mixtapereviews DJ DRAMA & YOUNG JEEZY CAN’T BAN THE SNOWMAN Originally touted as Trap Or Die 2, Can’t Ban the Snowman is running neck and neck with 2005’s mixtape classic. Jeezy opens the CD with “I’m Back,” addressing everything from his baby mama drama to his critics to the notorious news stories on CNN. Listeners are also treated to more music from his CTE partners Slick Pulla and Bloodraw this time around. The jewels of the CD are easily “Say I” featuring Christina Milian and “Burnin’ Up” with Slick and Bloodraw. Also, be sure to peep Slick’s “Verbal Intercourse.” – Maurice G. Garland BIGGA RANKIN & G-MACK HOOD RICH WON’T CUT IT Damn! Kentucky’s been holding out on us. This CD was fire! I’d never heard of G-Mack until I got this CD, but once you hear this kid spit I guarantee you’ll be checking for him. Since the CD is hosted by Bigga Rankin and G-Mack is part of the GTP fam, I figured it was gonna be some of that bouncy Florida type shit, but I was wrong. G-Mack has the swagger of an East coast artist with the lyrics of a down South artist. G-Mack sounds a lil’ like Young Jeezy at times, but that’s a pro as well as a con. His production was tight and he meshed well with each beat he flowed over. Florida mixtape O.G. Bigga Rankin naturally did tha damn thang as far as hosting is concerned, so even if you’re skeptical about copping it because you’ve never heard of G-Mack you can rest assured that Bigga ain’t hosting nothing for a whack artist. - DJ Chuck T DJ DRAMA & YOUNG BUCK CASE DISMISSED!: THE INTRODUCTION OF G-UNIT SOUTH Young Buck is looking to get a new movement brewing via his new G-Unit South imprint, and he is off to a great start. Case Dismissed highlights the label’s new signees Lil Scrappy, All Star, D-Tay, Lil Murder and Hi-C (B.G. is mentioned, but he’s not on here). Highlights include Buck’s solo “I’ll Be Back,” All Star’s remake of Webbie’s “GShit,” and “Move It Like I Do” featuring D-Tay and Hi-C. Marking the first time a G-Unit artist does an official mixtape outside of DJ Whoo Kid, Buck and Drama supply straight heat for an hour and some change. – Maurice G. Garland ACAFOOL GOOD TIMES WITH ACAFOOL Florida native Acafool teams up with an all-star cast of the South’s hottest DJs to bring you Season One of his Good Times mixtape series. Acafool brings something to hip-hop music that the game is lacking very much right now: comedy. This CD had me rolling on the floor laughing. The skits on this CD are funny as hell and his lyrics are a tearjerker too. I’ve never seen an Acafool performance, but I heard it’s like a circus show and Def Comedy Jam all rolled into one. Don’t get it twisted though, Acafool may clown a lot on this mixtape, but his subject matters are real as hell. Songs like “Nasty Girl” and “I Can Feel That” are tracks that every nigga out here should be able to relate too. Some of the skits on the CD can get sort of corny at times, but the good ones definitely outweigh the bad. I really enjoyed this CD from start to finish. Any hip-hop lover that wants to take a break from gun-bussin’ and drug-slangin’ should add this CD to their collection ASAP. - DJ Chuck T DJ CHUCK T & CHARLIEO REAL LIFE GOODFELLAZ VOL. 1 Charlieo’s thick accent is the first thing that catches your ear when you pop in this mixtape. His deep Southern drawl adds a bit of spice to his music and accentuates his style perfectly. I must admit that his lyrics are mediocre, but he makes up for it with his smooth delivery and catchy punch lines. “10 Ones In My Fist” could easily become the strip club anthem of 2006. Songs like “Big Rides, Big Cheese” and “Pushin’ Chevy Machines” will make the dope boyz go crazy. Will the Carolinas finally blow this year? If they have more artists like Charlieo hiding out, most definitely! - DJ Chuck T 106 OZONE
SICKAMORE & JOKAMAN LET THE SHIT BEGIN To be completely honest with you, I didn’t like the title of this CD, and I wasn’t about to review it for that reason alone. With a name like Let The Shit Begin I was almost certain that this CD was going to sound like… well… shit! I was totally mistaken. This mixtape is the shit! Jokaman’s voice is very distinct and unlike any other H-Town artist I’ve heard. His lyrics are also very different from any other H-Town artist. This nigga can rap! Jokaman rides every beat like a seasoned veteran, and talks about a whole lot more than sipping syrup and ridin’ on swangaz. The only bad thing about this mixtape is that the host should’ve had more energy. Sickamore is a laid-back kinda dude, and his technique didn’t quite match Jokaman’s firey rap style. From the time the first song comes on til the time the last one goes off, you can’t deny that despite what his name may lead you to believe, this kid is no joke. – DJ Chuck T BIGGA RANKIN & PLIES 100% REAL NIGGA RADIO VOLUME 2 There’s really no need to review this CD. Anything Bigga Rankin puts out is tight work, and if you didn’t already know that, then you need to be smacked. Plies, a.k.a. “the new nigga at Slip-NSlide,” shows a lot of versatility on this CD. He keeps it hood, but doesn’t get too repetitive. Tracks like “Chopper Zone” and “Bond Money” show that this nigga can damn sure spit some gangsta shit, and then totally flips the script on “I’m Tired Of Lying.” This track is something that every real nigga needs to hear. Plies tends to brag just a lil’ too much about being “the hottest nigga in Florida,” but in this rap game you gotta go for the top if you plan to make it. With Trick Daddy missing in action, Plies has some big shoes to fill. After listening to this CD, I don’t think he’ll have a problem doing just that. – DJ Chuck T