In a new feature to our pages we are now delivering you Mixtape Monday, a review of all the latest mixtapes so let’s get into it shall we…

First up is Fat Joe’s The Darkside Volume II. The Terror Squad Entertainment CEO drops this mixtape just in time to celebrate halloween. A follow up to The Darkside, Fat Joe delivers the sequel featuring the likes of French Montana, Jadakiss and Raekwon. With an abundance of quality features and huge beats this made for good listening. Noteworthy tracks include Welcome To The Darkside featuring French Montana and Pushing Keys featuring Raekwon. This mixtape has a classic hip hop feel with numerous samples and orchestrated beats, Fat Joe narrates a story of life in the game, hustling and alludes to his troubled past and brushes with the law.

The Darkside Volume II delivers an insight into the darkside of Fat Joe and his almost twenty years in the game.

Next up is a marmite figure of hip hop Soulja Boy. The rapper everyone loves to hate delivers Skate Boy, which shows a huge step forward in his music. Soulja Boy comes through with a mixtape full of lyrical content often addressing his critics, flicking the Vs up to all the haters Soulja Boy spits bars heavy with lyrical content over beats with a much more mature to feel to them.

Tear It Up is the stand out track on the mixtape, a deep bass line and very minimal instrumentation over the top channels your focus to the lyrics Soulja Boy delivers.

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A number of other tracks on the mixtape seem to draw inspiration musically from the rising bass scene that is taking the US by storm. Lil B esque beats coupled with the lazy delivery style Soulja Boy is trademark this is not to say this mixtape does not lack lyrically, far from his Soulja Boy dancing days, Soulja Boy takes on an arrogance he has the right to assume after his global success. His remix of Drake’s Headlines titled Ain’t Worried About Nothin sums up the mixtape ‘Forget the commments that they made we just some young n****rs getting paid’.

Words by James Deacon