XV - Everybody's Nobody

XV, the self proclaimed "23 year old, cold, square dude from Kansas" has been quietly making a huge mark on the underground hip hop world for quite some time.

Late last night, XV released his LONG awaited mixtape "Everybody's Nobody," after months of single leaks, radio debuts, and twitter updates surrounding the project. As of this moment, the mixtape has been downloaded 3695 times... and this is after he released his mixtape at 9pm ...damn...

Well some of us at Blue Vinyl Radio have been listening to XV for quite some time, and think you should give his tape a listen. Not only am i going to post up the link to his FREE MIXTAPE, but I'm providing ya'll with a Blue Vinyl style song-by-song album review.

i know ya'll don't like to read -_-' so let me take care of the links first
CLICK HERE to download Everybody's Nobody
CLICK HERE to go to XV's Myspace to download his other 5 million songs FOR FREE.

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XV - Everybody's Nobody [review]
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1. Everybody’s Nobody -This track dropped a few months ago. I wouldn't have expected XV to start the album with any other song. First of all... it's the title track. But more importantly it introduces who XV is the rap world. More importantly, it's a good song.
   
2. Awesome -This is probably one of my least favorite tracks off the mixtape. There's nothing really wrong with it, i love the piano in the background, the song just doesn't capture me though.
   
3. vizzy vizzy vizzy - i heard this track a while back with a different beat, so i’m glad it as refreshed with something different. Vizzy gets extra points for using the word “agoraphobic” on a track.
4. A.D.D - reminiscent of XV’s “i am (somebody)” from "Forty Days/Nights." The song is really upbeat [obviously, it’s called A.D.D], instant mood picker-upper. The beat has a 80’s-90’s alternative/retro feel about it, can’t really explain, but I like it.
5. Come back down - only XV would reference sponge bob squarepants and fresh prince of Bel-Air in the SAME SONG, all with a sweet sounding dame on the hook.
6. Gobstopper - Hype beat. Chocolate Factory allusion to please my inner childhood. Sweet audio clip at the end from the classic movie? Wiz Khalifa on the track? Yes!
7. Mirror’s Edge - Us @ Blue Vinyl AND Hot 97 released this track earlier, so chances are if you’re reading this you already love it. Anyone who remotely knows anything about the gamer world is sure to appreciate the title and concept and I’m sure hundreds of XV fans will appreciate the song for its EA reference. ALL of his fans will appreciate the laid back feel of this track.
8. Blinded - same feel as mirrors edge, with added effects & a Harlem’s Cash feature
9. Start a War - Thanks to "Please, Hold", I love Colin Munroe, excited to see another remake.
10. Used To - Cute storytelling on XVs part to nicely compliment Ne-Yo's vocals.
11. Live vs Livin -I'm a Big Sean fan, so i was happy to hear XV put a track featuring him on this tape.
    
12. Now Look - It gets tiring staying up listening to an entire mixtape to review it for the next morning, but this beat actually pulled me in. Really catchy on first listen, automatic fav.
13. Fall Out The Sky - Very Chill
14. Me, you - another bangin beat. You can imagine how pleased i was to hear a remixed version of XVs Uptown Freestyle. I’m pretty sure when everyone in the hip hop world heard it they wished it was longer... now it’s the longest song on the tape. sweet.
15. The Rabbit Hole - i have a thing for audio clips in songs, so of course i loved the luminous sounding snippit in the beginning of the song, followed by the macabre piano. [Sidenote: i’m from Houston, Texas, so i like to keep count of the random Texas mentions on XVs songs. It's a lot... i'm just sayin...]
    
16. ending credits [interlude]
    
17. Undeniable - XV always fuses hip hop with alternative rock music and i always love that about his music. Plus, the piano sure do sound pretty.
    
18. Bad News - am i the only person who finds it interesting that this isn’t my first time hearing someone use an 808 beat for the song on the mixtape that vents about the industry? or maybe that was just this mixtape and UKNOWBIGSEAN.
19. In Due Time - Anyone can appreciate the soulful sample XV used for this song. It seems like the appropriate ending song for this tape, lookin ahead at the future of his career. we’re all waiting for the day XV makes it big... in due time i suppose...

Overall? pretty good mixtape. You know Houston's big so i'll definitely be jamming to this as i drive around the city.

-[|| Lady Trace -Y ||]-

HEARTBREAK DRAKE PT 2 MIXTAPE REVIEW

MIXTAPE REVIEW: DRAKE

It's ya' boy Grandmaster Benji with a semi-in depth look into Drake's Heartbreak Drake Pt 2 Mixtape. With the recent announcement that Drake has been signed by Universal Records and with the mixed reviews of his most recent music video "Best I've Ever Had", a lot of eyes are now on Drake to see if he can pull through as the acclaimed rapper many see him as. As a die-hard Drake fan, I'm here to tell that his mixtape has several noteworthy songs that are guaranteed to hold you over until the Boy Wonda comes out with his debut album or with another mixtape.

Heartbreak Drake Part 2 Mixtape
[Click here to download!]

1. Drake Signs Intro
[Short announcement informing us of Drake's signing into Universal Records.]

2. Do it Now (Exclusive)
[My personal favorite of this mixtape. Drake uses a mellow but vivacious beat to match his bars that cover the anxiety Drake feels after "reaching the top."]

3. Juice (Exclusive)
[Starts with a percussion-heavy structured beat with a light electronic sound to deliver a freestyle-sounding track.]

4. The Winner (Exclusive)
[Laid back bars with a Rocky Movie sounding beat mixed with a variety of sounds; Drake spits about his rise in the game and how far he's come.]

5. Slow it Down (Exclusive)
[Drake hits us with a melody in the form of a narrative; With a heavy bass combined with lullaby-esque sounds, Drake expresses how he would take/do things in a relationship.]

6. Something (Exclusive)
[Begins with an ominous and epic orchestrated-like sound that transforms into an explosion of bass and futuristic sounds; Drake harmonizes about the possibility of something that feels like love.]

7. Stunt on You (Exclusive)
[A warped melody combined with the vocals of Drake presents listeners to a short narrative why the Boy Wonda decided to "stunt on her."]

8. Belly Shit
[Light keyboard taps, space warps, and a strong bumping beat empowers the track where Drake addresses his haters after getting a record deal.]

9. The One featuring Mary J. Blige
[A club sounding fast paced track keeps Mary J's bars/vocals flowing and leave you wanting to move and know that she's the one! Drake's bars come through when least expected but let's listeners know that the wait was worth it.]

10. Invented Sex featuring Trey Songz
[Slow jam with a couple of finger snaps features Trey Songz and Drake who vocalize/rhyme how they leave girls feeling as if they invented sex. ;) ]

11. Digital Girl featuring Jamie Foxx, the Dream, Kanye West
[A series of warped and escalating digital sounds followed by a mellow sounding bass; features an array of various artists who each add their personal tastes and views on their stories of meeting women through technology. One of the favorite of the mixtape.]

12. Successful featuring Trey Songz
[From his previous mixtape So Far Gone, Trey Songz and Drake express how they want the money, cars, clothes, and the hoes. I suppose they just wanna be, just wanna be... successful.]

13. Unstoppable featuring Lil Wayne, Santogold
[Combines slow steady sounds of percussion with samples of Santogold's electronica sounds; Drake and Weezy explain why they are unstoppable.]

14. Goin' in featuring Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy
[I'm not going to comment on this one. The title should be enough. This track goes hard. ]

15. Take you Down
[This slow jam and melody is for the ladies. A heavy bass, combined with the lively sounds of an electric "guitar" and keyboard power this tune to show ladies how Drake Drizzy Rogers gets it in when he's takes the ladies down.]

16. Best I Ever Had featuring Ma$e
[The mixtape ends with a twist on the fan's favorite of Drake's So Far Gone. Ma$e comes in to bless or taint this track. It's up to you to let me know whether his return was worth it.]

17. Thank Me Later Coming Soon Outro
[Drake discusses his outlook regarding his new independent but well supported future.]

FINAL VERDICT:Worth listening to; Definitely gains the trusts of listeners regarding his future considering the mixed reviews of his most recent music video; A handful of noteworthy tracks and along with several classics make this mixtape one of my personal favorites!

If you hated the mixtape, I can't tell you much now. But! I'll try once more to win you over to Drake with this wonderful video!

I'd definitely wife the chick at [2:03-2:06]. Oh-Em-Gee Wilikers Batman! Oh boy!

This has been your boy DJ Grandmaster Benji. It's been fun. Until my next post or mixtape review my fellow bloggers and websurfers. Roger and out!

([ Grandmaster Benji ])