Introducing DJ Graffiti. A good
choice for a dj name by the way. He comes from Michigan and
has made a pretty good name for himself. Now he calls this
one Bling Free but check the definition as it is on
the cd inlay:
"Being bling free does not mean that
you refrain from wearing jewelry, buying quality clothing,
driving a luxury car or drinking champagne. The choice to be
bling free does not at all conflict with the best that life
has to offer. Saying that you're bling free is not something
you do simply because you can't afford to bling. However, if
you are bling free, you control the bling in your life, it
does not control you. If you are bling free you shine on
your own."
-DJ
Graffiti
After reading that and then
listening to this mixtape (it is more than your average
mixtape - it is a licensed compilation project with
International distribution) you cannot help but think that
he does shine. This mixtape has 32 tracks with an additional
6 bonus cuts all mixed in like the ingredients of a
potjiekos - the result will make your stomach grumble. This
is hip hop food, and we need to eat, so let's review this
album.
The first thing you realise is that you gonna
feel gratified after spending your money on this. Firstly, I
don't think anybody can front on the track selection.
Secondly you get all the best underground tracks stuffed on
this cd. So after forking out money you worked hard for you
will feel that you have bought something of value when you
listen to this. Okay I didn't pay for this cd, but if I
bought this I would not feel like I wasted my
bucks.
When the intro starts don't be fooled by
the relaxed beat. He's just warming up. He talks, does a
little rap, then like bang, in your face, hier kom kak, it
starts.
Damn, who's this Elzhi guy? The
song is called "It's Your World" and the production
is so empty but it's so dope. Man, just listen to it. The
producer, how does he make a beat like this? It's so light
but so tight.
Finally I get to listen to The
Procussions, the song is called "Just Over
Broke". I like their style, and that sample that's
singing somewhere there in the background is fresh. Their
flows are on point. Enjoyable to listen to. Need to get
their album. By the way DJ Graffiti is a master when it
comes to moving from one track to another.
mmmm
I don't have to tell you how dope Dilated People's
"Bullet Train" is. In fact I only met one person who
told me they hated it. What? Man get out of town. This is
beautiful stuff. I'm talking about when you meeting your
girlfriend and instead of taking her for lunch you buy a cd
instead.
Man I'm loving this cd. I got a
feeling a lot of people are going to ask me for this. Okay,
what's this? Little Brother & Fakts One. It's
okay, let's wait for DJ Graffiti to mix in the next one.
J Live, Wordsworth & Soulive's "Bosoms Rmx". The
use of the samples are good. I'm getting impatient here, hey
wait a minute, that's the same bassline that ATCQ used, they
use it for their chorus on here. Lawless Element is
next with "Against The Rules". Too short but it's an
exclusive so we'll let it slide.
Okay now I'm
looking up. We got Izreal & MF Doom with "Pop
Quiz". Finger licking good. This beat is awesome and the
rapping is extraordinary. Shit this is classic? Could be.
I'm gonna take note of this song and listen to it a few more
times.
Who's next on the turntable? The
Feenom Circle. What kind of name is that? Who cares what
their name sounds like. This is good stuff. I can hear the
emcee knows the flow, and I like the hook, it's refreshing.
But that beat. Tsk tsk, I have so much to learn when it
comes to making beats. Just when you think you yourself are
good, somebody comes along and sends you back to the drawing
board.
Okay, I think this is the coffee break, let me
pour myself a cup of Nescafe, no I'm not into that cheap
tinned Ricoffy shit. That's wack. Okay, I hear a beat coming
in, let me start writing again. This is Finale and
the song is called "Change". Man, you know hip hop is
like the IT industry, it's so difficult to keep up with
everything that's coming these days.
Brother Ali
& DJ Graffiti do this one together. He's rapping and
there's somebody beatboxing and DJ Graffiti is skratching.
Wait a minute did you hear that outro? What the hell are you
still reading this review for? Get this album
now.
Brother Ali get's a full 2 extra
minutes in the form of his track "Champion RMX". The
beat is bouncy and funky. Got a rasta element to it. The
next one that comes along is "Talk To Us" by Voice
Watson feat Luckyiam.PSC. The beat is
sick.
Hey who is this? Sounds like Talib Kweli with
the pitch turned up. He (they?) are called Now On.
The song is called "Stop". Please don't stop. Oh wait
the second emcee comes in. Now On is then a "they". The
flows are hyped up. Please play this at so called hip hop
gigs so people can stop staring at the floor and
dance.
The beat on Jeru's "War" is fat.
Jeru has not lost his touch since the days of "Come
Clean". But check how DJ Graffiti mixes in the next song. A
flawless mix. Big Tone let's rip with "La vida
Loca", another exclusive on this CD.
Dead
Prez make me open my eyes with "Window To My
Soul". The way that sample was flipped is unbelievable.
Reminds me I must go and buy more vinyl. Another favourite
of mine on here. Here's a strange one. AML is the
name and it's called "Feel It". This is pretty
innovative. Fakts One, Mr Lif & Akrobatik jump in
with "The Show Starter". The drum pattern is
unorthodox. How much better can this cd get?
What are
these producers thinking when they make these beats? Listen
to the Boom Bap Project. Case in point. Here's an
interlude. DJ Graffiti tells us that we gotta take care of
our families, and that we should in fact get our money,
because how can you help other people if you are
broke?
How appropriate after that message that we got
Slum Village's "Get Yo Paper". The production makes
me snap my neck. Does this cd have a flaw? Not
yet.
I'm having a stroke here. I'm sweating and I'm
not exaggerating. This beat on "The Clap" by The
Grouch and Eligh is just torture.
Superb!
Diverse's "Aint Right" boasts
production by Madlib. Vitamin D is next
with "No Good". Graffiti is having a little fun with
the beat here. A funky track. Need to make a note of these
songs and get the 12inches.
We on track 27 now.
It's Tajai with "The Dum Dum". Man this is not
normal. Every track on here so far has been above average.
Very abnormal for a record these days.
EPMD
come with "Look At You Now". A well known song this
one. Another underground banger is DJ Vadim's
"Headline News". Props to Vadim. I remember he sent
me this track before it was released. Heads up on
that.
What's next? It's Soul Position (that's
RJD2 & Blueprint) with "Share This". Very heavy
sounding production. Makes a lot of use with the panning.
Works well though. DJ Graffiti wants to thank you for
listening to this cd. He tells us to listen to his radio
show as well. He ends off this with D-Minor featuring
Louis Logic's "Could Be You".
Then after all
of this we got an additional 6 tracks.
I'm
going to stop here because this review definitely got out of
hand. I usually only write like this when I'm drunk but
unlike myself I'm sober. This cd impressed me. I highly
recommend you buy this (or at least listen to it at the
shop). Essential for your collection!
Track
Listing:
1. DJ Graffiti - Intro [Produced by DJ
Graffiti]
2. Elzhi - It's Your World (Unreleased)
3.
The Procussions - Just Over Broke
4. Dilated Peoples -
Bullet Train (Unreleased)
5. Little Brother & Fakts
One - Grown Folks
6. J Live, Wordsworth & Soulive -
Bosoms Rmx (Unreleased)
7. Lawless Element - Against the
Rules (Exclusive)
8. Izreal & MF Doom - Pop
Quiz
9. The Feenom Circle - Subtle
10. Finale - Change
(Unreleased)
11. Brother Ali & DJ Graffiti - Me &
Ali (Exclusive)
12. Brother Ali - Champion Rmx
(Unreleased)
13. Voice Watson f/Luckyiam.PSC - Talk To
Us
14. Now On - Stop (Unreleased)
15. Jeru The Damaja
- War
16. Big Tone - La Vida Loca (Exclusive)
17. Dead
Prez - Window to my Soul
18. AML - Feel It
19. Fakts
One f/Mr. Lif & Akrobatik - The Show Starter
20. Boom
Bap Project - (Exclusive) [Produced by Jake-One]
21.
Interlude - Don't Get it Twisted
22. Slum Village - Get
Yo Paper (Exclusive)
23. The Grouch & Eligh (Living
Legends) - The Clap
24. The Strange Fruit Project - All
The Way
25. Diverse - Ain't Right [Produced by
Madlib]
26. Vitamin D - No Good
27. Tajai (Souls of
Mischief) - The Dum Dum
28. EPMD - Look at you Now
29.
DJ Vadim f/Adad & DJ Woody - Headline News
30.
Soul Position (RJD2 & Blueprint) - Share This (Bonus Mix
- "The Vibe")
31. DJ Graffiti - The Vibe Intro
32.
D-Minor f/Louis Logic - Could You Be (Unreleased)
33.
Cornbread - One Fly Gemini
34. Nicknack - Mustard
Seed
35. Science Fiction (aka Wale Oyejide) -
Sunshine
36. Dabrye - Magic Says
37. Phat Kat -
Destiny [Produced by JayDee]
38. DJ Graffiti - Outro
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