Wiz Khalifa - Taylor Allderdice
The title Taylor Allderdice suggests a position of power. Taylor Gang, Wiz Khalifa's clique, has hundreds of thousands of fans. To be given the title of "Allderdice" of that following must be significant judging by the way he confidently poses on the mixtape cover.
However, Taylor Allderdice is the name of the Pittsburgh high school Khalifa once attended. The unintended meaning of the title then suddenly becomes apparent - Khalifa's still immature as an artist. This is the sort of mixtape that can only truly resonate with high school-aged students.
Taylor Allderdicecrashed mixtape website datpiff.com when it was released Tuesday night. The mixtape steers more in the direction of the chilled, unconventional sounds of his breakthrough release, Kush & Orange Juice. This will please some listeners, but Khalifa's stubborn refusal to rap about anything substantial makes this mixtape an easily forgettable one.
The production on Taylor Allderdice is arguably better than Kush & Orange Juice's. Where the latter teases, Taylor Allderdice's instrumentals totally immerse the listener in Khalifa's hazed-out fantasies. The tortured, but addicting bass line highlights the opener "Amber Ice." Then there are the spaced-out keys of "Mary 3x," and the midnight aesthetic of "Nameless."
It feels like Khalifa should be ready to rap meaningful verses over these beats by now. But of course, Khalifa too often falls back on bragging about his marijuana, his success, and his clique. The topics can only remain interesting for so long, and it's not really long enough to sustain this 17-song release. Even the guest verses from the usually reliable Rick Ross and Juicy J sound uninspired.
Khalifa even comes off as obnoxious during the mixtape. Taylor Allderdice also features Khalifa being interviewed on topics ranging from his views on originality to his career progression. His answers add nothing to the collection and they feel more arrogant than charismatic.
As it stands, Taylor Allderdice is all haze, no burn.
Action Bronson - Blue Chips
Bursting through the smoke and mirrors of today's flagrant and flashy rappers comes a heavyset, heavy-accented, unapologetic Albanian man from Queens. Action Bronson had a breakout year in hip-hop with his album Dr. Lecter, laying the foundation for three possible projects in 2012, including a fourth in his current mixtape Blue Chips.
Bronson teamed up with producer/singer Party Supplies for the mixtape and the musical harmony is undeniable from the second you hit play.
The opening track, "Pouches of Tuna" featuring Long Island rapper Roc Marciano, mixes the crude with the classy. Soft violin melodies laid underneath Bronson's signature grotesque lyrics give the track a sense of comfort for new listeners. Straying away from the predictable heavy bass and 808s of rap music gives Bronson the opportunity to flex his lyricism without competing with a beat.
Bronson doesn't abandon his roots entirely, however. Tracks "Hookers at the Point" and "103 and Roosy" serve up Bronson's anticipated sound and lyrics for longtime fans. Topics in the tracks stem from his time spent in various parts of Queens and other stomping grounds like the Bronx, and give listeners a peek into his dog-eat-dog mindset.
In "103 and Roosy," Bronson makes it clear that his looks should be no reason for any of his competition to let their guard down in any sense of the word.
"F**k around leave you slumped in your seat/Cause we're coming from Queens, every platter is a gat-rated/Caramelized up, bulls are getting castrated," Bronson raps.
What gives this mixtape grounds to be considered a classic is its overall attitude. Bronson and Party Supplies make it clear their objective is to release real rap music, not radio-friendly hip-pop. What keeps the mixtape from being pigeonholed musically are the eclectic musical influences Party Supplies brought to the table which include indie music, alternative rock, and even salsa samples sprinkled among tracks.
The one idea Bronson wants to stress on this tape is that his sound and lyrics are solely his prerogative. Since his surfacing on the rap scene, Bronson has always been compared to Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, a comparison he shuts down in track "Ron Simmons" which is the standout on the mixtape.
"Damn, you're f***ing with a pro, kid/No triple A, I went straight up to the show, kid/You can cash me out and spend it on the coast d*ck/Don't ever say my music sound like Ghost'ss***."
Big K.R.I.T. - 4Eva N A Day
The current trend in rap music today is steered by the South. Southern rappers like T.I., 2 Chainz, and Rick Ross have dominated radio play and the streets with their dope boy meets party boy music. Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T., however, serves as a conscious breath of fresh air among the crowd.
His self-produced debut album Return of 4Eva received numerous accolades from urban and mainstream publications alike. Big K.R.I.T.'s newest mixtape, 4Eva N A Day, is perceived to hold over fans until his studio debut, Live From the Underground, is released later this year. Unfortunately for Big K.R.I.T., lightning doesn't strike twice.
4Eva N A Day showcases Big K.R.I.T.'s talented lyrical abilities, but also shows a style struggle that were absent in his self-produced project.
"Me And My Old School" is a perfect example of the subconscious struggle that plagues the mixtape. The sound attempted can easily be compared to that of the late and legendary rapper Pimp C, and Big K.R.I.T. falls into the formula most of his fellow southern rappers succumb to, and fails.
"If I'm gon' ride, hell, I don't know about them/Popping my collar, rocking gators, f*** some Prada/Be a scholar of this pimpin' to the very, very end," Big K.R.I.T. raps.
The verses in "Me And My Old School" were performed in almost a mocking fashion. The flow didn't feel natural and it becomes apparent the slick-talking Pimp C persona doesn't essentially fit with Big K.R.I.T's.
Mistakes like these are scattered throughout the mixtape but those who were drawn by Return of 4Eva can find solace in "Handwriting." A jazz sound laced with a soul instrumental intertwines perfectly with Big K.R.I.T.'s heavy southern accent on this track. The intimacy of the track, a trait popular with Big K.R.I.T's sound, is also a highlight of the track:
"'Cus music's all I've ever known, s***, all I've ever had/Tryna say something, tryna do something, tryna be better/Ain't much time left, I gotta make do, I can't live forever," Big K.R.I.T. raps.
Overall, it seems 4Eva N A Day is a holdover for Live From The Underground, but the fact that it reads through the music is a big problem. The only track that balances the stereotypical southern sound and Big K.R.I.T.'s is "Temptation," but doesn't stand up to his lyrical standards. Many rappers make the mistake of using leftover tracks for mixtapes, but hopefully the disappointment from this project doesn't deter fans from his upcoming album.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Mhdariby / Wikimedia Commons
