Chiddy Bang – Peanut Butter and Swelly Mixtape (2011) – Review

Chiddy Bang – Peanut Butter and Swelly

Chiddy Bang, made up of MC Chiddy and producer Xaphoon Jones, burst onto the scene in 2009 with their hit Opposite Of Adults, off The Swelly Express mixtape. Since then, they have released a fantastic mini-mixtape Air Swell (which everyone needs to have a copy of) and two EPs (Opposite of Adults and The Preview). Peanut Butter and Swelly is good, but probably the weakest of their releases (as all the really good stuff is probably being saved for their debut album Breakfast due sometime in 2011). The album does feature the typical hip hop/electronic/club pop sound from Jones, with great lyrics and rhyming pattern from Chiddy, but some of the tracks just do not have the same repeat appeal of almost all the group’s previous output (or maybe I just do not like their newer sound as much, but really I think it is more that some of this is B-side stuff). And that is just it, the sound on the album is mostly the same, but sort of different too, as the sonic sensibility of the group evolves. The mixtape also has a few good features on it including Mac Miller, Train and The Knocks. While not quite as good as their other two mixtapes, Peanut Butter and Swelly is enough to hold fans over until Breakfast finally comes around. 3/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      I Can’t Stop (Freestyle) – Produced by Flux Pavilion

2)      Heatwave – Featuring Mac Miller, Casey Veggies & Trae The Truth, produced by Xaphoon Jones

3)      All Over – Featuring Gordon Voidwell, produced by Xaphoon Jones

Available on digital download

Mac Miller – On And On And Beyond EP (2011) – Review

Mac Miller – On And On And Beyond

Among the artists named to XXL’s 2011 Freshman List, Mac Miller’s sound fits into the backpacker hip hop sub-genre. His flow is laid back and chill, but he does not have the vocal charisma of other artists in the genre like Kid Cudi, which leaves him sounding a little bland. His lyrics are mostly positive. He is talking about his life and not attacking others in the game. His message is directed at a younger audience (and that demographic makes up a high percentage of his fans, and he himself is only 19). Musically, he raps over old-school beats mixed with sort of a Gym Class Heroes sound. The Pittsburg MC has the skills (both lyrically and in his flow) to be among the better rappers coming up, and certainly many regard him as such – but On And On And Beyond is too much of a sit back and zone out album (i.e. background music) to be truly great. It does not engage its listener. However, Mac Miller is someone to watch. 2/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      Live Free – Produced by Jay Fish

2)      Another Night – Produced by Matt Grover

3)      Life Ain’t Easy – Produced by ID Labs

Available on Digital Download