By Ahmad Awadallah
Definitely not the best artist, but bar for bar, Jadakiss is arguably the best rapper dead or alive, hence the nickname. Signature raspy voice, over 15 years in the game, unbelievable wordplay, utmost esteem from fellow rappers, and a feared street team are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Kiss’s repertoire. Well the Yonkers emcee is back with a full head of hair and has linked up with DJ Drama for his inaugural Gangsta Grillz mixtape, Consignment. The tape is overloaded with features and original production. Despite Jada’s flawless track record, his Achilles heel continues to be his knack for selecting dope beats for the entirety of a project. His new tape has no room for any middle ground; the songs are either stupid dope or dumb wack.
“Nightmares and Migraines” is the first street banger and in true Al Qaeda Jada fashion, he bombs all over this one. The engrossing snare drum pattern and smooth digital synth are laced well by amateur producers Sebb Media A83. Cherish this track for the simple fact it is one of the few times we hear classic Kiss without the ill-fated interruption of mediocre features. “Paper Tags” is a posse cut record featuring Styles P, Wale and French Montana. It will definitely receive crazy love from New York City radio stations, but unfortunately doesn’t have the legs to run across country.
Fabolous and Lloyd Banks show some love on “Respect It.” On paper it’s the best song on the tape, however it falls desperately short of expectations. The beat’s excruciatingly sloppy sound and Lloyd Banks hoarse voice on the hook make for a suicidal combination. All three emcees flex some lyrical muscle and that’s enough to give the track a listen, but not enough to save this one. 2 Chainz and Kiss prove their chemistry on “One Day At A Time” wasn’t a fluke and recreate the magic on “Count It.” Styles goes extra hard on the hook, but to be fair he does borrow some French Montana bars.
“Without You” is another classic Kiss cut which sports some poignant production. Anyone who has/had a women hold him down can relate to Kiss’ vivid rhymes whether they’re in the trap or nine-to-five job. The hottest joint on the tape is definitely “Turn Up” featuring Wale and Future. Producers Pitchshifters samples Journey’s “Separate Ways (World Apart) and sampling Journey is always foolproof. Jada never fails to impress, Wale does his thing, despite being hit or miss, but Future probably spits the best verse of his career.
The 18-track mixtape is a roller coaster of high peaks and steep valleys. The tape could have been shorter and less cluttered with features, but overall not a shabby effort. The production dilemma hindered the D-Block General’s effort again, but as Kiss once said, “Y’all use beats for help, we help the beats,” and it continues to be his mantra.
3.25 Out of 5
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