Royce Da 5’9 – “The Bar Exam 3″ (Mixtape Review)
I wonder how come EVERYBODY has to wear NY fitted caps. Royce is from Detroit, and they have nice ballcaps too. Just saying...
Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is yet another nice edition of what’s slowly becoming my favorite mixtape series of all time. Powered by Royce Da 5’9 and (unfortunately) hosted by DJ Whoo Kid, “The Bar Exam 3” leaked ahead of its release date of May 31st, but is still as good of a mixtape that we’ve come to expect from the Slaughterhouse captain.
The Good:
All of Royce’s recent personality developments are included in this mixtape. You get every side of him, from the emotion (“Airplanes Freestyle”) to the lyricism and the aggression that we’re used to from Royce. The mixtape flows ok, and it even lets others shine on it, such as Kid Vishis, Bun B and Crooked I. The megamix of “Beamer Benz or Bentley” is also featured here as well.
The newest element that has been capitalized on this B.E.3 is the comedy that’s sprinkled throughout the mixtape. Royce has always been a funny dude, but he’s really showing that off through his song choice and his interludes. Songs like “I Hate Your Pants” (an R&B song targeting men who choose to wear skinny-leg jeans), “In The Club” (another R&B cut hosted by “DJ Mouse Budden” which highlights Royce’s new dance to replace the “Running Man”), and “Spark Yo Brain” (his remix to “Chocolate Rain”) alongside interludes about why he’s the most interesting man in the world are guaranteed to make you laugh. He’s a fool, but in a good way.
No diss if you read this, Royce.
The Bad:
It seems like Royce went harder lyrically on “Bar Exam 2” than he did on this new edition. It seems like on B.E.2 he had more to prove, and with this one he’s in a comfortable groove with his lyrics now, which isn’t exactly a bad thing.
Of course, it doesn’t help that some of his punchlines are drowned out by DJ Whoo Kid’s ad-libs and DJ tags. Regardless of how much Whoo Kid dilutes the project with random Tarzan effects and screaming (no, seriously), it still doesn’t help the fact that most of them are ill-placed and drown out the punchlines.
Bottom Line:
This is yet another great mixtape from Royce Da 5’9, and you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a mixtape series greater than the Bar Exams when this is all said and done. Royce is 3 for 3, and if you’ve yet to hear one of his mixtapes, there’s no time like now to jump in and enjoy.
Eljay’s Favorites:
- “Airplanes (Freestyle)”
- “Go Hard Pt. 1” feat. Kid Vishis
- “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley” (Shady MegaMix)
- “Real Hip-Hop” feat. Black Milk and Elzhi
(Download Royce’s B.E.3 Here courtest of 2dopeboyz.com)
Thanks