Mixtape Of The Month: Hevehitta & DJ Unexpected - Something in Common (Co-Starring J. Dilla)

Yes, I have declared purehip-hop's highest monthly mixtape honor only two weeks into November, and after you listen to "Something In Common" you'll understand why. Hevehitta and DJ Unexpected live up to their respective stage names by breaking out some of the illest blends, remixes and rarities to formulate one of the better ode's ever to Chi Town luminary Common Sense's illustrious career. This tape is guaranteed to stay in heavy rotation in whatever form of bullshit digital player you utilize. Fortunately, most of these joints sound like and in fact were dropped when rappers were still recording to DAT's and 2" magnetic tape. So even if you are a child of the ninetie's who covets the instant gratification of their precious MP3's, the real sound won't elude you.

It's that raw feeling that had me bumping this joint all day, running back track after track, basking in the thick, boom bap drum loops, manic turntablism, flawless mixing and Common's long discontinued old school delivery. As if all these excellent relic's of a long transitioned career weren't enough, an added bonus is that this tape is fueled by the late, great J.Dilla and several of his timelessly deviceful beats. Also dropping in to provide production assist's are fellow Chi Town legend No I.D., the much slept-on DJ Honda and DJ Unexpected himself, who flexes his considerable production chops and not so unexpectedly dazzles in his efforts.

The cohesiveness of this tape and how well it's actually put together is amazing. Nothing sounds forced and one would be left thinking without a doubt, that Unexpected and Hevehitta went against the current scene's norm's and veritably took their time crafting this mixtape to be memorable. New jacks take note: it ain't always what you got, but sometimes just how you put it together. I mean come on people, who takes the time to find the audio of Common performing the Wu-Tang, cult classic "C.R.E.A.M." live?? And the band was gettin' down, Re-creating the Rza's classic beautifully and acousticly. Littered amongst the alluding interlude's where Com speaks on the idea's behind classics's and the genius of Dilla, lay things like the original version of hiss scathing diss record; "The Bitch In You", Honda's impeccable remix take on "Resurrection" and DJ Unexpected's wildly imaginative condensation of a few of Dilla's finest moments on "Dilla Says Go". The only time when a bit of apathy crept in was toward the very tail end of the tape, when for some reason the whole glorious modus operandi was broken and a couple of Com's newer and considerably lesser records were thrown into the mix.

"Something In Common" is as good as it gets when it comes to a mixtape that is both adequate and un-expedited. I've heard quite a few Common "best of's", but this one was definitely one of, if not thee most original and fresh rendition of the mold. Unexpected and Hevehitta weren't afraid to fully delve into old school esthetics's and that's appreciated, but more importantly it was effective and surely their work will strike a chord with many a Hip-Hop purist.

-BIG D O




1. Common Symptoms Intro (Produced By DJ Unexpected For Digger's Union Local 1200)
2. A Penny For My Thoughts
3. Breaker 1/9
4. 1st Days Of The New School (Unreleased Demo)
5. Who Shot Ya Freestyle
6. While I'm Dancin' (Common Verse)
7. 87th Street Kid (Interlude)
8. My People, Hold On- Produced By J. Dilla (DJ Unexpected Remix)
9. Take It Ez
10. 5 Deadly Venoms Feat. The Beatnuts, Fat Joe & DJ Honda
11. Fresh Rhymes Daily Feat. Juice
12. Dooinit In Waves- Produced By J. Dilla (DJ Unexpected Remix)
13. Common Speaks On J. Dilla (Interlude)
14. C.R.E.A.M. (Live In Germany)
15. I Used To Love H.E.R.
16. The Misunderstanding (Interlude)
17. The Bitch In Yoo Feat. De La Soul (Live At Tramps 1996) (snippet)
18. The Bitch In Yoo (Original Version- Different Lyrics)
19. State To State Feat. Dug Infinite (Produced By No I.D.)
20. Jam Feat. Rahzel & Alliance Etnik
21. Makin' A Name For Ourselves (Mathematically Aware) Feat. Canibus
22. Resurrection (DJ Honda Remix)
23. Common Speaks On The Light (Interlude)
24. Baby, We Must Be In Love- Produced By J. Dilla (DJ Unexpected Remix)
25. 2 The Temple (Unreleased Demo)
26. Dilla Says Go (Feat. Kanye West & John Mayer)- Produced By J. Dilla (DJ Unexpected Remix)
27. Full Moon
28. Universal Mind Control Feat. Pharrell

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