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!

New Mixtape: Charles Hamilton- The L Word

DJ Skee Presents Charles Hamilton “The L Word”

DJ Parker Lee Presents Grandmaster Caz – Mid Life Crisis

I’m kind of ashamed to say that 30 years into his career, this mixtape is my introduction to Grandmaster Caz. I’d heard a few Cold Crush Brothers songs, “MC Delight” (which is on the mixtape), and his features on De La Soul’s “Stixs and Stonz” and Slow Suicide Stimulus’s “Roll Up”, but that’s about it. Not being too familiar with his work, I wasn’t sure what to expect out of Mid Life Crisis.

The first thing that caught my attention was Caz’s flow. He’s pretty nice on the mic. The second thing I noticed is that Caz seems a little bitter about not being as respected as he thinks he should be. This is most notable in the songs “Lioneere” and “MC Delight”, the latter being a diss toward Big Bad Hank and Sugarhill Gang for never paying him respect after taking a verse from Caz and using it on “Rapper’s Delight”.

Mid Life Crisis has a good variety of tracks, which should be expected since it spans 15 years. It has some old school party tracks, some conscious tracks, and some tracks on the state of hip hop. It shows off his old school roots, and more importantly shows that he can still keep up with the new school rappers.

Overall, this is a solid mixtape It has some shortcomings. Some of the tracks suffer from being caught somewhere between old school and new school, but for the most part it’s enjoyable, with intelligent rhymes and head-nodding beats. Highlight tracks are “A Good Man Gone”, “MC Delight”, and “Don’t Mess Wit Me”. I was impressed enough that I’ll be checking out some more of Caz’s work.

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Charles Hamilton: It’s Charles Hamilton

1. It’s
2. Conversations With God
3. Starchasers
4. Emotional Distress
5. Mr. Perfect
6. Wrong Side of the Bed
7. The Honeymoon’s Over
8. Lacey DuValle
9. Nino Del Inferno (Hell Boys)
10. Negative Zero
11. Wonder
12. Sunday Morning Testimonial
13. I’m Good (Bret Hart)

DJ Skee Presents Its Charles Hamilton

Tommy Gunn & Ray Long – The Nickel Bag

You might know Tommy Gunn as Megalon of the Monsta Island Czars (MF Doom’s former crew), or from his appearances on MF Doom’s “Operation: Doomsday” and Vordul’s “Megagraphitti.” If you do know him, then you know he has one of the sickest rapidfire flows in hip hop. He has a new mixtape out with his brother Ray Long and it’s a strong contender for mixtape of the year. All tracks except for #11 are produced by X-Ray. Check it out.

Purchase “The Nickel Bag”

Download “The Nickel Bag”

And in case you you were napping:

Megalon – A Penny for Your Toughts

X-Ray – Monsta Mixes Vol.1

X-Ray – Monsta Mixes Vol. 2

X-Ray – The Boot

HHP Mixtape: Niggaz Wanna Stick Me 4 My M-P-3’s

Some of my favorite hardcore/robbery songs, you don’t hear stuff like this anymore.

Tracklist:

1. Gimme Tha Loot by Biggie Smalls
2. Shook Ones Pt. II by Mobb Deep
3. Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta by Geto Boys
4. Threat by Jay Z
5. Fuck The Police by NWA
6. Straight Outta Compton by NWA
7. 9mm Goes Bang by BPD
8. Streets Of New York by Kool G Rap
9. Mama Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J
10. Verbal Intercourse by Raekwon
11. Fight The Power by Public Enemy
12. How To Rob by 50 Cent

Download

HHP Mixtape: I..Will…Not…Lose

Best Diss Tracks

Track Listing/Top 10 Diss Tracks

1. Ether by Nas (Jay Z)

*Although I am a HUGE Jay Z fan, I have to say that this is the greatest diss track of all time. This is what happens when you get in a beef with a lyricist whose mother just died.

2. Hit Em Up by Tupac (Biggie, Lil Kim, P Diddy)

* To tell you the truth the lyrics of this song aren’t that great but Pac’s intensity makes up for it.

3. Nail In The Coffin by Eminem (Benzino)

* Eminem is the perfect artist to create diss tracks. He has a creative mind and isn’t afraid to say anything, thats what makes this track great.

4. Takeover by Jay Z (Nas & Mobb Deep)

* Although it was no Ether, Jay Z’s Takeover is a great diss track.

5. No Vaseline by Ice Cube (NWA)

* Ice Cube’s NWA diss is hilarious, he showed Dre and Eazy who brought them to the top in the first place.

6. 2nd Round Knockout by Canibus (LL Cool J)

* This Canibus track has Mike Tyson backing him up, what could be better that? But seriously, I would have hated to be LL Cool J after this.

7. Checkmate by Jadakiss (50 Cent)

* Jadakiss embarrasses 50 on this track with a calm flow and dope punchlines.

8. 300 Bars & Runnin by The Game (50 Cent, G Unit)

* Just imagining how mad The Game had to be to go 300 bars on G Unit is exciting. 

9.  The Bitch In Yoo by Common (Ice Cube)

* Usually when you think about Common you don’t think of an artist that would rip somebody apart in a diss track but he demonstrates another aspect of his lyrical skills in this song.

10. Shoot Me A Fair One by Papoose (Fat Joe)

* Papoose’s aggressive flow is perfect for this beat.

Bonus Track:

How To Rob by 50 Cent

* Not necessarily a diss track but a very entertaining song nevertheless. 

Download “Best Diss Tracks” DubMix

Underground Hip Hop from the 90s Vol. 1

1. Hot Butter – A Jazzy Rhyme (ft. The Massive) (1998)
2. The Juggaknots – I’m Gonna Kill You (1995)
3. Baby Blak – Real MC (1999)
4. Godfather Don – Fame (1998)
5. Jedi Son of Spock – The Journey (1998)
6. Mr. Complex – Feel Me (1995)
7. Gashouse – Avengence (1998)
8. Latyrx – Lady Don’t Tek No (1997)
9. MF Grimm – Emotions (1996)
10. Mass Hysteria – Vocabulary Spill (1999)
11. Fly Guy Kool Kim – Skills R Amazing (1997)
12. Sonic Sum – Flatlands (1999)
13. Siah and Yeshua DapoED – Transatlantic (1998)
14. Emanon – The Price (1997)
15. Labtekwon – I Am Here (1995)
16. Artfull Dodgers – 1 Mic Then Pass (1999)
17. Company Flow – End to End Burners (1998)

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Here we have a collection of classic 90’s tracks from underground artists. I’m sure if you know a little bit about the underground scene, you recognize many of the artists. There are also a few that have been somewhat forgotten. Hot Butter was a little-known Wu-Tang affiliate. I don’t know if Gashouse ever released more than one 12″, but that one 12″ was dope. And if you’re wondering, yes Fly Guy Kool Kim is now NY Oil. He very briefly added “Fly Guy” to his name between his days with the UMCs and his transition to NY Oil.

If you’d like more information on any of the artists, check the links below.

The Juggaknots

Baby Blak

Godfather Don

Bateria (f.k.a. Jedi Son of Spock)

Mr. Complex

Lyrics Born (of Latyrx)

Lateef the Truthspeaker (of Latyrx)

MF Grimm

Mass Hysteria

NY Oil (f.k.a. Fly Guy Kool Kim)

Sonic Sum

Yesh

Emanon

Labtekwon

Artfull Dodgers

El-P (of Company Flow)

Bigg Jus (of Company Flow)

Mr. Len (of Company Flow)

I couldn’t find any information on Hot Butter or Gashouse, but you can purchase Hot Butter’s lone album “A New Chamber” here.

The Young Rap Mixtape

Hey check out this OhWord mixtape, it’s a collection of mostly “hipster” rap and a pretty good one. 

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Various Artists – Finest Elements

1. Flying Lotus – Hello
2. Percee P – Lung Collapsing Lyrics
3. MF Doom – Sniper Elite (prod. J Dilla)
4. Ras G – Beats of Mind
5. RZA – Samurai Showdown
6. Floyd the Locsmif – Always Bless (ft. John Robinson)
7. Grooveman Spot – Japanese Trip Part 2 (ft. Count Bass D)
8. Oh No – Perceptions
9. Samiyam – Lookin’
10. Guilty Simpson – Clap Your Hands (prod. J Dilla)
11. James Brown – Coldblooded
12. Waajeed – Vangel
13. Shape of Broad Minds (Jneiro Jarel) – Electric Blue (Dr. Who Dat Remix)
14. Count Bass D – Sandwiches (I Got a Feeling)
15. Madlib – Chops And Thangs/Raw Addict/Lost Lust
16. Mr. Dibiase – Black Lightnin’
17. Phat Kat – Don’t Nobody Care About Us (prod. J Dilla)
18. The Gaslamp Killer – Kobwebs (ft. Gonjasufi)
19. John Robinson – There She Goes (prod. MF Doom)
20. DJ Mitsu the Beats – Mood for Otis
21. J Dilla – Fuck the Police
22. Samon Kawamura – Right Here (ft. Oh No)
23. Hudson Mohawke – Overnight

This is a compilation I put together inspired by artist Ques tha Illlord’s Finest Elements poster. The poster is a collection of drawings of some of the most talented and creative musicians in hip hop. I selected one of my favorite songs from each artist drawn.

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Buy the poster

Check out Ques on Myspace