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Bobby Ray aka B.O.B: May 25th (mixtape)

March 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment

By:Matias Manriquez (Editor & Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

B.o.B shows off talents on new mixtape.

B.O.B. aka Bobby Ray teams up with Dj Drama and Dj Sense to drop his installment in the Gangsta Grillz Series, May 25th. The mixtape plays more like an album, with much of the production falling on Ray’s shoulders.

B.O.B has a lot of hype around his name, and the mixtape does an adequate job of identifying his strengths. Lyrically he’s not that impressive. He can rap, but its nothing that makes you yell, “Damn!” At times he sounds like an auto-tuneless T-Pain.

What is impressive is his production on the album. Besides having songs produced by Kanye West and Alchemist, Ray produced many of the songs best tracks: “The Rain”, “The Champion”, and “Cool Side”.

The Kanye produced “Fuck The Money” features Asher Roth who makes no attempt to sound different from Eminem. The instrumental is vintage West with a great piano piece and vocal sample.

Alchemist’s “Gladiators” features XXL  freshman J.Cole who’s impressive verse outshines Ray’s. “Nothing For You” pairs Ray with Bruno Mars and offers a good snippet of the rapper’s upcoming single.

While his lyricism isn’t uncanny, he does manage to grab your attention and keep it throughout May 25th. Ray does a good job in displaying his multiple personas and musical ability.

Download.

CLICK HERE to visit Bobby Ray’s aka B.O.B. MySpace page.

CLICK HERE to download May 25th (mixtape) free.

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DJ Khaled: Victory

March 3, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Dj Khaled claims victory on 4th release.

By: Chris Wallace (Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Victory has finally made it to the shelves. After hearing “Fed Up” back in October and watching the “Road to Victory” (parts 1 through 20), the unveiling of DJ Khaled’s fourth LP was long awaited.

Maybe too long.

I know I don’t speak alone in saying that the process from beats to the final product has become dragged out with video teasers, leaks, “this artist is on the album, now he’s not” talk, etc.

But to the real reason we are here …

The intro is overdone by Khaled, Diddy, and Busta.  He defines what Victory means when he should just let the music talk. Skip it unless you want to hear Diddy be hard and Busta yell about nothing.

The breather we had from T-Pain was nice but it’s the energetic hooks like on “All I Do Is Win” that we truly missed. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt after his Grammy performance.

Nas is outstanding no matter who he works with so there is no question that “Victory” is a standout track even if it shares the album’s title. Nas spits:

“Shareholders wanna invest in that Nas stock, it’s just

We be on that real shit, luxury four-wheel shit

Niggas actin’ thirst on some just-got-a-deal shit

Ha, for that victory we will kill shit

Get out the way, playboy, this is real shit”

Khaled should just let Nas speak on reaching the top instead of littering the song with ad libs.

Schife is raw and if he sounds familiar then you’ve heard Triple C’s Custom Cars & Cycles album. Jim Jones does his over a rough instrumental and it works.

Bun-B owns the mic and Soulja Boy sounds somewhat grown up on “Rockin All My Chains On”. Another great cut from Schife.

The album’s weak spot starts with  “Killing Me”. On one hand Khaled does something different with Buju Banton, but the masses won’t appreciate it. On the other, “Bringing Real Rap Back” comes off flat and is a disappointing listen.

“On My Way” is entertaining but the Akon fill-in,  Kevin Cossum, has to be tolerated for almost six minutes.

The talks of Kanye, Shyne, Akon and others being included would have filled in gaps in an otherwise solid album.

The Runners stand out again and there are less than a handful of tracks I’ve ever heard from them that don’t hit the brick wall but rather blast right through it.

The hype may have been lengthy but DJ Khaled lives up to it with an album that covers it all.

The album is predictable and I expected more … still,  when you have this many big names working on and off each track, it’s hard to blow it.

Thanks Khaled. Now you can work with everyone else that didn’t make it this time.

CLICK HERE to watch DJ Khaled interview about Victory.

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Boognights: TheArtiste (mixtape)

March 1, 2010 · 1 Comment

By: Matias Manriquez (Editor & Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Boognights sets himself up with TheArtiste.

You seldom meet a rapper who’s humble. New York lyricist Boognights is here to make music from the heart. The MC has been rapping since childhood bouncing in and out of Hip-Hop.

Now he’s here to stay. His first effort, TheArtiste  (mixtape) is a blend of sounds and stories. He took the time to talk with us about the project.  

Thanks Boog. 

CLICK HERE to listen to Boognights interview. 

CLICK HERE to download Boognights’: TheArtiste (mixtape) 

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Laws: 4:57

February 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Laws holds nothing back in 4:57

By: Chris Wallace (Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Who do you get when you mix Lupe’s lyricism and rapid flows, catchy hooks , and Don Cannon’s production ingenuity?

Laws.  That’s who.

The young rapper supplies his latest mixtape, 4:57. Adopted at birth to a Puerto Rican family, the native Brazilian has plenty to say and holds nothing back.

First. I’d recommend any track but if I had to single out any: “Number One”, “Vintage Futuristic”, “My Chick” and “Run Away”.

They’re all outstanding.  There are many you could sub in and out for the best 5 tracks depending on your style preference. 

“My Chick” is completely different and unique while “Run Away” is production duo, Justice League, at their finest.

I could pick one or two songs I didn’t necessarily “love”, but why bother? It’s a real good work of art by all parties involved.

With this project, Laws puts himself on the guest list to Hov’s “Off That/On to the Next One” Party he started throwing just before the New Year. 

Loaded with incredible and easily album-worthy beats; 4:57 makes you wonder just where Laws has been all this time. It makes you hungry for more Don Cannon.

Laws comes off as one who gets the direction Hip-Hop is headed in along with Drake, Wale, Cudi, Khalifa, of course Mr. West, and whomever else you think qualifies.

I’ll speak for Hip-Hop Nation when I say we’re excited to see who else will blossom in 2010.

J. Cole? Nipsey Hussle? Pill? Wiz Khalifa? It should be entertaining.

But for now, thanks Laws. This is more than a refreshing listen well after the first time.

CLICK HERE to download 4:57 (mixtape) for free.

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J.Cole: The Warm Up (mixtape)

February 22, 2010 · 1 Comment

By: Matias Manriquez (Editor & Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

J.Cole warms up for his future in Hip-Hop.

Named one of XXL magazine’s Top Freshmen of 201o, J.Cole is finally making his push into the mainstream. With impressive features on Jay-Z’s “A  Star is Born” and Wale’s ” Beautiful Bliss”, Cole is no stranger to the spotlight.

With the magazine dubbing him an artist to keep an eye on;  it’s up to the rapper from North Carolina, to harness his experiences into solo-artist success.  The Warm Up (mixtape) is simply that … a 22 track sample of what’s to come. A clear initiation into the game.

The mixtape has highs and lows. Its beginning comes off rather dull — lacking spark — but it’s as though he’s warming up like the title suggests.

He  finds his rhythm with cuts like, “Just To Get By”, “Dead Presidents II”, and “Dreams” where he jumps on and remakes classic beats. What stands out most is the range. He switches up deliveries and he stays on the beat.

His lyrics are impressive. He invokes vivid imagery while throwing in clever punch lines and multiple syllable rhyme patterns, which show his appreciation for the art of holding a mic.

If you are interested in the next wave of Hip-Hop, I advise you grab this mixtape. It’s definitely a steal, and it lays out the foundation for “The rapper from the Ville” to make his debut in the game.

Props, Cole.

CLICK HERE to download J.Cole’s The Warm Up (mixtape).

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