Top 5 Mixtapes of the Month (February)

With last month being extremely slow with worthy releases and all its been difficult to put together a list of intriguing mixtapes but February came to save the day with an entourage of projects dropping since valentine’s day so for the month of February I give you the only mixtapes you should be looking for . Take a listen and enjoy. 

                                                                     

1. Cyhi the Prynce - Hystori: Black History Project:  G.O.O.D music’s Cyhi is back with another very conceptual project that is executively produced by the Rap God Kanye West himself with features by Jon Conner, Zip K, King Louie and others with production by TEC BEATZ, M16, Grizzly and etc. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/CyHi-The-Prynce-Black-Hystori-Project-mixtape.584369.html

2. Pro Era - The Secc$ Tape 2: Hip Hop Collective Pro Era drops the second installment of The Secc$ Tape with records from Dessy Hinds, Kirk Knight, Dirty Sanchez, Joey Badass and others with production from Power Pleasant, Kirk Knight, Bruce Leekixx and many others. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Pro-Era-The-Secc-Tape-Vol-2-mixtape.582589.html

3. Buddy - Idle Time:  It’s been a long delay but finally Pharrell’s Cosigned Buddy drops his debut project which features Robin thicke, Miley Cyrus, Kendrick Lamar, Asther Roth and many others with production from Polyester, Chuck inglish, Cardo, Boi-1da and Pharrell Himself. D/L Link:   http://www.datpiff.com/Buddy-Idle-Time-mixtape.584016.html

4. Rickie Jacobs – Remember to Smile: Another introspective project From Baltimore’s Rickie Jacobs with features SMOKE DZA, DUBB, Beya Likhari and others with production from EU IV, Rosewood, Young Billionaire and many others. D/L Link: http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/rickie-jacobs-remember-to-smile-new-mixtape.108827.html

5. Mark Battles – Black Einstein : New solo project from Mark Battles which features a gang of features like Dizzy Wright, Joe Budden, French Montana, Euroz, Wale and many others with production mainly from J Cuse. D/L Link: http://www.datpiff.com/Mark-Battles-Black-Einstein-mixtape.584037.html

UnHyped Audio: February 27, 2014

Before the month of February comes to an end here’s another list of under the radar records that will definitely capture your musical earing. Have a listen and enjoy 

Fly Union – Stay Alive:  Another freebie from the Trio called Fly Union with Jerreau and Jay Swifa on the verses over a club banger of an instrumental produced from Jay Swifa himself.   

Vince Staples – Nate: New leak from Long Beach Vince Staples which finds him detailing his childhood memories with his father over a captivating beat by Scoop Deville and bridge done by Cocaine 80’s James Fauntleroy, definitely a dope track.

Ludacris – Party Girls: Last we heard from Luda was his IDGAF mixtape last year and while we still waiting on the LP he drops a new single with singer Jeremiah and rapper Wiz Khalifa , one of those strip club records to listen to. 

Tory Lanez - Danny Glover (Freestyle):  Canada’s Own Tory bodies another instrumental for the swave session this time its Young Thug’s Danny Glover, definitely a track that will be on your playlist.    

REVIEW: Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo

Written By Andre Millwood

Isaiah Rashad released his debut project “Cilvia Demo” on the TDE; Top Dawg Entertainment Label on the 28th of January 2014. It featured label mates SZA, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock as well as friends he carries with him such as Michael Da Vinci “Mikey D”. Production comes from the likes of Black Metaphor, Ross Vega, Farhot and Digi+Phonics Producer SounWave.

Cilvia Demo is not for the listener who is not prepared to get introspective; it does not have a “banger” in comparison to a Tyga’s Well Done or Fabolous’ Soul Tape 3. It makes up for this with intense lyricism and deep themes that repeat throughout the project. Isaiah Rashad was first introduced to me with the fan made “Welcome to the Game” Mixtape on DatPiff and indeed it was a breath of fresh air. The everyman-ness of Mr. Rashad allows one to see things from his point of view as instead of denoting on riches and even the ever so overdone topic of the pursuit of riches; he speaks on his personal demons such as the defective relationship with him and his paternal figure, rappers who “swaggerjack” the South, The typical ballads to the “loving ladies” who throw themselves on “hype” figures, Depression and Nostalgic references to his rap influences. 

This last point comes out strongly in tracks such as Webbie Flow and Brad Jordan in which the former dedicates the flow and mannerisms of the artist Webbie. It is good to note that Rashad’s hometown of Chatanooga, Tennesee is in the south and as such artists such as Outkast, Lil Wayne, Webbie and Scarface had a great impact on shaping his rap style as well as his more recent TDE label compatriots.

There is not much change in Rashad’s delivery since the tracks I heard previous to Cilvia Demo, but that is not necessarily negative as what most individuals got into was Rashad’s subject matter and delivery, it indeed reflects the music quality that TDE puts out but in his own way Rashad is unique. This may be the personalization in his music, him relating his difficulty to find a good job after a stint with the law, the new baby he has to take care of or just his continuous references to his father being missing in his life.

The instrumentals on Cilvia Demo for the most part reflect the introspective nature of Rashad’s lyrics but there are standouts such as Soliloquy produced by FarHot. The Beat is off-hinge, off-kilter which engages well with the track theme that being that of a soliloquy which is defined as  “an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, esp. by a character in a play.”

It is important to note the emotions put into Rashad’s delivery; the feeling of frustration, aggression and despair itself comes across all across the album. This is a man with a point to prove and a place to shape out in the industry all done without molding to the theory of making pop music but for individuals to take him as is and appreciate him for what he decides to do.

Even if Isaiah never changes or adds on to his range of topics there is a place for him that is unique as he is as “real” as it comes. The very fact that he named the project off his Honda Civic “Cilvia” his old beat up car shows this man is not here to impress you with lyrics on tangible products but on life experiences and personal convictions that you can either relate to or at least understand as there may be some small part of you that screams at racism, the system or just plain wants to just chill out and listen to something that doesn’t need you to “bang out” to it.

UnHyped Audio: February 23, 2014

Here goes another list of hot records that are under the commercial radar, if u got a good ear for quality music you’re going to hit download on every one of these tracks so as always listen and enjoy. 

Fly Union – This or That: Ohio’s own Fly Union been dropping a lot of records these past few weeks leading up to the release of their new album Small Victories on March 4^th and this is just one of the many dope releases. 

Bishop Nehru – You Stressing: Aspiring Brooklyn emcee Bishop as been making waves since last year with his Nehruvia Mixtapes and this is his first release of 2014 with production from rising sensation UK  production Duo Disclosure, surprisingly they manage to provide a grimy boom bap structured beat for the young sixteen to spit his 16’s as always.  

QuESt – Fuck You Mean: Miami’s QuESt has been on almost a two year hiatus since his last mixtape dropped in 2012, since then he’s signed with Logic’s Visionary Music Group (VMG) and is working on his debut album so this was a freebie he decided to hold off the fans until then. 

KR – Off the Record: Upcoming Los Angeles emcee KR drops his first release of 2014 which displays his appealing wordplay and rhythmic flow, definitely an artist to keep you ears tuned into. 

Cyhi the Prynce – Napoleon:  Arguably the most underrated and slept on emcee on Kanye’s G.O.O.D Music’s Label is back with a Bar-for-Bar, Excruciating, Punch line warfare of a record which will be on his upcoming project which is said to be executive produced by Kanye himself.