The one and only, as well as Providence's own, Jon Hope is in the mixtape review building. This has been a good week for new artist mixtapes I've received. I'm not gonna overly hype up Jon Hope but if you're not familiar with dude you need to get that ear to the street and see what you've been missing. As with anything in life there has to be balance. Hip Hop is so one sided right now corporate america is sitting on one side fat as hell eating whole buffets while artist like Jon Hope are jumping up and down on the other end of spectrum trying to bring some balance to the game AKA diverse content, fun, MIC skills, knowledge as well as empowerment. The audacity is a perfect title.
Statik Selektah is setting the tone skills wise which is a perfect fit for Jon Hope's overall vibe. Its one thing to have any DJ just playing your song but it's a whole 'nother level to have Statik Selektah cutting up your hot lines and highlighting the music as only a proper DJ should. "Agreed" is my joint. I think I had this joint up in the Rapmullet Trap House IPod a while ago. He said: "these rappers is clitoris / vagina monologues they sounding like intercourse / my flow menstrual period dead serious..." The flow is sharp people, damn. "Breathin" featuring Taktix has potential. Just a cool vibe with that shit cats can relate to and a lil message. When is the last time you heard and MC rhyme about AIDS over Nas' "Theif's Theme"? Yea I thought so. The storytelling on here is even next level...the balance continues. The piano in "The Game" had me open and that hook is straight classic. I think MCs need listen to this joint and maybe then they can figure out what there doing in this game. This track has the universal appeal as well. "H.O.P.E" is that mixtape music over a classic instrumental while Jon Hope breaks down his name. "This is ghetto genetics / I'm hetero-sexing / my...soul is imbedded with a poets perfection / the...faker ya gangsta the better the leverage / the...rhythm my fetish my words are prophetic.." Man I could quote the whole song for "Lyrics" so if theres only one track you peep let it be this joint and marvel at well...the lyrics. MCs need to lyrically tuck ya chains on this one.
Balance is most def the theme here people...and this project has plenty of it. You got your anthems with cuts like "Agreed" and "Give Us Free". You got your message, your story telling and your insight with "The Monster" and "The Game". You got your home town love with "New England" and you got your skills with "Lyrics". Throw in some "Skits" on some real shit, Statik Selektah on the cuts and you got "The Audacity Mixtape". (8/18/07)
