Jabee - Must Be Nice Mixtape

Is it just me or are Mixtapes evolving more and more into low grade albums these days?

Now don't get me wrong, I love the fact that artists are gettin' down to the nitty gritty and just goin' balls out with their new projects, but I do think it hurts the culture as a whole when cats go and put their all into a tape and then they're somewhat forced into giving it away for free....

I mean what's the point in collaborating with a host of ill producers and like-minded MC's and doing all the leg work (album cover art, promo etc.) if in the end your gonna just let your baby go for gratis because the market is bad and you have to generate a buzz somehow? IMO this tactic leads to more and more rappers flooding the market with projects that have a reasonably dope appearance, but in actuality could be labeled more than a lil' under done....

Enter in Midwest rapper Jabee......

Fresh off his "Blood Is The New Black" album from last year and his other various mixtapes, the newcomer brings the masses another free jaunt into his awkward vocal stylings and un-lofty subject matter. While some of the production does manage to entertain and even make ya neck snap, Jabee's unimpressive verses, over-inclusion of bromidic, unknown guest MC's and unrelenting, silly braggadocio make this tape much better to look at on paper than what it is lyrically to listen to....

Truth is, there are a number of good tracks on "Must Be Nice", namely the ones that feature guys who already have the indie and underground hustle down to a science....The Blu assisted banger "Triumph", the hazy, swingy opus "Live Like A Dream" and the Oddisee and Jumakae banger "That's Good" all come to mind specifically....

It just seems no matter how many times I ran this back I found Jabee's material too contrived and devoid of real reflection. He had ample time and resources it would appear, to just be himself and make something memorable, yet he chose to underachieve. Many times getting caught in a ramble, creating songs laced with that same ole', played out, over the top pretentiousness instead of taking his time and relaying a more substantive approach. He displayed flashes here and there of being more interesting than every other guy trying to bust onto the scene right now, but not enough for me to recommend this effort wholeheartedly. Even still, there must be a reason why a host of MC's who's music I bump on the regular (Oddisee, Blu, L.E.G.A.C.Y., LMNO) are working with him....Perhaps they see the potential that I do?

Til' we here from him again, here's a toast to his progression and the progression of mixtapes as a whole....La Heim!!

I'll give Jabee a strong 6 outta 10...

-BIG D O









1.A blessing (Produced by Joe Sway)
2. LITTLEearth ft. L.E.G.A.C.Y and OBone (Produced by Kadence)
3.Go Tell em (Produced by Hannibal King)
4. Dumb Musica ft. Black Spade (Produced by Black Spade)
5. Money ft. EL Prez (Produced by Savio is Dead)
6.Thats Good ft. Oddisee & Jumakae (Produced by Rob Viktum)
7. Don’t Forget about me (Produced by D/Will)
8. Car pool ft. Jumakae (Produced by Ronnie Harris)
9.I am (Produced by Darkness)
10. Funky She (Produced by Moral one)
11. Sunny Day ft. Picnic Tyme (Produced by Picnic Tyme)
12.1983 ft. Chris McCain (produced by scootbeatz)
13. Virtues ft. Theory Hazit & aDDLib (Prod. by Theory Hazit)
14. Big Bad Wolf ft. Johnny Polygon (Prod. by DJ Green Lantern)
15. Anywhere ft. LMNO & Dawg Wonder (Prod. by Darkness)
16. Triumph Hanni fresh remix ft. Blu (Prod. by Hannibal King)
17. Taxi Ride ft. Chris McCain (prod. by Scootbeatz)
18. Laced to the heart (Prod. by Sabastian OH!)
19. Boombox (Prod. by DJ alibi)
20. Live Like a dream ft. Mac Lethal (Prod by Rob Viktum)
21. Hip Hop Prayer ft. Chuy (prod. by Darkness)
22.Vip in heaven ft. XV (Prod. by 9th Wonder)
23. One
24. Evaporation (Prod. Mes the Jive Turkey)
Bonus: Story II tell (Produced by DJ SemaJ)

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