Last August, Nipsey Hussle lived up to his surname and completed his mixtape trilogy with Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol.3. Like its predecessor, Nip keeps it raw and uncut. While he waves his soldier rag on “We Gangbanging”, he recognizes priorities on “Walk In My Shoes”. Staying true to his “All money in, no money out” mantra, Neighborhood flaunts his wealth on “Diamonds” and “Speak My Knowledge”. On the latter, he quips “A clique broke of niggas, man your crew’s useless/ My niggas having dollars like we born Jewish.” Mazel Tov!
#9 Jadakiss “Kiss My Ass”
You can’t call your album “Kiss My Ass”? Fuck it, make a mixtape bearing the name. Get back with Green Lantern, the DJ behind the captivating Champ Is Here, and attempt to make a work that comes close to eclipsing its potent prodecessor. Revved up for the reunion, Jada spazzes on the MIC with Pacquaio power-packed punchlines. He’s “the cornerstone of the corner store” (“Child Albuse”), “nicer than Jordan when he hit the jumper over Craig Ehlo” (“The People”) and “warns if you tryin’ to count my money, count bullets” (Title track). Later, Jason goes down to the Dirty (“Big Dog Status”), chops it up in Crenshaw (“West Coast Kiss”) and teaches Fonzworth Bentley what to do with a beat (“Don’t Stop Jada”). Throw in some chunky blends from the Evil Genius and the final decision is unanimous, Mr. Phillips is a winner like a Philippe dinner. Pardon his backside.
#8 Lupe Fiasco “Enemy Of The State”
Hold up. Before we get started, let’s get something clear. Just ’cause I don’t personally like someone, doesn’t mean I can’t document objectively their contributions to this culture which is bigger than all of us. I hate Kobe, but he’s three rings away from being the undisputed G.O.A.T. Yes, I’m not fond of Mr. Jaco, but there’s no denying his strong MC skills. His Turkey day-released gift to fans, Enemy of The State, is even further proof of that. Timbo’s “Say Something,” Slaughterhouse’s “The One” and the Clipse’s “Popular Demand” are just a few of the songs that get ran over by Lupe’s lyrical exercise. Hopefully he brings the same passion and preciseness to his third album and shuts up this gatekeeper for good. Ha. Good luck, kid.
#7 50 Cent “Forever King”
Originally conceived as a sequel to the spectacular Sincerely Yours, Southside, 50 adds his magic touch to some mo’ R&B classics. This time it’s ’90s bangers that get the takeover treatment. He makes it clear that “success is his addiction” on Gina Thompson’s “The Things That You Do”; counts his stacks over Horace Brown’s “One For The Money” and is lookin’ for a ride-or-die chick to the sounds of Intro’s “Funny How Time Flies”. But instead of sticking to the script, 50 switches the style up with hardcore heat like the Wu-Tang sampled “I’m Paranoid” and his toe-to-toe showdown with B.I.G. (“Suicide Watch”). Yup, it was last summer when, with a lil help from The Finisher Mister Cee, the pioneer of the mixtape market proved he could still feed the streets.
#6 Freddie Gibbs “MWGBFCM”
For years, Gary, Indiana’s claim to fame came courtesy of Joseph & Katherine’s nine children. Now, The G has something to else to sing about with Freddie Gibbs and his mixtape Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik. Teaming with DJ Skee, Gangsta Gibbs keeps it greasy like a Church’s chicken 20 piece on “Malcolm In The Middle (Inhale)” and “I’m The Man”. He flirts with death on the murky “Murda On My Mind” and rides out with Pill on “Womb To The Team”. Pot heads can roll one to “Sumthin’ U Should Know” and then lower their inhibitions with “Boxframe Cadillac”. Get familiar, this is how the Midwest was won
#5 Lil Wayne “No Ceilings”
We were all geeked for the return of Mixtape Weezy. So excited, that this project prematurely leaked. Then on Halloween, four new songs were quickly added. The Cool and Dre produed title track was one of them which contained one of my favorite chrouses, “Pop that pussy and shake your ass. No Ceilings!” Ha. Seriously, there’s a lot to enjoy here. Even hit-and-miss Minaj shines on B’s “Sweet Dreams”. Still Dwayne is large and the one in-charge as he does justice to Hov’s “DOA” and “Run This Town” and Dirty South ditties on “Swag Surf”, “Watch My Shoes” and “Ice Cream”. Fallin’ short of capturing the DJ Drama Dedication and Drought 3 classic level, Mr. Carter still proved he’s a wizard of poetry who don’t need no autotune to make hot shit.
#4 Pill “4180: The Prescription”
East Coast lyricism meets Dirty South grit on Pill’s debut mixtape, 4180: The Prescription. Along with DJ Burn One, the Atlanta native caused a raucous with his trap anthem, “Trap Goin Ham”. But Pill wasn’t confined to just the block. He globetrotted on “Dreamin” and walked a thousand miles in his “Trap Boots”. Unfortunately old habits die hard, and on “Blow” he flips Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” into another dope boy ode. Get geeked.
#3 Young Jeezy “Trappin’ Ain’t Dead”
Jeezy and DJ Folk hugged the block last summer with Trappin’ Aint Dead. A hustler at heart, Da Snowman stashed the Recession leftover “Done It” and helped Lil Boosie get on his feet with “Better Believe It”. Back on the strip, Jeez clocks his paper with “My Money” then squanders it on “Dead Or Alive”. Of course, all work and no play makes Jeezy a dull boy. Sitting in the director’s chair, he and U.S.D.A. make the “Biggest Movie Ever”. Afterward, he taps into his freaky side with “Lesbian”. Trappin’ ain’t easy, but it sure is fun.
#2 J.Cole “The Warm Up”
Before coming off Roc Nation’s bench, J.Cole runs practice drills on, The Warm Up. From the opening whistle, Cole declares he was ready for the big leagues on “Grown Simba” and proves he can handle his own over daunting tracks (“Dead Presidents II”). Elsewhere, he gives direction to black girls lost on “Light’s Please” while looking for the perfect match on “Dreams”. Then, over a calm horns, Cole lets hope float on “I Get Up” and “Dollar & A Dream II”. How’s that for a double-double? Standing O’vay!
