Tag Archives: Mixtape Daily Headlines

Busta Rhymes, Conglomerate Drop Catastrophic ‘Heat’ On New Mixtape

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Mixtape Daily OD Exclusive

Artists: Busta Rhymes, Reek da Villian and J-Doe
Mixtape: Catastrophic
Real Spit: Good thing the Mayans were wrong, because if their end-of-the-world prediction had been correct, hip-hop fans would’ve missed out on Catastrophic, the 17-track mixtape that Busta Rhymes and his Conglomerate group released on Friday (December 21).

“If you’re listening to this song right now, blessings, that means the world didn’t end. But this sh– is Catastrophic,” DJ Khaled says on the mixtape’s intro song, “Catastrophe.”

Busta Rhymes‘ catalog is filled with hits of all types. There are classic hip-hop tracks like “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See” and crossover favorites like the Mariah Carey-assisted “I Know What You Want.” But with his new tape, he aims to add strictly street bangers to his already-celebrated discography.

“We were just like, you know what? We got all of this heat, let’s just go in and do something fresh for the holidays,” Bus told Mixtape Daily. “For Christmas, for New Year‘s, it’s gonna be wild parties goin’ on, everybody gonna be turnin’ up. So this was just a thing that we felt was appropriate to do for the people to show our appreciation for the love and support.”

For the tape, Busta, Reek da Villian and J-Doe flow over a number of well-known instrumentals, making them their own.

“It’s very easy to just jump on another artist’s track, where the idea’s already laid out for you, and just throw your verses on it,” Reek said. “We did this whole mixtape in about 72 hours.”

The lyrical trio take on new favorites like Chief Keef’s “Love Sosa” and Trinidad James’ “All Gold Everything” as well as old-school bangers like Grand Puba‘s “360 Degrees.” On “Poetic Justice,” Busta recruits his old friend Q-Tip to spit over Kendrick Lamar’s Janet Jackson-inspired banger of the same name. The difference is that the Native Tongue veterans actually have a real-life relationship with the music icon: Busta has worked with Jackson, and Q-Tip shared a more intimate moment when he kissed her on camera for the movie “Poetic Justice” back in 1993.

“This is our first collab in like six years. This is the first time me and Tip worked since The Big Bang album in ’06, so y’all gonna enjoy that,” Busta said.

Actually, fans should enjoy the entire tape. Whoever thought a catastrophe could be so good?

What’s your favorite track on Busta Rhymes’ Catastrophic? Sound off in the comments!

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Uncle Murda Looks To Kill Rap Competition With The First 48

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Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliner: Uncle Murda

Representing: Brooklyn, New York

Mixtape: The First 48

Real Spit: With a name like Uncle Murda, it’s easy to see why the Brooklyn MC isn’t a big fan of police investigations. Still, for his newest mixtape, which drops Monday (November 26), Uncle M drew inspiration from AE‘s hit crime documentary “The First 48.”

“I decided to name it The First 48 because it was a way of saying murder without directly saying murder, and everybody know what ‘The First 48′ is,” the underground lyricist told Mixtape Daily about the theme behind his new tape, which is hosted by comedian Mike Epps.

The AE show follows homicide detectives through the first 48 hours of their investigation, because that is calculated to be the time frame in which most murders are solved. Murda is a big fan. “Sometimes I find it funny how they just be tellin’ on their selves sometimes, how they get tricked,” he said of the television program before connecting it to his latest work. “It be real situations that’s goin’ on there. I find it funny and real. That’s why I got Mike Epps to come along with me on it.”

The tape features production from longtime Murda collaborators the Tuneheadz and some pretty hefty rap guests as well. French Montana shows up for “Money Work” and “Balling Out,” while Maino pitches in on “Candy Yams.”

On “My Moment,” Murda proves that it isn’t all bang-bang, shoot-’em-up, as he sends a shout-out to late manager Chris Lighty. “Chris got me that deal too, now my n—a ain’t here/ I know what he’d be tellin’ me right now if was here/ ‘Don’t make me look bad, give it all you got’/ He want me to be the next Biggie Smalls, 50 Cent, Tupac,” Murda spits.

Uncle Murda still has a long way to go in cementing his rap legacy, but with The First 48, he continues to lay a solid foundation.

Joints to Check For
» “Black Yellow” – “Black and yellow tape. On a little part of the chorus I say, ‘We don’t tell on ourselves take the first 48,’ and I’m just goin’ in, talkin’ about how I’m a mobster and how nobody else is like me.”

» “No Cake” – “That’s about how these dudes be talkin’ about how they got this, that and the third, when they really don’t have none of the things that they’re talkin’ about. So I was just highlighting that on this record right here.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Chris Webby Challenges Rappers To ‘Step Their Bars Up’

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Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliners: Chris Webby and DJ Drama

Representing: Norwalk, Connecticut

Mixtape: Bars on Me

Real Spit: Chris Webby is placing a premium on lyrics, and with his latest DJ Drama-hosted mixtape, Bars on Me, the Norwalk, Connecticut, rapper is upping the ante in a serious way.

“There’s definitely a few meanings that you could use with it, but the main one being lyrical bars,” Webby told Mixtape Daily of his project’s title. “That’s what I’m known for, that’s what I continue to do, and I think a lot of artists kinda need to step their bars up a little bit.”

The tape’s title track does just that, and Webby keeps his lyrical onslaught up on the Method Man-assisted “CT 2 Shaolin” and then again on the “Star Wars“-themed “Dark Side.” While Chris maintains a high standard of rhyme, he gets political on “Whatever I Like” and on “Is It Alright,” he speaks to the ladies.

Over the course of 16 tracks, Chris Webby accomplishes his mission and further establishes himself as a spitter to be reckoned with. No telling where his bars will ultimately take him.

Joints to Check For
» “Bars on Me” – “It’s just a straight through verse and it’s just fun, gotta nice little party feel to it but at the same time being lyrically impressive.”

» “Whatever I Like,” featuring Jon Connor – “It speaks more on the government and stuff like that, that isn’t necessarily touché don by a lot of these artists nowadays and I think it’s kinda important that certain people bring things to light.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Mixtape Daily: Boaz Scores On Bases Loaded

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Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliner: Boaz
Representing: Pittsburgh
Mixtape: Bases Loaded

Real Spit: Pittsburgh is proven, but while Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller have already carved out their own rap lanes, Boaz is well on his way to making his own mark.

After signing with Rostrum Records in June, Bo immediately went to work, and on September 28, the street-based spitter dropped Bases Loaded, his first project on the super-successful indie label. “I think it was just a definitive moment in my career,” Boaz told Mixtape Daily of his deal with Rostrum. “The stars were aligning, and I just wanted that responsibility of taking it to the next level to be on me. Everything around me is just solid. I’m loving the way things are going right now. The bases are loaded.”

Boaz sets Bases Loaded off properly by tossing a nod to Pittsburgh’s beloved sports nation. “Goin’ hard like Roethlisberger in the fourth, but this a blood sport,” the hardened MC spits, referencing the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ star quarterback on the tape’s opener, “Prime Time.”

While Wiz conquers radio and Mac Miller thrills the college set, Boaz plays to his strengths, speaking directly to the block. On “Gettin’ After That Money,” he bypasses stocks and bonds and keeps his eye on the more risky drug trade. For all its hustling imagery, the Statik Selektah-produced “9 to 5″ is relatable to anyone who gets up to go to work every day. “And these felonies done f—ed with my employment/ But I can’t let that f— with my enjoyment, I can’t afford it,” he spits on the soul-drenched loop.

Bo links with Taylor Gang’s Chevy Woods on “Pimpin’,” producers ID Labs on “Love Me for That” and Mac Miller on “Everything,” so his hometown is well-represented. Still, while all his Pittsburgh homeys are well-positioned and ready to score, with Bases Loaded, Boaz hits one out of the park.

Joints to Check For
» “Gettin’ After That Money” (featuring Wiz Khalifa) – “It really just came about by grindin’, bein’ on tour, lettin’ things manifest and just really having my career come to fruition. Seeing some paper actually rollin’ in.”

» “Stay Down” – “It just came about. It was one of those fire tracks I got. … As soon as I heard it, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m about to go in on this.’ “

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Mixtape Daily: Waka Flocka’s Salute Me Or Shoot Me 4 Is ‘Solely For The Fans’

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By Rob Markman

Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliner: Waka Flocka Flame

Representing: Riverdale, Georgia

Mixtape: Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 4

Real Spit: Waka Flocka Flame loves his fans. In fact, just two short months ago, the Georgia rap riot-starter dedicated his Triple F Life: Fans, Friends Family to his core supporters. Now, Waka is back with a new mixtape to show his faithful flock just how much they mean to him. ”I’m doing this mixtape solely … for the fans, man, that’s who I’m doing it for. That real,” Waka told Mixtape Daily.

Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 4 is a return to the trap-style mixtapes on which Waka built his rambunctious brand. On last year’s Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 3, Flocka teamed with DJ Holiday and recruited Gucci Mane, Wooh Da Kid and his late friend Slim Dunkin, as well as producers Lex Luger, Southside and Drumma Boy. Over the course of 24 tracks like “Ferrari Boyz,” “Tag Team” and “365,” Waka delivered a consistent head-busting sound. He promises more of the same on the series’ latest installment.

“The streets deserve this, my fans deserve this,” he said. “That reckless music, I’m the king of that.”

Joints to check for
» ”J Well.” “I got the song from my boy Josh Powell. He’s from Riverdale, but we call him J Well from Riverdale, so I had to make a song about that. Ballin’ like I’m J Well. Shout out to the city.”

» ”Tweekin.” “I did that for all my party heads.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Waka Flocka Dedicates Salute Me 4 To His Flock Of Fans

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Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliner: Waka Flocka Flame

Representing: Riverdale, Georgia

Mixtape: Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 4

Real Spit: Waka Flocka Flame loves his fans. In fact, just two short months ago, the Georgia rap riot-starter dedicated his Triple F Life: Fans, Friends Family to his core supporters. Now, Waka is back with a new mixtape to show his faithful flock just how much they mean to him.

“I’m doing this mixtape solely … for the fans, man, that’s who I’m doing it for. That real,” Waka told Mixtape Daily.

Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 4 is a return to the trap-style mixtapes on which Waka built his rambunctious brand. On last year’s Salute Me or Shoot Me, Vol. 3, Flocka teamed with DJ Holiday and recruited Gucci Mane, Wooh Da Kid and his late friend Slim Dunkin, as well as producers Lex Luger, Southside and Drumma Boy. Over the course of 24 tracks like “Ferrari Boyz,” “Tag Team” and “365,” Waka delivered a consistent head-busting sound. He promises more of the same on the series’ latest installment.

“The streets deserve this, my fans deserve this,” he said. “That reckless music, I’m the king of that.”

Joints to check for
» “J Well.” “I got the song from my boy Josh Powell. He’s from Riverdale, but we call him J Well from Riverdale, so I had to make a song about that. Ballin’ like I’m J Well. Shout out to the city.”

» “Tweekin.” “I did that for all my party heads.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Will Smith Inspires Tone Trump’s New Fresh Prince Mixtape

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Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Headliners: Tone Trump, with DJ Damage and DJ Aktive

Representing: Philadelphia

Mixtape: The New Fresh Prince

Real Spit: Philadelphia has a long line of rap standouts, from Beanie Sigel and his State Property gang to ?uestlove and the Roots. Currently, Meek Mill is the city’s biggest draw, thanks to his Maybach Music push, but there is no Philly star bigger than Will Smith, a.k.a the Fresh Prince.

“I named my mixtape The New Fresh Princefirst and foremost, obviously, to pay homage to Will Smith, who came from West Philly,” Tone Trump told Mixtape Daily of his latest offering.

In May, Tone made headlines when he signed with Young Jeezy‘s CTE record label, and while the Snowman may be his favorite rapper, it’s rapper-turned-actor Will Smith who motivated Trump to get his money up with this new tape.

“He inspired me a lot to turn my empire into a billion-dollar empire like he did, and he let me know it’s true,” he said of the rapper, who has made unforgettable rap hits like “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Summertime” alongside his partner DJ Jazzy Jeff and starred in blockbuster movies like “Independence Day” and “Men in Black.”

Though The New Fresh Prince is much more aggressive than any of the lighthearted hip-hop material that Big Willie has ever released, Tone Trump draws a correlation mainly due to his ambition and the fact that he and Smith both hail from the same part of the city. “I’m the new Fresh Prince,” he said with unwavering confidence. “New swag, new wave reppin’ that west side of Philly.”

Joints to Check For
» “Afghan” – “This record right here, ‘Afghan,’ this is one of my favorite flavors. Y’all can put that together.”

» “We Winning” – “That is my mind state: Mr. Let’s Win and all that. So I had to make a record called ‘We Winning.’ I reached out to the big homey Beanie Sigel, he came and laid a classic verse. I put my young’n I know Brasco on there to kinda bridge the gap with the legend to the new wave.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Playboy Tre Reps For Everyman On Liquor Store Mascot 2

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Mixtape Daily: Main Pick
Headliner: Playboy Tre

Representing: Atlanta

Mixtape: Liquor Store Mascot 2: Patron Instrumentals

Real Spit: Playboy Tre might live the good life, but the Atlanta MC is really just like you. Rap fans might recognize Tre as B.o.B’s right-hand man, but on his latest mixtape, Liquor Store Mascot 2: Patron Instrumentals, Playboy proves that it isn’t who you know, but how you flow.

“Some people say I make music for the everyday man. Me, I feel like I make music for people just like myself, because I feel like if I went through it, there’s gonna be at least one more person in every little crack and crevasse in the Earth that has gone through what I went through,” Playboy Tre told Mixtape Daily. “So, this project was just an extension on that.”

On the Homebwoi-produced “Still Standing,” Tre creates a champion’s theme music over a reworked version of Elton John‘s classic 1980s single “I’m Still Standing.” On “Patron Instrumentals,” Playboy pens an endearing open letter influenced by the birth of his son: “Some things I had to change, and my child is the reason/ I used to hate my daddy’s guts, but now we back speakin’/ I used to say that if I had kids, he’d never know ‘em/ But now I can’t wait for son’s birth to show him.”

Throughout Patron Instrumentals, Tre finds a true balance between introspective lyrics and rowdy party starters. With “5th of Drank,” Playboy throws caution to the wind, spewing multisyllabic bars in rapid succession, while on “We All In,” he depicts an alcoholic’s dream, rhyming, “My best friend vodka, my girlfriend Hen/ And when we hit the club, bitch, we all in.”

In the end, Playboy Tre has a true moment of clarity on “Care After Me,” in which he reminisces over loved ones he’s lost. With the very last line, he reminds himself of all of his blessings when he spits, “The Lord tailor-made it, and I’m just living/ Taking care of mines, sincerely yours, Playboy Tre pimpin’.”

Joints to Check For
» “Still Standing” – “No matter what I been through, no matter what anybody said about me at a young age, before they said what I would and would not accomplish, I’m still standing.”

» “On a Roll” – “Really, it’s just me just giving it to the naysayers. You ever felt like you’re just doin’ so good and so many great things happenin’ that you’re on a roll? Kinda like a gambler that can’t miss, or kinda like a ball player who can’t miss a shot. … It features B.o.B, and I love it because, right now, I’m on a roll.”

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Wiz Khalifa Labelmate Vali Takes Her First Flight

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Fire Starter: Vali

Essential Info: Vali sort of has her head in the clouds. Normally, that would be a bad thing, but the New York native is looking to fully capitalize on the air up there. On Tuesday, the pop singer dropped her debut EP, Kiss the Sky, a fitting title since she planted the seeds for her deal with Rostrum Records while flying 35,000 feet in the air.

Kelly Valentina Porter, Vali for short, started out as a backup dancer for Nitty, an early act on Benjy Grinberg’s Rostrum Records, but the spunky vocalist, who has been writing and recording since high school, yearned for something more. At first, she went unnoticed, but Vali would eventually earn her wings. “Benjy didn’t talk to me because I was just a dancer, but then magically, I ended up sitting next to him on a plane,” Vali recalled to Mixtape Daily.

The random seating arrangement paid off, and during that flight, Vali played Grinberg some of her demos, which piqued his interest. He then introduced Valentina to a young, up-and-coming Wiz Khalifa, and the two would collaborate on “Sometimes” and “I Chose You,” two tracks on the “Black and Yellow” MC’s 2006 indie album, Show and Prove.

“I was just learning how to write,” Vali said of her early collaborations with her Rostrum labelmate. “I was singing in studios that were just closets or small, little places … but that doesn’t matter. If you have a good hook, you have a good hook — you can record anywhere.”

The early lessons proved valuable. Kiss the Sky is full of cleverly written love odes that are both playful and catchy. “Polaroid” is a cute poke at the paparazzi, and on “Ben ‘n Jerry,” Vali finds herself having to choose between two lovers, with two very distinct flavors. “I want to have my cake and eat it too/ Don’t blame me if I want a double scoop,” she sings.

“Top of the World” is a larger-than-life fist-pumper, while “Muah” is a reggae-tinged flirt fest. The ID Labs-produced “Light the Sky” is a toast to the single life, and the Juicy J-assisted “Bon Voyage” gives the EP a nice hip-hop touch. “I really admire Juicy J. He’s the hardest-working person I’ve met in my entire life. He does not sleep,” Vali said of her hyped-up collaborator.

In all, Kiss the Sky is a pretty impressive trip. “My life has been very much a journey and flying,” Vali said. “Even how I met Benjy on an airplane, it’s really weird. It all kind of ties together in this flight.”

What do you think of Vali’s debut EP? Share your review in the comments below!

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Cigarette Boats EP With Curren$y ‘Phenomenal,’ Harry Fraud Says

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Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables
Headliners: Curren$y and Harry Fraud

Mixtape: Cigarette Boats

Key Cameo: “Mirrors” featuring Smoke Dza

Real Spit: If you let producer Harry Fraud describe Cigarette Boats, his new EP with New Orleans rap star Curren$y, he isn’t going to short change it. “It’s just all across the board phenomenal,” Fraud told Mixtape Daily back in June when he and Smoke Dza came to MTV News to promote their Rugby Thompson album.

Actually, if not for Smoke Dza, Fraud and Curren$y would probably have never formed a union. “It really came about when we went to do the record ‘Baleedat’ for Smoke’s album with Curren$y,” the Brooklyn beatsmith explained. “I had met Curren$y briefly for one second at a radio station, but that was the first time we really kicked it.”

If you don’t know Harry Fraud by name, you surely know his work. Bad Boy MC French Montana has Fraud to thank for his breakout hit “Shot Caller.” Harry also produced Wiz Khalifa and 50 Cent’s “Telescope,” Maybach Music Group’s “The Zenith” and an array of head-nodders for Smoke Dza and Queens, New York, MC Action Bronson. Now, he can add Spitta to his growing list of collaborators.

Fraud recalled his audition for Curren$y: “He just asked me to play some beats, and I played like five beats, and he was just like, ‘Yo, I need all of those. We gotta do a little EP with those.’ “

Those same five beats became the entire sound bed for the Cigarette Boats EP, which the pair released online Tuesday (July 10) as a free download. The project features contributions from the LOX’s Styles P on “WOH” as well as Dza on “Mirrors.”

“If you’re familiar with Curren$y as of now, you’re gonna love it. And to the people that might be more familiar with my stuff on a street level, they’re gonna love it too,” Fraud promised.

What’s your favorite track on Cigarette Boats? Tell us in the comments!

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.