22.3.10

Metro - Hip hop mixtape round up

A round up of hip hop mixtapes for Metro that ran in March. Jay Electronica is heavy, the heavy-iest rapper since Biggie Smalls - ho ho ho. Seriously I've not been excited by a US rapper since Illmatic-era Nas. Sway's mixtape is a must too. As for Wu Tang, it's a lame, limp cash in, but we're not really allowed to say such things in Metro.

If you're into hip hop you need Jay Electronica in your life and Sway too for that matter.








MUSIC EXTRA


Jay Electronica: The Victory Mixtape


Sway: The Delivery
D Cypha


Wu Tang Clan: Return Of The Wu
Gold Dust


DJ Drama & DJ Ames – International Hustle UK Edition 2
Gangsta Grillz

On both sides of the Atlantic it seems the further hip-hop has ventured into the mainstream, the more vital the humble mixtape has become: it’s a medium unconstrained by commercial considerations where creativity and passion runs free. Whereas hip-pop can seem formulaic and diluted, mixtapes keep the flame of hip hop’s original ideals burning brightly as this selection of big-hitting, current UK & US mixtapes, highlights.

DJ Dub and DJ Furious Styles’ The Victory Mixtape gather the output of major new rap talent, Jay Electronica. A civil rights speech and talk of ‘real rap’ nails the New Orleans producer turned rapper’s colours to the mast. However Jay, who has a daughter with partner Erykah Badu, isn’t a drawling Southern rapper - his husky flow is easy, poised and assertive: Suckas sees Jay condemn bling and he evokes conscious hip-hop history by reworking A Tribe Called Quest’s Scenario, and Nas’ Who’s World Is This? (Jay produced on Nas latest album). Collabs with thinking hip-hop dandies Talib Kweli and Mos Def show he’s been blessed by rap’s great and good (Jigga’s a fan too). Thirtysomething Jay’s debut LP is due this year, and The Victory suggests he’s a worthy torchbearer for breezy-on-the-ear, challenging hip hop.

The Delivery is Sway’s first mixtape since 2008’s LP Signature and it seems this format suits the quick-witted rapper bursting with canny ideas. The 80minute free download is punctuated with Sway’s trademark sharp humour and quirky observations. The Delivery develops narratives introduced in earlier material including the notion that he’s the king of homegrown hip hop, and also reveals the fate of African immigrant Charlie Boy. Sway’s versatility shines in particular his ease in switching between a clipped staccato and double-time rapping, enabling him to ride multiple backdrops (Eurythmics, LL Cool J, David Guetta, Kaiser Chiefs, hip-life). The standard of guests including Akon, Giggs (who’s menacing slo-mo flow contrasts Sway’s sprightly style) and Detroit soulster Dwele - indicate Sway will reign UK rap sooner rather than later.

DJ Drama is US hip-hop’s mixtape king (Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne) and he’s joined forces with Britain’s DJ Ames for the International Hustle Vol 2. The 100minute free download opens with Mystro’s 09 UK Rap Up running through the high-and-low lights of 2009 (Twitter, the word ‘par’) and celebrates the success of Dizzee, N Dubz, and Tinchy. Femcee Nia Jai’s (Rio Ferdinand’s protégé) gets grimey on Hustle Hustle, Fredi Kruga casts himself as the big bad wolf prowling for prey (little MCs and haters), while Tippa Irie and Money Mayhem’s focus on teenage violent crime, offers a reggae-tinged moment of solemnity. An 11-minute version of classic I Wanna Rock (recently covered by Snoop) featuring 13 MCs closes out this upbeat showcase of growing British hip hop talent.

Return Of The Wu, mixed by Mathematics, brings together up front exclusives, never released material from the vaults, solo spots and classics in a dynamic hour. Wu Tang’s USP has always been the dynamism and dizzying variety of voices, multiple rappers bring to a track – and that remains the stand out element of Return… The taut drama of Masta Killa-led It’s What It Is doubles then trebles as Raekwon and Ghostface jump in, while Steppin 2 Me’s bounce and swagger grows as GZA, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck trade verses. Although Return… doesn’t bring anything original or groundbreaking to the Wu table, it’s a reminder of what made hip-hop’s first boy band so great.