Review #615: 1st Degree "The Come Up (The Mixtape) (Hosted by DJ Hektik)"

Reviewed on 8.19.2010 (Review #615)




Afta a lil’ transition from not-so-good reviewz by nappin’, I’m now awake and finally am reviewin’ my boy 1st Degree, formerly known by JD Killa from “Gangsta Gumbo Vol. 1” and “Gangsta Gumbo Vol. 2: Ghetto Pass”. Finally puttin’ out his own mixtape, here goes my anticipated, awaited review for 1st Degree “The Come Up (The Mixtape) (Hosted by DJ Hektik)”!! Oh, when I downloaded it, how come tha artist comes up as your boy J-Raw on tha mp3 info? Was that just an error? Also, tha front/back covers look pretty tight; good job on gettin’ them done! Start Time: 5:10 PM | End Time: 5:45 PM


Quick Note: I rate each song from 1.0 – 5.0; each rating iz my own opinion!! I only please myself wit 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.

© 2010 CD Review (Review #615) reviewed on 8.19.2010 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!

Source (Where I Got Tha CD From): http://www.datpiff.com/Dj_Hektic_1st_degree_The_Come_Up.m126710.html


01. “Intro”
Startin’ thangz off, I wonder what beat you gon be on… >>> Beat sounds good for this start, ya dig! Tha “I got a temper” shit sounds TIGHT ta start thangz off on tha 2nd line!! DEFINITELY lookin’ forward ta gettin’ your music onto my radio show, ya dig! Gutta-ass shit you spittin’ here!! Damn, tha “disease” part was tight too!! Straight MURDERED this “intro;” you DEFINITELY reppin’ tha streetz!!! My Rating: 4.6


02. “Real Nigga Music” Feat. J-Raw
Yea, J-Raw’s on tha collab here!! >>> Wow, tha beat sounds pretty hot here for a start; you DEFINITELY on a “come up” since tha last time I heard you last year!! “Tha streetz raised me;” that’s right! Tha hook’s soundin’ pretty tight here wit tha both of y’all!! I’d luv ta get dis song onto my radio show; gotta figure out what ta re-call it, lol… J-Raw’s on tha 2nd verse and it’s tha 1st actual time I’m hearin’ him (I know you told me to add him on MySpace two years ago, which I did); soundin’ tight for a collaborator!! My Rating: 4.6


03. “Ya Gotta Love Me” Feat. J-Raw
Let’s keep it goin’!! >>> Sounds like a smooth joint; prolly tha 1st time I gon hear you on a lady-type joint. J-Raw’s on tha 1st verse this time and he sounds tight on this beat; this iz definitely listenable for me unlike tha shit I was listenin’ to earlier today! “Smoke weed ‘fo I sex so we ‘fuckin’ high’;” lol, J-Raw goin’ off!! LOL, you’re on tha hook and it sounds good and catchy, ya dig! LOL @ tha content on this 2nd verse, 1st Degree; good shit here! You’re one of those rappers that I just listen to each and every lyric spit ‘cause you have catchy shit dat I watch out for, ya dig! Thought it was gonna be a long beat outro but it sounds pretty catchy wit tha dude on tha outro… My Rating: 4.3


04. “Cadillac”
Missin’ an “l” in tha title on tha bak cover. Anyway, let’s see how good dis iz! >>> Ooh, a “drivin’-off” sound and when you said, “Turn this up, nigga,” I’m feelin’ anticipated here, ya dig! Shit, yea, tha hook sounds good wit tha sample and tha Southern-styled beat here!! You’re soundin’ catchy on tha 1st verse here, doin’ ya thang!! GR8 “habitat” too, lol! Nice “step in my—step in my” mixin’ too!! Nice job on tha verse and tha endin’ to it wit tha “my precious cadillac!!!” sounded hella tight!! My Rating: 4.5


05. “’Bout It, ‘Bout It” Feat. J-Raw
I rememba tha last time I talked to you on tha phone (which surprisingly was 11 months ago, right afta I started tha radio show), you told me to check this out. But, I figured dat I’d wait for tha review and now, here it iz!! >>> Startin’ off wit J-Raw, just MURDERIN’ dis shit like he was from Harlem!!! I like how tha vocals are echoin’ in tha background on each rhyme!! “I bounce niggaz like a trampoline in tha air;” dumb shit!! You’re soundin’ pretty tight and gutta on tha 2nd verse here, doin’ tha damn thang to tha fullest!! My Rating: 4.6


½time: Well, you DEFINITELY improved since tha “Gangsta Gumbo Vol. 3: Point Of No Return” mixtape, ya dig!! You’re REALLY goin’ off on dis shit!!! Tha average CD rating right now iz at 4.5; keep doin’ it BIG!!!


06. “Something Like A Pimp”
Let’s see what’s good wit dis one, ya dig! >>> Tha “movie sound effect” before tha last song ended sounded anticipatin’ and this shit has a cool beat; keepin’ thangz consistent to tha fullest!! Tha hook sounds hella catchy and so iz tha 1st verse right chea, doin’ a nice job!! I like how you start tha 2nd verse off wit “I’m like TGIF;” tomorrow iz Friday no less, lol! I like how tha ending was slowed down; good shit! My Rating: 4.4


07. “Freestyle”
How will this sound? >>> An okay beat ta “freestyle” on… Consistent rappin’ here, ya dig! “Got mo bars like consecutive life sentences;” DEFINITELY a HOT line right there!! Nice endin’ wit “lemme hit tha blunt;” shit, yea, my boy!! Even DJ Hektik co-signin’!! Glad he’s on tha outro ta dis; it sounds gr8, ya dig! My Rating: 4.0


08. “In The Rain”
I hear tha beginning from tha end of tha last joint; I rememba this… Beat a lil’ on tha decent side and tha sample ain’t that bad; tha rhymes are a plus here. Glad you still keepin’ tha hood fulla rhymes so that’s a plus; keep doin’ tha damn thang! Tha 2nd verse to this song iz here and I like how it starts wit tha “my pants sag so they kiss my ass” part; good shit, my dawg!! It sounded pretty good for what it was; not bad song. My Current Rating: 3.7


09. “My Life”
How will this follow tha previous joint? >>> Kinda a decent beat fa me although it sounds anticipatin’ when I hear tha rappin’ from you… I didn’t expect a 2nd verse and it’s soundin’ pretty good too wit you just keepin’ thangz goin’ to tha fullest!! Dat hook’s pretty strong; too bad you were in jail a few times. Hope you’re out now so you can see tha review! My Rating: 3.8


10. “Freestyle”
>>> Sounds familiar in tha beginning for some reason wit tha “smooth as a baby’s bottom;” pretty good here on this beat… What happened @ :36.5? Sounded like a ½ second of silence… LOL, you REALLY kept thangz goin’ ALL tha way, ya dig!! DEFINITELY some HOT shit from tha “pen” to tha “masturbate” line, lol! Nice job here, ya dig! My Rating: 4.2


11. “Random Thought”
Too bad it’s ova so soon… >>> DJ Hektik on tha beginning of this and he’s lettin’ you spit somethin’ so you KNOW it’s official! Tha beat sounds familiar (somethin’ dat I wouldn’t really be into) but you sound consistent on this one too! Interestin’ about all these gurls and I like how Hektik rewinded tha, “Now, I’m puffin’ on dat la la,” part as well as rhymin’ it wit “Lady GaGa,” lol! LMAO @ tha “Fantasia—she too ugly” line; ROFL!! That was just too random!! Hektik on tha outro too! Gotta find DJ Hektik on MySpace if I haven’t already… My Rating: 4.1


Overall: You REALLY came through on dis one, 1st Degree!! Prolly tha BEST shit I’ve heard from you even though your “Red Bandanna” and “N.O.” songs are classics to me. Keep up tha REAL GR8 work, keep grindin’ and keep doin’ ya thang!!


Rankings:

11. “In The Rain” 3.7
10. “My Life” 3.8
09. “Freestyle” 4.0
08. “Random Thought” 4.1
07. “Freestyle” 4.2
06. “Ya Gotta Love Me” Feat. J-Raw 4.3
05. “Something Like A Pimp” 4.4
04. “Cadillac” 4.5
03. “Real Nigga Music” Feat. J-Raw 4.6
02. “Intro” 4.6
01. “’Bout It, ‘Bout It” Feat. J-Raw 4.6


Average CD Rating Review:

Total Score: 46.8
Total Songs: / 11
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Average CD Rating: 4.3

Was a tough call for tha top but you KNOW all dem jointz go off!!