(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)