WE NOW HAVE A NEW SITE AND LIVE PODCAST DEDICATED TO FEATURING DOPE ARTISTS.
CATCH UP WITH US @ WWW.BLACKMARKERBANDIT.COM

  • Home
  • About
  • Articles
  • Commentaries
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
Sponsor Advertisement

Mixtape & Album Review

Mixtape & Album Review

Monday, January 28, 2013

We at BootSlap are advocates for Indies with QUALITY MUSIC; so we base our reviews on 4 key components. This system of rating provides us a standard of quality that is not simply left to the bias of the writer or reader.

An overview of the BootSlap Rating System

In every masterpiece, there are various components that make up that work of art in a way that exemplifies it as genius. Whether it is the stanzas in a poem, the movements in a symphony or the components of a Hip Hop record; there are pieces to that work that come together and make it QUALITY MUSIC. We at BootSlap are advocates for Indies with QUALITY MUSIC; so we base our reviews on 4 key components. This system of rating provides us a standard of quality that is not simply left to the bias of the writer or reader.
 

IN OTHER WORDS...

 
The lyrics in music may be as elementary as Kermit the frog with a twist of tight jeans and pocket protectors; but the production is phenomenal, the mix is phenomenal, and the overall delivery of the artist projected well. They may get a good rating.
 
On the other hand; the lyrics may be completely flawless, but the delivery might sound more like a Gregorian chant, and the production is completely mixed like an old school cassette tape playing on a dusty boombox with one speaker working. That might not get a great rating. Just a simple thought to ponder when you make music.
 

WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS…

 
We are eliminating the opinion and trying to observe MUSIC for exactly what it is… MUSIC! So, I guess you want to know the formula, huh?
 

THE OFFICIAL BOOTSLAP REVIEW SYSTEM

 
They look something like this Boot Rating (halves look like this… Boot Rating )
AND BELOW IS HOW WE BREAK IT OUT ON THE SCALE
boot rating boot rating boot rating boot rating boot rating
- 5 BOOTS: FLAWLESS!!!!
boot rating boot rating boot rating boot rating half boot rating
- 4.5 BOOTS: Repeat Alert!!!!
boot rating boot rating boot rating boot rating
- 4 BOOTS: Pretty Damn Good!!!!
boot rating boot rating boot rating half boot rating
- 3.5 BOOTS: This gets a #salute
boot rating boot rating boot rating zero boot rating
- 3 BOOTS: Good Work!
boot rating boot rating half boot rating zero boot rating
- 2.5 BOOTS: It's good, but might need some work
boot rating boot rating zero boot rating zero boot rating
- 2 BOOTS: Definitely needs some work, but it has potential
boot rating half boot rating zero boot rating zero boot rating
- 1.5 BOOTS: It's OK…. (yea, how that sounded in your head)
boot rating zero boot rating zero boot rating zero boot rating
- 1 BOOT: Not really a strong point, huh?
half boot rating zero boot rating zero boot rating zero boot rating
- HALF A BOOT: C'Mon Son…. (insert Ed Lover pic here)
 
 
Like we said earlier… there are COMPONENTS to every masterpiece, so this is how we ask ourselves how to rate projects:
 
LYRICS: Are you on topic, do you articulate well and are you creative with the way you put those words together? Lyricism is the key here, but making sense matters JUST AS MUCH here. What story are you telling me? Do I get it?
 
PRODUCTION: Is the production well composed, constructed and mixed? Does it tell its own story and carry its weight on the project? Is it even original??????? (We have to ask these days….)
 
MIX: Does everything sound clean? Are the frequencies balanced correctly across the record? Does this sound like a QUALITY MIX? Every type of music and genre has its own way to mix and blend frequencies; does the mix match your song?
 
OVERALL: This is done by simply taking the 3 components above; Lyrics, Production and Mix, and calculating the average between them. This then equals the overall rating of the project. Rounding in any way is up to the discretion of the writer. Think of it as a MINUS or PLUS on a test (i.e. c-, b+, etc etc blah blah blah)
 
THIS IS HOW WE COME UP WITH OUR RATING OF PROJECTS. LIKE IT OR HATE IT, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS US HONEST AND KEEPS ARTISTS GROWING. THERE IS NO PROGRESS FOR THE INDIE ARTIST IF THEY CANNOT SET NEW STANDARDS ONCE THEY MEET THE OLD ONES.
 
SINCERELY,
THE BOOTSLAP TEAM
 
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

So, we decided to peep out Kembe X's new joint titled SELF RULE for a 2nd Round review. Most times, artists have a hard enough time getting just a few good songs in ONE project; much less a group of successive projects that show TRUE growth.

Artist(s): Kembe X
Mixtape: Self Rule Mixtape (2011)

Overall Rating:

So, we decided to peep out Kembe X's new joint titled SELF RULE for a 2nd Round review. Most times, artists have a hard enough time getting just a few good songs in ONE project; much less a group of successive projects that show TRUE growth. As usual, his ability to create intricate wordplay is probably the most ingenious part of his delivery.

He starts off the project with an inspiring Malcolm X speech for the intro. Their mix and choice of background music was definitely well done. This is actually something that could be said about a lot of the project, overall. The choice in production matched the lyrics extremely well throughout the project.

From "Introlude" with its smooth delivery and laid back production, to "Quarter and a Nightmare" with its odd use of melodies over smooth lines of rhythm; Kembe's ability to weave a story that pulls in the listener is undeniable. Any listener will notice, right away, that not only is Kembe X able to adapt easily to various rhythms; but his choice of production is phenomenal.

Some tracks worth a DEFINITE mention are, "Patience," which helped bring the project back into perspective and made it come alive midway when the track tempos starting blurring together. This track is a definite REPEAT BUTTON CULPRIT! The only thing it could have used was less saturation on the distortion of the vocals of the hook. It was a bit heavy and could have balanced out a bit better to sound less gritty.

Between "Backwards" with its old school "Midnight Marauder's" feel, and smooth bass riffs and woodwinds of "Don't Quit;" it's clear his influences are not just constrained to recent music. Kembe X seems to be rooted in MUCH MORE than today's superficial digi-songs. His music reaches back out to the listener and incites that old warm feel Chi-Town artists are known well for.

While we have a lot of good to say about this project, and the ratings speak the same; there were some slight downsides to the project that could have used some work. "Cold Summer" loses a little momentum, which he makes up with his ability to paint a picture with lyrics. "Don't Quite" could have used a little more work on the bridge and the feature artist, Alex Wiley, could have had better breath control in his delivery.

Despite the very minute flaws on this project; the quality, wordplay, production and overall mix puts Kembe X on a different playing field than many indie artists who are still trying to mature their sound. Peep out the download and HEAR HIP HOP REVIVING FIRST HAND!

ALBUM RATINGS
Production:
Lyrics:
Mix:
OVERALL:
 
 
Monday, April 11, 2011

OK, so we came across this submission this week and thought it was DEFINITELY worth a good mention. This was probably one of the better finds we have had in a while, and aspiring Emcee, Kembe X

Artist(s): Kembe X
 
Overall Rating:
 
OK, so we came across this submission this week and thought it was DEFINITELY worth a good mention. This was probably one of the better finds we have had in a while, and aspiring Emcee, Kembe X, hailing from the South Suburbs of Chicago exemplifies the very nature of a poetic emcee. His wordplay is ridiculously talented, and his ability to deliver accurately on beat is undeniable in every sense of the word!
 
From the first track we heard titled, "Balla Shit Till," it immediately became clear this was no average rapper or simple artist. His wordplay and ability to deliver what seems to be tongue twisting adventures without any issue make it apparent this artist is definitely hungry enough to make some serious damage given the right tools.
 
Throughout all the tracks sent to us, we noticed 3 very glaring issues that needed work; but these were (quite honestly) the ONLY issues with the tracks submitted.
  1. Mixing was very poor. It did not match the quality of his lyrics, and it almost took away from the punch of the song overall, leaving the listener almost wanting more of his lyrics with new beats.
  2. The usage of effects, especially in the initial track "Balla Shit Till," was a bit unbalanced with the final mix. It was almost as if they went back and did this over the master or something.
  3. Too many mid range frequencies (500-700mhz) in the EQ and not enough 120mhz, 2khz and 10khz frequencies in the final output.
If these mixing issues were corrected, Kembe X may have gotten an additional point, and we are looking forward to hearing more of him in the future with some QUALITY PRODUCTION and QUALITY MIXES. Once he has this, we definitely think Kembe X will be quite a force to contend with in the game.
 
ALBUM RATINGS
Production:
Lyrics:
Mix:
OVERALL:
 

FACEBOOK LIKE PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kembe-X/150406498356725?sk=app_178091127385

TWITTER PAGE
http://twitter.com/kembe_x

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
http://www.youtube.com/kembexandercast24

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Y'all have heard of Watchmen by now, so you should know the emcee they call PRO. His lyrical ability is undeniable, much like the rest of the crew, and he has now released a new album called, I NEED THERAPY.

Artist(s): PRO
Album Name: I Need Therapy
Year of Release: 2011
 
Overall Rating:
 
Y'all have heard of Watchmen by now, so you should know the emcee they call PRO. His lyrical ability is undeniable, much like the rest of the crew, and he has now released a new album called, I NEED THERAPY; which for the most part feeds that inner-lyrical person that enjoyed the sounds of Rakim, Wu and the like. This album, though not as strong as I had hoped for was indeed a good listen.
 
The intro titled, "Dark Passenger" lives up to its name with the creepy intro; and when PRO begins rhyming, you almost feel like your listening to 90's Rakim. That is not to say it's a bad thing because lyrically, the talent is most definitely there.
 
One thing that was very clear is that PRO was attempting to paint a lot of stories throughout this album, and he does very well with tracks like "Where" and "Sunshine" that includes singing vocals. Most of the feel for these tracks is deep and soul-ish. It was definitely NOT what I expected to hear, but I kind of enjoyed the fact that it was different, and I appreciated the range of music he implemented into the production. Tracks like "The Truth", "GO" and "Dangerous" were definitely REWIND WORTHY tracks, so be sure not to miss listening to those on the album.
 
Overall, the Mix on this album was pretty good. Tracks like "The Truth" had some smooth lows, and overall the blends of frequencies were very clean. You can hear a VERY GOOD separation of sounds in the track called "Where".
 
There weren't a lot of downers in this album, but a few key points to work on that dropped the score a little. "Encontramos" was a good track to bring the bilingual hook, but the delivery could have been a bit smoother on this one to match with the beat. His delivery was great for what it was, but this track needed something with a little less attach on the delivery. "I Will" was not as impressive as it could have been with a better mix on the higher end frequencies.
 
For those who like LYRICS, this is a GREAT ALBUM and serves its purpose well. For those who are looking for something a little out of the box, it may be a hit and miss for you.
 
 
 
 
ALBUM RATINGS
Production:
Lyrics:
Mix:
OVERALL:
 
Sunday, January 2, 2011

For those who are not familiar with Cambatta and his lyrical content, the latest album, Visionary 2 will serve as a quick reminder that there are still relevant artists in the Florida scene.

Artist(s):Cambatta
Album Name: Visionary 2
Year of Release: 2010
Overall Rating:
 
For those who are not familiar with Cambatta and his lyrical content, the latest album, Visionary 2 will serve as a quick reminder that there are still relevant artists in the Florida scene. Cambatta mixes his ability to weave lyrical content into everyday experiences; and makes a definite mark on the Hip Hop scene with this latest addition.
 
From the start of the album with "The Re-Introduction," he create the very feel Hip Hop is known for, while shooting off lyrics like, "These are visual statements, as far as that pop shit, I have minimal patience / it feels like the end of a civilization, and I'm the only nigga escapin'" to leave the listener even FURTHER interested in hearing more.
 
Tracks that DEFINITELY stand out a lot on this album, which are far more than just the average two gems in most album are: "On My Way," which seperates Cambatta from the stereotypical rapper; "Unstoppable Bullet," which tells a strong message; "Light it UP," with a feature from LAWS of Justice League; and "Green Light," which describes the double-edged character of money and our need for it.
 
While there's not much bad to say about this album, there were some slightly low points to the overall album. Tracks like "Stoopid" could have been mixed a bit better with the sample used to make it sound clearer; "Right Back At You" wasn't too impressive compared to the other tracks around it, but the singing was nice; and "Don't Blame Me," which could have used a little more work on the hook to make it stand out a bit more.
 
Overall, this album was HEAT!!!! This one is a definite MUST HAVE in the collection of raw Hip Hop music. Anyone who ever doubted Cambatta's ability on the mic should definitely give this download a try. Don't miss the track, "Good Ol' Days" if you come from that Golden Age of Hip Hop. You will DEFINITELY RELATE to this!
 
ALBUM RATINGS
Production:
Lyrics:
Mix:
OVERALL:
 
CLICK ON THE MUSIC LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS MIXTAPE
http://cambattamusic.bandvista.com/
 
Tuesday, October 26, 2010

R.A.P.P. Quelle - After The Art: We Are Up (Mixtape Review) on BootSlapRap.com | Home of the independant reviews and business.

Artist(s): R.A.P.P. Quelle
Album Name: After The Art: We Are Up Mixtape
Year of Release: 2010

Overall Rating:

Most mixtapes are filled with DJ cuts and slices with overbearing DJ's screaming at the mic biding for the attention of the listener as much as the emcee. This was NOT the case for R.A.P.P. Quelle's latest mixtape release, After the Art: We Are Up. Quelle's ability to weave words together as well as the mixtape more closely resembling the track flow of an actual album make this mixtape a good addition to the collection.

The mixtape starts with the eerie song from Pirates of the Caribbean 3, almost making the listener wonder what he means from that. Are WE as Hip Hop the pirates singing our song to the death pursuing perpetual voice in the music market? Nonetheless, the mixtape moves on to the next track resembling the usual shout outs and long intros traditionally seen.

As the first real cut begins with "Why Be Afraid," I couldn't help but think of DMX and his gritty yelling on the mic. R.A.P.P. Quelle does this, but with a twist of his own that stands him apart a bit from DMX. It's more than obvious that Quelle is not your average rapper, and his lyrics alone help him a lot of the way along with tracks like "The Enigma is All Me" and "We Are Up (Light Up Remix)"

Tracks like "Forgot About Wishing" using the airplanes instrumental showcase some of his heart in this music when he states, "I pray none of these words get lost in translation / Hopefully you get every bar that I'm saying." He makes it obvious he has no plans of stopping.

There are some downsides to this mixtape which really accounted for most of the loss in points. One major point is that Quelle's delivery really doesn't range out well. He's pretty much screaming most of the time or at least sounding like he is. The texture of his voice should be a bit mellower on some tracks and lacks that drop in tracks like "All the Way Up" and "PSA."

Some other things to mention are his selection of tracks, which I thought with his delivery, could have been a bit heavier to match his aggressive tone. Not all the beats matched him specifically, but worked out merely on the fact that he got lyrics for days. I would like to hear him on some heavy percussion, low-end drops and tracks that match more of his voice texture.
 
ALBUM RATINGS
Production:
Lyrics:
Mix:
OVERALL:
 
 
Monday, October 18, 2010

BootSlapRap.com Album Review :: Wu-Tang Management presents The Watchmen catches 4 points out of 5!

Artist(s): The Watchmen
Album Name: Wu-Tang Management presents The Watchmen
Year of Release: 2010

Overall Rating:

Wu-Tang has never really stood still since their emergence on the scene almost a decade ago. They have released various group and solo albums, as well as movie music and animated adventures. While the last few years we have seen various efforts from each member to extend themselves within their respective styles, there has also been a major recruitment of affiliate groups that the Wu has been pushing out lately. One of those groups coming out of Florida is THE WATCHMEN. A crew consisting of 5 determined artists to make a mark on the WU Map.

Keeping true to the Wu Brand, The Watchmen dropped a double CD, with the first beginning very reminiscent of most albums with intro scripts from old school karate flicks. From the beginning of the album, you can hear a slight nostalgia of Killa Army influencing some vibes, but the crew quickly breaks away into their own style and flow as the album moves on. It's not hard to understand that this group is clearly ABOUT THAT LYRICISM and the use of "poison darts" to dominate the tracks one by one. There are some serious "burners", and much for the most unexpected reasons.

Tracks like "It's Not Too Late," with its signature Wu female vocals and crazy wordplay; as well as "Not Living" with its Soul Music quality combined with great lyric delivery make a clear impact into both the independent and commercial markets. This album has some diversity with tracks like "Cruisin" that brought a very Latin element to the crew. With tracks like these, there may be something the team is onto. It's VERY clear they experiment well.

By CD number two, you can see that the crew can do both old school styles, but have an updated flow to match the younger minds as well. There are some tracks that don't build well for the team in this album. Tracks like "It's a Shame" and "Chinese Split" didn't really stand out at all, and made the forward button look increasingly tempting.

With the mix of the incredible DOUBLE CD that remained oddly interesting from start to finish; the team was able to accomplish not only two CD's, but were varied enough in their sound to keep a listener interested enough to keep seeing what they had to bring next track. We look forward to hearing more growth from this crew in the coming months. Now, to see a performance would probably be THAT much more interesting…
 
ALBUM RATINGS
Production:
Lyrics:
Mix:
OVERALL:
 
 
Sponsor Advertisment

Sign Up Today For Updates!

Sponsor Advertisement
© 2013 - 2024 BootSlap - All Rights Reserved.