King Los – Zero Gravity 2
According to DatPiff download totals, this was the most popular mixtape in the month of March. I don’t get what sets this guy apart. His beats are generic, he doesn’t really have a unique personality, and lyrically he’s not bringing anything new to hip-hop. Dude can flow, but it takes a lot more than that to make a good rapper. (DOWNLOAD)
Waka Flocka Flame – Re-Up
Flocka’s not as prolific as he used to be (this is this first release since October 2013; an eternity compared to his 2009-2011 pace). But Flocka is now announcing his return to the game with Re-Up, a relatively short (11 tracks) tape that is Flocka’s first tape since his feud with Gucci began. Frequent Gucci Mane collaborators Young Scotter and Young Thug are both featured on this tape. It will be interesting to see how the Gucci and Waka feud affects Atlanta-rap loyalties. (DOWNLOAD)
Kirko Bangz – Progression IV
Kirko Bangz has a good ear for beats and he’s got the vintage Wayne Auto Tune-rap sound down. But like a lot of up-and-coming mixtape rappers, he really needs to find his own unique voice. If you’re going to make a mixtape, you should take time to think about your perspective on the world and bring something unique to the game. (DOWNLOAD)
Soulja Boy – King Soulja 2
After hearing Drake’s “We Made It (Remix)”, I knew that I would have to pay more attention to Soulja Boy tapes. Soulja might be one of the worst rappers I’ve ever heard, but if there are sometimes beats like “We Made It” lurking on his mixtapes, I should be checking for them. However, after listening to King Soulja 2, it sounds like “We Made It” was a rare highlight. There are a couple of hot beats on this tape though. “Let That Boy Cook” is built around a seasick synth loop, sharp snares, and crisp hi-hats. “Y U Mad” has a hype beat that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Meek Mill tape. (DOWNLOAD)
Jon Connor – The Late Registration of a College Dropout Who Had A Dark Twisted Fantasy of 808s and Heartbreak
If you’re going to rap over another rapper’s beat, you need to be able to do something that can live up to the original track. Jon Connor is not a bad rapper, but this tape mostly just reminded me how many great Kanye West songs there are. And none of these new takes come close to topping Yeezy. (DOWNLOAD)