We have all heard the phrase, "levels to this," right? Insert the ILLUMINATI REJECT project to that sentence and walk away. This project is probably one the strongest ones to meet our review gauntlet.
OVERALL RATING:
For everyone who thinks lyricism is dead and that creativity in hip hop is no longer existent, we should play them some Nino Bless. We have all heard the phrase, "levels to this," right? Insert the ILLUMINATI REJECT project to that sentence and walk away. This project is probably one the strongest ones to meet our review gauntlet yet.
Admittedly, at first listen, it seemed that the project was going to have an average rating, but as the review process continued, we found gems in bar after bar mixed with some quality production to present something rap fans will definitely appreciate from both sides of the proverbial lyricism fence.
From the first half of the project, tracks like The Rise, Turn Around and Bamboozled provide the perfect example of his ability to not only rap, but DELIVER his words with exact precision.
Our playlist vote went to Silver Bullet feat. Cambatta. This is one of the most versatile tracks on the project, and it's lyrically bananas! With more of a southern sounding production, its combination is a lethal dose of music.
It's hard to truly criticize this project. The only real weak points to the album were some minor mix issues, like dropping the high hats in This Song Might Get Me Killed, and a lack of some breakdowns in the beat for Bamboozled. Additionally This Song Might Get Me Killed was a very long song. If they made a shorter version balancing verses and vocals, it might make some serious waves.
Overall, this project is one of the strongest examples of how to create your own genuine sound and creative brand through music. Everything from lyrics, production to the delivery and mix was on point. We would recommend this anyone enjoys rap music, period. You can download it free on DatPiff.com on the link below and see one of his videos off this project below.
The RED SKY album is probably one of the most unique projects we have gotten the chance to review.
ARTIST(S): Aja Lorraine & Wally Clark ALBUM: Red Sky
OVERALL RATING:
The RED SKY album is probably one of the most unique projects we have gotten the chance to review. It's definitely an experimental project featuring Aja Lorraine's vocals mixed with Wally Clark's production. Let's also be clear, this is NOT a rap album. If you enjoy listening to R&B like vocals over various styles of production, and you enjoy the more eclectic styles of music; this would be the album for you.
This album was more abstract in its content and production, and didn't necessarily follow the standard formats for verses, hooks, etc. It seemed to have a more organic composition to it overall.
The ability of Aja to blend her writing and delivery to the production definitely showcased her strength as a vocalist. The melodies were absolutely unexpected in many of the tracks, but made sense.
One of the key factors that gave this album a good rating was the mixes. Most of the tracks were well balanced. The clarity in most of the tracks is what made this a smooth listen.
Tracks like BEEN AWAY could have used a little less on the synths, and WHAT KINDA CAT had some horns that would have been better more prominent in the mix.
While the production had a good range even within tracks, with drops and sequences that created various moods within the songs; there were some tracks like 1 SIDED LOVE and SKIN TO SKIN that seemed a bit monotonous after a while. The best songs were those that had a variety of sequences where Aja would follow the moods it created.
Our top picks for this album are REPO CHICKS, WHAT KINDA CAT and RED SKY. Check those out and let us know which ones are your top picks.
Overall, if you're looking for something more experimental and less Hip Hop; this is a good project to check out. There are links below with streaming and purchasing options.
The Snooze Button is definitely not an album to be taken lightly or slept on. It's properly titled and boasts a myriad of tracks that will make any fan of Hip Hop remember why they enjoyed emcees in the first place.
ARTIST(S): Annex (@annexhiphop) ALBUM: The Snooze Button LP
OVERALL RATING:
The Snooze Button is definitely not an album to be taken lightly or slept on. It's properly titled and boasts a myriad of tracks that will make any fan of Hip Hop remember why they enjoyed emcees in the first place. There's a total of 12 tracks, including intro and outro; and the production ranges from hard drops and bass lines to smooth production with insightful lyrics.
The opening track, "Respect My Carpet" jumps off with an authoritative flow and anthemic production. Annex makes it clear he understands the limitations of lyrical emcees, while still demanding the respect for his craft as an artist.
He follows it up with "Over My Dead Body," that features hard hitting production along with the slightly dismissive tone we once knew emcees to thrive off of. In one of his verses, he has the following advice for the younger generation: "Smarten up young thug / they want you talking about the guns and the drugs / they love to hear you ni**as scream no love / it's fuel for the agenda before they pull the rug"
This album has a lot of gems for thought mixed within the wordplay, and it will take a few listens to catch all the lines. The good part about this project is that most tracks will actually make you want to listen again. The delivery and texture of his voice flows well with the production of the tracks; so, it makes for a good listen. His ability to transform his delivery is obvious in tracks like "On My J.O." and "Don't Remind Me."
The features on this project from Laws, Vayga, imagiin360, Knucklez, Mike Mass, Aja Lorraine, Laz, J. Scriptz, B. Worthy and Jae Luis bring their own style to the respective tracks they appear on. His ability to pick good features was one of the things that gave him a good rating. So many times, features take away from the album, and for the most part, his features didn't water down the project at all.
Nonetheless, the few weak points of the album were on tracks like "This World," where the mellow feel was definitely needed, but it lacked the impact it could have had with a hook was mixed with a bit more strength and the production had a few more buildups in the instrumental.
Some of the mixes on the instrumentals clashed a bit as in the track, "On My J.O." that should have probably had horns on a different octave so as not to take from the vocalist. Other than that, the only lacking element from the album was the fluidity between tracks. This could have been a good storyline album, but it lacked the cohesive interludes to phase in between tracks.
Overall, the project was solid and a must have for any Hip Hop enthusiast that loves raw indie rap with no filters. Annex not only found his voice, but stepped his character up a bit more through the years and it shows in every verse he drops on this album. Seeing the growth from the last project was indeed refreshing.
We'll finalize this review with the following Annex line from his outro track: "You're self-driven if you're doing what you love / but understand that even the best of us benefit from a shove."
There are rarely groups that truly go outside of the box to deliver some good music mixed with great comedy AND dope production. This is definitely one of THOSE kind of projects.
ARTIST(S): FoulMowf & Hagan Lee ALBUM: Here to Hear
OVERALL RATING:
So, we received this project from some St. Petersburg emcees that redefine the meaning of UNIQUE. There are rarely groups that truly go outside of the box to deliver some good music mixed with great comedy AND dope production. This is definitely one of THOSE kind of projects. FoulMowf and Hagan Lee combine forces to create a completely unfiltered approach that will have you rewinding just to hear the wild punch-lines and metaphors used throughout the project.
Opening up the album with a completely comical sample; the beat drops to expose their absolute dedication to hard hitting production on "You Can Find Me." While opening up the album with a long track of features is usually not the best move, it did create the feeling necessary to understand exactly how diverse these guys could be.
Tracks like "Dominate," "Morning" and "Words" will definitely be one for the Hip Hop heads to save in the playlist. The authoritative flows and production on these tracks are enough to gain respect in any circle of emcees.
One of the most unique and hilarious tracks is "Smart Dummy." FoulMowf's off the wall delivery and completely insane lyrics are one of our favorites on this project. It's definitely not a track for those easily offended; but if you can take a joke, this will be one of those tracks that people play back for their friends simply because of how crazy it really is. The production definitely compliments the flow and it simply WORKS.
Overall, the project was solid and one of the most creative sounds we have heard in a while. There were some weak points to the project, which were mainly mix related, thus dropping their rating here. "Black Hoodie" was a dope track and concept, but the overall mix on the production could have used more strength on the low to mid-range frequencies. "Bad Seed" was another track that would have made the playlist easily had the mix had a bit more power to it. "Everything" had a great concept and sound, but the vocals needed more of bump in the overall mix; and "Strictly Commercial" somewhat drowned out FoulMowf's vocals a bit. These are a few of the examples of tracks that needed some engineer work, but also made us question what would happen with these guys on a project with a very polished mix and master.
This project is definitely a must have for those who enjoy a different sound that is both creative and still true to its roots in Hip Hop. One of the cool things about this project through the whole CD is the use of Hip Hop samples and references from ODB to KRS and more. While their sound is definitely new school, you can clearly hear the influences that heads will appreciate. This is not to say that they sound anything like Golden Age Hip Hop… believe us when we say that they have THEIR OWN SOUND. Download their project for free below and let them know what you think.
There has been a common eclectic theme in the more refined emcees these days, and Black Milk is no exception. His latest release, No Poison No Paradise, can be considered one of his more musically mature projects.
ARTIST(S): Black Milk
ALBUM: No Poison No Paradise
OVERALL RATING:
There has been a common eclectic theme in the more refined emcees these days, and Black Milk is no exception. His latest release, No Poison No Paradise, can be considered one of his more musically mature projects. From start to finish, this project has a mixture of hard-hitting production with musical arrangements you might find on an Erykah Badu album.
This project keyed in on Black Milk's ability to adapt and experiment with his delivery over sometimes random production; which was the strength of this project. From the start of "Interpret Sabotage," the beats are solid and the vocalists in tracks like this and "Parallels" definitely compliment the track and fit well with the production.
Another feature of this project is the wide array of instrumentals, whether they are intro, outros or full length interludes. The production definitely focused on providing a more musically rounded theme around deep drops, thoughtful lyrics and artsy jams like "Sonny Jr." and "X Chords" that simply fit the overall feel of the album.
One thing that is obvious from this album is that Black Milk doesn't mind experimenting, and he pulls it off well with tracks like "Black Sabbath," where he completely dominated the delivery over tight-knit drums and a grunge-like sound selection. Truthfully, sometimes the experimenting went a bit far and didn't blend well as in "Poison," where the background vocals clashed with his own vocals. Nonetheless, he still pulls off some deep thought in lyric with lines like, "What does it all mean, to lose your soul to try to live an american dream / fuck a life here, I'd rather go to sleep and live inside my nightmare."
If you like experimental production and slick wordplay, this is definitely an album you will want in your collection. The only down sides to this project were that in some tracks like, "Deion's House" where the overall production of the song wasn't bright enough and became a bit monotonous. While the lyrics were on point in "Codes and Cab Fare" from both Black Milk and Black Thought, the production just left the listener wanting a little more impact.
Overall, the album was well put together, musically mature and definitely one that lyricists will appreciate. Take some time to check out the video for "Sunday's Best" and "Monday's Worst;" which seemed like a good duo of contrast concepts.
Joe Stu and Hip Hop producer, D.R.U.G.S. combined to make a project that would exemplify not only the culture of our music; but the struggles and battles that come with being an artist.
ARTIST(S): Joe Stu + D.R.U.G.S. (ATL)
ALBUM: Wrong Turns in the Right Direction
OVERALL RATING:
In an age where messages are rarely received, and everything is about the party life, it's refreshing to get projects like these. Joe Stu and Hip Hop producer, D.R.U.G.S. combined to make a project that would exemplify not only the culture of our music; but the struggles and battles that come with being an artist. Conveying personal, political and spiritual messages through powerful production and undeniable lyricism, "Wrong Turns in the Right Direction" definitely lives up to its name.
The Jazz/Soul influence is quickly noticed from the very intro of the project, complete with consciously-driven spoken word over a smooth saxophone and piano combo. This blends nicely with the hard drop of ARE YOU READY, and sets the tone for what could be called, "struggle music."
The tracks that really stood out on this project were the one's featuring vocalists like LIFE feat. Jahah, and LOVE GONE feat. Sage and Najja. Their selection in vocalists complimented the song and the artist; which is not always a strong point for rap artists. Another notable collaboration on this project was CLOUDY DAYS feat. Krystal and Shred TVT; which definitely made it to the BSR playlists.
One of the strongest values to the project was the delivery on tracks. Having bars is one thing, but when you can properly execute them over a rhythm and make it your own sound; that separates the rappers from the emcees. Joe Stu's ability to weave concepts and execute them precisely led to a high rating on lyrics. One notable line on REALITY RAP explaining the fraudulent nature of reality TV, he stated, "Basketball Wives got these women thinking if they spread their thighs, that they could get a house and a ride / and a TV show to match plus some child support payments, in the end, I guess it's all entertainment." Rather than judge the watchers and fans, he merely questions whether the concept of watching and participating in the circus is wrong or right. And at the end of that track, he was real enough to just say he likes to watch his shows. How more honest can it get?
Overall, the project was definitely a quality product, and we would recommend it to anyone who loves an artist who is transparent and conscious; yet down to earth enough to make it comical and real to the listener.
Like any other project, this one had a few down sides to it. ARE YOU READY needed a bit more variation on the production as it seemed to drag on a bit. HOOKED wasn't really up to the standard of the other tracks and seemed a little flat on the mix. CLOUDY DAYS, though being one of the favorites, still needed a bit more prominence on the vocals in the hook. And PARTY feat. Los Rider was a great party concept (true to its name), but the mid-range frequencies seemed to clash a little bit and took away from the dynamics of the production and delivery.
Nonetheless, the project from start to finish held strong through the review process. A salute to Joe Stu and D.R.U.G.S. for a great collaboration of music that we believe every Hip Hop enthusiast will enjoy.
CHECK OUT THE MUSIC VIDEO OF THE "GORILLA" SINGLE:
ALBUM RATINGS
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Please click here for more information on guidelines for our bootslap rating system.
Tampa has a host of talented individuals and crews that bless its Hip Hop scene, but few that have the unique blend of sounds that The Rukus brings to the table.
Artist(s): The Rukus Mixtape: The Patience Project (2011)
Overall Rating:
Tampa has a host of talented individuals and crews that bless its Hip Hop scene, but few that have the unique blend of sounds that The Rukus brings to the table. Made up of KeithElite, Rude and DJ Blenda; this trio has released their latest project titled, THE PATIENCE PROJECT; which featured a blend of original production, DJ cuts and features from some notable artists.
Starting off the project, they definitely show a lot of love and get all the shouts out of the way in track one. Many of Tampa's artists, DJ's and promoters will find their names on that long list of shout outs and then off to the music it goes.
With a strong message on "The Break's Over," The Rukus expresses their feelings about the current state of artistry today, and their current contribution to lyricism and substance in music. While the mix is not what it probably should have been, the production and lyrics definitely make up for it. This resonates throughout the project, but there were definitely some tracks worth a serious recommendation.
Tracks like "Days Fly By," featuring Geno and Sen-C give a great nostalgic feel with relevant content on how life moves so quickly by. "The Banger," featuring Mike Mass and Dynasty is by far one of the best tracks on the project. It is worth some mention that Mike Mass' verse was probably one of the strongest on this track and contributed to its feel in a considerable way.
One of their single tracks currently being pushed, "A Song for the People" could best be described as pure quality music. This track definitely epitomized the concept of making music and not just Rap. The feel of this song is inspiring and moving at the same time. "Amazin'" was by far the best track on the whole project, featuring the strong content of Jinx and E-Digga; it could possibly snap the rewind button and make a few listeners make use of their warranty services.
Just like every project, there were some down sides to this project as well. Overall, the mixes on the tracks are what hurt the ratings a bit. Tracks like "Where We At Now" and "Hands High" could have used a bit more balancing between vocal and beat frequencies on the EQ. "Too Easy," though picking up after the first verse did not begin strong enough. Additionally, the closing track, "Show's Over" was actually a great track, but probably was not the strongest end to the project even though it was intended for this very purpose.
Overall, this album is a must have for those individuals who enjoy something different, but VERY MUCH culture music. The features are strong, the production definitely exemplifies quality - but the mixes will need to be better on the next project. If they can make that happen; there's no denying this team will push ahead in the coming years with some epic music.
If you thought lyricism and horror-core rap was something of the past, you obviously haven't heard the Da Goldminers latest LP, THE GOLDEN ERA.
Artist(s): Da Goldminerz Mixtape: The Golden Era (2011)
Overall Rating:
If you thought lyricism and horror-core rap was something of the past, you obviously haven't heard the Da Goldminers latest LP, THE GOLDEN ERA. Hailing out of the Tampa, FL area, by way of that up north feel; they bring a dynamic face to the once underground scene that flourished back in the 90's. With a new twist in production by Simon Roofless, the team goes in on what most lovers of lyricism will find to be a haven of poetic ingenuity.
Opening the album with the eerie story plot of aliens who invade earth for interludes; the listener already can catch a small hint of what's up and coming. What every listener who doesn't know this crew will NOT be ready for is the array of lyrics that will be thrown at them throughout the rest of this album.
From the beginning of the album, "In the Flesh" starts it off with a blend of lyrics and a heavy beat that Roofless is known well for. "What You Gonna Do" is reminiscent of a mix between CELLA DWELLAS and GRAVEDIGGAZ; and for those who know those two old school crews, it will become glaringly obvious that this is definitely not your average Tampa crew.
Some stand out tracks on this album were "Pick Axez" that was a definite REPLAY track. While "The Plan" doesn't have the strongest start to it, it quickly picks up the pace with dangerous wordplay and one of those hooks that told its own story like emcees used to do. While the production mix was not what I would have preferred, "Keep Shit Raw" still did its justice in lyrics. "Historical" was definitely the perfect outro track to the album. Here's some quotable for readers to chew on.
"Precise aim with the slingshot and rock / pop your emperor and skate with the book of Enoch / we roll up on you niggaz like a gang of ewoks / I'm hip hop, Timbs and Adidas, no Nikes and Reeboks" - Simon Roofless from "Keep Shit Raw"
"End of this coming with a disasterous knock / it's the madness wit the shock causing strains to your voicebox / order more shots than clientele to bartenders / I send ya to the end of the year, like your stuck in december"- Duh Nokah from "Historical"
While the production is unquestionably professional and clean, there is a hint of mixing that lacks in the production specifically. While the old school sound is almost undeniably concentrated on lyrics, the need for some of those background sounds like the FLUTE and STRUMMING on "Killin Senses;" or the background sounds on "Starvin Artists;" and the weightier sounds on "Inception" would have definitely made it sound a bit more impactful overall.
In conclusion, if you are LYRICISM FAN, you will definitely enjoy this album. If you're looking to shake your ass to some club music that you would hear on commercial radio, you might as well keep it moving. This is an album made SPECIFICALLY for the Hip Hop heads that enjoy substance and storyline music.
ALBUM RATINGS
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CD AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE! Due to overwhelming bootlegging, Da GoldMinerz has decided to keep their copies strictly on the physical CD level. You can purchase a copy on their official website.
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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.
So, if you are from the bay area, you have probably heard ABOUT or heard Gemstar DIRECTLY. His talent is undeniable, and the young emcee hailing from Long Island; now residing in Florida, has definitely shown his ability to push past the common music of radio.
Artist(s): Gemstar Album Name: Lessons of Life, The Mixtape Year of Release: 2011
Overall Rating:
So, if you are from the bay area, you have probably heard ABOUT or heard Gemstar DIRECTLY. His talent is undeniable, and the young emcee hailing from Long Island; now residing in Florida, has definitely shown his ability to push past the common music of radio. In this latest release, LESSONS OF LIFE, THE MIXTAPE; Gem attempts to portray some "Real Life" content into his music, which actually makes his music extremely relevant to most everyday people.
The opening to the mixtape starts off well with an upbeat tempo that works perfect with Gemstar's flow. It's obvious from the first track that he is definitely comfortable with his own delivery. As the mixtape goes on, there seems to be recurring theme of singing hooks and bridges along with lyrical prowess on the verses.
Quite honestly, the singing is a bit much on some tracks like "Let Go" and "Call Me", but he makes up for it in some tracks like "Got No Home". It's obvious his style mixes in some singing and rapping, but for the most part he's going to want to tighten that up a bit more especially on the tracks that are a bit more dynamic in vocal ranges.
Other than that - this album is simply QUALITY! The range of music and mixture of sounds and style make this album one of the regular rotation. Some HEAT TRACKS to keep an ear out for are "Sent to Me" which has a GREAT MIX and separation of sounds. "Antidote" which features Kensta Lopez is also a great listen as well, with its "FEED YOUR MIND" lyrics. "Call Me" is a great track for the women, and while the guitar is a slight bit grunged out for this feel, it's not too heavy to still enjoy this track.
Overall this album was a keeper, and we look forward to hearing MORE of Gemstar's contribution to the Hip Hop game. Maybe a little ease off the singing tip and letting other people do that, or maybe work some more on the vocal trainings, and GEM will most definitely have a GEM of talent as his arsenal. He's already a HOT TOPIC, so DON'T SLEEP on a GREAT ARTIST!
ARTIST(S):
ARTIST(S): Joe Stu + D.R.U.G.S. (ATL)
One of the strongest values to the project was the delivery on tracks. Having bars is one thing, but when you can properly execute them over a rhythm and make it your own sound; that separates the rappers from the emcees. Joe Stu's ability to weave concepts and execute them precisely led to a high rating on lyrics. One notable line on REALITY RAP explaining the fraudulent nature of reality TV, he stated, "Basketball Wives got these women thinking if they spread their thighs, that they could get a house and a ride / and a TV show to match plus some child support payments, in the end, I guess it's all entertainment." Rather than judge the watchers and fans, he merely questions whether the concept of watching and participating in the circus is wrong or right. And at the end of that track, he was real enough to just say he likes to watch his shows. How more honest can it get?
Artist(s): The Rukus
If you thought lyricism and horror-core rap was something of the past, you obviously haven't heard the Da Goldminers latest LP, THE GOLDEN ERA. Hailing out of the Tampa, FL area, by way of that up north feel; they bring a dynamic face to the once underground scene that flourished back in the 90's. With a new twist in production by Simon Roofless, the team goes in on what most lovers of lyricism will find to be a haven of poetic ingenuity.
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. 
So, if you are from the bay area, you have probably heard ABOUT or heard Gemstar DIRECTLY. His talent is undeniable, and the young emcee hailing from Long Island; now residing in Florida, has definitely shown his ability to push past the common music of radio. In this latest release, LESSONS OF LIFE, THE MIXTAPE; Gem attempts to portray some "Real Life" content into his music, which actually makes his music extremely relevant to most everyday people.
