Migos – No Label 2
I confess. After hearing “Hannah Montana” a few dozen times on rap radio, I kind of get the appeal. It’s idiotic, but that chintzy Dun Deal beat, those rapid-fire trademarked flows, and the inexplicably catchy chorus all work together to make a hit. The same formula works on fellow Y.R.N. stand-outs “Versace” and “Bando”. But I don’t hear anything that grabs me the same way on the trio’s newest tape No Label 2. It’s very possible that I missed something though (the tape is way too long at 25-tracks). (DOWNLOAD)
Alley Boy – Alley Shakur
Annoying DJ’s, cookie-cutter beats, recycled bars, recycled flows, too many songs. This tape has all of those typical mixtape problems but there are a few highlights. “Familiar” has a passionate, bombastic chorus and benefits from a pair of good guest verses (from Starlito and Trouble). Kevin Gates’ verse on “No Patience” is typical-for-him “you need to hear this now” material. If Alley Boy had been making music in the No Limit heyday of the 90’s, he might have gone Platinum, but in 2014 a little more progression is required for success. (DOWNLOAD)
Vado – Sinatra
Vado has released 14 projects and we’re still waiting on his first solo album, my guess is that this is due to his inability to really find a unique sound or persona. This tape is in line with that theory, the beats sound expensive but lack soul and Vado isn’t saying anything remotely original (“stacking all day, trapping all day”, etc.). (DOWNLOAD)
Snoop Dogg – That’s My Work 3
Who would have thought that the Doggfather would have become so productive (and eccentric) late in his career? The last few years have seen him make a reggae album, a funk album, and a trio of That’s My Work mixtapes. This edition is better than the last one, there’s a song called “Terradectacal” that’s pretty great (not sure if we should blame Snoop or DatPiff for that spelling though…), but the tape is still inconsistent. Snoop is still talking about the same stuff that he was when he was in his twenties and it just doesn’t sound fresh or genuine anymore. (DOWNLOAD)
Casino – Frank Matthews
The main talking point when discussing Casino has been that his brother is ascending rap superstar Future. But after his stand-out verse on “Move That Dope”, he’s on his way to making a name for himself apart from his brother. Unfortunately, I don’t hear many tracks that are as fired up as “Move That Dope” on Frank Matthews (his performance on “All This Money” is a big exception though). (DOWNLOAD)