1. Vic Mensa – Innanetape
My favorite project of 2013 is Chance The Rapper’s Acid Rap. One of that tape’s many highlights was “Cocoa Butter Kisses”. That track features Vic Mensa and Twista who both turn in Chicago-style motor-mouth performances. That was the first time I (and most people) had heard from Vic, and it was an impressive introduction. Now, he’s released his own project and it’s a jazzy, sprawling, impressive mixtape. Vic’s subject matter is introspective without being self-absorbed and he’s a technically impressive rapper who still knows how to craft catchy songs. “Holy Holy” might be my favorite song on Innanetape and if you want to see what this kid is all about, give that track a listen. (Download)
2. Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 3
No one raps like Meek Mill. I don’t think anyone else even has the ability to rap like Meek Mill. Even when Kendrick goes in on a track like “Look Out for Detox” or “Backseat Freestyle”, his flow never quite reaches the unhinged almost out-of-control pace Meek maintains on a track like “Lil Nigga Snupe”. I’m not saying Meek is a better rapper than K-Dot, but the Philly rapper has the ability to deliver a kind of intensity that you can’t get from anyone else. Dreamchasers 3 has some pretty common mixtape-problems; there are too many features, probably too many songs (17 tracks), and the project jumps from style to style too often to be cohesive. But this project delivers more than any of the other big-name mixtapes released over the past two months and there are some bangers on here. (Download)
3. Action Bronson – Blue Chips 2
Bam Bam Bronson and Party Supplies link up again for Blue Chips 2, and it sounds like they may have another cult classic mixtape on their hands. Possibly the most impressive thing about Action Bronson is that he just says things that nobody else says:
“Ah, why the fuck would I have a bodyguard, if I look just like the motherfucking bodyguard”
“I got the face like a grown lion, my people hold iron, predict the weather by the wind like on old Mayan, hold my son up, show him to the kingdom.”
“She took a bump and started dancing like Elaine Benes.”
Action says unbelievable line after unbelievable line and this makes Blue Chips 2 entertaining but I do think that there’s not a ton of lyrical depth here. Even if he’s saying crazy-creative things, he also says disgusting things (like on “Through the Eyes of a G”) and he rarely says something that’s not just stream-of-consciousness pop-culture/women/food/sports references. (Download)