Sp Double – LHRII (The Prequel)
SP Double follows up his release Loyalty Honor Respect quickly with LHRII (The Prequel). SP still hits with the same tenacity and vivacious rhymes, yet still delivers introspective joints like “Starlight,” where he speaks about his new positive ambitions for the New Year while using President Obama’s audio clips regarding hip-hop as a backdrop. The production is handled by Sp himself along with C. Ray and Focus, as SP makes bold declarations against anyone disrupting unity in the local music scene on songs like “Weather Change” and, “The Mission Statement.”
Qknox - Qknox
The wonderfully skilled pianist and production specialist Qknox drops a self-titled gem filled with ear pleasing unique-samples, quirky ambient sounds, and overall interesting tracks. The project is mostly instrumentals but does have a couple songs with accapellas laid over his unique abstract production, like “The Beginning” that features Mystikal and Krayzie Bone, or “Rockstar” that has Danny Brown. Qknox has perfected blending different types of music together, be it strange guitar leads over eclectic drum patterns or classical style piano riffs over soft synthesizers, that is ear candy delivering a superb listening experience.
Aurora Borelius – Jomeezius the Genius
The enigmatic persona Jomeezius the Genius drops a delightful palate of instrumental goodies for his fans in Aurora Borelius. Never failing to surprise, Jomeezius mixes odd samples, blitzing drumlines, machine gun like snare hits and infectious leads leave an overall tone of a meticulously orchestrated production. One of the brilliant tracks, “Shunned” features a soft harp riff over a lightly tapped snare before being joined by a scratchy rhythmic lead that quickly draws your attention. The project showcases Jomeezius’s ability to harness a variation of diverse sounds yet still delivering street worthy anthems MCs will be clamoring to bless with rhymes.
Cheff Premier – Instrumentals with Hooks
Hypnautic, King Tef, Black Pegasus and Johnny Rocketz, aka the Council are backed from their in house producer Cheff Premier, who delightfully cooks up radio palatable production for them to showcase. Cheff’s aim is clear and focused; he is trying to eat off the hard work he puts in his production. Therefore his instrumentals are radio friendly, delivering high quality trap like the aptly named “Trap Shit,” or “Murda,” or R&B with “Heartbreak” or even hip-hop sample driven “Love You,” Cheff shows his versatility within the confines mainstream sounds and an overall theme.
Down South Hustlers 2013
Master P became a hip-hop mogul by selling millions of copies of compilation albums like the original Down South Hustlers in the mid ‘90s, along with a slew of artists and his own albums. It’s been eight years since his last release, and since then there has been the rise of the mixtape circuit. So fittingly, the businessman, actor, and self-made entrepreneur returns his highly successful franchise back with a version for 2013. Hosted by DJ Ernest GQ, Master P buries old feuds with Cash Money Records, who has several tracks on the project and builds new relationships with Trill Entertainment with appearances from Mystikal, Lil Wayne, Mack Maine, Turk and many more.
Raekwon - Lost Jewelry
The Chef of Wu-Tang releases a 12 track mixtape to suffice those Wu lovers until his next album. With production from Scram Jones, Buckwild and Statik Selektah Rae drops his signature style and stories. The project lacks the usual kung-fu movie samples and intros, but the project is consistent from track to track with memorable songs like “New Day” featuring Freddie Gibbs, or the melodic Faith Evans assisted “Hold You Down.” This mixtape could have been an album and easily outshines his last mixtape Unexpected Victory.
Consquence Movies on Demand 4
The one time G.O.O.D. music signee hasn’t let the falling out with the label stop him, as he has remained relevant through his mixtape work. The fourth installment of Movies on Demand adds to the momentum he is trying to regain. From the intro this project is soulful, sample heavy and is lathered with confidence keeping the attention of the listener as Cons rhymes, “somebody tell Floyd I deserve a title shot/ I got the hood on my back I need Icy hot,” on the opening track “Dearly Beloved.” With assistance from Raheem DeVaughn, Estelle and Busta Rhymes is sure to keep Consquence relevant for some-time longer.
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