I usually try to include at least one mixtape in every edition of this column, but the past two weeks have had so many interesting releases of things that fall under the label of “mixtape” that this edition of 5♥♬ is an all mixtape affair. Enjoy!
1. Flying Lotus – Lovers Melt 3
This first mixtape (and really the piece of work that inspired me to make a post of mixtapes) is from Flying Lotus, a producer who possesses a magnificent talent picking perfect samples. This mixtape consists of soul, old-school R&B, reggae, and psychedelic rock songs, some of which are familiar as being sampled in later hip hop hits. One early example of this is Freda Payne’s “I Get High (On Your Memory)” which had its chorus famously borrowed for the hook of Styles P’s “Good Times.” Much of the rest is more obscure.
2. Flosstradamus – B⚠NNED
The confirmed Kings of Trap recently released this primer of what is state of the art in the genre. Hitting all the notes from Juicy J to RL Grime to UZ to Baauer, this is a pure 30 minutes of partying. You can download B⚠NNED here (the password is “UNDERGROUND”).
3. Beautiful Lou – Sumone 2 B Young With
Beautiful Lou emerged on the scene with his work on ASAP Rocky’s Live.Love.ASAP mixtape with an ethereal style that more closely resembles San Francisco cloud producers than the stuttered molasses sounds of his native Texas. Sumone 2 B Young With is a collection of nine songs that he’s produced over the past year for rappers as varied as Fred the Godson to Kitty Pryde. The track above showcases the talented Himanshu from Das Racist. You can download Sumone 2 B Young With here.
4. LOLBoys – Fader Mix
Ok, I can’t stand Carly Rae Jepsen. It’s not even her fault; it’s because that catchy song became the jumping off point for hundreds of different memes and I despise the detritus that most people think is a good idea to post to Facebook. LOLBoys actually have a pretty decent remix of the song that shall not be named on this mixtape they made for The Fader. I’m also a sucker for anyone who references “Nightmares of the Bottom,” an often overlooked song from Tha Carter IV. You can download it here.
5. MORRI$ – Boiler Room Mix
MORRI$ goes HARD on this set recorded live at the Boiler Room in L.A. That’s really all I can say about it, it’s pretty damn solid. If you want to check out the visual for the set or download it yourself, become a member at Boiler Room.