Young Thug
"Slime Season" – Sept. 16
Sept. 16 marked the beginning of "Slime Season." Young Thug has quickly risen to the top of the game in a couple of years and proves why he deserves to be there with this mixtape. Following up his last project, "Barter 6," which was released back in April, Thug dropped an 18-track mixtape to hold us over until "Hy!£UN35" gets released.
"Slime Season" surprisingly starts off with "Take Kare," which features Lil Wayne. The song came out October 2014, and, despite Wayne and Thug’s ongoing beef, it still made the cut. Other features on "Slime Season" come from Migos’ own Quavo and Offset as well as Peewee Longway and Young Ralph -- all Atlanta rappers.
Production on this mixtape came from industry heavy-hitters Zaytoven, Southside, MetroBoomin, London on da Track and Issac Flame. The mixtape features a variety of songs, from bangers like "Stunna" and "Best Friend" to "Calling Your Name," an up-tempo dance track that samples Ellie Goulding’s "Holding On." Young Thug put out an album-quality mixtape that you’ll have on repeat for a couple of days. Definitely worth checking out. Final rate: 8/10.
Migos
"Back to the Bando" – Sept. 17
Migos is going from the charts back to the bando with this mixtape. Following its debut album "Young Rich Nation," which was released in late July, Migos dropped "Back to the Bando" late last week. The tape doesn’t have any featured rappers, but it does include plenty of production from frequent collaborator Zaytoven.
Despite leaving the label 300 Entertainment and having rapper Offset currently in jail, the group still manages to put out music, solidifying its spot at the top of the game. Migos has proven time after time it might be one of the most consistent rap groups as it continues to deliver that heat. Final rate: 6.5/10.
Mac Miller
GO:OD AM – Sept. 18
I didn’t consider myself a fan of Mac Miller, but after listening to this album, I can confidently say I am now. "GO:OD AM" is the third album from the Pittsburgh rapper, and it just might be his best. Miller switched up his style on this album, and it definitely shows his progression as an artist. "GO:OD AM" is a combination of laid-back beats, bars for days and a smooth flow.
Mac Miller shows us why he deserves to be considered one of the best right now. Mac put together a great album with only a handful of features coming from Ab-Soul, Lil B, Miguel, Chief Keef and Little Dragon. "GO:OD AM" is an absolute must-listen. Final rate: 8/10.
Chief Keef
Bang 3, Pt. 2 – Sept. 18
While most people are quick to write off anything Chief Keef puts out as "trash," that’s not the case with this album. "Bang 3, Pt. 2" is the second half of the double-album "Bang 3," which was released in August. Whether or not you like Chief Keef, you can’t help but vibe to some of the songs on this album. After being dropped from Interscope last year and then signing to FilmOn Music, the Chi-Town rapper said he’s been experimenting with his sound on "Bang 3," and you can definitely see how far he’s come. "Part 2" is almost entirely produced by Chief Keef himself. The album’s heavy use of autotune seems to work for Keef.
If you’re expecting sophisticated rap and meaningful lyrics, then this is most definitely not for you. However, if you like catchy songs and something you can work out or turn up to, then by all means give "Bang 3, Pt. 2" a listen. Final rate: 6/10.
Drake & Future
What A Time To Be Alive – Sept. 20
Do I really have to write something? The two hottest rappers made a mixtape together, and it crashed the Internet. There were rumors going around about a joint project from Drake and Future, but on Drake’s sixth episode of OVO Sound Radio Sunday night, he exclusively debuted his joint mixtape with Future on Beats 1.
"What A Time To Be Alive" is Drake’s second project he’s put out in 2015, and, as for Future, WATTBA is the fifth project he has released in the last calendar year.
Future has made his way from being a pop-star to being at the top of the rap game because of his last five projects. He found a sound that works for him and expanded his fan base on his way to earning a No. 1 album with "Dirty Sprite 2." Combine Future’s dominance over the past year with Drake, who hits all types of demographics, and you get a mixtape that’s an instant classic.
Beats 1 Radio is a 24/7, worldwide radio station, and Drake being able to share WATTBA to millions of people around the world is nothing short of insane. Factor in everything I mentioned so far, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the mixtape sold over 700,000 units in its first week.
Drake and Future know they’re two of the biggest artists in the game, and they made our dreams come true. If you haven’t listened yet, then you absolutely should. The mixtape is available for purchase on iTunes or for streaming on Apple Music. Final rate: 10/10.
