Posts tagged ‘Lil B’

XXL’s 2011 Freshman Class: The Mixtape Review

[Written By: Jake Bouvy]

[Bouvy’s Rating: 2 / 5 ]

Bouvy’s Favorites

• “Man on Fire” (Big K.R.I.T.)
• “Alabama G*td*mn” (Yelawolf)
• “Bruce Wayne” (Mac Miller)
• “Don’t Understand” (Kendrick Lamar)

In what might have been an attempt to offer a bit more information about its freshmen’s artistry, XXL put forth XXL’s 2011 Freshman Class: The Mixtape. However, unlike many of today’s mixtapes, this feels like a hastily thrown together compilation, with very few of the heralded group showcasing their best work.

The mixtape opens with the three cyphers that were previously released through the XXL website, and while they are dope, and the juxtaposition makes the three cyphers seem like one mega-cypher, the lack of original content from the get-go is very frustrating.  The cypher was a blessing for some of the artists, like Lil B, who spit a respectable verse, but it also raised a few questions, mainly regarding Diggy.  I’ve heard his “American Pie” verse at least three times for three separate occasions.  His reliance on that verse is definitely a bad look. Read more