Mixtape 101

15/09/2020

Mixtape 101: 9/13/20

https://www.mixcloud.com/mixtape101hiphop/mixtape-101/

A perfect example of one of my mixes always consists of a few things:

--Plenty of tracks with hard hitting beats and vocals.
--At least one dope collaboration.
--At least 1 or 2 poppish/mainstream tracks.
--At least 1 or 2 tracks on the weirder, more alternative side of hip hop.
--At least one older track.
--One track that is not hip hop.
--And one instrumental track in the middle that serves as an "intermission" to break up side A and B.

This mix has all of those components. This is the first volume in a long series of mixes that will follow the same formula. I appreciate anyone that listens, I hope you enjoy the vibes and find out about some new artists!

1.Wisecrvcker & Kyo Itachi feat. Nems & Conway - "Brass Tactics"
--From the album "Wisecrvcker & Kyo Itachi - The Nth Degree"

When I first heard this track, I knew that it would be the perfect one to start the mix off with. Nems and Conway, 2 of the hardest MC's out right now, paired with Wisecrvcker's totally unique and off-kilter flow (and a fire beat by Kyo Itachi!) set off the vibe for a killer hip hop mix, but not your average mix.

2.Tachichi & Moves - Cause and Effect
--From the album "Tachichi & Moves - Pressure Posse"

Something else that's not in your typical hip hop mix is this FIRE ass Dolly Parton sample that DJ Moves flipped. Moves never fails to disappoint with his unique sample choices and Tachichi, one of the main MC's that he works with, flows intricately and wonderfully over this beat.

3.Eto - Pi**in In Bottles
--From the album "Eto - The Beauty Of It"

This song should be a straight up hit honestly. Eto's sing-song flow in the chorus over this wobbly beat (produced by DJ Green Lantern!) sets a beautiful vibe to me. Oh and I certainly love alcohol, so that might explain why I feel this way about the track...

4.DaBaby - Off The Rip
--From the album "DaBaby - Kirk" (not officially available on CD)

Thought this would be a good time to blast a little more bass into the mix. DaBaby is seriously one of (if not my) favorite new mainstream rappers. Don't sleep on his crazy ass flow over bouncy beats like this one just because of his rap name....

5.Rushden & Diamonds feat. Moka Only - What You're Used To
--From the album "Rushden & Diamonds - 2020"

Speaking of bass, now was a good time to switch the mood a little with this thumper. Rushden and Diamonds fall into the comedy side of hip hop (as this song makes blatantly obvious), but musically their sound is amazing, intricate and catchy as well. A nice Moka Only feature never hurts, either.

6.Nnamdi Ogbonnaya - Gimme Gimme
--From the album "Nnamdi - Brat"

Nnamdi is another extremely talented individual on the alternative side of hip hop. This is probably his most poppish sounding song (which I thought went perfectly after the Rushden & Diamonds song), but he also makes a lot more serious stuff and is generally just a very eclectic artist.

7.Tech N9ne - On The Outside
--From the album "Tech N9ne - Enterfear"

I will always rep Tech N9ne and his fellow label mates at Strange Music on my mixes, and Tech should need no introduction whatsoever...but if you're unfamiliar, this smooth track touches on some of his accolades that sadly have not gotten enough appreciation within the general hip hop community.

8.M-Eighty & Nino Graye feat. Mugsy Mahonney - Down & Out
--From the album "M-Eighty & Nino Graye - Glass City"

M-Eighty seriously has to be my favorite person that I follow on Instagram. Aside from being a hilarious personality and very prolific A&R, he can also rap his fu***ng ass off. This hard-hitting track also features some of his crew from his hometown, Toledo, OH.

9.FastLife & Madhattan - Last Action Heros
--From the album "FastLife & Madhattan - No Politics"

Following up with another ridiculously hard-hitting beat. Fastlife is one of my favorite MC's from this new generation and Madhattan is another dope MC that compliments him greatly on their EP together. The energy on this track speaks for itself.

10.Black Geez - Jail Talk
--From the album "Black Geez - Concrete Struggle 2" (Entirely produced by 38 Spesh)

This track is equally as raw as the last, but with a slower, soulful beat. This is a very dope storytelling track from Black Geez out of 38 Spesh's Trust Army camp. Spesh made the beat on this (and the rest of this Black Geez album) as well.

11.Tha Soloist & Tone Spliff - Rhyme Book
--From the album "Tha Soloist & Tone Spliff - Mettamology"

This beat, though!! This gem of a beat by Tone Spliff is DJ Premier nod-level status, and Tha Soloist flows effortlessly over it.

12.Clear Soul Forces - Like That
--From the album "Clear Soul Forces - Forceswithyou"

To wrap up the first half of the mix, this is another lovely beat, with Clear Soul forces swapping verses over it.

13.Knxwledge - Don't Be Afraid
--From the album "Knxwledge - 1988"

"Don't be afraid of the way you feel."
I agree. This was the PERFECT instrumental to have on my first volume of Mixtape 101. I always kind of feel weird putting the first track of a CD on my mix, like I didn't bother to scan the rest of the album for something better, but what could honestly top this beautiful beat? This little track is an anthem. Onto the second half of the mix.....

14.Fat Hed & Motion Man - Holla At Me Pelon
--From the album "Fat Hed - The Jump Room"

This track will probably excite me more than most people, but I was so pumped to randomly (and recently) find that California MC Fat Hed made a new album back in 2014...and I was even more excited to find a new collab with Motion Man on it. Every track they've made together is fire. Too bad they never made a full album together. This track is another great example of the chemistry that they always have together.

15.YL - Science Class
--From the album "YL - Alone Time"

"You deserve what you allow in your life" - YL
YL is another one of my new favorite MC's. He always comes with sharp and confident lyrics over standout beats such as this one (produced by Benji Socrate$). Check out more of his catalog!

16.Stack Skrilla - Grand Ballroom
--From the album "Stack Skrilla - Swept Under the Rug" (Entirely produced by Benji Socrate$)

This dope beat is also produced by Benji Socrate$. The MC, Stack Skrilla, I never would have heard of if it wasn't for Mark, the very cool dude that runs the Top Shelf Premium freestyle series right out of Hoboken nearby me. Stack is one of the MANY dope MC's to be featured on the series.

17.Jamal Gasol & DirtyDiggs - Fiesta OG
--From the album "Jamal Gasol & Dirty Diggs - 100 Blunts in Venice"

Venice Beach-based Dirty Diggs are one of my favorite production duos. They have AMAZING sample choices and always feature dope MC's. They are a staple in my mixes and I will always support whatever they put out. Jamal Gasol is another one of my many favorite new MC's. Oh, and blunts are great too.

18.Boondox & Bukshot feat. Tyler Lyon - Desert Eagles
--From the album "Boondox & Bukshot - Paradigm Shift"

I always f**k with some juggalo music, I know some people are gonna write that off. Some of the genre can be corny, whatever, but you have to respect the immense creativity (and fan base) surrounding this genre. This one is Boondox (a very dope southern MC) and Bukshot (no, not from Black Moon/Boot Camp) trading verses over a Hotel California-inspired beat. I thought it fit nice after the Cali-themed track before it. Let's hope for better years to come for California, the coolest state that I've ever been to.

19.LMNO & Godforbid - Keep Moving
--From the album "LMNO & Godforbid - Monolith"

I love this sample and I thought this was a great melodic and detailed beat to help move the mix along as it starts to wind down. I've been listening to LMNO for ages (can't wait for the new Visionaries album!) and this was a dope little EP with Godforbid, who I've never heard before this CD.

20.Daniel Son & Finn - Fly Decorum
--From the album "Daniel Son & Finn - Dirty Dishes"

This track is just next-level fire to me. Finn MASSACRED this beat and Daniel Son, another one of my many new favorite MC's, switched his flow up a bit for this one and made it an epic track. The is the first track on their album, but to me this monster helps finish my mix off nicely towards the end.

21.Flee Lord & Mephux - 2020 Mines
--From the album "Flee Lord & Mephux - Pray for the Evil"

I liked the idea of putting this track next because similar to the Daniel Son track, Flee Lord switches his flow up a bit here too. I like the versatility that both of these tracks showed from these 2 standout new artists. Beat wise, this calm little beat by Mephux is a nice little breather to transition to the next track on my mix.

22.Chance the Rapper feat. John Legend - All Day Long
--From the album "Chance the Rapper - The Big Day"

Officially hitting the home stretch of the mix, this uplifting but still hard-hitting track complimented by John Legend's always great vocals is a nice send off, even though ironically it was the opening track on Chance the Rapper's wedding-themed debut album. How could I not put this one on? Maybe not everyone will like this track, but like John Legend says in the song, "We can't be out here pleasing everybody".

23.Fat Joe & Dre feat. Eminem & Mary J. Blige - Lord Above
--From the album "Fat Joe & Dre - Family Ties" (not officially available on CD)

Next legendary singer up to bat: Mary J. Blige assisting Fat Joe & Dre on this dope and dense track, ultimately capped off by an epic Eminem verse. Nothing like Eminem going off for a couple minutes to wrap a mix up. You guys probably heard this track already, though.

24.Hanni El Khatib - Alive
--From the album "Hanni El Khatib - Flight"

Here's that non-rap song. Hanni El Khatib is a very talented singer and musician with a very eclectic catalog that I've been getting into lately. This was a perfect cheery song to put at the end and something that I think we can all relate to in 2020.

25.J-Zone feat. Huggy Bear - Orphan Babies
--From the album "J-Zone - A Bottle of Whup Ass EP"

And last but not least, this great throwback from J-Zone featuring Huggy Bear. Despite being a huge J-Zone fan (he is one of the best producers ever), I somehow managed to never get the EP that this classic track was on. I was able to hunt it down a few months back at a good price, so when I heard this track again after all these years, I knew it would be the perfect track to close this CD out. Dedicated to all of the weirdos and losers out there.....stay different. Thanks for reading and listening!

1.Wisecrvcker & Kyo Itachi ft. Nems & Conway - Brass Tactics 2.Tachichi & Moves - Cause and Effect 3.Eto - Pi**in In Bottles 4.DaBaby - Off The Rip 5.Rushden & Diamonds ft. Moka Only - What You're Used To 6.Nnamdi Ogbonnaya - Gimme Gimme 7.Tech N9ne - On The Outside 8.M-Eighty & Nino Graye ft. Mugsy...

14/09/2020

Not sure if I'm navigating these weird ass pages correctly, so here's a little background on my mixes that I posted in my "About" section....might be easier to see on this front page:

---I’ve been making pause-button style mixtapes (cassettes and then 80 min Mix CD’s) since I was a kid, and I’ve decided to start sharing them online.

---My formula: I‘m a huge CD collector....so I take 2 dozen or so of my brand-new, unplayed CD’s, pick my favorite song from each, and curate & sequence them into a unique CD of it’s own. Kind of like “Chopped” on the Food network, the CD’s that I pick are my mystery ingredients and I’m not sure what shape the mix will take until it’s finished.

---The mixes are mostly that raw, gritty underground hip hop that true heads love, but I’ve always loved and respected every sub-genre in the huge world of hip-hop, so the mixes also contain some more mainstream/poppish/trappish/whatever you want to call it types of songs, some stuff on the weirder/alternative side of hip hop, some unheard boom-bap from decades ago, and even the occasional non-hip hop song as well.

---This page will contain detailed write-ups of all mixes, explaining why I picked each song, and I’ll be providing a link to Mixcloud for the actual mixes themselves. Through the years, these mixes have become the soundtrack to my life. Ultimately they are tailored to my own personal taste, so you might not like every song, but one of my main goals here is introduce people to new artists. They need our support. Thanks for listening!

Disclaimer: NONE of this music is exclusive or unreleased. All of these tracks are from CD’s that I purchased.....please support your favorite artists!

13/09/2020