Review #1,111: Kevin Gates "I Don't Know What 2 Call It (Hosted by DJ Chill)"

Reviewed on 12.26.2011 (Review #1,111)




Not sure if I gon do anotha review afta this one, for today, but here it iz: Kevin Gates I Don’t Know What 2 Call It (Hosted by DJ Chill), a Dead Game Records/Bottomline Music Group production! Start Time: 2:10 PM | End Time: 2:39 PM


Disclaimer: 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 already love it. If at least a 4.6 rating, I pretty much really love it, as it’s considered mindblowin’ when I hear it! 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.

© 2011 CD Review (Review #1,111) reviewed on 12.26.2011 by FrankieThaLuckyDog.

Link To CD: http://www.datpiff.com/Kevin-Gates-I-Dont-Know-What-2-Call-It-Vol-1-mixtape.295631.html

01. “Reputations On The Line”
Looks like a good title… >>> Thought this was gonna be an album, but because I heard DJ Chill in tha beginning, it’s obviously a mixtape. Damn, when will I hear an album soo—oh yea, Young Bleed’s Preserved was prolly tha previous album I heard, but I’m not sure when I gon hear anotha one… As far as this, I was gonna do a live review of this CD, but I don’t have close-to enough time fa dat (I charge $100 for requested, live reviewz, by tha way). This joint sounds like it has a good intro, here, wit some great lyrics, and a continuously-consistent beat that keeps goin’! Rhymes were real good but tha hook’s pretty cheesy; no need for tha voice, here. Tha 2^nd verse sounds good; “orange juice … lean,” lol! My Rating: 4.2


02. “Trap Girl”
>>> Even has tha blendin’/mixin’/drops like a mixtape, smh. This can also be Vol. 1 of tha I Don’t Know What 2 Call It series. Some of tha lyrics, here, seem like conversations brought up; nothin’ special wit tha lyrics, but tha song’s okay, for itself. Wait a second, wasn’t this ‘pose ta be about a “trap girl”? Where are tha lyrics for tha ladies? Finally, tha 2^nd ½ of tha 1^st verse; took too long? My Rating: 3.8


03. “Never Change”
>>> If there’s all this mixin’ goin’ on wit these songs, I don’t see them hittin’ my radio show, smh. I should be able to get no DJ versions of these songs, especially since you posted my All Or Nuthin’ (The Mixtape) review on your MySpace, back in September 2008; I’m much more talented, now! Beat’s pretty nice and tha lyrics are good, here… Voice’s a lil’ gay on tha hook (just a tad) but it’s catchy; won’t be too mean… My Rating: 3.8


04. “Empire”
>>> Beat’s real nice, here; I can sense an anthem! Once again, lyrics and deliveries are good; nothin’ really else ta say, though… My Rating: 4.1


05. “They Can Hate” Feat. Max Minelli
>>> I like how some of these beats just have keys that keep goin’ and goin’…; tha hook sounds pretty catchy, here. I have ta say, good lyrics goin’ on, once again; I dunno about tha 4:13 length on a ‘mixtape’… As for Max Minelli’s contribution, it’s pretty good, The Leak style. My Rating: 4.0


06. “Play It How It Go” Feat. Young Bleed
Speakin’ of Bleed, here he iz… >>> Beat’s hot, here; reminds me of tha All Or Nuthin’ dayz of ’08, where I first got ta consistently hear you! Good job wit tha hook and combination of Young Bleed helpin’ you out on it, too! Bleed’s on tha 1^st verse, too, comin’ through wit dat tight shit! Of course, he comes through wit that good, hood shit, and it works out 2x betta wit you, Gates! I know Bleed’ll come through wit things, at least, ‘cause he writes me back on things, no matter when it was! He wrote me back to a review in 2008; he just wrote me back to anotha review yesterday! Goes to show you how real he iz, as well as havin’ good stamina ta keep shit goin’! You’re on tha 2^nd verse, and it sounds good; nice job wit tha tight-ass, consistent lyrics/content!! Interestin’ lyrics comin’ outta tha 3^rd verse, here, too! My Rating: 4.4


07. “Back Home” Feat. Malachi
>>> No “I’m straight wit tracks, cousin” tag part in tha Guss tag? Anyway, scary hook; no need to comment anymore on it! Rather hear him sound like he did on tha Max Minelli Heart Of A King album. Good job wit tha lyrics, again, but interest iz low, thanx to dat hook! LOL @ tha “masturbatin’!” My Rating: 3.5


½time: A 4.0-rated CD, currently; that’s good, but I reviewed so many CDs that were better!


08. “Respect”
>>> Really likin’ tha start, here, wit tha Jamaican voice! Also, sounds like you own a castle or somethin’ wit these lyrics about owning! Funny vocals, here; definitely feelin’ ‘em!! LOL, “you know, tha dick stay hot;” “hot”? Weird, but I guess people’ll let it slide, since it’s you? Odd… Sounds like a lotta yada-yada, at times, so it’s kinda blah, blah… My Rating: 4.3


09. “Love You”
>>> Censored “fuck” in tha hook? Not good; sounds kinda soft… Tha beat iz on-point, but this iz, like, weird rap for me, wit tha hook. At least, tha verses have a lil’ bit of some shit goin’ on; not bad, overall… My Rating: 3.6


10. “Thuggin’ Hard”
>>> Sounds like a DJ Khaled/Wayne-type beat (my bad for includin’ those names; they’re too mainstream for my reviewz). I would call this a good street anthem, based off tha music and how you bringin’ your energetic rhymes to tha table. A “money” song? “Ugh,” iz right! When are you gonna do services wit me? Also, tha golden question: When are you comin’ to “Tha Louisiana Pit”? I’ve been Facebook and tweetin’ you, but no response? Weird… My Rating: 4.0


11. “In Da Building” Feat. Max Minelli
>>> Nice beat start; weird hook goin’ on, here… Well, tha 1^st ½ of it; I like tha character goin’ on in tha 2^nd ½ of it. Damn, anotha “money” reference? Sounds like a tight 1^st verse wit you and your rapidness!! Wow, it ain’t close ta endin’; you just keep this hot shit goin’!! Now, time fa some Max Minelli on tha 2^nd verse… A lot slower wit tha flow, but there’s still character—his character! Good job from tha both of y’all, here! My Rating: 4.4


12. “Nothing Change”
Not long on tha length, so I hope I look forward… >>> Beat sounds jammin’, here, as well as consistent. Tha rhymes are aight; typical shit from you… My Rating: 3.7


13. “It Shows”
>>> Again, anotha typical Gates song, only this iz a lil’ betta; I feel tha consistent rhymes, and tha hook sounds nice. My Rating: 3.9


14. “No Regrets”
>>> Weakest production on this mixtape, so far; let’s see how long I gon deal wit dis… I have ta say, glad you keep “a seatbelt on;” people are hella gay for not havin’ ‘em on! I feel like, if people don’t have “a seatbelt on,” it feels like you can move too much in tha car. Well, tha hook ain’t too bad, but I’m not really into this pop-rap production… My Rating: 3.6


15. “Do You”
This iz it… >>> Not sure what to expect wit tha start… Feelin’ tha fast rhymes; beat doesn’t sound like it’s Louisiana, or Baton Rouge-soundin’, so it’s kinda like an identity crisis for me. It sounds a lil’ R&B, too, which iz a lil’ weird for me. Tha fast lyrics are good and they continue ta deliver… My Rating: 4.1


Overall: Barely passed tha mark of bein’ a good CD for me than decent. Most of these songs I didn’t have a good heart attack for, but they had good quality. Most importantly, I’m glad you’re outta jail!


Rankings:

15. “Back Home” Feat. Malachi 3.5
14. “Love You” 3.6
13. “No Regrets” 3.6
12. “Nothing Change” 3.7
11. “Trap Girl” 3.8
10. “Never Change” 3.8
09. “It Shows” 3.9
08. “Thuggin’ Hard” 4.0
07. “They Can Hate” Feat. Max Minelli 4.0
06. “Do You” 4.1
05. “Empire” 4.1
04. “Reputations On The Line” 4.2
03. “Respect” 4.3
02. “In Da Building” Feat. Max Minelli 4.4
01. “Play It How It Go” Feat. Young Bleed 4.4


Average CD Rating Review:

Total Score: 59.4
Total Songs: / 15
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Average CD Rating: 4.0