort from Lloyd Banks. No one should doubt that the boy still has it in him. This is more than enough to hold people over until the next round in that 50 Or Better series.
Raekwon - Blood On The Chef's Apron (DJ Absolut) [click to listen]
While people still reminisce with the classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx in their tape decks, rumors have it that part 2 is coming in August. Raekwon's [click to read] never been one to hold back from feeding the streets with that heroin rap. Alongside DJ Absolut, Blood On The Chef's Apron is the teaser to what you should expect for the long awaited follow up. B.T. takes on a large bulk of production on this and he doesn't dissapoint. With standout features from Joell Ortiz, AZ, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, The Game and more, The Chef's appetizer could have easily been a full meal. The streets have been fed.
Gucci Mane - The Writings On The Wall (DJ Holiday) [click to download]
The trap goes crazy for Gucci [click to read]. Locking up that XXL cover, The Writing On The Wall is the first official mixtape from Gucci Mane since the incarceration. One thing about him people can't deny is his beat selection. While his lyrics might not be anything groundbreaking, the trunk never ceases to rattle when Gucci is in the deck. Zaytoven and Tha Bizness definitely brought Gucci some good production to the table. While most fans know what to expect from a Gucci Mane project, this won't disappoint. If anything, the only ones who will condemn this, are the purists who wrote it off before the first song played.
Trademark Da Skydiver - Issue #1 (Fly Society) [click to download]
With the history of mixtapes coming from the other Fly Society member Curren$y, you were bound to know Trademark Da Skydiver would be representing and carrying the torch for the Jets the best way he knows how. This mixtape picks up where Curren$y left off, in the sense that it has the same type of vibe. With Monsta Beats behind the boards and executive producing the project, it's bound to have some bangers on it. "I'm Searching" is definitely the way to start the mixtape off. You get a better feel to what he's about. By the time "Smoke Break" and "We Go On (featuring Curren$y)" hit the speakers, you knew Trade was in his comfort zone. Although, there are a couple fillers on the mixtape, if you can get past his voice, this is a solid effort for the first go around. Fly Society has the movement on full throttle. The planes still got it.
Cool Kids - Gone Fishing (Don Cannon) [click to listen]
Don Cannon’s [click to read] stamp of approval, both as a deejay and a producer, has contributed directly to the success of Young Jeezy and other beneficiaries of he and DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. But with Gone Fishing, the former Aphilliates member isn’t as active as he may normally need to be. He does great hosting and mixing as usual, and the tracks that he produced—especially “Summer Vacations”—bang undeniably, but it’s clear that this effort is just as much the Cool Kids’ as it is his. Beatmaker/emcee half Chuck Inglish is still handling most of the duo’s minimalistic, trunk-raping backdrops, and he and Mikey Rocks’ cool, confident rhymes are still capable companions to those beats. Tracks like “Hammer Bros.,” “Gold Links,” and “Pennies (the updated roster Remix)” (the song’s familiar to NBA 2K9 videogame owners, but listen all the way through to hear Bun B rip the track apart) are the perfect soundtrack for summer cruising. When are the Cool Kids coming out with an album? Who cares?!
Joell Ortiz - Joell Ortiz Covers The Classics (DJ Green Lantern) [click to listen]
First of all, let’s be clear here: Joell Ortiz [click to read] isn’t the first emcee to tackle a score of old school instrumentals. But Joell Ortiz arguably has one of the most well-rounded approaches as of yet with his Joell Ortiz Covers The Classics mixtape with DJ Green Lantern. This sees him engaging some of the instrumentals by emulating the original emcee’s flow, such as his flawless covers of Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” or LL Cool J’s “Goin’ Back To Cali.” With others—such as Notorious B.I.G.’s “The What,” LL Cool J’s “4,3,2,1” and his stunning mixtape-closing Puerto Rican take of Big L’s “Ebonics”—he flips them with his own flavor. Tributes to DJ Premier and The Roots are on point as well. Covering over 30 classic instrumentals, Joell Ortiz manages to multitask with this new release, giving old school heads something to reminisce over, new school heads something to learn from, and both of them something to look forward to.
Drumma Boy Presents Welcome II My City [click to download]
Apparently, crafting standout tracks for southern Rap’s elite—T.I., Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and others—wasn’t enough for Drumma Boy [click to read]. The Memphis-bred producer uses Welcome II My City to introduce his Drum Squad crew of up-and-coming emcees to the masses. And fortunately, his crew does a commendable job of carrying its own weight. Don’t get it twisted, Drumma’s robust soundbeds are still the main attraction here. And familiar voices from friends in high places like Young Buck, 8Ball & MJG, Yo Gotti and Gangsta Boo (who sounds great here) definitely help the cause on standouts like “Round Me,” “Yank Chick” and “Err Chance.” But while unknowns like Kristyle, Allie and Young Phenomenon aren’t reinventing the wheel as far as their punchlines go, their undeniable mic presence and adept deliveries make for capable cameos, highlights like Allie’s raucous “Stompin Grounds,” and ultimately, keep Welcome II My City going.
Young Jeezy - Trappin’ Ain’t Dead (DJ Folk) [click to listen]
Just in case the new hipster movement—and even the slight changeup on the artist in question’s last album—have got you confused, Jeezy [click to read] doesn’t want you to get it twisted: Trappin’ Ain’t Dead. And on his new mixtape with DJ Folk, the self-proclaimed “Trap Star” looks to pick up where he left off. As expected, Jeezy’s brilliant ear for beats is still intact, as he scoops cavernous, multi-layered heaters from previous suppliers like J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Midnight Black. And his hoarse charisma shines through on “Just Might Blow Dat” and The Olympicks-laced “Consistent,” and his handling of Nas’ beat “N.I.G.G.E.R.” on “The Underdawg” makes one think the instrumental was made for him. Add in the Drake and Lil Wayne-featured “I’m Going In,” and you’ve got another top notch effort from "The Snowman."
Cassidy - Apply Pressure (DJ Thoro & Big Mike) [click to listen]
Critics and fans alike panned Cassidy’s [click to read] last album, B.A.R.S., for being too personal and straying too far from his original formula. So it only makes sense that Apply Pressure sees him going back to his roots: mixtapes, affiliating himself with worthwhile deejays (DJ Thoro and Big Mike), and punchline-heavy rhymes. Unfortunately, it seems like Cass is too far removed from the days when he was tearing apart Ruff Ryders cameos: while his delivery is as silky as it’s ever been, his punchlines don’t pack the same power that they used to. That’s not to say that Apply Pressure is a complete disaster, because he’s got several standouts here: “Body Bags,” “Mine Is On Me” and “Top Notch” sees him spazzing with lines like, “You already crossed the line / A mind is a terrible thing to waste, and you don’ lost your mind / I’ll treat you niggas like my kids, the foster kind / And I’ll whup your ass every time the shit cross my mind.” Apply Pressure doesn’t have the same punch as his early material, but if you’re looking for a return to form for the Philly firespitter from his “I’m A Hustla” days, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Busta Rhymes - I Bullshit You Not (DJ Scratch) [click to listen]
Busta Buss [click to read] has been steady taking his Back On My B.S. movement to every part of the globe. I Bullshit You Not is the mixtape before the B.O.M.B. album that has DJ Scratch behind the wheel on the production side of things. At times throughout the mixtape, Scratch even managed to steal the spotlight from Busta's rhymes. The beats on this project definitely go above and beyond most people's albums. One of the standouts on the tape, "Death Wish" features Raekwon and showcases both emcees trading bars, '98 style. Lil Fame appears on "The Game Room," which was a left field gem that fit him better than it did Buss. The intro "Fat Of The World" and outro "Feel My Pain" were just the way to end the mixtape. Even with an overbearing amount of Spliff Starr features, the mixtape didn't lose a step in between. Some would argue the mixtape is better than the actual album, and truthfully at times, it almost seemed like it was, but as the appetizer to the B.O.M.B. meal, this makes for a good size serving to go along with the album. Some of these could have easily made the cut on there, but it just goes to show Busta is definitely on his bullshit.
Lloyd Banks - 4-30-09 (DJ Whoo Kid) [click to listen]
With all the controversy surrounding 50 Cent and no G-Unit album on the horizon, people wonder if the rest of the members of the Unit still have it in them. Lloyd Banks [click to read] is someone you can't question. The way he attacked 4-30-09, you would have thought it was one of his first mixtapes. Even 28 tracks deep, "PLK" does what he does best and even recruits some of the best up and comers for the ride. Nipsey Hussle on "Me And My Strap" has that gangsta-ness that will have every top down while riding on Crenshaw. Almost every track on the mixtape, aside from the Ron Browz feature, was a strong effort from Lloyd Banks. No one should doubt that the boy still has it in him. This is more than enough to hold people over until the next round in that 50 Or Better series.
Raekwon - Blood On The Chef's Apron (DJ Absolut) [click to listen]
While people still reminisce with the classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx in their tape decks, rumors have it that part 2 is coming in August. Raekwon's [click to read] never been one to hold back from feeding the streets with that heroin rap. Alongside DJ Absolut, Blood On The Chef's Apron is the teaser to what you should expect for the long awaited follow up. B.T. takes on a large bulk of production on this and he doesn't dissapoint. With standout features from Joell Ortiz, AZ, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, The Game and more, The Chef's appetizer could have easily been a full meal. The streets have been fed.
Gucci Mane - The Writings On The Wall (DJ Holiday) [click to download]
The trap goes crazy for Gucci [click to read]. Locking up that XXL cover, The Writing On The Wall is the first official mixtape from Gucci Mane since the incarceration. One thing about him people can't deny is his beat selection. While his lyrics might not be anything groundbreaking, the trunk never ceases to rattle when Gucci is in the deck. Zaytoven and Tha Bizness definitely brought Gucci some good production to the table. While most fans know what to expect from a Gucci Mane project, this won't disappoint. If anything, the only ones who will condemn this, are the purists who wrote it off before the first song played.
Trademark Da Skydiver - Issue #1 (Fly Society) [click to download]
With the history of mixtapes coming from the other Fly Society member Curren$y, you were bound to know Trademark Da Skydiver would be representing and carrying the torch for the Jets the best way he knows how. This mixtape picks up where Curren$y left off, in the sense that it has the same type of vibe. With Monsta Beats behind the boards and executive producing the project, it's bound to have some bangers on it. "I'm Searching" is definitely the way to start the mixtape off. You get a better feel to what he's about. By the time "Smoke Break" and "We Go On (featuring Curren$y)" hit the speakers, you knew Trade was in his comfort zone. Although, there are a couple fillers on the mixtape, if you can get past his voice, this is a solid effort for the first go around. Fly Society has the movement on full throttle. The planes still got it.
Cool Kids - Gone Fishing (Don Cannon) [click to listen]
Don Cannon’s [click to read] stamp of approval, both as a deejay and a producer, has contributed directly to the success of Young Jeezy and other beneficiaries of he and DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. But with Gone Fishing, the former Aphilliates member isn’t as active as he may normally need to be. He does great hosting and mixing as usual, and the tracks that he produced—especially “Summer Vacations”—bang undeniably, but it’s clear that this effort is just as much the Cool Kids’ as it is his. Beatmaker/emcee half Chuck Inglish is still handling most of the duo’s minimalistic, trunk-raping backdrops, and he and Mikey Rocks’ cool, confident rhymes are still capable companions to those beats. Tracks like “Hammer Bros.,” “Gold Links,” and “Pennies (the updated roster Remix)” (the song’s familiar to NBA 2K9 videogame owners, but listen all the way through to hear Bun B rip the track apart) are the perfect soundtrack for summer cruising. When are the Cool Kids coming out with an album? Who cares?!
Joell Ortiz - Joell Ortiz Covers The Classics (DJ Green Lantern) [click to listen]
First of all, let’s be clear here: Joell Ortiz [click to read] isn’t the first emcee to tackle a score of old school instrumentals. But Joell Ortiz arguably has one of the most well-rounded approaches as of yet with his Joell Ortiz Covers The Classics mixtape with DJ Green Lantern. This sees him engaging some of the instrumentals by emulating the original emcee’s flow, such as his flawless covers of Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” or LL Cool J’s “Goin’ Back To Cali.” With others—such as Notorious B.I.G.’s “The What,” LL Cool J’s “4,3,2,1” and his stunning mixtape-closing Puerto Rican take of Big L’s “Ebonics”—he flips them with his own flavor. Tributes to DJ Premier and The Roots are on point as well. Covering over 30 classic instrumentals, Joell Ortiz manages to multitask with this new release, giving old school heads something to reminisce over, new school heads something to learn from, and both of them something to look forward to.
Drumma Boy Presents Welcome II My City [click to download]
Apparently, crafting standout tracks for southern Rap’s elite—T.I., Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and others—wasn’t enough for Drumma Boy [click to read]. The Memphis-bred producer uses Welcome II My City to introduce his Drum Squad crew of up-and-coming emcees to the masses. And fortunately, his crew does a commendable job of carrying its own weight. Don’t get it twisted, Drumma’s robust soundbeds are still the main attraction here. And familiar voices from friends in high places like Young Buck, 8Ball & MJG, Yo Gotti and Gangsta Boo (who sounds great here) definitely help the cause on standouts like “Round Me,” “Yank Chick” and “Err Chance.” But while unknowns like Kristyle, Allie and Young Phenomenon aren’t reinventing the wheel as far as their punchlines go, their undeniable mic presence and adept deliveries make for capable cameos, highlights like Allie’s raucous “Stompin Grounds,” and ultimately, keep Welcome II My City going.
Young Jeezy - Trappin’ Ain’t Dead (DJ Folk) [click to listen]
Just in case the new hipster movement—and even the slight changeup on the artist in question’s last album—have got you confused, Jeezy [click to read] doesn’t want you to get it twisted: Trappin’ Ain’t Dead. And on his new mixtape with DJ Folk, the self-proclaimed “Trap Star” looks to pick up where he left off. As expected, Jeezy’s brilliant ear for beats is still intact, as he scoops cavernous, multi-layered heaters from previous suppliers like J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Midnight Black. And his hoarse charisma shines through on “Just Might Blow Dat” and The Olympicks-laced “Consistent,” and his handling of Nas’ beat “N.I.G.G.E.R.” on “The Underdawg” makes one think the instrumental was made for him. Add in the Drake and Lil Wayne-featured “I’m Going In,” and you’ve got another top notch effort from "The Snowman."
Cassidy - Apply Pressure (DJ Thoro & Big Mike) [click to listen]
Critics and fans alike panned Cassidy’s [click to read] last album, B.A.R.S., for being too personal and straying too far from his original formula. So it only makes sense that Apply Pressure sees him going back to his roots: mixtapes, affiliating himself with worthwhile deejays (DJ Thoro and Big Mike), and punchline-heavy rhymes. Unfortunately, it seems like Cass is too far removed from the days when he was tearing apart Ruff Ryders cameos: while his delivery is as silky as it’s ever been, his punchlines don’t pack the same power that they used to. That’s not to say that Apply Pressure is a complete disaster, because he’s got several standouts here: “Body Bags,” “Mine Is On Me” and “Top Notch” sees him spazzing with lines like, “You already crossed the line / A mind is a terrible thing to waste, and you don’ lost your mind / I’ll treat you niggas like my kids, the foster kind / And I’ll whup your ass every time the shit cross my mind.” Apply Pressure doesn’t have the same punch as his early material, but if you’re looking for a return to form for the Philly firespitter from his “I’m A Hustla” days, you shouldn’t be disappointed.
