DJ Infamous & Young Jeezy/The Prime Minister Young Jeezy takes a little break from being the Snowman to spend a little time as The Prime Minister, with help from his advisor DJ Infamous. This change in identity doesn’t do much, though, as Jeezy brings the same sound and flow expected from him, complete with the trademark ad libs. While it’s somewhat disappointing to find Jeezy holding it down like he has before, he flexes his lyrical muscle on all his freestyles, ripping through the monotony. This Prime Minister will be reelected but we can all use a little policy change. — Rohit Loomba
DJ Green Lantern & Nas/ The Nigger Tape Nas calls on Green Lantern to bring the Nigger Tape, a mixtape more akin to an album. Exclusive tracks, including DJ Khalil-produced “Esco Let’s Go,” will more than hold down fans anxious to hear God Son’s upcoming album and gives any album release so far this year more than a run for its money. With no need to put out a mixtape, Nas proves he still holds it down for his fans. —Rohit Loomba Curren$y/Welcome To The Winners Circle It seemed as though Curren$y’s buzz dropped a bit after he released a hit single with Lil Wayne and Remy Ma (“Where Da Cash At”). Since that underground hit, what’s been good with Curren$y? Feeding the streets well, he comes with the new mixtape Welcome To The Winner’s Circle. Spitting over unforgettable classic Hip Hop records, Curren$y shows his respect for Hip Hop to the fullest on this mixtape. Keys tracks that showcase his abilities include “The Only Thing That Matters,” “Bubble Gum Gangstas,” and “Recognize Game.” —Quinton Hatfield
Trae Tha Diary of Tha Truth Trae has been busy holding it down for those on lockdown with a prison tour and all that while put together Tha Diary of Tha Truth, a 17-track effort which will have everyone excited about this Asshole by Nature all over again. Trae’s thick voice and unique delivery are snug with wellselected beats and let everyone know that his “swagger fuck up niggas like [his] jewelry got an attitude.” Diary proves that like him or not, Trae doesn’t give a fuck and can easily hold his own. — Rohit Loomba
Wale/The Mixtape About Nothing From the jump Wale puts it on the table that this mixtape is about nothing, which he states over a sample of the theme song to Seinfeld, a show about nothing. Wale rides the 19 tracks with the swagger of a veteran and a new go-go sound that originates in his hometown of the “DMV.” On standout track “The Kramer,” Wale uses the KKKramer tirade to talk about racism and tie into the Seinfield theme. This mixtape is a summer must-have. Everything from the concept of the mixtape to the beats and rhymes make it a solid effort. — Jared Anderson
DJ Shakim & KP/New Money With mixtapes coming a dime a dozen it’s hard to differentiate one rapper from the other. But even in Atlanta’s oversaturated music market, newcomer KP has managed to put out a CD that will make you remember him. While he doesn’t necessarily say anything that hasn’t been said before, he does a good job of making it sound different. The majority of the songs here have him busting on other people’s beats, but original tracks like “Lean It To The Side” featuring Konkrete’s Blackowned C-Bone give you a peek into what KP is capable of. — Maurice G. Garland
DJ Teknikz & Yung Berg Passport Swag Yung Berg teams up with DJ Teknikz for Passport Swag. Aside from having Cap 1 and Boo on a handful of tracks, Berg does little to introduce Chicago to his audience, which he apparently thinks is the world after modest success with “Sexy Lady.” While there are tracks worth a few listens, thanks to decent production, Berg doesn’t offer anything unforgettable. To become Chi town’s next, Berg needs to find a little more lyricism in himself. —Rohit Loomba Don Cannon/DJ Drama/ Asher Roth/The Greenhouse Effect Mixtape As the buzz around SRC’s newest acquisition Asher Roth reaches comparisons of Eminem proportions, the new “great white hype” hooks up with Don Cannon and DJ Drama for his formal mixtape initiation. Roth rips through beats like “Roc Boys,” “Mr. Me Too,” and “Dey Know,” and it’s evident the kid can spit. Some original tracks show promise but a few cuts are too left field and may be hard for the urban Hip Hop audience to grasp. Still, Asher Roth’s white-boy-from-the-burbs image and witty-college-kid rhymes gives him immeasurable potential. — Randy Roper
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DJ Swatts & Playboy Tre/ Goodbye America It doesn’t take long to notice the similarities between Playboy Tre’s Goodbye to America and B.o.B.’s recent mixtape. Unnecessary skits plagued B.o.B.’s mixtape and plague Tre’s as well. But fret not, Tre brings a handful of quality tracks such as “Phone Sex,” “Cries,” and “Highs and Lows,” all of which showcase a Tre who finds his flow without much trouble and uses it to bring tracks that aren’t a product of the same old cookie cutter. — Rohit Loomba
9th Wonder & Buckshot/The Formula Duck Down The saying “everything that glitters ain’t gold” can be applied to a lot of the high-profile, glossy rap music dominating the airwaves. With albums like 9th Wonder & Buckshot’s latest collab the phrase “everything underground ain’t great” can be applied. The album’s title is too appropriate in the sense that 9th turns in some of his most predictable production to date, sucking life out of the songs and making you not want to hear the wisdom Buckshot usually spits, especially on the entrepreneurial “Whassup With U?” - Maurice Garland