DJ Khaled
Release Date: March 2, 2010Album: Victory
Rating: ★★★½ (71 out of 100)
Review: DJ Khaled’s “Victory” is his fourth LP, a testament to triumph and victory as a DJ, tastemaker and executive. True to Khaled form it is a highly collaborative album drawing on the Miami-based DJ’s vast network of artists and producers. The first single Fed Up features the usual suspects Usher, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, Drake & Lil Wayne. Put Your Hands Up is the second single off the album and it also features Ross, Jeezy, and Plies. The third single All I Do Is Win is notable for a good T-pain hook and contributions from Snoop, Luda and Ross. A noticeable highlight of this album is Rick Ross, who has a major role in the album influencing all three singles! Past the Intro and the first three singles, the album is pretty solid with a lot of collaborative family tracks. Florida is especially put on with joints like One My Way featuring Kevin Cossom, Ace Hood, BallGreezy, Desloc, Piccalo, Iceberg, Bali, Gunplay, Rum & Young Cash. Nas and John Legend contribute to the title track Victory which is a good listen. Jarvis and Pitbull offer a nice r&b sneaker as the last track on the album so check for that as well. Schife and The Runners provide much of the production with contributions from The Inkredibles, Drumma Boy and DJ Nasty as well. Other features include Drake, Bun B, Birdman, Soulja Boy, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, Lil Boosie, Bunu Banton, Ace Hood, and Jim Jones. Khaled also keeps it in the family placing his We The Best Music Group artist Red Rum’s Bringing Real Rap Back track on the album. Jarvis and Ace Hood also appear on DJ Khaled’s We The Best Music Group, which is affiliated with E1/Koch. Khaled’s other affiliations are with Terror Squad, 99 Jamz and as President of Def Jam South. This is a good southern hip-hop album from a people’s champ DJ. Check it out.
Jason Derulo
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Album: Jason Derulo
Rating: ★★★½ (70 out of 100)
Review: Jason Derulo has had an interesting path to success, climaxing thus far with the #1 record Whatcha Say, the first single off his self-titled debut. Derulo found early success as a writer and South Florida-based underground talent until signing a major deal with Beluga Heights/Warner Bros. and teaming up with the production talents of J.R. Rotem, who produced this entire album. Whatcha Say sold over 2 million digital copies and peaked at #1 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Pop charts. The second single In My Head has also performed well and displays a different side of Derulo, who attended Dillar Center for the Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. The rest of the album is slower r&b and not so much of the high-energy r&b pop that is represented by the album’s lead single. Ridin’ Solo and The Sky’s the Limit are also slated to be release as singles. Strobelight is a bonus track that’s a good listen. There are several bonus tracks depending on which version of the album you pick up. Derulo helped promote the album by opening for Lady Gaga, a significant accomplishment for the multi-talented performer. We’re showing hometown South Florida love to Jason Derulo and his self-titled debut.
Rick Ross “The Timeless Audemars Piguet Collection: Sounds Expensive” Mixtape
Release Date: February 25rd, 2010
Album: The Timeless Audemars Piguet Collection Mixtape
Rating: N/A
Review: The latest mixtape from the boss Rick Ross definitely “sounds expensive”. Ross lets you know on the Angels Remix with Diddy and Dirty Money that he’s eating “crabcakes served chill on that lear jet, whenever Diddy call I know its bout’ a big check”. It’s one of several recent bangers from Ross that appear on this tape ahead of Ross’ upcoming 4th studio album “Teflon Don”. Inkredible featuring Lil Wayne and Trae the Truth is a recent Sirius/XM favorite and its a nice addition to the tape. Check for a new joint with Birdman and Wayne titled Veterans Day, it’s the first track off the tape after the Intro. Ross dropped this tape in conjunction with DJ Folk, DJ Got Now, DJ PapaSmirf, E Dubble and Digital Product. I Am The Streets is an r&b joint that features Lloyd who curiously utilizes a Masspike Miles type flow on the track. The mixtape is notably absent of Ross’ Maybach Music Group talent which is likely by design via Def Jam. DJ Khaled’s recent collaborative jam All I Do Is Win is featured adding to the 28-track tape’s appeal. The other DJ Khaled anthem Fed Up is also on the tape. Mafia Music 2 featuring Chrisette Michele is likely the first or second single off the upcoming album and it is lyrically stupendous, check for it as track 21. This is arguably the best mixtape of the year so far and what listeners will enjoy the most is that this tape is content rich for the fans. Ross definitely did not fall into the bullshit of packing his mixtape with snippets, DJ and artist screamovers and freestyles. This tape has full-length singles and other gems which is the way to build consumer loyalty. This is a southern emcee as his finest and good evidence supporting Diddy’s recent comparison of Ross to Biggie. Ross can even rip tracks like Big Money, sampling an iTunes favorite and still killing it. There are a few remixes to check for, they include Waka Flocka’s Oh Lets Do It and a tweaked version of I Wanna Rock. Birdman is featured on the tracks Pray For Me and Sunday Morning as well as the last joint on the tape Addicted To Money, part of an ongoing collaborative effort between the Maybach Music and Cash Money bosses. Ross shouts out the whole MMG team Masspike Miles, Magazeen, Triple C’s, Suede Royal, The Olympiks, Gucci Pucci, Haitian Mafia and HAITI! “This is the prequel to the biggest album of the year” go download and burn this tape immediatly!
PUSH! Montana “The 5 Heart Beat” EP
Release Date: February 11th, 2010
Album: The 5 Heart Beats EP
Rating: N/A
Review: Push! Motana follows his “The Rebirth Of Fresh 1.0 No Floors” mixtape with this 5-song EP, the 1st Trimester of a three-part series. “The 5 Heart Beat” EP is definitely not the Push! Montana that you know. This is Push’s “808s & Heartbreak” type shit. The first joint off the EP is titled The One and its a track for the ladies. Superhero is another track with an r&b hook geared towards a female and crossover audience. Girls Gone Crazy is an existing joint from Push! that made the tape and it’s a more upbeat and lyrical jam than the other 4 tracks off the EP. Check out PUSH!’ new MySpace page and keep on the lookout for parts 2 and 3 of the EP series coming soon!
Bobby Creekwater “Back 2 Briefcase 2” Mixtape
Release Date: February 8th, 2010
Album: Back 2 Briefcase 2 Mixtape
Rating: N/A
Review: “Back 2 Briefcase 2” is the follow-up to Creek’s 2007 mixtape “Back To Briefcase”. Bobby takes a shot at several different freestyles and remixes on the mixtape. One of the more impressive attempts is Farewell, where Creek spits over a recent Kanye favorite with a nice production twist. Some of the beats for the freestyles are little outdated which makes this sound like a mixtape but Creekwater’s flow is still commendable. A World is a good listen. So, “What is Bobby Creek about? …Bobby Creek is about rebellion. Bobby Creek is also about change. Bobby Creek is about the finer things in life, if you will. He is a man of the people. Oh… I almost forgot… cant forgot money, hos and clothes.” Creek also kills the recent Clipse jammer Popular Demand on the mixtape track 200 Grand. Listen to I’m So Cool for the one of the best tracks on the tape. Bobby Creekwater is currently working on his debut album “A Brilliant Mistake”. Although he is no longer signed to Shady Records, Eminem’s role in the upcoming album is unknown. This mixtape is hosted by DJ Greg Street and is “the first of no less than three Bobby Creekwater releases planned in 2010, with two more projects already taking form. Creek and DJ Don Cannon have recruited an impressive list of guest performers, including Currency, Mike Bigga, Stat Quo, J. Cole and newcomer Ci Hi Da Prince to join them on the highly anticipated third installment of the Anthem to the Streets series, due out before the summer.” So, keep on the lookout for more mixtape material from Bobby Creekwater as he readies his debut album.
Chamillionaire “Major Pain” Mixtape
Release Date: February 5th, 2010
Album: Major Pain Mixtape
Rating: N/A
Review: News broke a few days ago that Chamillionaire “has decided to drop a new 18-track mixtape entitled Major Pain…despite a previous declaration not to make any further tapes” due to “label politics and the current overall state of the music industry.” Koopa acknowledges the decision is a matter of business necessity, a function of his independent role within the major label system. But, ‘feeding the fans’ with mixtape material is as much a modern day hip-hop necessity as it is an outlet for label-hampered creativity. Cham’s disagreements with his label execs are a consistent theme of the aptly titled “Major Pain” mixtape. You can pick up a physical copy of “Major Pain” for $12.00 from chamillionaire.com. Price Of Failure is an interesting lyrical play on Fifty’s Many Men where Cham emulates Fifty’s flow in the beginning of the song replacing the lyrics to represent Cham’s situation. Im’a Rep Texas is a freestyle over Roscoe Dash and Soulja Boy’s All The Way Turned Up and King Koopa definitely kills it. Feels Good is a laid-back track that represents hard for Texas. All Black is a short 1:20 track with an OJ Da Juiceman influence to it with a southern feel and an altered Biggie sample in the background. Pursuit Of Cream features Cham spitting over the remixed Angels joint that puffy and Ross just dropped. Cham states on Forgive You that the reason this tape doesn’t have original beats is because the “powers that be” were stifling his movement but he “forgives the suits” lol. Check for Leanin’, Houston Up High and Triangle Formation. The last track on the tape is Story To Tell where Cham jokes that he wasnt supposed to leak the track. Cham recently announced plans to reunite with Paul Wall for a tour and he gives more details at the end of Story To Tell. Chamillionaire’s upcoming album “Venom” is currently “set for March 16th” release. Cham explains on his website that “some samples didn’t clear so I lost a couple records, and some things may change but in the end my main concern will be that you feel like the product is dope.” Overall, “Major Pain” is a good mixtape offering from Cham that should keep existing fans excited and anticipating “Venom”.
DJ Scream Presents Swazy Baby “First Round Draft Pick” Mixtape
Release Date: February 5th, 2010
Album: First Round Draft Pick Mixtape
Rating: N/A
Review: Strong Family Entertainment and Slip-N-Slide Records in association with Bigga Rankin present Swazy Baby’s “First Round Draft Pick” mixtape, hosted by DJ Scream. The first joint 4Real is a real nice southern jammer with a characteristic ATL sound to it. Dat Loud features Double D and is a decent track with good drum rolls. Swazy Baby has a pop-type swag to his distinctively southern music. Crazy Stupid features Gorilla Zoe and is one of several named features off the tape. Brisco contributes a feature on the Half Of It Remix which sounds good. Unsigned ATL artist Hawkdogg appears on Whatchamacallit and Bend Ova, the latter features a futuristic, deep bass beat and some nice flow from Swazy. Do It Big is a good freestyle along with Webbie and Lil Phat. Swazy’s new single Yeen 100 appears as the last track on the mixtape. The hardest track is One Night Her so check for that too. Overall this tape shows good promise from Swazy Baby, who drops his third official mixtape with “First Round Draft Pick”.
Big Mike & DJ Thoro Present Cassidy “Apply Pressure 2” Mixtape
Release Date: February 4th, 2010
Album: Apply Pressure 2 Mixtape
Rating: N/A
Review: Following an Intro that lets you know this mixtape is a movie, Cassidy spits an 8 minute freestyle after a short skit that jokes about Cass being too lyrical. Cassidy definitely spits non-stop flame throughout this mixtape. Dome Pushed Back features Big L and is a decent listen. Check for Put Ya Dutch In The Air featuring Cassidy’s artist Jag. Hold Dat is a good lyrical jam featuring M.O.P., also listen to the laid-back Over And Over Again as Cass lists his vices and his desire not to give in to them despite the fact that they keep happening “over and over again.” Cassidy’s artists Ar-Ab and Jag appear on several tracks including Mic Please, Always Strapped, Exhibit C, Hard To Survive, On To The Next One, I’m Ill, I Wanna Rock, Popular Demand, Whoa 2K10 and BlackOut. The freestyles appear toward the end of the tape and are enjoyable due to Cassidy’s unique flow. Check for Henny & Bacardi featuring Swizz Beats and definitely check the second half of the tape for the freestyles including Ride The Wave. Cassidy is readying “C.A.S.H.”, his fourth studio album that should drop sometime in 2010.
Maino
Release Date: February 2nd, 2010
Album: Unstoppable EP
Rating: N/A
Review: Atlantic Records’ artist Maino drops something for the streets with the 4-track EP “Unstoppable”. The EP was initially rumored to be a mixtape dropping in 2009 but was released as an EP on February 2nd, 2010 as confirmed by Maino’s Official MySpace. The EP is not to be confused with Maino’s “Unstoppable – The Life StoryOf Maino” DVD that dropped in the middle of 2009. The EP contains the single Get ‘Em Tiger which touches on golf start Tiger Woods and his recent circus show of extramarital affairs. The Realist is another track off the EP that has been previously released. There are two new tracks to check for, they include the upbeat jammer Gotta Luv Me and the more laid back and lyrical I’m Da Future. The EP drops amid news that Maino is attempting to “keep it moving” through recent “personal trumoil”. “Unstoppable” can be purchased directly from Atlantic Records for $3.99 and keep on the lookout for Maino’s second official album “The Day After Tomorrow”; the title was recently unveiled by Maino in an interview with MTV.
Lil Wayne
Release Date: February 2, 2010
Album: Rebirth
Rating: ★★★ (52 out of 100)
Review: Honestly this album is going to take a lot of heat for being an experimental rock album from the top selling hip-hop artist of our time. It’s like Jordan playing baseball… which is an appropriate reference considering a recent Wayne and Kobe collaborative interview in the newly restored Vibe magazine. The album is certainly not a classic rock album but how many modern 12-song rock albums produce three singles? Straight talk: although this album will be slammed critically its going to survive on an enormous cult-like Wayne following. The album went through what seemed like repetitive and indefinite push-backs and questions as to whether it would even come out. There was that issue where “Amazon accidentally shipped a small number of Lil Wayne pre-orders” too. Oops or clever publicity stunt? The latest single Drop The World featuring Eminem leaked on the Internet in the middle of December just after the release of the album’s second official single On Fire, containing a “Scarface” sample, a collaboration with Miami-based rock group MAYDAY and a rock-star music video. The first single off “Rebirth”, Prom Queen, is the original rock track from Wayne that got critics fired up. “Rebirth” is Weezy’s seventh studio album and it follows the success of his triple platinum “Tha Carter III” album with every indication that it will precede “Tha Carter IV”. Young Money artists Nicki Minaj and Kevin Rudolf contribute on the tape to the tracks Knockout and One Way Trip, respectively. Notable hip-hop producers Cool & Dre and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League share production credits with the likes of Travis Barker, Patrick Stump and Kevin Rudolf. Overall, this album is going to be remembered as the one Wayne gave us before the one we really wanted, such is the curse of being on top. But, this album isnt terrible and watch it grow legs on the charts.
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