World Class Wreckin’ Cru - Turn Off The Lights (Epic, 1988)
also this
Lil B - Eat (Mixtape, 2013)
Lil B sings over Master P’s “Ice Cream Man”, No, he sadly doesn’t dress up like an ice cream man
Pink Flame is available now
Fat Trel - Make It Clap (internet, 2012)
After the mixed reaction Trel’s Nightmare On E. Street received last year, he’s changed his position in the game a bit since. He’s jumped on posse cuts with the A$AP Mob, aligned himself with Master P and Alley Boy, and brought the Slutty Boyz and Glory Boyz together for some glorious songs since then. He hasn’t done a lot on his own, though, aside from his series of Gleesh-mixes and loose tracks. Perhaps the most infectious of these is the Lee Bannon produced “Make It Clap” - which is possibly the most somber strip club joint I’ve ever heard. Trel’s always been at his best when he’s being a slutty boy, a dancing silhouette in a room full of glow sticks and sweaty drug addicts, but the joy that’s been present on similarly themed songs like “Rollin’” and “On Top Your Girl” is completely absent here. The Fat Gleesh is completely devoid of glee(sh), falling in love with a llama toting stripper, spouting off a host of boasts, but ultimately falling victim to the seductive stripper’s allure. The chorus itself sums up the song perfectly by asking the stripper to “please make that ass clap”, as opposed to demanding her, then bragging about bands and racks in the most desperate way possible.
Gucci-style “mwah’s” certainly add something to this track as well
Kevin Gates - Arms Of A Stranger (Bread Winners Association, 2013)
Kevin Gates, who Google tells me is a YMCMB associate but hardly ever associates with them, has been getting some publicity over the past year after “Satellites” last year, and his feature on Wrath Of Caine standout “Trust You” last week. With this new level of interest in him, Kevin dropped The Luca Brasi Story a few days. Why Kevin compares himself to Luca Brasi is beyond me, because aside from the illegal activities taking place on wax here, Kevin presents himself as far from a feared murderer. On this early standout from the tape, Kevin pens a beautiful post-Future ballad about the object of his affection, providing lush visuals of seasons changing and the heartbreak that remains through it all. The rest of The Luca Brasi Story is equal parts cocaine trafficking and emotional yearning. Also, there’s a song called “Marshall Mathers” that I swear was going to be about cocaine, but only partially touches on the subject, primarily focusing on hating people (as any Marshall Mathers-inspired topics should be about).
You should download The Luca Brasi Story here, because it’s quite good.
50 Cent (feat. Kidd Kidd & Kendrick Lamar) - We Up (Mixtape, 2013)
The Aftermath labelmates finally link up, surprisingly, for what is easily one of the most intoxicating songs Curtis has released in years. This is merely a preview, and neither Kendrick or Kidd appear here, but this is the type of beat Fifth was put on this earth to ride. This is apparently going to appear on Kidd Kidd’s upcoming mixtape, but this belongs on Street King Immortal more than any of the leaks thus far.
Future Presents F.B.G. - The Movie (Mixtape, 2013)
Future’s back with the rest of Freebandz to drop this all new mixtape. Somewhere, there’s a Sisqo feature.
Young Dolph - Dream (Mixtape, 2012)
this is on constant repeat.
TKO Capone - Emotions On the Floor (Mixtape, 2012)
TKO Capone’s 40-song Duck Season was bound to be uneven with the sheer volume of songs contained. He included most of his Youtube hits - Louis Gucci, 3rd Gear - and their presence in a high quality MP3 were certainly the songs I gravitated towards at first. It took awhile to sift through the entire project, and though it’s not perfect, Capone continues to be one of few rappers truly deserving of the title “underrated.” “Emotions On The Floor” is one of the many songs that shows off Capone’s sensitive side, where he sings for the better half of two minutes, before finally kicking a traditional rap verse at the end. Still hung up on his ex, Capone admits to checking her Facebook regularly hoping he doesn’t find something he didn’t want to see and ignoring any phone calls that aren’t hers, a sentiment that a select few of us can relate to on a rather personal level.
Hopefully the second volume of Duck Season is released this year, with a more focused approach. Capone is still a great rapper, but his all-over approach has turned off a few people who may have otherwise given what should’ve been Capone’s breakthrough mixtape an industry co-sign. Also, hopefully he finally releases this on MP3
Pusha T (feat. Rick Ross) - Millions (Def Jam, 2013)
Is Pusha Ton really back? Pusha’s been sounding very inspired since the “I Don’t Like” remix, and he’s especially sounded promising since he’s adopted some Meek Mill tendencies into his flow. The aggression displayed on pretty much every song since, say, King Louie’s “My Hoes They Do Drugs”, has really made Pusha sound alive yet again. All of the leaks from Wrath Of Caine - a brilliant title for a mixtape if there’s been one in recent memory - have really been the best thing Pusha’s done since he took up his G.O.O.D. flow on “Runaway”. “Pain” featured an excellent, yet understated Kanye beat and a regretful Future hook, and “Blocka” carried great energy with Popcaan’s dancehall influence and the Young Chop beat, itself somewhat of a spiritual successor to last year’s “Mercy.” Here though, Pusha and Rozay return to the piano-driven glory of trap music’s past, with Southside (from what I’ve gathered, though some think it’s the untitled Kanye production with Ross and Pusha; it doesn’t sound like it, though) doing his best DJ Toomp impersonation.
Wrath Of Caine dropping soon. 3 for 3, let’s hope this can continue.
