Joe Budden: Mood Muzik 4 (Mixtape)

Posted: October 26, 2010 in Joe Budden
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By: Matias Manriquez (Editor & Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Joe Buddens delivers with 4th installment of mixtape series.

Joe Budden’s Mood Muzik mixtape series should be considered albums not free mixtapes. Each is a solid effort consisting of interesting beats complementing Budden’s raspy, from-the-gut rapping style. Mood Muzik 4 is no exception. It wastes no time in getting to the grit of things with Budden blasts off on the anxiety-driven/the walls are closing that touches from DJ AM’s death to feeling out of place and misunderstood. Even the casual fan will be sucked in.

“Remember the Titans” is a lyrical gang rape of the mic. Fabolous kicks things off with witty punchlines, and that signature fluid delivery. Lloyd Banks makes a strong appearance with some vintage reminiscent of his mixtape days before Rotten Apple, which lived up to its title. Royce Da 5’9″ cleans up with the malicious, vulgar, hypnotic delivery of rhymes that force you to listen closely so as to not miss a word.

The rest of the project follows a similar angle of melancholy mixed with controlled rage. For me Budden is a seamless fusion of conscious & gangster rap, which makes him a god to Hip-Hop heads. Mood Muzik contains a diverse mixture of beats with genuine sincerity. “Sober Up” featuring Crooked I, places both rappers in a self-analyzing/critiquing mode. Joey admits, “My inner thoughts are like an inner war”. Those bars sum up perfectly what Mood Muzik’s vibe is; a rapper battling with himself, fame, and stress caused by an industry of expectations.

Mood Muzik is a great example of what Hip-Hop purists point too when they reference real Hip-Hop. If you’re worried about hooks, melodies, and beats this probably isn’t for you. Regardless, Budden is beyond talented and can go up against any of today’s power players.

Props, Joey.

CLICK HERE to download Joe Budden’s Mood Muzik 4 (mixtape) for free!

“Remember The Titans”

“Dessert for Thought”

“No Idea”

Young Jeezy: The Last Laugh (Mixtape)

Posted: October 26, 2010 in Mixtapes, Young Jeezy
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By:  Chris Wallace (Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Jeezy Holds Fans Over With Last Laugh Before TM103

My frustration level on postponed albums is hitting an all-time high as we wrap up 2010.  I guess in Young Jeezy’s case it just took forever to get the release date let alone push it back.

December 14th couldn’t come any sooner as Thug Motivation 103 is (supposedly) going to drop, ending the two-year absence of a studio album from the Atlanta native.

Jeezy is on the top of his game right now in all facets; lyricism, production quality, content, and artist relationships (see Drake on “Lose My Mind”, his work with Bun B on Trill OG, etc).

The Last Laugh is the 4th mixtape from Jeezy since 2008′s The Recession, and it continues the steadiness we have become accustomed to.

There’s no great surprises or stand out tracks (we get to hear “All White Everything” again) but when he shares the mic with the likes of Yo Gotti and Slick Pulla it clicks.

Thanks Young Jeezy.  You make the wait a lot more tolerable with tapes like these.

“Do It Again” feat. Slick Pulla & Yo Gotti

“All White Everything” feat. Yo Gotti

Lil’ Wayne: I Am Not A Human Being

Posted: October 14, 2010 in Uncategorized
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Weezy makes his voice heard weeks before release.

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

About 7 months ago, Hip Hop nation had to say farewell as another one of their leaders was put away for some time.

While he didn’t go down quietly (see the necessary dentist visit and courthouse basement fire), Lil’ Wayne made sure his absence … well, wasn’t one.

The “Gone ’til November” Campaign, as I like to call it, has put the Young Money crew hard at work making sure Wayne’s presence isn’t lacking in abundance.

Releasing videos, dropping tracks, providing jobs to “Free Weezy” t-shirt makers all over the globe, and a well-timed 8th studio album has kept fans on the edge of their seats.

I Am Not A Human Being was basically thrown together from previous work and a handful of tracks that were actually produced for the expected chart-topping Tha Carter IV. That being said, this album is vintage Wayne with the absence of Auto-tune and headbanging guitar riffs.  Production is crisp and sounds like his old Carter material, but I don’t see a problem with that.

Drake takes some hooks which really is his specialty and “With You” is a great track.  We all know where “Right Above It” has gone because it’s a song you have no problem hearing again and again.  Nicki Minaj’s feature on “What’s Wrong With Them” is simple but shows what a serious Barbie sounds like.

With his return slated for November 4th, it will be interesting to see how quickly Wayne jumps back into his old lifestyle of drug abuse and uncompromising work ethic.

One thing’s for sure, he’s sitting in a cell on Riker’s Island right now like a grenade right when you pull the pin.  When he’s set free, he’s bound to blow up.

Thanks Weezy.  You’ve been thanking your fans for 8 months, it’s time you deserve some praise.

Joell Ortiz: Farewell Summer Ep

Posted: October 14, 2010 in Joell Ortiz, Mixtapes
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By: Matias Manriquez (Editor & Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Joell says goodbye to summer with EP.

Why doesn’t anyone talk about Joell Ortiz? Despite being arguably the best rapper of the all-star group Slaughterhouse; Joell hasn’t found the admiration he deserves. Hit up YouTube and look up his freestyles and songs and I guarantee each will provide some face-scrunching goodness.

The Puerto Rican from New York released his goodbye to the season with Farewell Summer Ep. The Ep is a 6 song effort that outshines most rappers’ albums! With production from, Statik Selektah, Dj Premier, and Don Cannon the tracks are impeccable with homage to the days of East Coast rap cyphers. Along with its flawless production Joell invites Sheek Louch, Talib Kweli, and Brother Ali to lend their talent to the project. Despite the lyricism summoned, they’re Ortiz’ verses that make you rewind, turn up the volume, and listen again.

Farewell Summer is just the beginning of a publicity campaign and tour to set up  his Sophomore release, Free Agent. Also scheduled to be released soon is the anticipated YAOWA mixtape hosted by Dj Green Lantern. Hopefully all the quality music he’s putting out will lead to a big release with adequate praise.

YAOWA.

CLICK HERE to download mixtape for FREE.

“Sing Like Bilal (Remix)”

“So Wrong feat. Talib Kweli, Brother Ali”

“Farewell Summer”

Big Sean- Finally Famous 3: BIG (mixtape)

Posted: October 12, 2010 in Mixtapes
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By: Matias Manriquez (Editor & Writer: Hip-Hop’s Forum)

Big Sean comes through with Finally Famous 3: BIG.

Coming from the west side of Detroit  Big Sean is “finally famous”. The ego-driven, punchliner comes through with his third installment of the Finally Famous mixtape series. With the direction of Dj Don Cannon; Sean goes in on some of the years hot beats along with some classics showcasing his laid-back, ego-driven flow.

The mixtape’s “Watchu Doin?” is slated to be the lead single off the G.O.O.D music rapper’s freshman album, Finally Famous. The beat is catchy but limited which points it towards annoyance after several plays. There are funny punchlines but overall it is lacking substance. It struggles with appeal, especially when compared to some of the singles  other artists in Sean’s class have come out with, notably:

  • Drake: “Best I Ever Had” / “Over”
  • Kid Cudi: “Day n Night”
  • Wale: “Chillin”
  • Asher Roth: “I love College” (terrible song but massive)
  • J.Cole: “Who Dat”

The knock on Big Sean is that he’s limited in content to the point where it comes off as ignorance overshadowed by arrogance. That is a harsh criticism especially since the only material we have are mixtapes—not to be confused with albums.  Ludacris rarely raps about material with substance yet his style and humor have made him one of the best artists of our generation. Big Sean often rants about making money and blowing up, but that doesn’t mean he can’t spit when it counts. Finally Famous: The Mixtape and Finally Famous 2: UKNOWBIGSEAN were classics and showed range.

I met Sean at a signing and took a minute to talk with him about his ascent up the Hip-Hop ladder.  He seemed genuine about his love for rap and his appreciation for everything. He stressed how much he loved his fans, and how he tries to make himself available to them.That being said his latest mixtape falls short of the success of the others. Lyrically, he shines bright at times especially when going up against features: Drake, Bun B, Asher Roth (who still sounds way too much like Eminem), Curren$y, Chuck Inglish, Tyga, Chip The Ripper, and Kanye West.

That being said, Sean will surprise on his debut release especially if it is executive produced by West. While his first single might have fallen short of commercial success, the album’s content will be good as long as he can stray from  money and riches raps, and move to some more lyricism and storytelling which he is capable of. [ Check Finally Famous 2: UKNOWBIGSEAN's  "Minds Playing Tricks on Me" and Finally Famous:The Mixtape's "Story To Tell"]. Still Finally Famous 3:BIG is a great mixtape for driving or partying to and anyone who doubts Sean’s rhyming ability can listen to him go toe-to-toe with Kanye on the last song … fresh.

“Fat Raps (Remix)”

“Bonus Track” Feat. Kanye West

“Watchu Doin? “

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