Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 2 Mixtape (2012) – Review

Review: The Philly MC Meek Mill, member of Rick Ross’s MMG, is one of MTV’s 2012 Ten Hottest MCs, along with other MMG members Ross and Wale. Though, personally, I am very surprised to see him there, especially with his latest mixtape Dreamchasers 2, the follow up to a fairly weak Dreamchasers Mixtape. Much of Dreamchasers 2 is mixtape quality street bangers. Musically, the album is not very interesting, as most of the beats are generic throwaways. Though, Jahlil Beats, Cardiak, KeY Wane, and Beat Billionaire provide some decent stuff – but again, mixtape quality. Normally, this would be fine, but many of today’s best new artists in hip hop put out mixtapes that are better than most other artists’ albums, and thus there is a high bar to strive for, and this tape is nowhere near as good. Not to mention, Meek Mill is often overshadowed by his many guests. Big Sean, Wale, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake all outshine him on the tape. It is not to say Meek Mill is bad, as that is not the case. Dreamchasers 2 is just disappointing because Meek Mill is supposedly one of the hottest MCs right now, and fans of his music know he can put out great tracks like Tupac Back. This mixtape is fine for fans of MMG and Meek Mill, but certainly not a must for fans of hip hop in general. 2/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      Take U Home – Produced by Beat Billionaire, featuring Wale and Big Sean

2)      Flexing – Produced by Jahlil Beats

3)      Burn – Produced by Jahlil Beats, featuring Big Sean

Available on Digital Download

Rick Ross – Rich Forever Mixtape (2012) – Review

Rick Ross – Rich Forever

With his upcoming fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don’t delayed, Miami MC Rick Ross dropped a new mixtape – Rich Forever – as a preview of what we can expect. Essentially, it is a series of street bangers featuring Ross, his MMG cohorts and friends. And with a voice like Ross’s, why not make street bangers – but at the same time, I liked the more sonically soulful work he was doing in the past (stuff like Usual Suspects and Rich off Cocaine off Deeper Than Rap, or his verse on Kanye West’s Devil in a New Dress). Among the many guests, NaS by far shines, dropping an excellent verse. Wale, Meek Mill and Drake contribute good stuff too. The tape also has a few of hip hop’s most talked about up-and-comers: French Montana, 2 Chains, and Future. Lyrically, Ross sticks to his character’s usual topics: money, drugs, cars, fashion, girls, being rich, selling drugs, being wealthy, and so on and so forth. And yet, a credit to Ross, his character is so well crafted that it still has not become tired and shabby (at least not for me). Rich Forever is probably not going to win Ross new fans, but for those who like what he does it is a good holdover until God Forgive, I Don’t. 3/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      Triple Beam Dreams – Produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, featuring NaS

2)      Holy Ghost – Produced by Lil’ Lody, featuring Diddy

3)      Yella Diamonds – Produced by Beat Billionaire

Available on Digital Download