Review #365: Zippa Castro "While You Were Sleeping"

Reviewed on 12.20.2009 & 12.21.2009 (Review #365)




Wat up? FrankieThaLuckyDog back again fa anotha review! And speakin’ of reviewz, it was a year ago I reviewed a REALLY HOT CD from my boy BluBlack wit Code Blu!! Tha CD REALLY defined this year (2009) and now, 199 reviewz later, here I am wit Zippa Castro! I reviewed a previous CD of his not too long ago and now, I gon get into his recent one! Here goes my review fa Zippa Castro While You Were Sleeping! BTW, nice title! Start Time: 11:53 PM | End Time: 12.21.2009 @ 11:50 AM


Quick Note: I rate each song from 1.0 – 5.0. Each rating iz my own opinion!! I only please myself with my ratings!! I don’t care how lyrical you are! As long as it’s jammin’ enough for me to like it! I look for beats, then vocals, and then lyrics. To determine my favorites, I will differ tha 4.0 ratings (if a song gets at least a 4.0 rating from me, I love it already. If at least a 4.6 rating, I pretty much REALLY LOVE it as it’s considered “mindblowin’” when I hear it) so any song can earn up to a maximum of a 5.0 rating. Anything I type before “ >>> ” iz what I’m sayin’ before I listen to tha song. Anything after I type “ >>> ” iz what I think of tha song while I’m listening to it.

© 2009 CD Review by FrankieThaLuckyDog. Other than tha main artist or affiliated people with tha main artist, this review iz to not be used in anyone else’s words!


01. “Intro”
How will you start this CD off? >>> This iz a gr8 intro! I like how you flowin’ on this shit right here, still comin’ through wit tha gr8 style you had on tha last CD wit tha hood shit! Nice job deliverin’ tha verse and I’m sure this CD’ll be tha shit like your last one!! My Rating: 4.3


02. “I’m Goin’ In”
LOL @ this beat choice… You’ll prolly rip it though! >>> …Or maybe not. I thought this was tha Drake/Wayne beat but it sounds original? I reheard tha beat tag in tha beginning and it sounded like 2 Toxic; no wonder why it’s hot! So, you just know, “drop outs and drug dealaz?” Tha drug dealin’ thing can pass fa this shit but tha whole “drop out” shit iz yuck ta me. I don’t know how there can be a high percentage of drop outs… Anyway, definitely a good 1st verse and tha hook (wit mainly tha title) definitely flowed through catchy! Tha 2nd verse sounds catchy and familiar? I thought I heard it before wit tha “terd” part in tha beginning of tha verse but this wasn’t on your last CD… Still, you DEFINITELY did ya thang here, my dude! My Rating: 4.5


03. “Four Walls”
What could this be about? >>> Sounds like tha intro iz a lil’ on tha softer/Soul side? I hear you singin’ Outkast “Ms. Jackson” wit your “fa eva, eva” shit… Odd intro but it sounds like your rappin’ iz pretty good on tha 1st verse. Interestin’, especially wit tha “didn’t even pull tha sock off my foot” part. Tha hook iz like tha 2nd ½ of tha intro; I still think it’s okay, but above average. Sounds like some good ol’ Eminem style of rappin’ in tha 2nd verse; nice job once again on tha flow! My Rating: 3.9


04. “If I Ain’t” Feat. Southern Klassik
Ooh, a collaboration! Looks like it’ll be good! >>> Sounds like a jacked beat wit tha sound effect in tha beginning (typical Drumma Boy sound). Tha volume sounds kinda too loud on tha beat in tha beginning? Anyway, it’s a “Louisiana/Georgia connection” here wit tha collaboration; let’s see how it goes! You’re doin’ tha damn thang on tha hook; it’s pretty good! Gotta luv how you sound on these jointz!! You’re on tha 1st verse and it’s DEFINITELY on a street level here! Nice job and now, let’s see how this Georgia connection gon last on tha 2nd verse wit Southern Klassik… Ooh, gr8 voice fa this shit! Glad it’s on an upbeat level!! Sounded like you found/discovered a gr8 dude so props ta you, Zip to tha “pa,” lol! My Rating: 4.4


05. “Heaven Help Ya”
Not sure why a title like this’ll be tha 5th song on a mixtape but let’s see anywayz… >>> A website’s producer tag before tha hook… This iz much betta than what I thought would come outta it (based off tha title)! I thought it would be more on tha “depressin’ strugglin’” side but it’s not! Tha beat iz pretty good and your hook iz catchy! Tha 1st verse sounded good; you know what you doin’ in these streetz right chea, ya heard me! Nice job keepin’ it street once again in tha 2nd verse; you know how ta deal wit some hood shit, ya heard me! LOL @ tha beat chorus change at 3:15! Didn’t expect dat ta happen on an undaground Rap joint, lol! My Rating: 4.3


06. “Keep It Poppin’” Feat. Young Hustle
Ooh, Young Hustle on tha comeback!!! Haven’t heard him since A-Mar & Dyl’s 2007 Raggz 2 Riches CD!! I really liked him but neva found his MySpace… Let’s see how y’all “keep it poppin’!!” >>> Oh no, a slow sample in tha beginning… (“la la la, la, la la…”). Tha beat now sounds like Jordin Sparks “One Step At A Time” wit tha BPMs… Tha 1st verse sounds good wit you on it. Tha otha shit on this mixtape so far sounded betta… Oh no, Auto-Tune in tha hook from you… It’s aight, not dat bad though. Dat boy Young Hustle iz on tha 2nd verse! He sounds GR8 on this beat! Although tha beat could’ve been betta fa him, at least he has a good flow on it! It felt like it went by quickly but I’m glad he contributed! My Rating: 3.7


07. “Super Mario”
Uh oh!! LOL!! Gotta luv tha title!! Iz tha jacked beat gon be… a Super Mario Bros. theme song or somethin’? Lemme see wit curious anticipation!! >>> LOL, tha beat sounds original here… Off to a good start wit tha catchy-ass hook wit tha Mario sounds in tha beat and tha Mario lyrics when you’re “powered up,” ya dig! Some of tha lyrics (e.g., “on like a lighthouse”) sound like they’re quoted or somethin’ from bigger mainstream artists… Either way, it’s definitely hella catchy here wit tha Mario lyrics! I thought I would hear more jiggalatin’ lyrics since Mario “powers up!” Tha 2nd verse iz here and it’s “fulla purp,” “gangsta,” fulla “buku games,” and “arcadeful,” lol! LOL, I could imagine if someone was featured on this; what would they really do, lol? My Rating: 4.6


08. “Rubber Bands”
I thought I saw this once before? LOL, only 1:24 on tha length… It wasn’t on tha last CD so lemme see what it iz this time… >>> LOL @ tha fade-in; shortened version fa this mixtape? Pretty good beat once again (on a darker side) and tha hook sounds cool wit tha screwed voice that’s about “rubber bands,” ya dig! You’re on tha verse here and you got some good alternatin’ titles here (like wit tha “beatin’ tha pussy up” line). Nice job fa a really short song! My Rating: 4.1


½time: I don’t know what it iz but I’m HELLA tired! Tha average CD rating iz a 4.2 right now so you KNOW you’re doin’ a GR8 job!! I’m plannin’ ta sleep now and wake up tomorrow ta finish this review. I think it’ll get me more motivated ta reviewin’ tha last two CDs and one DVD before I have none left, so lemme get my rest! *Sleeps* Aight, back up in here 11 hours later! Let’s see what we got fa tha rest of this GR8 CD!!


09. “I’m A Problem” Feat. Cas & Chico
Ooh, gr8 collaboration here!! This should do tha damn thang fa a song exactly five minutes long!! >>> Tha beat start iz definitely watz good! Tha hook goes hard, fa sho! I like tha 2nd ½ of tha hook as it’s tha Baton Rouge formula of repetitiveness in a hook! It sounds like Cas on tha 1st verse; tight shit here! LOL @ tha “don’t make my dick hard” warning. Afta dat line, he got a Young Ready type flow wit tha whole “don’t fuck wit me” type shit. That was DEFINITELY a NICE 1st verse and tha hook sounds gr8 once again!! Tha 2nd verse must be Chico here… I heard him on one of those One-i mixtapes that I reviewed two weeks ago (I think tha song was wit Cas and called “That Boy There”). Once again, this shit sounds good; nice job fa contributing, Chico! When tha beat stopped from 2:45 – 2:47, it sounded like a BluBlack beat tha way it stopped for a few seconds and picked up wit tha hook! And now, here you finally are on tha 3rd verse; saved tha focus fa last! Let’s see if you can compete wit Cas’s flow/verse… Good competition although this iz gr8 work together! I think I liked Cas’s verse a lil’ betta but you doin’ it gr8 wit tha gutta shit here; Cas had more of a near-gangsta verse. My Rating: 4.6


10. “For Me”
Will this be “for me,” lol? >>> A lil’ different for a start. I hear tha hook now and I hear a guitar. That part sounds good; I don’t know what ta say about what you’re sayin’ in tha hook though… Tha rappin’ iz pretty good on tha 1st verse; you’re flowin’ pretty nice on this beat. I like how you mentioned “Down Bad” and that you fucked wit them at one point; good shit. Tha 2nd verse has good street lyrics but doesn’t really work on this mellow beat. My Rating: 3.6


11. “Nightz Like This” Feat. Young Hustle
Tha title makes me feel like tha last song on a preview… But, wit Young Hustle on it, it should be betta! >>> More upbeat but kinda odd “for me” wit tha Soul sample; it sounds betta though. Hearin’ you wit your drug/smokin’ lyrics in tha 1st verse and it sounds like “your life” story here; good job on tha verse this time though. I hear Hustle on tha 2nd verse and what’s up wit “smokin’ a cigarette?” How ‘bout a blunt? Just like wit tha last song wit your 2nd verse, Hustle had an okay verse but would’ve sounded betta on a betta beat. My Rating: 3.6


12. “Over Da Edge” Feat. Southern Klassik
Hope this iz more my style… I can’t exactly say, “it’s a betta feature.” I feel it’s tha same, but for this mixtape, this iz a more anticipated featured, statistically! >>> Sounds like anotha miss for me wit tha weird Auto-Tune start… Tha beat iz pretty good once again (like #9) and you’re soundin’ pretty good on tha 1st verse; good shit. Tha hook iz a lil’ too weird for me; could’ve taken out tha Auto-Tune. Oh shit, even gotta deal wit it in tha 2nd verse too! What’s up wit tha fuck-up 2nd verses? This iz three in a row? Tha last two had good lyrics on not-so-good beats and now, this one had a good start on a gr8 beat but HORRIBLE vocals!! Tha 2nd ½ of tha 2nd verse was a lil’ worse wit tha “make it rain” shit. My Rating: 3.2


13. “Where Ya Work”
MUCH BETTA!! Heard this one before too so it’s a remedy from tha last few songs!! Take a look at my gr8 feedback previously: Sounds like a Gucci Mane type beat for tha beginning. I think I hear a Prince Blakk (I think) type of sound in tha beginning too… Glad you dropped tha Auto-Tune fa this one! Tha hook iz DEFINITELY nice wit tha beat too!! You did ya thang on tha 1st verse and I’m REAL GLAD this iz on tha drug tip for tha song style!! Tha 2nd verse goes hard too; gotta luv tha “I was blowin’ purp in a hurricane” part! Hearin’ tha 3rd verse and for a second, I thought you were a Hammond representa; you say you a BR representa. Reppin’ 225 iz DEFINITELY watz good!! <- To add: Quite ironic I even said, “Glad you dropped tha Auto-Tune fa this one!,” as well ‘cause it fit perfect ta be afta a gay Auto-Tune song once again, lol! My Current Rating: 4.5


14. “Micheal Buffer” Feat. Cas
Looks like a name and an interestin’ title here. We got Cas on tha feature so this should be good! >>> LOL, what am I ‘pose ta react SO fast? This iz MUCH WORSE soundin’ than tha “Over Da Edge” song wit tha Auto-Tune again!!! I feel like tha whole gay-ass voice sound takes ova tha speakers against tha beat! It had an interestin’ start and title but tha vocals really destroyed it. And this iz Cas? I thought I was expectin’ tightness? Why this gay following sound? OMG, it’s NORMAL @ 2:12!!! And it’s you on tha 2nd verse!! Talk about how tha sound cleared up (except for tha gay Auto-Tune background vocals)!! May have been an okay verse (finally for a 2nd verse) but that doesn’t help my opinion on tha song! It’s like I got 20% of tha pie and tha otha 80% was WASTE!! My Rating: 1.4


15. “Shake Back” Feat. One-i
OMG, what a title for a follow-up ta a horrible song!! PERFECT!! Look how betta I felt on tha feedback: YES!! A Vybe production!!! This shit sounds gr8 and you sound REAL GOOD on this shit!! DEFINITELY a catchy joint right here and fits GR8 fa this mixtape!! You’re even on tha 1st verse! You doin’ tha damn thang and I’m glad you got your “pants saggin’” ‘cause you doin’ tha damn thang! Here’s One-i on tha 2nd verse… Still comin’ through fa tha hood! Let’s see what we got fa tha 3rd verse… You soundin’ “outrageously crazy” (as you said) on this verse AND song!! You DEFINITELY sound like you on ya grind wit this Rap shit; gotta feel dat! My Current Rating: 4.4


16. “I Promise You Bad” Feat. Young Hustle
Last song… Not sure of tha word “promise” in tha title so you betta “promise” me a good song! Hope we get ta finally hear a tight Young Hustle comeback!! >>> Tha beat start iz cool/catchy for a last song on a CD! Yea, my fuckin’ boy Vybe ON THA BEAT!!! Ooh, this iz for tha females; even betta wit a tight beat!! And tha start to tha 1st verse iz dat boy Young Hustle; MUCH BETTA start here!!! I DEFINITELY liked and enjoyed his verse right there to tha fullest!!! Let’s see what you got fa tha 2nd verse since you did ya thang on tha hook… Of course, you had ta “make it rain;” at least it a female song and not dat last song wit Hustle on it… Nice job on tha verse though!! Gotta FUCKIN’ LUV Vybe’s beat tag wit tha “Vybe… Vybe!!” My Rating: 4.5


Overall: Pretty good CD right here! Although I disagreed about a few songs, there were a good numba of songs that were tight ta where tha average CD rating got ta a 4.0! You know what was tight and you know what wasn’t so tight; keep doin’ ya thang!


Rankings (according to my ratings):

16. “Micheal Buffer” Feat. Cas 1.4
15. “Over Da Edge” Feat. Southern Klassik 3.2
14. “For Me” 3.6
13. “Nightz Like This” Feat. Young Hustle 3.6
12. “Keep It Poppin’” Feat. Young Hustle 3.7
11. “Four Walls” 3.9
10. “Rubber Bands” 4.1
09. “Intro” 4.3
08. “Heaven Help Ya” 4.3
07. “Shake Back” Feat. One-i 4.4
06. “If I Ain’t” Feat. Southern Klassik 4.4
05. “Where Ya Work” 4.5
04. “I’m Goin’ In” 4.5
03. “I Promise You Bad” Feat. Young Hustle 4.5
02. “Super Mario” 4.6
01. “I’m A Problem” Feat. Cas & Chico 4.6


Average CD Review:

Total Score: 63.6
Total Songs: / 16
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Average CD Rating: 4.0