FiChief (@FiChief)
Do You Chief?!


The bosses here at On Tha Real Magazine have been openly recruiting artists to submit their music to me for review. I must say that the response has been quite overwhelming and humbling. You'll be getting a flood of reviews from up-and-coming artist over the next couple of weeks. However, I decided that I would also throw-in an unexpected (unsolicited) review. This artist, in particular, I've been hearing about in the ATL underground circuit for a couple of years now. Straight outta Mac-Town (Macon, GA for the uninitiated) I'd like to present to you Fi Chief, and his mixtape titled “Do You Chief?!”


As you've probably surmised by his name, Fi Chief likes to...well...CHIEF...A LOT!!! But if you think that this is gonna be a glorified infomercial for the 420 movement, you'd be sadly mistaken. “Do You Chief” features subject matter that covers various topics/issues/concerns that covers just about every walk of life. It's just a coincidence that one of the best songs on the album happens to be a song titled...wait for it...420!!!


All jokes aside, the absolute gem of this mixtape is “Nester Marley”. This song here stacks up to ANY song on the radio right now...absolute perfection...which of course means its too good to be on the radio (sad but true). I also loved the honesty conveyed in the song “Can't Take No More”. Fi Chief is a very thoughtful (but not preachy) lyricist that is gonna make a GangaNoize (Bambi voice LOL) in this game. I definitely recommend taking time out and getting familiar with Fi Chief...you won't regret it.


Best Song On The CD: “Nester Marley” “Can't Take No More”


Song I Enjoyed The Most: “420”


Overall Rating: 4...dude has the absolute potential to be a major force in hip hop...keep bangin'!
Rating System:
1—Recycle Bin
2—Could've Been
3—Aight
4—Tiiiiiiiite
5—Ri-DAMN-diculous
Reviewed by DJ KontraDikshun (@KlubKD)

Alyric (@AlyricMusic)
Good Die Young


As I've stated in earlier reviews, the requests for me to review mixtapes of new/undiscovered artists, for this publication, have been both overwhelming and humbling. I take this responsibility very seriously; therefore I will always given honest, constructive reviews of any project placed in front of me. So, with that being said, let's look at the work of another yet-to-be-discovered artist. He goes by the pseudonym of Alyric, and his mixtape is titled “Good Die Young”.


I'm gonna go against my usual review pattern and speak on the one, glaring deficiency of this mixtape: the mixdown. I'm not saying that every mixtape needs to be mastered (even though most are these days); however, if you're not gonna master your project, at least make sure you get an outstanding mixdown. This project is a cautionary tale of how an artist can (possibly) sound very underwhelming and unimpressive if the proper time/care/money isn't paid to this. I'm saying this assuming that this project wasn't mastered. If it was, I have two words for you fam: REEEEEEEFUUUUUUNNNNND!!!


Because I've spent many years recording, I was able to still review this project despite this major short coming. Honestly, it's a pretty solid effort. The tracks were trap-type, but not to the point where it “sounds like everybody else” (which is a good thing in my opinion). Alyric gets major props for recording what a song that damn near no other MC would touch. It's called “Rich When I'm Broke”, and it is one of the most honest songs I've ever heard. I would give a synopsis of the song's subject matter, but I don't wanna ruin it. This song is a must-listen; all yall so-called rappers that wanna flex about your riches, you definitely need to take notes while listening to this track.


The best club song on the mixtape is “Dance Dhatt Ass”, which was a bonus track (which threw me for a loop because it is arguably the 2nd best song on the entire albumn). This album has quite a few features (no one of celebrity except for Guyana), with many of the MCs featured being women (especially on the song “Bad Bitch”). All in all this is a solid effort to build on. Be sure to look this young brother up and peep what he is offering to the game.


Best Song On The CD: “Rich When I'm Broke”


Song I Enjoyed The Most: “Dance Dhatt Ass” “Bad Bitch”


Overall Rating: 3.5...solid effort...time to step up


Rating System:


1—Recycle Bin
2—Could've Been
3—Aight
4—Tiiiiiiiite
5—Ri-DAMN-diculous


Reviewed by DJ KontraDikshun (@KlubKD)

Nelly (@Nelly_Mo)
O.E.MO (On Errythang MO)


If you've been a constant reader of my reviews, then you know how I feel about established artists making mixtapes...I hate it. It's bad for the sales of your album (ask Yo Gotti why did he only sell 15K units the first week), and they usually suck (yall know I'm telling the truth...be honest!). Anywho, recently established artists have started making what I call “street albums” (Ludacris, T.I., Rick Ross) which features all new music and no freestyles. I was emailed Nelly's mixtape, “O.E.MO (On Errythang MO) expecting a street album as opposed to a mixtape. My thinking was, the last album he dropped didn't really do any numbers so he needed to get his swagger back.


Well surprise, surprise!!! Nelly actually dropped a mixtape that followed the old formula of original music and freestyles. Gotta keep it real here...I hardly listened to any of the freestyles because they weren't very good (I really could do without another “The Motto” freestyle, especially from established artists). However, the freestyle he did to “I Wish” was absolutely outstanding...sounded like Nelly from “Nellyville”.


DJ's reading this review I'm warning you now...stay away from the song “You Gone Learn Today”. Yes, this song features a Kevin Hart sample, and the hook goes “Alright Alright Alriiiiiiight”!!! Don't get me wrong; I believe that dance floors will be packed and folks will be chanting the hook incessantly. Nelly (I know you're reading this) you are absolutely wrong for making this song. I know why you did it (to reclaim your spot in the rap game), and I'm not knocking your hustle, just know that anytime I have to play this song I'll be pushing pins into my Nelly voodoo doll that this west Indian chick made for me (just kidding...or am I duh duh duuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh).


I will say that this mixtape is worth a listen. Some of you will think I was too hard on this project, and others will say I wasn't hard enough. I get that and I understand both points of view. Let me just say this: Nelly won a Grammy award, and “Nellyville” is one of the highest selling albums in rap history. I will give him his due respect, but I also have a higher standard for him as opposed to a non-established artist. All I try to do is report on what I heard...the ultimate decision is up to you.


Best Song On The CD: “I Wish (Rmx)” “Drank”


Song I Enjoyed The Most: “You Gone Learn Today”


Overall Rating: 3.5...this would've gotten a higher score if it was a new artist, not a legend.


Rating System:


1—Recycle Bin
2—Could've Been
3—Aight
4—Tiiiiiiiite
5—Ri-DAMN-diculous


Reviewed by DJ KontraDikshun (@KlubKD)

Karma “Cleopatra” Jonze (@KarmaJonze)
Retro Active


I'm becoming a believer in the following statement: “2012 is gonna be the year of the female MC!” If you'll recall, I've given high praise to the mixtapes done by Bambi (BamLanta) and Ms. Bhavin (“Dumb It Down: The Patron and Lime Juice Edition”). After the bosses here at the magazine did an “altar call” for reviews, I received a link to a mixtape done by Karma “Cleopatra” Jonze titled “Retro Active”. Being that she's an unestablished (new) artist, I was interested to hear what this lady from Austin, TX had to say.


I gotta say this off the top, and I'm gonna use the lingo of my ATL brethren: Shawty Can Spit!!! I mean she is as ruff and rugged as they come...male or female. Unfortunately, the production didn't quite match her intensity. As a matter of fact, most times the tracks were quite the opposite. A lot of the tracks were laid back, R&B type tracks (which she stated she liked/wanted); however I'm extremely curious as to how her aggressive style would sound on tracks that are equally as aggressive.


As far as the music that is actually contained on the “Retro Active” mixtape, you'll find mostly freestyles. The job she did on “Love Don't Live Here” was beyond great...she pretty much summed up the feelings of a woman scorned by a cheating man. I also loved her flow on “I Trusted You”; I'm telling yall...she's an absolute beast on the mic.


Honestly the only thing that's holding her back is track selection/production. I'm hopeful that when she makes her next mixtape (and there better be a next one) she'll have the sound to match her flow. Be sure to check her out...she's definitely a star on the rise!


Best Song On The CD: “Love Don't Live Here”


Song I Enjoyed The Most: “I Trusted You” “Been There, Done That”


Overall Rating: 3.5...you did good on this one...now on to the next one


Rating System:


1—Recycle Bin
2—Could've Been
3—Aight
4—Tiiiiiiiite
5—Ri-DAMN-diculous


Reviewed by DJ KontraDikshun (@KlubKD)