Mixtape Monday: Pounds x Oh No, Westside Gunn x Mr. Green, Rahiem Supreme, + More
This Mixtape Monday features a collection of rap projects, from grimy street releases and true school nostalgia to trap adjacent items and lo-fi instrumental tapes.
There are a few Easter Eggs tacked onto the end for the funk and soul heads, but this one is for the spitters.
Pounds and Oh No kick things off with the Borgata EP. Westside Gunn and Mr. Green keep the momentum with Flygod Is Good...All The Time and D.C.’s own Rahiem Supreme keeps it thoro on Vintage Fendi. Philly spitters Lawrence Arnell and Asaad both drop projects that touch on their respective journeys and connections.
On the lighter side, Mogillah returns with Electric Boogie On The Moon Pt. III, The Pendletons drop the fresh boogie-funk excursion entitled Funk Forever, and DJ Big Jacks digs gospel on the sinless soul tape Daily Bread.
Pounds x Oh No - Borgata
Rochester and Oxnard connect on the cinematic, four-track Borgata EP from Pounds and Oh No.
Rochester native POUNDS makes it very clear on his standout new EP, 'Borgata,' that he's cut from a similar anti-hero, mafioso-rap cloth that led to so many classic records over the years. Armed with his unique voice and meditative delivery, he draws inspiration from the artists he listened to growing up (Mobb Deep, Sean Price, Nas) and pens gritty street tales that are all his own. With 'Borgata,' POUNDS takes it to the next level as he connects with famed West Coast producer Oh No, known for his superb solo work and collaborations with Alchemist (as the duo Gangrene). Together, POUNDS and Oh No have crafted a raw and cinematic EP that’s brimming with vivid imagery over soulful loops.
Westside Gunn x Mr. Green - Flygod Is Good...All The Time
Westside Gunn and Mr. Green drop the six-track Flygod Is Good...All The Time EP. The brief tracklisting makes this project seem like a small bite, but the booming production and Gunn’s bloodthirst on tracks like “Part Deux” and “Stash House” suggest otherwise.
Rahiem Supreme - Vintage Fendi
D.C. spitter Rahiem Supreme rhymes filthy on the 9-track Vintage Fendi EP. The project produced by Drwn, COTA, P.funk and Chuptheproducer combines tough chatter with 90s nostalgia to produce a booming love letter to the block.
Lawrence Arnell - Beast or Brethren
Philly spitter Lawrence Arnell builds on solid foundation as an affiliate of Jedi Mind Tricks and Army of the Pharoahs with his new project Beast or Brethren. The twelve-track project finds him battle-ready, dropping slice-of-life bars against soulful, true school production.
“I want to show the world that you don’t have to pretend to be something you’re not in order to entertain.”—Lawrence Arnell
Asaad - White 3
Asaad links with some of his favorite artists and producers on the 22-track White 3 tape. Straddling the line between true school and trap, Asaad’s latest boasts appearances from Joey BAda$$, Lil Uzi Vert, Kid Cudi, Nascent, Miles Chancellor and more.
Dirt Disciples - Stand For Something
Dirt DisciplesRome Clientel and DJ Concept do it for the love on the ten-track project Stand For Something. The compilation is a mix of new, unreleased and under the radar tracks from their catalog. Clientel and Concept are joined on their latest venture by Chaundon, Skyzoo, Rick Gonzalez, DJ Eclipse and AC on Demand.
Renegade El Rey - My Way Out
Memphis spitter Renegade El Rey puts on for the South with the 11-track project entitled My Way Out. Tackling subjects like motivation, triumph, ambition and heartache, the trunk ready tape is a testament to his versatility.
Mogillah - Electric Boogie On The Moon Pt. III
Mogillah drops another gem with the arrival of the Electric Boogie On The Moon Pt. III tape. The laidback seven-track beat tape mixed and mastered by Josh Hey and Flote features an appearance from Ayana Hay. There is also a pair of choice Nas and Beanie Sigel flips that make the cut.
The Pendletons - Funk Forever
E da Boss and Trailer Limon return as The Pendletons with the arrival of the Funk Forever EP. The six-track follow-up to their 2016 Gotta Get Out EP is a fun boogie funk excursion that conjures Prince and features appearances from Elive, Potatohead People and Ishtar. There’s also a Buscrates remix for good measure.
DJ Big Jacks - Daily Bread
Get a taste of the gospel according to DJ Big Jacks on the Daily Bread tape. Billed as "75 minutes of sinless soul," the limited edition tape is divided between the "anointed" side and the "blessed" side. The latter might be the harder of the two, but both are packed to the gills with heat.
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Karas Lamb writes and digs for tunes you haven’t heard yet. She actually wants to listen to your mixtape. Follow her on Twitter @karaslamb or Instagram @blamblamkaraslam.