Mixtape Review: Joell Ortiz and Novel-Defying The Predictable

Posted On: February 10, 2010
Posted By: odeisel
Comments: 1

By Fawn Renee

While two of the South’s most influential MCs live life behind bars, the West Coast desperately clings to the fleeting success of Snoop Dogg while grooming the New West, and the Midwest waits with bated breath for a ray of hope from Lupe Fiasco, New York is still struggling to reclaim its title as the epicenter of Hip-Hop. Enter Joell Ortiz. For many New Yorkers, the Brooklyn-bred Puerto Rican rapper is a breath of fresh air, and memento of the heart of Hip-Hop.

Having collaborated with Hip-Hop royalty such as Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, Immortal Technique, Ras Kass, and Sha Stimuli (among others), Ortiz’ talent is unquestionable. His rugged flow is priceless and oozes with the authenticity of New York’s Hip-Hop scene; a dwindling trend in the genre these days as everyone conforms to one uniform sound. Taking what he’s learned under the guidance of Dr. Dre, Ortiz is on his own again as a “free agent,” gearing up for the release of his second studio album of the same name.

In true New York fashion, the highly anticipated album is preceded by a monstrous mixtape, in an effort to add fuel to the fire. Ortiz and Atlanta based producer/singer Novel have collaborated several times, as Ortiz’s gritty rhymes intermingle with Novel’s soulful vibrato and illuminating beats. While most of their collaborative work up until this point has appeared on Novel’s mixtapes, such as 808s and Mixtapes, this time around, Ortiz is headlining the show. And while we get quite a few pleasantly familiar tracks on Defying The Predictable, like “I Can Be President,” “Hit Em Wit The Shottie” and “Fighters,” Ortiz and Novel still manage to defy the predictable, adding seven new tracks to their latest compilation endeavor. Of the new tracks, a few are particularly noteworthy.

The album opens with a sound bite from the film Almost Famous, which you will find sprinkled throughout the mixtape, playing as an introduction to a few tracks, and leads into “Ghetto Pt. 1,” which matches Novel’s head-nodding production with Ortiz’ savage rhyming style, and he kills it. “I’m a veteran of this medicine like Dr. Dre, knock on wood I ain’t ever been locked away.” This track never stood a chance. The real jaw dropper here is Novel’s arbitrary verse, where, for many, we hear him rhyming for the first time. He definitely defies the predictable, effortlessly keeping up with Ortiz’s pace and fervor.

Another standout track is the Novel-produced “Like I Know,” whose soulful feel complements the sincerity in Ortiz’ rhymes. Speculators will dig deep to twist the meaning of a few questionable lines, like the subliminal shots fired at fellow Slaughterhouse member, Joe Budden. Here Ortiz says, “I’m not a yes man. I keep a no button. So don’t ever question my loyalty ‘cause of Joe Budden.” But if you listen further, it’s easy to distinguish the imaginary beef, as Ortiz makes it clear, “I’m not a trouble maker, I’m a gutter hater; Want to move my mother out these projects into somethin’ major.” He even touches on the beef with Benzino, in a classy way, earning respect both as an MC and a grown man.

“Motherland” is a track produced by another long-time Ortiz collaborator, Frequency. The backdrop is a deviation from the classic New York street vibe fans are used to hearing Ortiz flow over, but the unpredictability of the beat, and his flow combined, further solidifies Ortiz’ claim as one of the most underrated rappers out. For the first time, we hear Ortiz’s fluidity, which will go a long way to gain him the mass appeal all artists hope to gain.

Ortiz took a risk with this mixtape when he covered Drake’s “Successful.” The song almost seems untouchable, as it is largely responsible for the success of the highly coveted Toronto rapper. Ortiz’ version is aptly titled “Stressful,” providing a different view from the bottom up. Newcomer Cri$style (aka The Ink) reminds you of Keri Hilson, only more soulful, as her golden notes take you in and invite you to live her struggle. And when Novel drops 16 at the end of the song, you wonder if Drizzy Drake might have a little competition as a duel threat.

If you aren’t familiar with Joell Ortiz by now get familiar, because the kid is a shooting star with enormous potential. He is a reminder of the purpose and effectiveness of Hip-Hop, and his raw approach to rhyming separates him from the pack of conformists running rampant on the Hip-Hop scene presently. With Novel on his team, continually challenging Ortiz’s versatility as an artist, his sophomore album on the horizon, and a genuine respect for the game, the sky is the limit for this free agent, who consistently defies the predictable.

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