Flipher Overture

The new Stray Bullets Cee-Lo mixtape has inspired a new "Sampled" feature. He's paired up with Mickey Factz due to their beats being crafted around "Flipher Overture" by Esthero. I quite enjoy the notion of sampling her, especially since Cee-Lo was dopely featured on an original track by her called "Gone" and she was likewise on a Goodie Mob joint, "The World I Know", off the Slam soundtrack. Just saying.

Mickey Factz - Access Granted
Cee-Lo - ChamPain

... and do the John Wall.

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Til Erybody Know My Name

The third Christmas mixtape is from DC newcomer Chris Barz. And like fellow DMV representer Wale, Chris has the backing of the amazing Best Kept Secret production team. And neither Chris nor BKS disappoint.

The final track on this project is "When the Stars Come Out", which is a song that I hailed as an instant classic on my very first listen. And the subsequent spins haven't changed that one bit. I even got to catch up with his impressive EP entitled Do You Know Him?. All that was left after that was to wait for his proper release with some assistance from singer Jesse Boykins III (a frequent Mickey Factz collaborator) and Tabi Bonney (he of "Put It in the Pocket" fame).

Chris Barz -
Class[Sickz] Out the Dark

With a free-associating rhyming style and gravelly voice, Chris Barz will inevitably draw comparisons to Lil' Wayne upon first listen. That's neither to his betterment nor detriment, though. He easily distinguishes himself through his vast diversity in attacking the lush instrumentation of his BKS beats. Whether it's the ATCQ-influenced "House Party", the self-doubting and guidance-seeking poetic interlude of "Letter to God", the story-rapping about an inter-career relationship spanning between "Dreamers" and "Dreamers Part II", or the uplifting head-knodder of "Fall (Keep Movin')", Chris keeps you on your feet from track-to-track. He has the natural blend of lighter braggadocio lines mixed amongst the topical tracks that go deeper and can delve linguistically more complex into organic poetry-type rapping. You can't judge this project from any single song itself as it prospectively broadens with each new track. Here's hoping for his continued success with this and all future projects as he keeps spitting dopeness. And maybe even if he possibly jumps on the "Hold On (Remix)". Ha.

And on a final note, I cannot stress to you how greatly this album is produced. Chris made a perfect choice is going over mostly all Best Kept Secret joints. Between this project and helming Wale's The Mixtape About Nothing, I don't know how they haven't taken over more of the rap game. Certain producers can create an epicness about them, and BKS definitely does this.

Tracklist:
1. Hustle Music
2. Mr. Barz, Mr. Barz
3. Wherever We Go (feat. Jesse Boykins III)
4. What's the Definition of a Class[Sickz]?
5. School Ain't Workin' (No Money)
6. Dreamers (feat. Jesse Boykins III)
7. Dreamers Part II - Somethin' Stupid
8. Interlude - Letter to God
9. You Cool
10. House Party
11. OK Baby
12. Til Erybody Know
13. On the Radio (She Crazy feat. Tabi Bonney)
14. Fall (Keep Movin')
15. When the Stars Come Out

... but do take my word for it.

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Chester Connects

I don't know what the did to get straight on the inside of the hip hop industry, but Chester French did something. This line-up for their new mixtape (rock bands have mixtapes?) is like a nightmare The Game name-dropping track.

Chester French
Jacques Jams, Vol. 1: Endurance

They're more indie-pop than anything. Maybe I'm just dumb blind to the connection, but for all I know Biggie prolly bumps em in his grave. Maybe Jedi Mind Tricks already samples them extensively. Maybe Heltah Skeltah has been writing punchline references about these white dudes.

• Solange
• N.O.R.E.
• Kardinal Offishall
• Cassie
• Pusha T
• Bun B
• Talib Kweli
• Mickey Factz
• Janelle Monae
• Common
• Diddy
• Jadakiss
• Wale
• Pharrell
• Jermaine Dupri

How does that happen? Does everyone really sweat "She Loves Everybody" that much? Like, dead serious? I prolly need to give the dudes some more quality listens. Their single grew on me being played every single day on MTVU when I eat at the Commons, but the other material hasn't quite sunk in yet. Don't wanna dissuade anyone from possibly finding your new favorite band, though. They're on the funny tip of musicality, relieing on a lot of white boy college humor (like one Mr. Roth) to connect with their fan base. But I'm blown away with all the cosigns they've gotten. This group is so not hip hop. But they have the knod from commercial and underground artists alike. Pretty crazy. I'm definitely jealous.

... put 'em both together and you got yourself a super spork.

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