Review #1,162: Kevin Gates "Make 'Em Believe (Hosted by DJ Ya Boy Earl)"

Reviewed on 6.13.2012 (Review #1,162)



I’m up nice and early ‘cause I was featured in somethin’ that aired on TV, earlier today! I appeared in a Father’s Day edition of our local news, up here, but throughout tha whole Northeast PA! I even edited tha package, too, so I’m really gettin’ my name out there. Now, lemme see if I can get this review for Kevin Gates Make ‘Em Believe (Hosted by DJ Ya Boy Earl) done in time; got to go to my internship at tha local news station in 90 minutes! I know it took me a while to get to this, but that’s what happens when you release music during finals! Start Time: 7:34 AM | End Time: 8:03 AM
EDIT: It's now online; this was what I was a part of that aired on TV throughout all of Pennsylvania, today:

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 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! 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. If you use tha word “swag” frequently, have auto-tune in your vocals, or talk about nothin’ but money and hoes 100,000x (which I consider ‘typical’ topics), I’m not buyin’ it!

© 2012 CD Review (Review #1,162) reviewed on 6.13.2012 by FrankieThaLuckyDog.

Link To CD: http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/16700/kevin_gates_make_em_believe.html


01. “Intro (I Ain’t)”
>>> Nice intro from Earl, and good, consistent rhymes from you on this beat, Kevin! Tha beat almost sounds like it samples “Rocky Balboa”, at times; cool… My Rating: 4.4


02. “Make ‘Em Believe”
>>> Nice intro, anthemic beat music from EQ! Thought there was a singer like Dat Boy A on tha hook, but it’s you; real nice job! This definitely sounds like somethin’ that has potential in many ways, many areas!! Good rhymes, once again; you’re strictly holdin’ this shit down, but don’t be tryna sound like Rick Ross, quoting him… My Rating: 4.5


03. “Don’t Know What To Call It”
Izn’t this old? Got no time for this re-reviewin’ shit! Rather live in tha current times than those faggy dayz of 2009! I regret almost everything durin’ those dayz; what was I think wit all those fake-ass rappers that couldn’t afford a penny?! My Current Rating: 4.3


04. “Baddest In The Building”
>>> Sounds good, wit a lil’ mainstream vibe wit how you sound on tha vocals… Started off a lil’ mainstream, but tha fast rappin’ iz pretty nice. My Rating: 4.1


05. “Lingo” Feat. Bonka
Finally, a feature; let’s hear it! >>> Why iz this so quiet on tha volume? Non-mix-and-mastered? How would Young Money take a look at this if tha volumes are not all fixed? Anyway, feelin’ tha catchy “lingo” hook, and your rhymes seem to continue bein’ consistent. Tha beat also sounds like it can fit anybody’s interest; nothin’ too mainstream about it! Bonka has some catchy rhymes on tha 2^nd verse; doesn’t exactly sound like him, at first, but he always lays it down fa tha Boot! I hear you spittin’ some catchy shit on tha 3^rd verse, in a “dinner” night perspective. My Rating: 4.3


06. “You Can Leave”
>>> Okay, this iz more on tha typical rap of today, wit tha beat; kinda decent for a start, but nothin’ special, overall, since it sounds like all tha music comin’ out today. Tha hook’s a lil’ catchy wit tha voice, at least… Good rhymes comin’ through here, too. My Rating: 3.8


07. “Satellite”
>>> Kinda okay, but a lil’ more on a mainstream tip, once again; I don’t see anything starstriking wit this… My Rating: 3.4


08. “BBO (Brains Blown Out)”
Let’s see if you can handle an acronym. >>> Another quiet one, wit tha volume; ugh, that means more audio editing for me! Sounds a lil’ like talking/preachin’, here; could’ve had more standout sounds, here… Lol @ tha “masturbation in my mind like I’m fuckin’ you in tha cell;” good line, lol! My Rating: 3.7


09. “Never Change”
Another repeat song… My Current Rating: 3.8


½time: A 4.0-rated CD, so far; okay, at times, wit repeat songs and some good songs.


10. “Trap Girl”
Again… but, I’m feelin’ it a lil’ better than tha previous review. My Current Rating: 4.0


11. “Would You Mind”
>>> Feelin’ these descriptive, X-rated rhymes for a sex scene, here; good shit, Gates, as it’s nice and slow. I can picture some candles lit wit this one; great delivery wit this, too. My Rating: 4.1


12. “I Grind” Feat. Flame Gang Rocky
>>> Much better start, since we’re preparing for a collaboration! Feelin’ tha beginning wit tha communication goin’ on! Lol, now, it’s a song wit a blasting volume? I don’t get this inconsistency… Definitely some top-notch rhymes goin’ on, here; props to you, Gates! I dunno about havin’ a song 5:07 on tha length, especially for a mixtape? Kinda long? Tha FGR dude sounds okay wit his rhymes; I’ll leave it at dat. Now, he sounds a lil’ like Meek Mill? If that’s tha case, I hope you knew about him in 2008! Tha difference between me knowin’ who Kevin Gates and Meek Mill was was actually a difference of 26 confirmed dayz! First heard of you, Gates, back on February 16, 2008 (Pyrex Radio Vol. 4) and Meek Mill was March 13, 2008 at 5:01 PM, as I got tha ID to a collaboration he did wit Philly rapper, Joey Jihad, “Bossman”, thanx to my boy, Juice, which iz still my most-played song ever, wit over 600 spins!!! My Rating: 4.2


13. “Soldier Man”
>>> Sounds like a scary start, but an okay beat start… Sounds a lil’ creative wit tha sounding of it, but it’s kinda typical, at tha same time, wit these lyrics… My Rating: 3.8


14. “Love You”
Another repeat song; makes me get ready for my internship earlier, luckily. My Current Rating: 3.6


15. “Retawdid Fa Real” Feat. Flame Gang Flow
Great title, but now that you’re affiliated wit Young Money / Cash Money, I think this iz gonna sound, like, 0% Baton Rouge. >>> Yea, just what I figured, but it’s still good. Like, where’s tha DJ B-Real? Or, even EQ? Rhymes are good to hear, but how many times iz it just about tha rhymes? Also, this “don’t know what to call it” shit’s kinda gettin’ said too much… Hearin’ tha Flame Gang dude on tha 2^nd verse, and whoa, this really ain’t for me, after all! What’s wit all these stereotypical rhymes of tha 2010s decade? So not for me; not tha rap I grew up with, especially in a Louisiana perspective! Sorry for goin’ off, but this iz a review, and I must state an opinion! Iz this tha same Flame Gang dude from tha previous feature? This iz “Flame Gang Flow”, but that was “Flame Gang Rocky”? My Rating: 3.0


16. “Dangerous”
Glad there’s no tag in tha beginning, but once again, goin’ back to those gay-ass dayz of ’09!!! My Current Rating: 4.6


17. “She Don’t Wanna”
Damn, again? My Current Rating: 4.4


18. “Paid In Full (Help)”
>>> Okay, but why are we only payin’ attention to lyrics? Gotta mix some fun in it! Sample in tha hook kinda ruins it for me; I’m done wit this… My Rating: 2.8


19. “Grinder” Feat. Beezy Bird
Damn, as far back as age 20? So, lemme just get brainwashed by tha next fucker (manager), do things for free, and have Louisiana people take advantage of me? …Not! I’m livin’ that 2012 life, especially since my cousin fatally OD’d on heroin a ½ year tomorrow! Can’t look back once December 14, 2011 happened!! Anyway, Beezy Bird goin’, “Bow, bow,” on tha song, so that’s good promotion! My Current Rating: 4.2


Overall: Well, most of tha new songs were either pretty good, or okay. There were a lot of repeat songs on here, and there wasn’t that many features, which I thought was interesting. There was more of a focus on you, which iz okay, but if every song iz meant to be lyrical, then there’s, like, no diversity; still, I support you, and I want you to keep goin’ at it! Also, are you gonna ever freestyle or be interviewed for my radio show? I’m only down to tha last two months!!


Rankings:

19. “Paid In Full (Help)” 2.8
18. “Retawdid Fa Real” Feat. Flame Gang Flow 3.0
17. “Satellite” 3.4
16. “Love You” 3.6
15. “BBO (Brains Blown Out)” 3.7
14. “Never Change” 3.8
13. “You Can Leave” 3.8
12. “Soldier Man” 3.8
11. “Trap Girl” 4.0
10. “Baddest In The Building” 4.1
09. “Would You Mind” 4.1
08. “I Grind” Feat. Flame Gang Rocky 4.2
07. “Grinder” Feat. Beezy Bird 4.2
06. “Lingo” Feat. Bonka 4.3
05. “Don’t Know What To Call It” 4.3
04. “She Don’t Wanna” 4.4
03. “Intro (I Ain’t)” 4.4
02. “Make ‘Em Believe” 4.5
01. “Dangerous” 4.6


Average CD Rating Review:

Total Score: 75.0
Total Songs: / 19
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Average CD Rating: 3.9