If all you put on your mixtapes is D-Block, G-Unit, Dipset and Jay Z you are not part of the east coast revival. What you are is a follower of what's semi-popular right now. Followers are doomed to always be followers and will never lead. Mixtape leaders take chances, carve out their own lane and don't give a shit what the next DJ is doing. Diggz & Rated R know what they're doing but the question for the rest of ya'll is...are you a leader or a follower?

Did Jadakiss just kick a hole in the speaker pull the plug and then jet on "Burners"? I think so. We'll have to see if his album is as potent as this joint. "Yea Right" is Grafh at his finest talking that shit...one of the hardest tracks of the year; I've said it before. There is no east coast revival without Ransom. "Street Stress" may have some singing on it but the essence is all Ransom. It might be just me but the beat for "Drop It" was kind of weak. Papoose and Busta were straight but that beat did nothing for their bars. That "Bridging The Gap" joint was kinda fly. Young Chris holding his own along side of Kool G. Rap like a true vet. Def can't have a revival of the east withouth PA doing their thing. Gillie Da Kid went in on "PA to AZ", I can't front. "En Why Cee" with Juganot, Joell Ortiz, Uncle Murda and Scam Jones on the beat is the best track on the CD. Scram laced the beat for one but Uncle Murda def impressed with his verse. Cats are zzzzzzzzzz on Killa Sha. Peep him with Large Pro on "Exclusive"; dude is the truth with the flow. Willie the Kid may not be "east coast" persay but his style is soaked in it and he's got one of the best deliveries in the game today. Peep "Pimpin" and you see why he rhymed after his bro La the Darkman. The sleeper track of the CD has to be Joey Bags on the beat for "Heat Ni99as". Chozen Few need to work on the mic presence but Laz came thru and ate up the beat up.

The thing about being a leader in this mixtape game is that it isn't easy...the road less traveled. Its part of the reason why you see DJs who have been doing this for years and they haven't gone anywhere with it...same formula, same MCs over and over practicing the philosophy of "if it ain't broke why fix it". What they don't understand is the shit was broke from the jump cause they just been following the next mans blue print and not developing their own. A few cats get it tho, Diggz and Rated R do and a some others. The grind continues... (5/28/07)