By shelz.
I spend a lot of time on mixtape sites. Not just looking for the hot new ballyhooed drop, but also to randomly check out the struggling rap masses. I always think I may come across a hidden masterpiece, the next big deal talent, a diamond in the rough. However, what I find more than anything are folks who seem to be a bit confused about what will work and what won’t in that climb to the top of Hip Hop Mountain. Its one thing to jack a beat and then put your personal spin on it, but the non-creative abyss finds some aspiring rhyme slingers jacking everything.
Stealing the cover art concept of a well known mixtape will only make possible listeners think that you probably ripped off someone’s lyrical style as well. I only see these tapes long enough to roll my eyes at them. (For example, silhouettes standing on a pyramid of letters holding balloons or anything remotely related to Back to the Future.) Also, just in case you do have a creative idea, don’t blow it by letting your cuzin do your cover art. Some folks aren’t built for photoshop and most of them make mixtape covers. Creating a rap name that’s one letter off from some famous rapper like May-Z or Bun C is several clicks below awful. Oh and one more thing, if you just started rapping in November, you don’t have any lost tapes.
In other words, you are not Nas, Wale or Drake so don’t try to be. You are you and if you are a good rapper you have a chance at making it without usurping all that makes some else recognizable. Good luck and on with the show.
Bone Thugs N Harmony have been hovering on the net for a minute as they prepare for their first album with all five members present in umm.. well.. a long time. UNI5: The Worlds Enemy is scheduled for release this year and it appears “Dead and Bone,” derivative of T.I. and J.T.’s “Dead and Gone” is going to be on the track list. What we have here is an unfinished version, but if you like Bone, you’ll love this even with the lyrical gaps.
Tragedy The Beast is new to me, but I’m sure his words here mirror what some of you were thinking when you listened to Flocka Flame attempt to roast folks who do better than rhyming up with up with up. “Dictionary Rap” finds the Beastly one spreading his top tier (per him) lyricism over the intro to Nas’ Stillmatic. Not bad. Not bad at all sir.
Next we have JoJo. Not the singer, but Rev Run’s oldest boy who is doing his best to no longer be referred to as Rev Run’s oldest boy with his burgeoning rap career. He’s rapping over Soulja Boy’s “Play Ball.” Honestly after listening to the song I can’t say I remember anyone rapping, but maybe I was distracted. This is from his latest mixtape Most Improved Player Vol. 1. Hopefully, he can improve if for no other reason than to catch up with Diggy on the quality tip. Good luck Team Blackout.
Moving on we have Fab and his freestyle over “Turnt Up” which is allegedly a leak from his mixtape, There is No Competition 2. It’s a tape that is quickly becoming an urban legend on par with the likes of Chinese Democracy, except Chinese Democracy actually materialized. Only reason I post this, because I am so over the wait, is because this doesn’t even sound like him. Is this some less talented replacement ala Doom?
Fabolous-All_The_Way_Turnt_Up-2dope
Last but not least we have a few minutes of old school Guru Zen. He and Big Shug start with a freestyle over “Worst Comes to Worst” and then move on to “Mass Appeal.” Primo and his milk crates are an awesome backdrop by the way. Get well Guru. Get well.
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