Best of Mixerr Album Reviews! Page 144

Lil Mark - Dimensions EP review

Lil Mark’s Dimensions EP is a quirky but short electronic EP that was issued on vinyl and a digital download in 2004. The EP is nothing short of compelling meaning it’s worth listening to and writing home about. Fans of deep house music or electronic music will enjoy this short EP from Lil Mark. This EP was produced by Lil Mark and Andrew Macari on the Greenhouse Recordings label. All the song on this EP are 126 BPM.

The song Life’s A Dream uses a minimal touch of tech house mixed in with deep house music added with deep bass and electro synths. The electro synths give Life’s A Dream a tech house feel. Lil Mark takes us deep into his perspective of how life is a dream.

Isjazz is a jazz themed electronic song which uses a looped sample of a jazz song. Upright bass is used on the song to blend in the jazz and fits in appropriately. While the jazz sample gets annoying after a while, the upright bass helps balance things out for the listener.

Freak Confusion has beats, synths, and sounds fans of house music and electronic music will surely enjoy. The medium bass blends in well with the electronic sound.

3/5***

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Lil Rob - Last Laff EP review

The Last Laff is one of Lil Rob’s forgotten albums which did not receive or garner as much attention as much as his other albums have. Last Laff seemed to have flown under the radar. This album was released on CD format in 2002 by Signature Records. The Last Laff is not a full length album but is actually an EP.

The Last Laff was produced by DJ Rek, Moox, and Fingazz. Various producers were used during production and recording process for this EP. VMF had nothing to do with the production of this recording. You can tell by listening to The Last Laff that there is a heavy influence of 70s funk and soul laced with some occasional electro funk. Lil Rob raps honesty about the world around him.


Last Laff was recorded after Lil Rob left Low Profile Records in 2001. This song would be the very first song Lil Rob would record after he left Low Profile Records. The song was completed in 2002 for his The Last Laff EP.

The song Last Laff is a diss aimed at Royal T (CEO and executive producer of Low Profile Records). This feud stems from Royal-T stealing royalties from Lil Rob's success.

According to Lil Rob's manager, Lil Rob sold over $1 million worth of his own CD's and didn't receive a dime. Lil Rob feuded with Royal T over accounting issues over unpaid royalties and marketing issues. Lil Rob himself was caught in a scam set up by Royal T. One of Lil Rob's albums to had the same barcode as Royal T's albums resulting in Royal T receiving all of the profits.

A DJ gives us an update on today’s news at the very beginning. Lil Rob tells the public, "You can't keep a good man down and I will have the last laugh" . This was his comeback for 2002. He disperses of any rumors about him being dead.

[DJ]
FM 113.57 with today's up to date global news
In news today, the infamous rapper Lil' Rob
Presumed to be dead for the past two years
Apparently has only been held down by jealous haters
Lil' Rob releases a statement today stating
"You can't keep a good man down and I will have the last laugh"
Haha

But that doesn't even matter though. Any publicity is good publicity as long as they mention him.


Front, Back, Side to Side is a song where Lil Rob brags about his car. It’s one of those songs to cruise to. Firme for the eses.

Remember cruising down the avenue in the Regal? We thought we were all bad with McLeans and a lowered car. But nowadays if you don't got hundred spokes, homey don't even bring you car out. And if you ain't switched up, forget about it. Let me tell you about me ride, ese.

Lil Rob’s carrucha got four pumps and four square dumps. Hydraulics, custom paint, rims and bump bumps. Everything he needs for his lowrider. He goes hook it up with them vatos who can hook it up. Front, back, side to side, corner and pancake. People trip out when they see Lil Rob’s carro shake like a Southern California earthquake. He takes many chances on this carrucha that dances.

There are many Chevys to where you would think we're in the 1960s. He hits his switches up and down. He does the same thing with the top. No matter where he goes they say his tires glow.


Lil Rob gives us a selection of perfection on So Many Styles. His choice of subject matter is about his style of rapping.

Lil Rob gives you a selection of perfection. No need to question why he leaves these other vatos with manic depression. Misdirection. Leaving them guessing and leaving them stressing. And leave them sketching their next lesson. Until they feel his aggression, his profession is positive. He is competitive.

Lil Rob has been since he was a 12 year old in 7th grade back when he was in detention at CYA (California Youth Authority). He’s not new to writing raps. These lyrics made reference of him writing raps in detention. “Homey I was writing rhymes back in seventh grade in detention”

He is bored with the typical writing style of rap. Quit saying the same thing over and over. These lyrics are a  reference that.:

“I have to send those fools back to the drawing board/Ten seconds of your song and I'm already bored/Making me snore, I won't be listening to that no more/You vatos make me not want to listening to rap no more/Hoping you don't have no more”

Notice how his rap style is poetic. He chose two words that rhymed together which were “board” and “bored”.

His rhymes are tighter and wiser as he gets older. Can't take the heat then get your ass out the kitchen! You got three minutes to make your distance. Lil Rob got so many styles. Go ahead and pick one. He has got plenty of them. Pick which one you like and ride with any of them. Rolas in progress. Lil Rob the sick one.

4/5****!

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Chat Chat demo album review

The demo of long deceased Flint, Michigan rapper Chat Chat is a cassette that has been long forgotten. Chat Chat is a product of 90s Flint rap. Not too many people remember this rapper which is a tragedy because he left behind what could have been a career in music.

Chat Chat’s demo was recorded and engineered by Steve Pitts at Black Jack Studios in Flint, Michigan in 1994. Steve Pitts produced the entire demo himself. The songs included on this demo cassette are Somethin to Think About, Cry In Hell, Crazy Thought, Death Wish, and Lookin For A Gank.

Chat Chat’s demo came out around the time King Hood Cykoz released their first album which was in 1994. Chat Chat was influenced by the sounds of gangsta rap, electronic music, and horrorcore. Not only that, Chat Chat was influenced by the sounds of The Dayton Family, KingHood Cykoz, 211, Esham, Natas, Evol, and Variety of Sinz.

For those of you wondering what happened to Chat Chat, an explanation is provided below. It was a tragedy to what happened to Chat Chat. Here is what happened to Chat Chat:

Chat Chat was killed in 1994. He killed with a gun which resulted into death was by gunshot. Chat Chat was murdered over a woman. One day, Chat Chat was killed in his car by his homeboy. He was dating some woman his homeboy was.

His death was a shock. Chat Chat had left his child behind at the time of his death. His death was a tragedy that was not observed by Flint as a whole. His death remained overlooked and unnoticed. Robert Towne was Chat Chat the rapper. He was a rapper who was part of the Revelation Family on Revelation Records during the mid-1990s.


Crazy Thought is a song which delves into the crazy mind of Chat Chat. The song has a dark eerie horrorcore vibe. Vinyl scratches used on this song blend in with the horrorcore element very well. 

Time after time, Chat Chat feels crazy. He can’t get himself together. It’s gotten to the point where he is about to lose his mind. He needs to chill as he always has these crazy thoughts. By living in this hellhole, he knows he’s lost. Chat Chat feels as if he has no place to go. He doesn’t give a fuck about anyone. Chat Chat feels like grabbing his gun to kill someone. Like a crazy motherfucking G.

At the 0:51 timestamp is where he talks about killing his family. Here is how he killed his family: He shot his mother in the temple. He left her dead on the bathroom floor. His brother was an eyewitness to this killing. Chat Chat attacked his brother using a butcher knife. He stuck his little nephew in the freezer.

Homicidal business is what he is always thinking about. He smothered a little girl by kidnapping her. Nobody had a clue what happened to her. 2 weeks later, Chat Chat is attending her funeral. The song gets crazy at this point. He kills her father by putting a bullet hole in his head. Now he’s 6 feet under.

The ending of Crazy Thought is where the tape sounds like it's getting eaten up. Chat Chat's voice comes on the speakers saying, "Turn the tape off devil worshipping muthafuckaz!”


Chat Chat gives the public and us listeners something to think about on the song Somethin to Think About. The mood gets very dark quick as Chat Chat himself gets very deep on this song. He shares his thoughts on how life really is for him.

Chat Chat talks about how hard it to get a job when you’re from the ghetto. The trouble starts when a person from the ghetto submits an application only to have the employers throw it in the garbage. Who wants to hire a thug? No one. Not anyone in his community. Unemployment is the reason why Chat Chat joined a gang (on the set). He feels that he is unemployable due to being from the ghetto. People think he’s a fool but he’s making a profit in the middle of nowhere. Flint is just a place covered in cement.

Death knows no color as death happens to everyone. Death has no boundaries. Chat Chat could care less.

Despite the negative vibe you get from listening to this song, Chat Chat has a message. His message is “Change with the times so you won’t be let behind.” That way you can adapt to change as time progresses forward.


Looking For A Gank was produced by the legendary Flint producer Steve Pitts. Production work started in 1993 and ended in 1994. A perfect example of G-Funk.

Chat Chat is looking for someone to rob. He is looking for a gank. He starts by robbing a man for his link and dookie rope (gold rope). He put the barrel of his gun the man’s, clicked the trigger, and his head exploded. Now he goes to see Ronnie Johns. He has a .44 caliber handgun. Chat Chat realizes he has his sawed off shotgun.

He soon finds another person to rob. Money and dope were taken. Chat Chat left a bloodbath. Cops are after now after him. They want to fuck with his as they have an APB. Chat Chat runs to his house. A police car was on his grass. He turns the otters way to avoid being seen. Obviously he is paranoid. He is ooted up. Now he is smoking a Newport.

Chat Chat is broke and needs money. A nigga got jacked for a load of crack. He is on a rampage with his 12 gauge putting people on the front page newspaper.


Cry In Hell is similar to Crazy Thought as the song has dark subject matter. The song has a dark eerie vibe similar to Death Wish and Crazy Thought. References to wiccanism and satanism are mentioned throughout the song also.

Life’s a bitch. That’s why he stayed packed. He keeps a gat in his pocket for these niggaz in Flint or any other person. What’s worse is a person getting hurt. It’s time to get a soul. Chat Chat lives like a criminal. He murders  people by giving them 2 bullets to the head.


Death Wish is a death themed rap song performed by Chat Chat. Death Wish was produced by Steve Pitts. He gets very dark on this song due to the thick heavy bass.

4/5****!

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Agony - Whatever album review

The Agony - Whatever album is one of the more rarer rap album from Saginaw, Michigan. Not that many copies of this album were pressed as the album did not sell very well. Poor sales resulted in low amounts of copies pressed. Copies of Agony - Whatever are extremely hard to find making it one of the most rare Saginaw rap albums. The album was produced by Charles Sparks bka Pleasure Sparks for Smooth Side Productions. His album was released in early 2001.

Napalm fka Daddy Madd made an appearance with female rapper Madame Dane on Pass That Ass. This was the last song Napalm would make an appearance for the year 2001. With that said, Napalm ripped up the track!

Agony brags about how he makes his money on the song Stack Them Funds. Every day is a never ending for Agony now known as A.G. Saginaw Mayor/A.G. Sagtown Mayor.

Things start to pick up towards the very end of the album on the track Sag Nasty. Agony represents Saginaw, Michigan to the fullest on Sag Nasty to the best of his lyrical capabilities. Acid rap legend Hasan The Sinister makes an appearance on Sag Nasty along with Lil Spade and Infamouz.

Agony calls out people for being fake and for being just like everyone else on Plastic Niggaz.

3/5***

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Zoo Brazil - Future Chock E.P EP review

Zoo Brazil’s Future Chock E.P. is an electronic EP influenced by the sounds of jungle and house music. Much of this EP is house music though which uses and utilizes a futuristic electronic soundscape. The whole EP is perfect for the dance floor.

The song Wow! uses a mixture of jungle, house music, and electronic music. The song is perfect for the dance floor. A Roland 404 machine was used to producer the beats. The kicks fit in perfectly with the bass. A mixture of soundbites from a 16 bit video game which are used in various places throughout Wow!. Repetitiveness of the song is what keeps the listener compelled to listen to the whole without skipping.

The Tom Droid & Gerald Lucas Cyborg Mix [Wow! (Tom Droid & Gerald Lucas Cyborg Mix)] uses a mixture of soundbites from a 8 bit video game are used in various places throughout the song.

We Want You is an upbeat electronic house song with a futuristic electronic soundscape. The song is perfect for the dance floor and to boogie to. The song uses a minimal touch of tech house and electronic music.

5/5*****!

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Variety of Sinz - Jealousy Begins & Playa Hatas album review

There was a lot of hate going on in the city of Flint, Michigan back in 1995 when Variety of Sinz released their third album Jealousy Begins & Playa Hatas. Many Flint rap groups were dissing each other on songs and giving everyone lyrical beatdowns. Crews had beef with each other either due to association, gang politics, difference in musical styles, or being from certain a neighborhood. Members of rap groups began having inner conflicts with each other. This caused groups to start having rivalries with each other.  People started hating on each other. They became jealous of one another.

For instance, DOA and The Dayton Family were dissing each other in their songs, The Dayton Family and Took N Bone dissed each other on their songs, King Hood Cykoz and Project Born feuded with each other, King Hood Cykoz dissed Selby Hood, Variety of Sinz dissed Selby Hood, King Hood Cykoz dissed MC Breed, MC Breed dissed Prince Nard, and The Dayton Family dissed Prince Nard.

That’s why you can hear and feel the theme of jealousy on this album. The anger, envy, and frustration are what lead to jealousy. Notice how the A side of the cassette is labeled as Player and the B side is labeled as Hater. The B side contains all the hate and hatred on the album. The diss songs towards other groups and

Jealousy Begins was engineered and produced by Steve Pitts at Success Studios. Some of these tracks were recorded at Boomin Studios off Dort Highway in 1995. D Kent served as executive producer along with Dion Polk. Jealousy sold well at a store called NuSounz on Flint Park Boulevard (Flint Park Blvd) in Flint Park.


The 9th Ave Anthem track serves as the opening and intro track to Jealousy Begins. This anthem is a Helebe solo. A soul sample is used in the background. The whole track is an anthem to 9th Avenue.

Helebe asks the big ballers for a blunt. Freaky light (Freaky Live) is what he gets in 1995. Kicking this wiggity wicked rhyme. Never slip. Get a grip on reality. He’s out of Flinttown. God gave him game so you know that he’s hustling. A pocket full of weed. He is going out of his mind due to the traumas in his life. Chilling on the ave with 40 Fiend. Hood Boyz will never die.


VOS raps about how they never receive any play on the radio on Something For The Radio. So VOS gives them something for the radio. Suckers on the radio never play Variety of Sinz.

Coming at you first is Helebe. He carries Revelation Records and Revelation Family on his back. He starts attacking the industry but puts that on pause. Playa hatas want to kill him. He’s dropping dope rhymes. VOS is dropping hits.

40 Fiend is next. He would rather sell yayo. A record deal is what he prays for. He’s doing all he can his life is sinking in quicksand. Suckers on the radio never play Variety of Sinz. They don’t have the funk to carry their wickedness.


40 Fiend break people off in the industry on the song Peep Game. He gives us new shit. People don’t think his shit sounds tight as they think he sounds similar to someone else. Who’s next? Nobody but him. It’s 40 Fiend. The bitch’s dream. 40 Fiend comes with the dopest shit with his rhymes.

Too many motherfuckers are creepin. So he has to creep to. Shit gets deep in the city of Flint. He rides with a glock as he’s scared of society. He wants to roll with a clan so he can be the man. 40 Fiend lets the 12 gauge blast on everyone who said he wouldn’t make it. The plan is fuck up everybody. You better run.

The song Peep Game uses a variety of assorted pop and soul songs. Peep Game is a 40 Fiend solo.


Variety of Sinz came back for that wicked shit for the 95 on Too Wicked To Understand. They used their hellish wicked rhymes.

The song Back Again marks the return of Variety of Sinz from after a year when they released their last album Blaze For The New Year. VOS is back again for the 95! They call out all player haters in their hellish wicked rhymes. They let them know Variety of Sinz have returned with another album.

Kill A Hoe is a song dedicated breaking down buster MC’s. Buster MC’s are compelled to write wack rhymes. The song is perfect for the Hater side of the cassette due to its given title.


Helebe explains the reasons why he’s stressed out on Stress. He tells us about his problems. These hoes got him stressed out. So does him smoking weed. Smoking weed is a habit he has. Females are on his tip for the riches he has. Variety of Sinz is clocking lots of dollars. You know that Variety of Sinz is drinking gin.

Variety of Sinz dissed The Dayton Family in a verse 1 minute and 28 seconds into the song. Helebe said, “Ain’t no fuckin’ hoe in me/You try to come and smoke for free/Check out TDF” and “Check out this record poll/You should have took your ass home” This is very unexpected and strange as VOS and TDF are both from the GD gang set.

Helebe needs therapy but no one is helping him. He tries not to cry. He’s all stressed out.


VOS dissed Selby Hood back in the day on the song God Gave Me Game. They said, "God gave me game and they lick they booty”, “God gave me game and you’re licking booty, and “even licked Ricky Rue booty bitch” . The “they lick they booty” part is a reference to the 1991 album Selby Hood - Git Yo Bootie Licked. The “even licked Ricky root booty bitch” is a reference to Ricky Rue (Darrin Bass).

God Gave Me Game sampled DOA - Payback and Nationwide Rip Ridaz - Nationwide Rip Ridaz. The DOA - Payback sample can be heard at the very beginning of the track.

3/5***!

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Lil Mark / Justin Harris - We Are Maschine EP review

The Lil Mark / Justin Harris - We Are Maschine release is an EP showcasing the growth of Lil Mark’s musical presence in the electronic industry. This EP from Lil Mark uses a more progressive house sound than a tech house sound as most of his singles and EPs do. The layer of beats inside the songs are much thinner than usual. Not to mention a much more digitally processed sound. Perfect posh British electronic music from the United Kingdom.

Lil Mark / Justin Harris - We Are Maschine was released as a digital download on junodownload in November 2013. The EP was meant to be a digital EP. Sorry. There is no physical format for this EP.

MADM uses an upbeat tempo of 126 BPM to a layer of thin beats and synths. The whole song is an instrumental. Lil Mark and Justin Harris produced this song together in 2012 and had released the song as a digital single in 2013.

We Are Maschine is where things start to pick up. This song uses a much more thick layer of beats. Notice the claps, kicks, snares, and cymbal clashes. Kicks and snares used on this song are much thicker than MADM. The song uses layers of multi-instruments. At least electronically. We Are Maschine is the best progressive house song of 2013.

Plug It In uses a mixture of electronic, techno, and progressive house music. Vocal samples explaining how instruments were designed for people to use were included on this song. The song included samples from a movie of sorts.

4/5****!!

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