When Scott Crow isn't trying to sing, this is good, and fans of Televangel's production style will get something out of it, but God, I don't get how he has gone beyond singing in the shower.
Best Tracks: Lightbringer, Radiation, I'm Still Here
I've spun this about five times, which I guess is evidence for it being easy to get through, but there's nothing noteworthy or memorable for having listened to it over and over. Marques raps a little and on songs like 'Tbwye' he sounds like Drake. Nothing bad. Nothing great.
Best Tracks: The Best Worst Year Ever, Last Drop, Captain U, Sweet Rain
'No More' aside, that is great, this is an average R&B album that just comes and goes. 'The World to Me' is probably the next best. There are countless better R&B projects from the late 90's early '00s.
Best Tracks: No More
Many contemporary R&B artists tend to shift towards a more soulful sound as they age, and Tyrese has followed a similar path here. While it's all decent, nothing about it really stands out to me. It might not be fair to call it boring, but it comes close at times and there's nothing I will be going back to.
Best Tracks: Wildflower, Rescue, Unbelievable
This was a tape to promote LL's 'Exit 13' album in '08. It's a mixture of some new tracks, some songs where other artists are going solo, (for whatever reason), and L rapping over some well known songs from the era like Maino's 'Hi Hater' and Ross' 'The Boss'. Wayne's 'A Milli' is also featured where L uses autotune that just doesn't work for him and there are other times throughout this where he sounds like he's trying too hard.
All in all the mixtape is okay. There are moments on 'New York Gangstaz,' and 'The Truth' that see L spitting about subjects that he hasn't touched on much before but there's nothing memorable. As ended up being the case with 'Exit 13' the production leaves room for improvement here as well when we aren't hearing reused instrumentals.
Best Tracks: 5 Boroughs, Laptop Gangstaz, You Live and You Learn (Papoose), New York Gangstaz, Freestyle II (Grafh), The Truth
