Welcome to Mixtape Mashup 2009! We have had so many artists breaking into the homo-hop genre of rap that we had to find a place just for mix tape artist. If you think you have what it takes to be the next gay rap star submit your mix tape to chief reviewer Rex Stone and hear, The Good, The Bad, and The Truth about your album. This year we are going to mash it or trash it. So make sure you check back in frequently because we will keep coming with the latest reviews on mix tape albums and singles. One Love!

The chief reviewer for Mixtape Mashup is Rex Stone, a writer with a degree in history and marketing, and a love for mixtapes.

To have your mixtape reviewed, please EMAIL it to:

rexstone@live.com

We also welcome other mixtape reviews from whoever takes the initiative one to write one and send it to us at: mixtapemashup@outhiphop.com

J.KNIGHT – “THE MIX-TAPE BEFORE THE CD!” by Rex Stone

 When you listen to a mix-tape you come to expect certain things from it, especially with homo-hop. What I didn’t expect was that the 80/20 rule could and would apply to music. J.Knight ‘s new album “The Mix-tape Before the CD!” is 80% Good Production, 20% Swag/Presentation, 80%  cool Lyrics, and 20%Delivery! This really just makes it an okay CD to listen to. About time that you get to the end of it you might find yourself wondering  what the hell just happened and what did I just listen too? The lyrics are definitely the best when J.Knight is freestyling but that’s about it.

Although this artist is starting to make his own music and put together original albums. I don’t know if I can say that he learned anything from the last mix-tape that he put out. The production is a lot better but it could always be 100% instead of 80% but hey you get what you pay for. The best songs on “TMBTC” are the freestyles and that what J is good at. Listen to the album from beginning to end to see what your take is on it.

Overall I think that J.Knight better step up in all the places that he is lacking because it is not a good look. Most artist have a formula or a plan when they make a CD even if it is a mix-tape and this made J look like an amateur. Your swag should beon point when you make a song. Let’s hope that the CD that he has us anticipating for is better than this mix-tape!

I’m giving this 2 stones because I at least respect his hustle!



Prince Cat-Eyez – “Cali’s Don Cheetah”

The Good:

Cats really do have nine lives and “Cali’s Don Cheetah” proves it. The west coast has brought out the claws this time and they sent Prince Cat Eyes to fight back. Updated rhyme skills and phat beats cover this album from the beginning to end. Hot tracks on this mix-tape include… “No Threat To Me”, “Hard 4 A Fem”, “Oh Yeah”, and the title track. For all of those who took this artist as a (pussy)cat, watch this cat roar!

The Bad:

When you give an artist a critique you wonder if they take what you said with a grain of salt or do they do their own damn thing! I can’t tell with this CD because it sounds like the same thing as before. The beats are tight, the flow is so-so, and the lyrics are still not up to par with what they should be for a true rap artist, but if Cat eyes is just an entertainer then there is nothing wrong with “Cali’s Don Cheetah”. The skits we’re cool and all the impersonations we’re funny and the collaborations we’re okay, but I don’t think that you can be called one of the best with this album. You really spent way to much time trying to diss people and then shouting how much better you are than everyone else, yet you we’re about to retire!

The Truth:

No matter if you are a fem artist or a masculine artist the whole concept of rap is having the basic skills to put together thoughts, words, and emotions, with a flow that should ride a beat and be able to switch up with the songs. Prince Cat Eyes is able to achieve that about 80% of the time on this album. Some songs are not well written, but other songs have all the elements they need to make them hits. I can say that the production on most songs is exceptional and worthy of a playback and this artist can write a nice diss song. All in all rap music no matter gay or straight has to have something relevant to say and your spit game should be A+ not B-! Hopefully with new management and a serious look at the game right now will make this artist step his game up to the plateau where he needs to be.

The Recommendation:

Mash It! He actually does take this rap thing seriously!

Porn Star II: The Director’s Cut - Bry'Nt

The Good:

The sophomore album is always either a hit or miss for an artist and with Porn Star II (The Directors Cut), homo-hop artist Bry’Nt has hit it out of the ballpark. This time he chose beats that complimented his style and fit his flow perfectly. Bry’Nt has proven that he can hold his own when it comes to hip-hop and his improvement lyrically made this album a definite hit. Hot tracks include “Beat It Up”, “Yes”, “Hello, Goodbye”, and “Test My Gangsta”.

The Bad:

The problem with PS2, is that by time the album came out we had already heard most of the songs on it. Some songs begin to lack substance after all the sexual innuendos and references to his rap nemesis. When you are a part of a track that talks about stepping up your pen game, you have to make sure that you bring it 100% every time you grab the mic!

The Truth:

No matter what anyone says, artists make songs that they like and that they want their fans to enjoy. Porn Star II (The Directors Cut) is a great album from beginning to end. The lyrics are better this time around, the tracks are well put together and his delivery is amazing. No matter if you think Bry’Nt is a fluke or just nice to look at, you can’t deny the fact that this rapper is the hardest working man in the movement!

The Recommendation:

Mash It on the regular. Beat It Up!

Bone(Intell) - "Changing Faces" (vol.2)

The Good:
Rap music is an art form that goes through trends every couple of years, the trends change what is hot at the moment on the music scene. Sometimes it's teen rappers, female rappers, down-south, west coast, or the east coast phonomenon. This time we might be able to include out hip-hop with the help of Bone(Intell) and his latest mixtape "Changing Faces" (vol.2)! This CD is a true look into a rapper who has everything from lyrics to delivery, to passion and determination for this thing we call hip-hop, and he should be applauded for that! Bone(Intell) might not be crowned the king but he sure has everything he needs to conquer and become the emperor. With joints that will reign supreme as legends for all aspiring new homo-hoppers including: "Can't Leave Rap Alone", "I Swear", "Legend", "Dream", and "My Dick!" This is out hip-hop at its hardest, grimiest, and street credible as it can get!

The Bad:
Even the best have problems because if they didn't they would be perfect. The production on some of the songs was touch and go making it sometimes hard to bear. The real problem comes when just as you are hooked into the song and Bone has spit 16 to 32 bars you find out that's it, the song is over! There is no hook, bridge, or chorus, and for a rapper that is not a song, it's a lot of freestyling! His collaborations were on point even though Sonny Lewis showed up way more than he should have (but Biggie had Lil Cease, and Juelz Santana got Jim Jones), so maybe it's a hood thing! "Changing Faces" definitely lacks on the fact that if there are going to be that many songs on a CD at least 75% of them should be full tracks with all the elements!

The Truth:
Bone(Intell)! Whether his lyrics promote homo-hop, hip-hop, or just the struggle of the artist, it all makes this album a classic that we will all honor and respect. Not too many artist can come this hard and still spit about having men laying on top of him. "Changing Faces" (vol.2) should go down in the history books, when it becomes a complete entity. All the other artist in the game better step their game up and bring 100% everytime they step on the microphone because Bone will!

The Recommendation:
If you don't have this CD, then your not listening to hip-hop music! Every homo-hop artist should have this CD! The Ruler has arrived!!!

(Editor: This marks the first mixtape review from someone other than our Chief mixtape critic and reviewer, Rex Stone. We welcome this review from Laurica Brown and look forward to more contributiosn from her, and anyone else who chooses to write a review. We believe we'll still be getting a review from Mr. Stone as well)

I’ll admit my ignorance from the beginning: I was not familiar with Boneintell’s music or who he was until six months ago. I had never heard his previous mixtape, Changing Faces vol1, so I was only familiar with the free downloads on OHH and the comments from other artists (all positive) that I have heard. Though I wish I could have been exposed to more of his work much earlier, the “Changing Faces Vol 2” mixtape was has been one hell of an introduction to who Boneintell is as an artist.

From beginning to end, “Changing Face vol 2” highlights Bone’s ability as a story teller. Each song is a different glimpse into his personality and his life. From funny tracks like “Fat Boi Shyt” and “My Dick” to the more contemplative tracks like “Stand Out” and “Prophets Plea” to his use of sample from T-Pain to Portis Head, Bone shows his range of his musical influences and talent.

All of the collaborations on this album, from Pegg Starr to Stern to Sonny Lewis were strong. But the stand out song on the album for me was “Legend” featuring King Jabbar. In this haunting and contemplative reflection of his position in the music industry, Bone professes that he doesn’t think the game is ready for him. I think its time we all get ready.

With Changing Faces volume 2, Boneintell is not just speaking to the Out Hip Hop community. He is speaking to the broader Hip Hop audience. Forcing the average Hip Hop heads to nod their head in agreement with his lyrics, making the casual listener slow their steps and take heed to his words. Bone’s lyrics speak to all the underdogs, the people who have been counted out before being given a proper chance and still manage to produce a product/an outcome three times better than the rest. And this is a message, a theme that many of us from all walks of life can relate to.

Not only is this a good album, it brings us back to the fact that Hip Hop is about poetry; it is about the truth and the truth is often contradictory and complex. It is refreshing to hear an album that isn’t centered around a gimmick or controversy, just talent and a story. Cuz at the end of the day, that’s all that most Hip Hop heads (Real Hip Hop Heads) really want—someone with talent to tell them a good damn story, one with some truth , passion and urgency. And it is obvious, to me at least, after listening to this mixtape that Boneintell is an artist who truly understands that.

Stand out songs are “Legend”, “Fat Boi Shyt”, “I Swear”, “Stand Out” and “In it to Win it”. But listen to the whole album. Take advantage of the fact that someone is willing to share this type of brilliance for free and download it immediately. I want to be one of the first to say that I call legend status on this mixtape. This is one for the books, children.

(you can download this mixtape here)

The Good:

Many rappers tend to take their audience on a voyage with their music and let their lyrics flow like a sea of verbal twist and turns from one style to the next. Zero-D has many alter egos that come up on his mix-tape “Infiltrate Enemy Lines”. He gives us his version of hardcore, fem-thug, and even gives us something to dance to. Check out the cuts...”True Gold”, “Jet Force Gemini”, and “Blow Up Ya Boy”. Zero-D has stepped on the scene, someone take notice!

The Bad:

The problem that we find taking a journey with Zero-D is that there is no vessel. The CD is almost a tragedy to listen to. From the poor production quality to the nursery skill lyrics and then to top it off, the delivery is the hook, line, and sinker of this 60 minute Titanic. He even in one song burps on the microphone and doesn’t say excuse me or anything and the album fell apart from that point on.

The Truth:

It would be sad if this was a beginning trend in homo-hop where the artist doesn’t take out any time to put together a quality project in order to just rush the product. The songs we’re weak, the lyrics and the delivery we’re novice and you try so hard but there is no substance in what you have to say. I think you should try again and give the fans and the other artist something that you can be respected for!

The Recommendation:

Trash It! This is 2009 we should be moving forward, not backwards!!!

Mister Night (J’Night)– “Before Mister Night”

The Good:

It’s good to be the new jack on the scene because you get to see what’s out there and make sure you don’t make the same mistakes that the others have in the game. “Before Mister Night” by Mister Night (J’Night) is a gangsta ride into the game of homo-hop. This bi-sexual rapper has the skills to be one of the hottest rising new stars in the movement. There is something about his swagga that makes a listener want to hear more from this artist. Stellar cuts off the album are “I Just Want The Paper”, I’m So Fly”, “Our Love Was Something Good”, and “Who Is J’Night”.

The Bad:

Being that this isn’t the first CD from this artist you can’t help but be frustrated by the quality of production or lack thereof. In-house producing is hard but for someone who talks about producing an awful lot in his songs it’s painful to strain to hear him over the beat in some songs. Lyrically it wouldn’t hurt him to grab a thesaurus and find more complex words to sketch out his rap stories. Even though he has some sex appeal he can’t pull it off in a song, maybe collaboration would have helped this mix-tape standout.

The Truth:

J’Night or Mister Night my advice is to be you and make music for your fans and not for yourself and your homeboys like most wanna-be gay hip-hop artist are doing. You have the potential to be one of the best in the movement but your songs don’t ever accomplish that. The songs that are standouts should be the path that you’re following. Your swagga status is growing and you should explore it. Your production is getting better but it should be great on all songs. Mister Night hats off to you for a great street album for the movement but you can certainly do better. You have one thing over the competition you don’t really have to try so hard to be hard!

The Recommendation:

Mash It for your homeboys that don’t understand homo-hop!!!

Artist: The Original & Young ESO
CD: “The Swagga Shop”
Hometown: New Bedfuod, MASS. & New Orleans, LA.
Website: myspace.com/jaytheoriginal & myspace.com/youngesofc

The Good:
From the conception “The Swagga Shop” seems like a good idea. Two artists that could use a good collaboration to build up their talent in this thing we call out hip-hop music. “The beats are off the chain and are not as typical as most artists are. The Original definitely has a knack with his delivery and his lyrical ability is certainly proven. Young Eso does have that down south flow to hear style that somehow works down in New Orleans, La. Satisfactory songs are “Bitch I’m Da Bomb”, “Fresh Az I Wanna Be”, and the “Chopped and Screwed Mix of Whea Da Ca$h At?”

The Bad:
The release of the CD to the masses is the biggest problem with this mix-tape. Original you should know by now that we as consumers can’t let you get away with mediocrity anymore. You have had the time to get your production together and you still have not done that. Young Eso I’m sorry but you basically don’t have any delivery whatsoever and your lyrics are boring to say the least. You both would do better finding someone way better than yourselves to collab with and going to a real studio. I challenge the both of you to prove me wrong and make a good song individually!

The Truth:
The album was a good idea but the delivery was awful. From the minute I heard Young Eso jump off the track and the ins and out of the vocals I knew I would utter those famous words “Houston we have a problem”. I just don’t think that Young Eso should have been an artist that you did collaboration with. If anything you should have chosen an emcee that lifted you up in the songs instead of trying to match wits with you in a verbal tragedy. I personally think that “The Swagga Shop” should be closed down for some major repairs.

Artist:Last Offence

CD:“Not For Non Profit”

Hometown:Los Angeles, CA

Website:www.myspace.com/whoislastoffence

The Good:

All Hail The King! Last Offence has become one of the lyrical leaders of the homo-hop movement mixing acute timing with verbal intellect and even giving us more on this CD than the last mix-tape/EP.“Not for Non Profit”is a journey down the road of a true artist trying to make it in an industry that won’t allow him access. His collaborations come off without a hitch and surprisingly he picked the best people to match his style. Stellar cuts on this album are“Here & Now”, “Who We Are”, “Watch Me”, and “Not What You Want”! You will appreciate the fact that he doesn’t have to try and use gimmicks and drama to be noticed or heard. The production is great and you can listen all the way through to the end.

The Bad:

The only song that was close to being heard in a club is “Watch Me” and that would have to be around somewhere that really play hip-hop. If you are looking to get up and dance on this CD then you will be wasting your time unless you want to “Back It On Up”, but we already did that with another artist. Last Offence always seems to do something different than what you would expect. Even in his song”Fresh as I Wanna Be” he is told by Twizza on his voicemail that he is weird. I do think that he is vain in a lot of his songs but that might be his niche or downfall!

The Truth:

“Not for Non Profit”is exactly what homo-hop needs right now. Something that is really good but still kind of under the radar. I loved the album but I think people are going to be very critical and maybe even harsh with the fact that the album wasn’t what “Run A Lap”was. I think that this CD makes Last a true artist no matter his sexuality because he gets it. Rhyming, timing, skill, ability, and so many other adjectives that describe a true hip-hop star can describe Last Offence and“Not for Non Profit”! This album is what you other artist need to study, just make sure you add something we can really dance too!

The Recommendation:

Sound the trumpets, alert the people, mash the hell out of it…The King Is Here!