Hello Readers and welcome back to
another post by The Hip-Hop Review Board. When this blog was started it was
just something I cooked up to have yet another reason to write and to write
about another topic that I love to write about. However, something happened I
was not expecting. I have had some underground promoters and emcees reaching
out to me to review their music. I find this flattering that they want me to do
this, honored to do so, and am happy to help the underground rap scene out
anyway I can. This post is for one of the emcees I mentioned. For those readers
that want reviews hit me up on Twitter @automachi. Enjoy!
So this week I had someone reach
out to me to review an underground
emcee by the name of Big Maal. He has a mixtape out
on DatPiff called Campaignin Vol 2, which is what I am reviewing. He is from
Tucson, AZ, and has a consistent but unique sound. His sound is
refreshing because we do not have a lot of artists out there that has a
consistent but unique style and sound anymore. I think this is because there
are more collabos in hip-hop than ever before. Since beef is, for the most
part, a thing of the past you will see just about anybody working with anybody,
and in doing so you start to hear some uniform in sound. You have the largest
beat makers and producers creating any diversity not really the artist anymore
except their voice. For this reason the underground seen can be so very
refreshing.
Big Maal has a relatively softer
voice but still has great range. His songs do not sound uniform and his beats
are extremely well done, as well as the production for being underground. His
lyrics are fresh and his own. I cannot think of any emcee out there that is
representing Tucson, or Arizona for that matter. That is also refreshing
hearing an emcee representing a place you don’t always hear, like Houston, Cali
(in general), New York, etc.
Campaignin Vol 2 has that mixtape
sound too with a DJ coming in at the beginning of certain tracks. This is heard
a lot with DJ DRAMA and DJ Khaled and many more which makes you know this dude
knows what he is doing and how it should be properly done.
Review Summary:
Big Maal is an artist that needs to
be on every hip-hop head’s radar because his lyrics are tight and original. The
beats and tracks on Campaignin Vol 2 are excellent and original. I expect this
cat to be signed to a major label in a year or two. Big Maal is a good
introduction to the Tucson rap scene and I cannot wait to hear more.
Overall Mixtape Rating (Note:
Mixtape Scale is different than the Album Scale*):
3.5 out of 5
Track List and Track Review (Note:
Mixtape Scale is different than the Album Scale*):
Track 1.) How we get down = 4
Track 2.) Aint gotta ask = 2.5
Track 3.) Uh huh = 3.5
Track 4.) The world is my enemy =
3.5
Track 5.) You cant be my girl = 3
Track 6.) Off the hennessy = 3
Track 7.) Im Good = 3
Track 8.) Im a Hustla = 3
Track 9.) Tryin To Be A Boss = 3
Track 10.) Freestyle 1 = 2
Track 11.) She love BIG MAAL = 3.5
Track 12.) H.N.I.C. = 3.5
Track 13.) In the wind = 4
Track 14.) Honey Dip remix = 3
Track 15.) Riden By = 4
Track 16.) For the streets = 3.5
Track 17.) Freestyle 2 = 3
Track 18.) Im that guy = 3
You can find his mixtape on DatPiff
at http://www.datpiff.com/Big-Maal-Campaignin-Vol-2-mixtape.426976.html
Check it out. You will not be
disappointed.
-The Hip-Hop Review Board
* - The Mixtape Scale is adjusted
slightly higher than the Album Scale because mixtapes usually do not have
commercial production and have a large label helping them fund the effort.
