stefanoneder EP

No. 3 Drekidd – City Of Champs EP (2010)

Artist: Drekidd

Album: City Of Champs

Source: Refined Hype

Tracklisting:

  1. City Limits
  2. Steppin’ In
  3. No Good
  4. She’s A Winner
  5. Never Stop
  6. Warrior’s Song
  7. Good Night, Good Morning
  8. Breaking Free
  9. City Of Champs Ext.
  10. Hometown Glory

Note:

Drekidd released The Fix last year and that was my first introduction to this gifted artist.   The Fix had a lot of great songs on it and was a complete project in my estimation.  Now in 2010 he gives us City Of Champs. This project is the natural progression for the emerging Inglewood artist.   It picks right up where he left in 2009.

The vibe of this release is one of an artist trying to make a come-up.  He is trying to get his sound heard and he sounds hungry to make a dent in the game.  Backed by the exceptional production of Heart Beat, Drekidd is making some serious headway.  On, City Limits, you can hear this hunger for yourself.   Drekidd talks about where he is now, where he is going, and where he stands at present.  He is making a name on his own accord and on his own terms.  He is done heading other’s advidce by his own admission and if he succeeds or fails it will be because of his decisions.  The production by Heart Beat on this one is more down tempo and it varies throughout the track.   It almost mirrors the story that Drekidd is telling symphonic ally.

Never Stop is another track that will make you a believer in Drekidd’s talents.   He drives home his his desire and ambition on this track. It’s a short and quick account of things to come but dope nonetheless.   The beat is definitely more energetic than the aforementioned, City Limits.  His confidence is unwavering and tracks like this are certain to convert believers.  He utilizes comparisons to Jay Z and his come up to demonstrate that his dreams too can come true.  His positive outlook and being self-assured, move this track just as much as the lyrics and metaphors themselves.

Good Night, Good Morning has a more bluesy feel with the the twanging guitar sample and horns that lay in from time to time.   This is my favorite joint on the EP.  It’s soulful production from Heart Beat coupled with that must win attitude of Drekidd.   Peep the chorus below:

I don’t what to tell you / But I ain’t living with regrets/ Cause the past try to derail ya / I just see it as a test/  I ain’t trying to be rebellious / I’m just trying to do my best / So good night to failure / And good morning to success

I am definitely of the opinion that Drekidd’s confidence will translate into success.  City Of Champs is the conduit to greater things for sure.  The tracks are short and to the point.  It’s not overly complex.  It’s simple and dope.  Drekidd is an unabashed emcee who is going for his in an extremely convoluted field.  He differentiates himself with an exceptional flows, dope lyricism, and  by the fact I don’t think he will take no for an answer.  Every song on this EP is a testament to the come up and I encourage everyone to pick it up.

stefanoneder EP

No. 4 Kali – The Cali Kali EP (2010)

Note:

No. 4 on our list of dopest EPs from 2010 belongs to our previously reviewed, The Cali Kali EP.  You can check the full review HERE.   This is one of  only two EPs on the list that comes with a cost.  The rest were released free of charge so you know this one is worth the cheddar.  Kali is very slept on as an emcee and with production support coming from the likes of Statik Selektah, you know this is the sure shot.

stefanoneder EP

No. 5 J. Pinder – Code Red EP (2010)

Artist: J. Pinder

Album: The Code Red EP

Source: 2DopeBoyz

Tracklisting:

  1. Code Red
  2. All That Fire (ft. Zach Bruce) (prod. by Jake One)
  3. No Turnin Back (ft. Toki Wright) (prod. by Vitamin D)
  4. Go Far (prod. by Kuddie Fresh)
  5. Safe Place (ft. Guilty Simpson) (prod. by Kuddie Fresh)
  6. Later On (ft. Rapper Big Pooh and Zach Bruce) (prod. by Kuddie Fresh)
  7. Three Words (prod. by Vitamin D)
  8. Kill It (prod by Kuddie Fresh)

Note:

Representing the Great Northwest is, J. Pinder with his release, the Code Red EP.   This EP stands out with great song after great song.  It has stayed in deep rotation in my Itunes for months on end and it has something that heads of all walks of life can appreciate.

All That Fire is a super smooth track that is backed by the vocals of Zach Bruce and production by the venerable Jake One.  The lyrics aren’t going to shock the world but this is a solid track to vibe to.  I can picture J. Pinder performing this song in a smokey Jazz Club and having the whole audience nodding their heads in accordance.  The beat is relatively simple but it’s infectious.  Zach Bruce’s hook really completes the track.  His vocals really make this a great song.

No Turnin’ Back maintains the good feelings that All That Fire set off.   The content of this cut is a little bit harder than the aforementioned track but the hook again has that capacity to hold your attention and have you singing along, guaranteed.  Emcees J. Pinder and Toki Wright tell street stories that detail the moves that are made to become successful.   Vitamin D is behind the boards using ill combinations of strings and guitar licks to back the emcees’ delivery.  Tracks like this keep the listener motivated and put their best foot forward to get what they want out of life.

Safe Place, features Detroit rhyme spitter Guilty Simpson and just like you might expect, this song goes hard.  The beat is crafted by Kuddie Fresh and is filled with horns and a thick bass riff.  I am really feeling this joint musically.  This is music to creep by.   Simpson and J. Pinder trade verses about making the money and being able to keep it away from the powers that be, or the snakes in the grass.  And again, the ill hook just completes the song.   I harp on this alot, but the art of making a good hook is lost on some people, J. Pinder knows the secret though!

All in all, you need to get to know, J. Pinder.   He is versatile.   He can speak on a number of different topics.  Simply put, he is making better music than a lot of others in the game.   Code Red is the initial embodiment of his immense talent, so be sure to check for it.

stefanoneder Mixtapes

Sean J – The Ego Egg Mixtape

Artist: Sean J

Album: The Ego Egg Mixtape

Source:  Sean J Website

Tracklisting:

  1. Lonely (prod. by Nine Six)
  2. Unstoppable (prod. by Soy Is Real)
  3. The Ode To An Assassin (prod. by Soy Is Real)
  4. Elevate (prod. by Unselftitled)
  5. Devil In New Denim
  6. Talk About (She Says) (prod. by Soy Is Real)
  7. Exhibition
  8. FTW (Big Bulge Music) (prod. by Soy Is Real)
  9. Deadly Medly (ft. Tzarizm and Midaz The Beast)
  10. Parallel (Snippet) (prod by. Mental Abstracto)
  11. The Sh*t (prod. by Soy Is Real)

Note:

I heard Some Sean J material earlier this year and I have not stopped listening to him since.  I knew this project was dropping soon but it caught me unawares when I saw the link go live earlier this week.  The Ego Egg Mixtape is a great window for hip hop fans to look through to see what kind of artist, Sean J actually is.   Lets just say he is the one with a ton of talent.   It seems with each project he shows and proves his merit.  I personally like each and every project he has put out and this one is near perfect. Continue reading “Sean J – The Ego Egg Mixtape” →

stefanoneder Mixtapes

Cambatta – The Visionary 2

Artist: Cambatta

Album: Visionary 2

Source: DotGotIt

Tracklisting:

  1. The Reintroduction
  2. Heatrock
  3. Stoopid
  4. On My Way
  5. Say In Ya Lane
  6. Good Ol Dayz (ft. Nino Bless)
  7. Show Me Some Love
  8. Keepin It Real (ft. Mike Mass)
  9. Unstoppable Bullet
  10. Light It Up (ft. Laws)
  11. Everlasting (TheGobstopper)
  12. So Good! (ft. Nino Bless, Crooked I, Sha Stimuli, Big Moss)
  13. Don’t Blame Me
  14. Hope Floats
  15. Glass Half Empty (ft. Jae Luis)
  16. Dream On
  17. Green Light
  18. Right Back To You (ft. Jae Luis)
  19. Without You
  20. So Cocky

Note:

Cambatta is going under the radar folks! And you are the ones who are missing out! The Visionary 2 is uninhibited raw hip hop. The sound is destined to be a hit among hip hop purists who wish to hear some banging beats and venom-laced verses. This is the kind of album that you rock while you do your work outs or go out for a run. It is a musical adrenaline rush. Continue reading “Cambatta – The Visionary 2” →

stefanoneder EP

Agacee – I Am Agacee

Artist: Agacee

Album: I Am Agacee

Source: Know Dice Music

Tracklisting:

  1. EXP
  2. I’mma Be Alright
  3. On Da Couch
  4. Get Busy
  5. High Off Life
  6. Jaws Of Rap
  7. Manifesto
  8. Grammy’s
  9. Waddup
  10. Take Control

Note:

I was taking a musical tour of the internet one day last week and ran into this artist named Agacee.  I don’t know what made me download this EP/Mixtape in comparison to all the other music out there, but I am glad that I did.  The track that really did it was the track Manifesto.  He just breaks off bar after of bar with no hook for nearly four minutes.  It’s tracks like this that really show off skill and ability.  It won’t get any radio play.  It is too raw for hat.  However, it does allow hip hop heads world wide to understand the talent that lies there in.

Another track that illustrates Agacee’s skill is EXP, which checks in at  just under two minutes.   He flips concise rhymes on how he is set on achieving his dreams and realizing his ambitions.   He is determined to make his grind pay off on flows like this.  It’s every independent artist’s dream to  be able to afford a comfortable life making the music that he or she makes without selling their soul.  Agacee laces bar after bar with this very desire.  I don’t doubt the fact that he can achieve his aims.

The track, Grammy, show that Agacee can translate talent into making good music.  The track features laid back production with chill vocal samples.   Agacee makes the observation during his verse: “Where the passion in music go?/Being real these days is unusual…”  Agacee still does not relent in  pushing his music in the right direction and letting others know where they falter.  This track puts all the elements of a good song together, even without the hook.  It does so without Agacee changing the way he approaches music as an emcee.   The rhymes are intelligent and uncompromising.  That’s the way it should be.

This EP/Mixtape was dropped as a prelude to his latest project, The High Off Life Experience.  According to his blog, this should be dropping very soon and I can not wait to hear it.  He has a dope sound and a good command of his delivery.  Chicago has been a hotbed for dope hip hop talent for quite some time and you can certainly add Agacee to that ever expanding list.