Music
7 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of the Month: February '17
Checking in on the hottest releases from another strong month of fresh hip-hop.
In a month full of big rap releases ( Future, Big Sean) and overblown "beefs" (Remy Ma vs. Nicki Minaj, Kanye vs. Drake), February's mixtapes offered a nice respite from the mainstream brouhaha. While there's never any clear trend or thematic similarities between each month's tape, the best releases this time around nonetheless involved idiosyncratic voices: From Starlito and Ralo to Jacquees and DeJ Loaf, these 7 mixtapes deepened the unique variety of vocal inflections and cadences that continue to bubble up from this corner of the world. Listen to the mixtapes below.
7. Jacquees, "Since You Playin'"
Some careers take off immediately, some take a little incubation. Rich Gang member Jacquees falls under the latter. Although the Atlanta songwriter is still relatively wet behind the ears in the grand scheme of things, he's been in the trenches for years now, with prototypical EP and mixtape releases to his name. Since last year, however, Jacquees's inevitable climb has accelerated tenfold with a DJ Spinz-hosted tape and a joint drop with Birdman. Jacquees is now signed to Birdman's Cash Money imprint, with two new mixtapes this year alone, both of which appear on this list. "Since You Playin'" came first — it was released late last month — and now reigns as the quintessential document of his sultry, VIP club aesthetic. Features come from Ty Dolla $ign, Tory Lanez, Quavo and more, but it's Jacquees's highly melodic, already weathered voice that takes center stage, proving as adaptable on the gloomier tracks ("Get Loose") as on the more lighthearted fare ("Shot"), with its best showing on the incredible, forward-thinking "Sink."
Listen: Jacquees, "Since You Playin'"
6. CA$HPASSION, "Possibilities EP"
Springing back from last year's self-titled debut, CA$HPASSION (aka Jimmy Cash) returns with an economical tape called "Possibilities." On its seven taut, smoothed-out jams, the Los Angeles artist adds to the increasing heap of Jeremih-like singers with his crisp delivery and a melodic athleticism that sounds surprisingly refined for a newcomer. Hook-centric tracks can often get tired, but CA$HPASSION plows through these bangers with an inspired verve, setting himself up for a career that'll quickly make us forget his longtime engineering roots for Travis Scott. Guests on this one include PnB Rock, Rob $tone and J$tash, with production work from Mike Daley, Martin $ky, Kyloh, Frankie and the man himself.
Listen: CA$HPASSION, "Possibilities EP"
5. Ralo, "Famerican Gangster 2"
Ralo's voice is an acquired taste: Higher pitched and tonally bizarre, with a nasal cadence that lands somewhere between a sick Young Thug and a cartoonish Boosie Badazz. But once you warm yourself up to the Atlanta rapper's idiosyncratic bent, his voice becomes a dominating force, living up to the mob king/gangster tropes evoked in his lyrics. Its essence is best felt juxtaposed against the tape's star-studded features, courtesy of everyone from Birdman and Future to Gucci Mane and 21 Savage. There's even a cut with a triple powerhouse attack from Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty, all of whom go hard. Though, you have to go hard if you wanna keep up with Ralo.
Listen: Ralo, "Famerican Gangster 2"
4. DeJ Loaf & Jacquees, "Fuck A Friend Zone"
Perhaps it's his unrelenting croons or slightly samey delivery, but there's something about Jacquees's voice that begs for contrast. I can't think of a more perfect foil than DeJ Loaf, one of Detroit's deadliest rappers and best singers. Here we have two rising stars delivering a seductive tape just in time for Valentine's Day. It's got a similar slo-mo R&B feel as "Since You Playin'," but "Fuck A Friend Zone" feels less "let me show you what I can do" and more "let's see what kinda noise we can make together." Nobody's kept in check, both enhance one another. It's a fruitful union between two artists who are on a sharp upward trajectory and who are both overdue for their own debut studio albums.
3. Mila J, "MILAULONGTIME"
Mila J's all about perseverance. After a couple of failed girl groups (Dame Four, Gyrl), a hiatus and subsequent name changes (Japallonia, MILA), the R&B singer has kept the releases at a steady pace with a slew of mixtapes and EPs since 2014. Her latest is called "Milaulongtime," a quick seven-track Valentine's Day present that sees her linking up exclusively with producer I.Rich (who also serves as the tapes's only feature). Together, the artists offer a dark yet sensual collection of R&B jams, with Mila's sweet vocal work blending beautifully with I.Rich's spacious and sometimes daring production (check the ending of "NEW CRIB" to hear how bold he can get). The tape is a stopgap before the release of her debut full-length, "Mila," which is expected this summer on Motown. Given her bad luck with record deals, whether or not the release actually comes out is up in the air, but this tape should tide us over nicely to whatever comes next.
Listen: Mila J, "MILAULONGTIME"
2. Young Dolph, "Gelato"
If you've been feeling down about how safe and clean rap has been lately, then you've come to the right blurb. Fighting once again for the title of King of Memphis, Young Dolph dropped one of this month's hardest mixtapes in "Gelato." The songs on this 11-tracker are couched in Dolph's typical realist transgressions, all Three 6 Mafia-influenced darkness and hooks straight from the school of Gucci. Killer cuts abound, but it's "Bagg It Up" that stands as the tape's most obvious highlight, a track that somehow gets the overly exposed Lil Yachty to rap about the streets rather than lil boats, resulting in one of the best unlikely pairings in recent memory. The tape even boasts a vicious (and hard to listen to) Yo Gotti diss track to end the whole nasty thing. Highly recommended stuff, but fair warning: This one's not for the queasy.
Listen: Young Dolph, "Gelato"
1. Starlito & Don Trip, "Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage)"
Let's be honest: On a technical level, lots of rappers are more than adequate, spitting on time and adhering to the conventions of their given rap subgenre. But then there are rappers who are so experienced, so honed-in that even their seemingly off-the-cuff, lackadaisical moments sound more inventive and inspired than your average artist. Just listen to, say, Starlito's incredible verse on "GYABag," in which he somehow locates new, weird rhythms in his trailing rhymes before passing the mic to Don Trip and his unique, tell-it-how-it-is urgency. You might miss these moments if you find yourself hypnotized by the oppressive, ominous production (couldn't blame you), but it is straight-up fire — and the tape's got sweet artwork to boot! The best part? The mixtape is just a preview of their forthcoming "Stepbrothers 3" release (the last installment came out in 2013), with Starlito's "Manifest Destiny" tape released a week later acting as the fat, juicy cherry on top.
