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The MCs who've held it down for the mixtape game this year ...
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The DJs, the up-and-comers, the instant collector's items ...
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— by Shaheem Reid
Houston isn't the only place where the all-star heavy-hitters are getting shine this week. Take a look below at who's been holding it down for the mixtape game in 2004 so far.
Big-Money Heavyweights (MCs): These cats always show up to play and have had the greatest impact at the midway point.
All-Star Selection: D-Block
Scouting Report: Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch and J-Hood consistently hit us with their glaring ghetto-gladiator antagonism through various freestyles and songs tailor-made for the streets. The LOX continue to hover in the elite circle of best-of-the-best lyricists while bringing Hood up under their wing. You can hear the tutelage rubbing off on J, as he's added new flows to his word armory.
The Highlight Reel: The Champ Is Here, Big Mike and Supa Mario Present Ghost Stories
All-Star Selection: G-Unit
Scouting Report: There hasn't been a team since Wu-Tang that better personifies the phrase "strength in numbers." 50 showed that having 10 million records sold under his belt isn't going to make him talk any less greasy about everyone from Ja Rule to his former friend Bang 'Em Smurf to his old environment ("F--- the 'hood, man!"). Meanwhile, Tony Yayo is free and running wild, Lloyd Banks has established himself as one of the top-tier wordsmiths in rap and is in line for Mixtape Artist of the Year for the second year in a row. Young Buck may be heralded as the new king of the South before summertime is over, and just through his mixtape appearances, Game has become the West Coast's saving grace.
The Highlight Reel: G-Unit Radio series, Welcome 2 Da Hood, about 15 million different Best of Lloyd Banks CDs by 12 million different DJs
All-Star Selection: Jay-Z
Scouting Report: In many people's minds, Hov remains the best rapper alive. He was undisputedly the most produced rapper alive. After the Roc released an a cappella version of The Black Album, everybody and their baby's mother drooled at the chance to give a fresh spin on Jay's supposedly final LP. DJs and producers had Jay rapping over beats by everyone from Prince to the Beatles to tracks freshly cooked in the kitchen. Jay himself caught onto the craze, releasing his own S. Carter Collection Remix mixtape. And let's not forget about all the freestyles he's put out lately, namely "The Game Is Mine," where he answers Fat Joe's "Lean Back" Rucker Park reference, saying, "I'm the proud new owner of the Nets/ No diploma, no regrets, don't even talk about Rucker/ Mutha----as I am set."
The Highlight Reel: Various The Black Album remixes, S. Carter Collection Remix
All-Star Selection: Diplomats
Scouting Report: At the beginning of the year, who would have thought that the member of the Dip Set who would bring the most heat would be Capo Jim Jones? Not exactly known for his rhyme acumen, Jim has stepped it up, hitting it over the fence with tracks like "Certified Gangstas" and "Around My Way." We're still waiting for Killa Cam's Purple Haze LP, but he kept the anticipation alive and pumping by hitting the streets with about half of the album's material, including "Lord You Know," "Shake" and "Killa Cam." The team's young ace, Juelz Santana, was the quietest one, but in the past few weeks he's returned, even putting out his own mixtape.
The Highlight Reel: Diplomats Volume 5, Back Like Cooked Crack, Sippin' on Sizzurp
Best Of The Rest
Mobb Deep: Havoc and Prodigy approached the mixtape game from almost every angle. Havoc produced tracks for other artists, like Jadakiss' "Why," that were first heard on mixtapes. The Mobb themselves appeared on every DJ's mixtape, and when that felt stale, they made their own mixtapes. All we need now is the official album. Hurry up, fellas.
Kanye West: Mr. West may tour with Usher, produce tracks for Brandy and Janet Jackson and wear blazers in the summer, but he still has the same street mentality as last year. Whether it was through his own mixtapes, mixtapes from artists on his G.O.O.D. Music label like Consequence, GLC and John Legend, or just by appearing on street DJs' compilations via such tracks as "Selfish" or "Wack N---as," Kan wasn't afraid to let his platinum get a little dirty.
Nas: Nas didn't show up on the mixtape circuit as much as some of his contemporaries, but when he did, the impact was felt like A-Rod going to the Yankees. "Star Wars" and "Thief's Theme" are both mini-masterpieces.
Fat Joe: With a nickname like "Cook Coke Crack," Fat Joe painted himself into a corner. Fortunately, not only does Joe improve his skills every year, but he also has a mean accomplice in Remy Ma (the champ is here, just ask Lady Luck). Rap's real Bonnie and Clyde supplied the streets with two anthems, "Lean Back" and "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah."
Lil' Flip: Forget a free pair of air tickets, with all the frequent-flyer miles Flip has racked up this year, he can buy his own Soul Plane. Flip's appeared on freestyles with everyone from the G-Unit to the Diplomats to Snoop Dogg to Fabolous.
Snoop Dogg: Now that Snoop has the mixtape game down pat, he's bringing a new trend. What makes the Dogg so fly is that he makes mixtapes like Welcome to the Chuuch especially to get that Cali love, then he'll enlist a New York DJ like Whoo Kid or Sickamore to make another version of the mixtape for the rest of the country. Gs up!
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