Mixtape Review: Night Of The Living Dead

Cookin Soul is a trio of Spanish (Yes, “Spanish” like from Spain) producers that you might remember from Ojaysis, a Jay Z/Oasis mash up released earlier this year. This time Cookin Soul took a few Biggie a cappellas and put them over some halloween-theme beats with features from artists like Eminem, Prodigy, Scarface, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and more.

The mixtape opens (After the intro of course), with “Holloween”, the Big verse off of “Young G’s”, an old P Diddy song featuring both him and Jay Z. The beat samples the theme from the movie Halloween which goes well with Biggie’s vocal tone. Big had that kind of voice though, you sample the beat from “YMCA” by The Village People and make him sound decent. Nice opener overall, if you listen to this you can pretty much determine the overall sound of the mixtape.

Next is “Lost Boys” ƒ. Lil Wayne which is the “mass appeal track”. It’s got a big banging organ beat with some various gunshot samples that come in basically whenever the lyrics talk about any kind of violence. Biggie’s verse from “Dead Wrong” murders Wayne’s shit but that was expected. If you like both artists put it on your car mix.

Then comes “Orphanage” with a feature from 50 Cent. It’s got a Big verse off the track “Dangerous MC’s”. Not one of my favorites of the mixtape, probably just a scheme to be able to say 50 Cent was featured on the mixtape, I don’t know. Either way, skip track.

The following track “Sleepwalkers” is ok, nothing great. The production is pretty good and Jay drops a solid verse but it’s worth no more than a couple listens at most. The Big verse is off “Niggas” from the Born Again album.

“Exorcist” follows with an Eminem feature and a verse from Big off of “Hold Ya Head”. This is a pretty decent track and another one that I think defines or sums up the mixtape as a whole.

Then there is “Gremlins” which stands out from the rest of the tracks of the mixtape. I don’t really think it belongs on here. It has a sound and feel that is more upbeat than the rest of the tracks. Maybe it’s ok if you are listening to just this one track but it doesn’t flow with the theme of the mixtape. Big verse off of “Running Your Mouth”.

The same thing goes for the next track“Deep Red” as the one before it. It starts out sounding like it will have the same Halloween sound as some of the tracks before it did but then it breaks into this beat I wouldn’t be surprised to hear from any Biggie mash album. Verse off of “Come On”.

The album’s theme returns with the following track “Nightmare on Elm St”. Big’s verse from “Suicidal Thoughts” goes well with the beat and Scarface‘s verse ain’t too bad either. 

“Dawn of the dead” follows which is Biggie’s verse off “The What” over a head-banging beat. Nothing too amazing, basically just a filler track.

“Ghost Of Lil Kim” is Biggie rapping a Lil Kim track called “Queen Bitch” which I am guessing completely or partly created. I like this track because they Cookin Soul turns down the beat a little so Big’s voice is mad clear.

The next track on this mixtape is “Thriller” (Big’s verse is off of “Nasty Girl”), it was actually an interesting track. What I don’t like about it is that they put a slight auto tune effect on Biggie’s voice, what is that about? Plus, after his verse, the song finishes as if it was the original Michael Jackson hit which makes it a bit of an awkward listen; I was left waiting for Big to come in with another verse, then the song was over…

Finally, the last track of the mixtape is “Night of the living dead” where Cookin Soul brings together Big L, Pun, and Biggie verses over a slow erie beat. Big’s verse is from “Real Niggas”, L’s verse is from “Flamboyant”, and Pun’s is from “Leather Face”. I liked this track but still am a little confused because Jamie Foxx is listed as a feature on it but I don’t hear a peep from him throughout the whole song. Are they predicting Jamie Foxx’s death?

Final Words:

This is a good mixtape overall. I like the concept, there was some nice features, and Cookin Soul did a great job with production. It’s also a free download so there is no reason not to pick it up.

Download Night Of The Living Dead!

"Should-Have" Tracks

Respect by Biggie Smalls

Notorious ’09 Trailer

To tell you the truth this Biggie bio doesn’t look that good from the preview but I’m glad to see any kind of tribute movie towards Big, raps most promising disappointment. (Plus you know it’s gonna have a bangin soundtrack)

T Dub’s Rant #1- Biggie Vs. 2pac

Psych!

This comparison is legendary and will never cease to be made. But is it really necessary or even legitimate?

Biggie and Pac were the driving forces behind the East Coast – West Coast hip hop war which started when 2pac claimed that Biggie and his crew didn’t help him after he was shot while visiting him. The war ended in both of the rappers’ deaths.

Now everyone and their mother is saying “Who’s better Biggie or Pac?” but this isn’t even a question worth wasting your breath for.

Biggie Smalls had one of the greatest albums ever in Ready To Die but the bottom line is, while he was alive Biggie only had one studio album. 2pac had 5 great albums.

I don’t know where you grew up but in my math class 5 > 1 all day, everyday.

There isn’t enough material to compare the two, it is a shame to think that such potential as great as Biggie’s was wasted but it was. Deal with it. 

2pac is incomparable to Biggie.

A Tribute to the Dead Rappers

I was youtube today and I came upon a pretty good mix of some of the dead rappers R.I.P
Eazy-E: September 7, 1963–March 26, 1995
2Pac: June 16, 1971 — September 13, 1996
Biggie: May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997
Big L: May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999)
Big Pun: November 23, 1971 – February 7, 2000
Proof: October 2, 1973 – April 11, 2006

also a dedication to…
Bob Marley: February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981

DJ Semi and The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die (The O.G. Edition)

As we have Ready To Die’s album cover even on this blog’s banner, it would almost be blasphemous not to write about this epic mixtape.
Apparently someone raided Puff Daddy’s vault and got the originals for “Ready To Die”. Yes, these are original versions of Biggie’s tracks you are all so familiar with. Unclear samples, original verses and uncut explicit lyrics.
With ‘bonus tracks’ (17 – 21) you also get an unreleased freestyle for the Pepsi commercial and some unreleased demo’s (Even “Biggie Got The Hype Shit” which was thought to be last in a fire). All in all, this is a must-have collection for a hip-hop head that enjoyes classical hip-hop.

01. 03:08 Intro (Original Version With Uncleared Samples)
02. 03:50 Things Done Changed (Original Version)
03. 04:58 Gimme The Loot (Never Before Heard Uncensored Version)
04. 03:20 Machine Gun Funk (DJ Premier’s Version)
05. 03:37 Warning (Original Version)
06. 03:45 Ready To Die (Original Version With Different Beat)
07. 04:53 One More Chance (Original Version With Uncleared Sample)
08. 01:29 Fuck Me (Interlude)
09. 03:52 The What (feat. Method Man) (Original Version With Unheard Lyrics)
10. 04:35 Juicy (Pete Rock’s Version)
11. 05:13 Everyday Struggle (Original Demo Mix)
12. 03:38 Me & My Bitch (Original Version With Different Beat)
13. 05:37 Respect (Original Extended Edition)
14. 03:23 Friend Of Mine (Original Demo Version)
15. 03:34 Whatchu Want (Unreleased Original Version)
16. 02:51 Suicidal Thoughts (Pete Rock’s Version)
17. 04:57 Come On (feat. Sadat X) (Unreleased Original Version)
18. 01:10 Who Shot Ya? (Original Demo Mix)
19. 03:24 For The Macs & Dons (Unreleased Track)
20. 01:13 Pepsi Freestyle (Unreleased Track)
21. 03:53 Biggie Got The Hype Shit (Unreleased 1991 Demo Track)

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Classic Album Collection- Ready To Die

This is my first Classic Album post and I wanted to add one of my all-time favorite albums, Ready To Die. This is Biggie’s first album and the only one he put out while he was still alive. It is without a doubt in the top 5 greatest albums in the history of hip hop. If you haven’t heard this you should be ashamed to call yourself a Hip Hop Head.

Favorite Track “Juicy”

Download Entire Album