Review: Finally Famous Vol. 3

You may not have been familiar with him before, but by now you know, Big Sean. After months of waiting and several pushed back dates the somewhat highly anticipated Finally Famous Vol. 3 has finally released.

The mixtape is hosted by the infamous Don Cannon, who may be a big name but definitely throws off the mixtape a bit because he talks so much. In fact, it gets to a point where I can't even focus on the music presented because I'm trying to figure out why Don Cannon won't shut the hell up. But from what I've been told, they're supposed to be releasing a DJ-less copy in a few days (Let the people say #Yes).

I digress.

The mixtape has a variety of features, Bun B., Curren$y, Tyga, Chiddy, Mike Posner, Drake and a slew of others. One of the most anticipated songs on Finally Famous Vol. 3 was "Fat Raps (remix)" produced by and features Chuck Inglish of the Cool Kids. It also features, Asher Roth, Chip the Ripper, Dom Kennedy, and Boldy James. Personally, not a fan of the song, I don't think there has ever been a song that I really like that has had more than four artists on it. It makes the song too busy and it's impossible to really focus on what's being said and who's saying it.

*Edit: I was wrong, Binary Star's "K.G.B." ... I like.

I like the fact that Big Sean does keep it Detroit, aside from the namely recognizable performers I previously mentioned, he enlists the help of his Finally Famous comrade SAY IT AINT TONE (you kind of have to capitalize his name) on the witty and entertaining "My Closet," Key Wane, WrighTrax and Maybach Music Group's The Olympicks all lend producing talents on the mixtape. Even the mixtape's cover was shot by a Detroit photographer (Dante Marshall) and designed by a local graphic designer (Tommey Walker) who both have worked with him—and plenty others—before.

There's one more talent that I haven't mentioned and that would be Suai on "Almost Wrote You a Love Song". This is probably my favorite track on the mixtape, Big Sean is a garnish to an already great song (Suai released this a minute ago sans Big Sean). They've shot the video for this (maybe they know just how great this song is too), so I'm kind of anticipating on seeing that. Suai has a great voice and Big Sean does his thing lyrically. There was an alternate version released as well, kind of doper than the one on the mixtape.

Final Thoughts: 3 out of 5.

I've listened to this a few times all the way through, the tracks are arranged well and the transition (without Don Cannon's voice) is very smooth from track to track. Production is good, though I think I liked UKNOWBIGSEAN's production more, Key Wane and the Olympicks definitely shine on this one. It's not a mixtape full of features and while some features aren't that strong (see: "Fat Raps" above) others excel like "Ambiguous" featuring Mike Posner. I still feel like Big Sean is holding back and could be so much better than what he is (hard for some of you to believe I'm sure) but hearing "High Rise" definitely has me convinced it's more there. Overall, it's a solid mixtape and good to hold us over until the album's release.


CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD  'FINALLY FAMOUS VOL. 3'

Music Video: Hassani Kwess

The good thing about having friends in other places, is learning about the music scene in their respective cities. The homie Young Scolla directed me to this joint by Hassani Kwess, a rapper out of the DMV area. His mixtape 'Tron' drops tonight at midnight and I'm assuming will be made available on his bandcamp page. He recently dropped the video for one of the mixtape tracks, "Midnight Bravado," shot in D.C. and directed by Jay Dexter, a D.C. based photographer and videographer. The song definitely reminds me of the 90s, specifically his flow and delivery reminds me of Common Sense (around that time of "I Used to Love H.E.R."). My interest is definitely piqued in this guy and if the joints on Tron are anything like this, it should be something worth listening.

Buffies & Benihanas - Dusty McFly

I just love the title of this, it's so Detroit, though Buffies & Belle Isle would have been way more Detroit (someone tweeted this but I don't remember who). Dusty McFly, name probably sounds super familiar because he was featured on "Iraq" on the UKNOWBIGSEAN mixtape last year. Moving on, Dusty has been kind of silent on the music scene and now I know why. Buffies & Benihanas is his latest project and to build up anticipation, Mr. McFly has released a trailer for it shot by Mr. Dante Marshall. Dope stuff and I can say my interest is piqued.

Crash Course - Street Justice

To know me personally or to only know me virally, you know I have this thing for this misunderstood culture we call hip-hop. I listen to a lot of things on the daily as a blogger, but personally certain artists have been getting played heavily through my speakers and I figured it would be kind of cool to do a "what Alex is listening to" post.  I don't know why I keep listening to them over and over again, but to me, they are all the best thing poppin'. Some are old and some are recent, but my mom always told me that good music has no expiration date. Below you will find 10 mixtapes/albums that have been my sort of 'go to' choice these last few weeks.

10.
Title: Never Say Never
Artist: Brandy
Year: 1998
Most Played Tracks: "Almost Doesn't Count" and "Have You Ever"

9.
Title: No Brakes
Artist: P.L.
Year: 2010
Most Played Tracks: "Ransom," "Groupie Girls" and "Cool"

8.
Title: Champagne Nights/Red Stripe Budget
Artist: Cold Men Young
Year: 2010
Most Played Tracks: "Living a Star" and "Det Riot!"
*Review coming soon :-)

7.
Title: The Hybrid
Artist: Danny Brown
Year: 2010
Most Played Tracks: "Exotic" and "Thank God"

6.
Title: Slut Bag Edition
Artist: Crown Nation
Year: ... ... I really don't know
Most Played Tracks: "My Child n Dem" and "Phony Rappers"

5.
Title: The Rhyming Dictionary
Artist: Detroit CYDI
Year: 2008
Most Played Tracks: "It's Nothin'", "Roll" and "Based on a True Story"

4.
Title: The Leftovers Unmixed Tape
Artist: eLZhi
Year: 2009
Most Played Tracks: "Glow", "Contra" and "Flyest"

3.
Title: Ready to Die
Artist: Notorious B.I.G.
Year: 1994
Most Played Tracks: "Juicy", "Warning", "Big Poppa" and "Me and My B*tch"

2.
Title: Shapeshifters
Artist: Invincible
Year: 2008
Most Played Tracks: "Looongawaited" and "Deuce/Ypsi"

1.
Title: Fantastic, Vol. 2
Artist: Slum Village
Year: 2000
Most Played Tracks: "Climax," "Jelaousy," "Fall in Love", "Untitled/Fantastic" and "Raise it Up"

**It just released like this week, but Street Justice's 'Follow the Drip' has been getting some major play as well, I'm sure they'll be bumping someone out of their spot soon.

How We Do - Street Justice

It's no secret I'm "new" to this Detroit hip-hop scene, I'm definitely a work in progress and this
blog is everything that I've picked up along the way and have gone back in time and "studied". A group I've recently been put on is Street Justice.
 I know a lot of people know who they are, but keeping it real, I didn't. It was one of those, heard of them but never heard anything type deals ... at least until now. Frathouse Music and Whutupdoe.com present: 'Follow the Drip' mixtape mixed by DJ Sicari of 5Ela. Redd, Ketchphraze and Jypsy are something like lyrical geniuses different styles of delivery equally as powerful bars, definitely not a group to take lightly (I think Marcel calling them Michigan's version of Gangstarr is a pretty accurate description). 'Follow the Drip' is the prelude to their album 'Go H.A.A.M' and if that is anything like this ... anticipated greatness.

(Click HERE to download 'Follow The Drip')

While I'm focusing so hard on trying to figure out why Street Justice has been missing in my life, I found out they released their video for one of the joints "Breakin' Rocks" off their upcoming album. The video was shot over a year ago and was directed by Girard Victor (the creative genius behind Ro Spit's "Renaissance State of Mind" and Elzhi's "Deep" videos).

I don't care how late I am (or am I ahead of some others?) ... I like them ... a lot.

* Also peep how ILL Redd's tattoo is! I want that treble/bass clef heart tattooed.

Mixtape: Young Slapz and M. Dizz

So Slapz and Dizz are at it again, today they released the 'We Wasn't Bullshittin' Power Pack'. They're not rapping as a duo this time, two separate mixtape joints, one camp. Shoutout to Nate Hickman on the graphic design tip.

Click HERE to download M. Dizz's 'Another Random Mixtape for Twitter'

 

Click HERE to download Young Slapz's 'High off Oxygen & Wasted off Simply Lemonade'

Mixtape: MosEL

Finals week is approaching and it's about that time to start putting together your late-night Red Bull and textbooks playlist. Well, I have something you may want to take a listen too before you snap your pencils and highlighters in frustration. Meet MosEL, a rapper from Detroit and younger brother of Crown Nation's Quelle. I went to high school with MosEL  and he's actually the reason I know who Black Milk is, he may not remember that conversation but I do. Anyway, if you're into checking credits like I am, you may have seen he produced a couple of joints on Danny Brown's The Hybrid ("Juno" and "Thank God" to be exact). He recently dropped his mixtape "Just Thinking Out Loud," which showcases his own production as well as the likes of Madlib. It's something different and has a pretty good vibe for before the caffeine and sugar highs kick in.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "JUST THINKING OUT LOUD"

Mixtape: Ashbury Asston: Thee Movie

Asston Kusher is a name I first heard at last year's 3DaysB4Fame event, a mixtape of his was actually pushed in my hands. Today in honor of his favorite holiday, Tree Rollins released his mixtape 'Thee Movie" powered by DJ BJ and Revive. You do see some familiar features like TGL and JFin, but features don't make this tape (and I'm personally happy about that).
Download: Assbury Asston: Thee Movie Here.

Music Video: "Flight School" - P.L.

P.L. is becoming oen of my favorite rappers. His pre-tape 'No Brakes' hosted by DJ Mo Beatz and produced by The Olympicks released not too long ago and I know it has me gassed for 'Turning Lane'. Anyway, today he released the video for his joint "Flight School" and it was directed by Dante Marshall (yep, the photographer, he also shot Big Sean's "Supa Dupa Lemonade" video too). I love black and white vids and in most cases with a few clean shots, they're always a win. What do you think?

I'm Ready Now - FowL

This week was a pretty great for Michigan hip-hop, we have some of the best of the best representing the mitten heavy down in Austin for SXSW. Now while the adults are away at SXSW the children will play, Young Detroit is hosting the second dose of the Red Cup Session tonight, and within the last 24,  three locals released mixtapes.

First up, we have FowL. In my last mixtape post, FowL's mixtape, the Commencement, was the one I posted using a super late pass, little did I know that he was releasing a new project a day later. He has already released a video for one of the tracks "Hello, Howya Doin." What's interesting about FowL is that he's only a college freshman and is getting kudos from the likes of Invincible and it seems with every bar he has spit, makes someone new a believer. 'For the Love' is pretty good and with nearly 700 downloads in the first 24 hours, FowL is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Click HERE to download FowL's 'For the Love'.

Next up on the menu, we have two pre-tapes—mixtapes artists put out just to say "Hey, I know this sounds amazing but I have something coming that's better,  this is just to tie you over." Coincedentally enough both of the covers for these tapes were done by Nate Hickman.

We have K-Bunz, repping USR and Young Scolla's right hand, he's working on his mixtape '5 Miles to City Limits' which is set to release sometimes soon. The pre-tape features lines over songs like "Crush on You", "Show Me What You Got" and "Exhibit C."

Click HERE to download K-Bunz's 'One Way In, No Way Out'

Finally, we have P.L., lately he's been a lyrical machine. Besides getting this pre-tape together and working on Turning Lane and performing on the Flight Tour, he's been dropping freestyles close to every week. If this tape is "just a lil' something" I seriously can't wait to see what the Turning Lane is going to be like. The pre-tape, No Brakes, features some freestyles that have already release including the Charles Hamilton cover "Groupie Girls" and the recently released "Over" (yep, the Drake joint). It's hosted by DJ Mo Beatz and has some production credit to producing gurus The Olympicks.

Click HERE to download P.L.'s 'No Brakes.'

New Era - Danny Brown

I'm slowly (but surely) starting to catch up on my blog with everything I have been meaning to post. A lot of new music dropped and it's been hard to keep up, I'm swimming in stuff! Today's releases come from 7 artists: Danny Brown (The Hybrid album, Detroit State of Mind 4), JYoung (Black History Year), Ren Cen (Library Muzik), Clear Soul Forces (Clear Soul Radio) G Wood & Lyricz (The Takeover), Tru Great Lakers (Written by the Lake) and a super late pass on Fowl (The Commencement). Take a minute, scroll through the artwork and pick something nice out for yourself.
To download anything, just click the photo :-).

    

State of Affairs - Mark Milly

I just posted a song from this guy not too long ago and shortly after, Lucky a.k.a. Mark Milly released a compilation mixtape of songs he says is the "worst of Mark Milly" (like seriously, I don't think he's a fan of the Mark Milly on this tape) as a prelude to another project he has dropping in the future. 'Prelude to Stringbeans and Strawberries Masterpiece" features songs from 2007 and 2008 and even has a snippet of some songs to expect in the future. He may not like these songs, but listening to them and comparing to the newer stuff he's done, the growth is evident — to me anyway. Click HERE to download Mark Milly's prelude.



I also got an e-mail featuring a mixtape from a guy from Florida (by way of NYC) by the name of Rob Yung. "Young" is pretty much the perfect term to describe as he is only 18 -years-old and a full-time college student. His EP 'The Daily Basis: The Weekly Agenda' dropped last week and it's a mixtape with a cool concept. This is what Rob Yung said about it:

Ever feel as if every day of the week has a different feel or a different tempo to it? Like Mondays are always kinda slow because it's the day everyone hates. Then Tuesdays are a bit more uptempo because you have to get things done that you didn't get done on Monday. Well this is how the week of an 18-year-old MC/producer that is also a full-time student in college feels like ...

Interesting, to download Rob Yung's 'The Dail Basis: The Weekly Angeda' EP click HERE.

Hip Hop is in my Veins - Miz Korona

Shortest post and a first in Tha 'A' Side history, I'm straight jacking another blog/site. My favorite frenemy Marcel over at WHUTUPDOE.com got an exclusive, that I must say I'm somewhat jealous of: Miz Korona's unmixed, unreleased (until now) mixtape Dope Muzik.
Here's what Korona had to say to about the project :

Dope Muzik was a project of passion. I was inspired to do it after losing two of our most influential artist from the city, Dilla & Proof, and listening to a lot of their music both recent releases and classic unreleased material along with other classic albums based out of the early to mid 90’s. Then I approached The Lab Techs about doing the project with me around 06 but our schedules put a halt to the project. A year later I met Chanes and the idea resurfaced and the rest is history. We started recording it in 2008.

The concept and title came from the mind state that the beats and rhymes from that [early-mid 90’s] era put me in. Everything was dope back then. The style of the rhyme patterns, the beats, the way they shot videos: I just wanted to recapture that in my own way.

Also, drug addiction was at an all time high around that time so I tried to tap into the mind of an addict but from an artist standpoint.

We recorded the album in 7 days. I recorded a song the first day I met Chanes. The second day I went back and we worked for 18 hours straight, knocked out 10 songs all from scratch.

To Download Dope Muzik, CLICK HERE

Music For Love - Mario

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and with that comes love, romance, promiscuity and seduction. To help kick things off the right way and put you in the mood with your special (or not-so) someone, DJ LimeLightz released "SexTape Vol. 2." The hour long mixtape (which is one .mp3) features songs like "Anywhere" by 112 and Lil' Zane, "Signs of Lovemaking" by Tyrese and "Dot Com" by Usher. So go download and prepare for the 14th or any day you feel like "reinventing sex."CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Yay or Nay: Cool - P.L.

P.L. has been steadily in the studio working on his newest mixtape 'Turning Lane.' Yesterday the former 106 and Park Freestyle Friday Champion, leaked his latest single "Cool" produced by The Olympicks (Detroit natives who signed to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group this past summer). No word on when the Ann Arbor native is relesaing 'Turning Lane' (or I just haven't paid much attention) but it is coming sometime soon.
Yay or Nay: "Cool" - P.L.

Yay or Nay: Sex With My Ex - Jwan

First Yay or Nay of 2010 (be excited). Today's song comes from the Finally Famous camp by way of Jwan. Currently Jwan has been working on his upcoming mixtape 'Me & My Band' and from what I've been told that's getting ready to drop sometime soon. What's interesting (to me) about this track is that it's a R&B track, and I can honestly say I wasn't expecting it to be. Did I know he could sing? yes. Was I expecting an entire song of him singing? no. I am anxious to see what the mixtape is going to be like. Many artists can't pull off varying between singing and rapping, do you think Jwan can?

Yay or Nay: Sex With My Ex - Jwan

Mixtape: Fin Is King 2

Well, thirty days past December and JFin has released his new mixtape Fin Is King 2. I must say, I am quite happy the mixtape is finally here. Hopefully, you have already downloaded 'InFINity & Beyond', his mixtape that released in July and have been paying some attention to his tracks the last thirty days. This mixtape is different than IAB, but definitely not in a bad way. Fin does tackle ransom but most of the beats on the tape are original. Some songs may look familiar, as they had been leaked as a part of the Thirty.30 project. It may be a couple of months a part but Fin Is King 2, definitely shows some growth and is slightly more cohesive than IAB.

My thoughts?:

First, I appreciate the fact that it's pretty much all JFin. It's not overpowered by features thus making the listener really get a feel for who he is. I like the fact that it has some consistency to it as far as style goes; it all flows nicely and doesn't sound choppy or like it jumps around a lot. For specific songs? I like them all but I do have favorites. I LOVE "Nothin' to Somethin'", "Shine Forever", "Galaxy" and "Favorite Rapper". I like them all for the same reasons delivery, wordplay and beats are good, yet they all sound different.

I have no criticisms, but I do know that some people will try to compare his style to Big Sean. The similarity is there, but upon closer listen they are indeed different.

If you couldn't catch on, I definitely think it's iTunes worthy.

Click HERE to download JFin's Fin Is King 2

Mixtape: Quest M.C.O.D.Y.

December has been an amazing month on the mixtape circuit. Don't believe me? Simply scroll down and check the posts for the month. Well, today Quest M.C.O.D.Y. released 'CTRL + ALT + DELETE Vol. 2,' perfect after Christmas gift. If you've never heard of him, you seriously are slacking something terrible. Quest M.C.O.D.Y. was named one of the top 51 unsigned rappers by Vibe magazine, and you probably saw him on an episode of MTV's "MADE" (as a coach of course). CTRL + ALT + DELETE Vol. 2 has a few guest appearances from the likes of Nametag, Royce Da 5'9", Guilty Simpson and a few others. Like everything else I post on this blog, this mixtape is something you need in your iTunes.

Fade Back (Remix) Quest M.C.O.D.Y. feat. Royce Da 5'9", Guilty Simpson and Marv Won.


So head on over to DatPiff.com to download CTRL + ALT + DELETE Vol. 2.

Mixtape: Jay Beretta

I noticed an interesting campaign floating around cyberspace not too long ago: Endorse Jay Beretta.
The only thing that kept coming into my mind, was WHO IS JAY BERETTA?

Well I—and everyone else who didn't know— found out with the release of his second mixtape Countdown 2 Takeoff. If his first is anything like this one, then maybe I should go back and have a listen.

This mixtape, like others has a mix of original beats and whatever is popular by the masses. He kind of reminds me of P.L. a bit and to be as young as he is (he's 17), he's definitely lyrically skilled and proves age is simply a number.

My Thoughts?: Definitely somone worth listening to and downloading. Jay Beretta brings something different to the table and like his last name suggests, his lines have the power of a bullet.

If you've read any of my mixtape reviews before you know my only gripe is when there are a lot of covers instead of originial beats. Is that the case with this one? Yeah, but I actually don't mind it because his version of "Jerk" doesn't make me want to off myself.

Long story short, I endorse Jay Beretta.

Click HERE to download 'Countdown 2 Takeoff'.

Russian Roulette ::

Late - KR

Like his lil' bro, JFin, KR has been in the studio working on the follow up mixtape to this summer's 'Amnesia.' His next project, 'The Chain of Memories II' (I love the title) will be dropping sometime after the New Year.

In the meantime, KR is prepping folks for the release by dropping songs every Monday and Friday (must be a family thing). His series is titled "Monday Night Raw/ Friday Night Smackdown" and according to his blog he named it after the wrestling shows because:

"... I've been watching wrestling since I was about five years old and it's a habit I never broke out of. ... I wanted this series to reflect some of my favorite shit coming up. I got a thing for nostalgia."

The first two tracks of the series dropped Monday with another pair (maybe a single track) drops sometime today. The first track is "Blockstars," which is only about 1:30 in length but packs a lot of punch, "Pow ... right in the kisser."


The second joint is called "Curious," and KR stays true to the nostalgia feel by mocking the 'Living Single' theme song but even with that reference aside it has a 90s feel to it.



Now you may be quick to compare him and JFin to each other and I'm repeating myself and suggesting that you don't do that. While there are some similarities in wordplay between the two, they definitely vary in delivery.

If you want the rest of the "Monday Night Raw/Friday Night Smackdown" tracks KR has coming, just follow him on Twitter or check his blog every Monday and Friday.