Hip-Hop Albums of the Year

30 January, 2020

Cookin' Soul — Remixes Vol. 1


Remix tape by Cookin Soul, first of the official releases by this producer. Intro, then splendid jazzy collage tribute to Nas. The first real cut is a beautiful homage to Big L, with an amazing remix of "Flamboyant": jazzy rhythm that wraps the powerful and driving delivery of Big L, the Brooklyn MC delivers with rough and smooth flow, the beat keeps a sort of velvet circle that allows him to flow more adequately, helped by a simply fantastic female sample.

Among the best remixes of a Big L song, and many have been made. Jazzy production with deep female soulful samples in the background, minimal and skeletal drum machine, then tight soul samples to spread the musical carpet to CL Smooth, accustomed to an extreme production quality level (Pete Rock...), Cookin Soul isn't inferior and offers a modern and complex, sensational rhythm, excellent for the flow of the MC. Excellent jazzy rhythm that runs in a circle, tight, effective, surrounds the delivery of the G-Unit, exceptional choice production, the light delivery of the G-Unit turns out to be fit with this rhythm, which can also support a quite functional hook. Tight jazzy rhythm, heavy entry of M.O.P. on their classic "Ante Up", one of their most commercially successful hits.

Jazzy production with a heavy minimal drum machine tries to support the heavy delivery of MOP, but is stressed even on the hook. Unmissable cut in any case. Ludacris follows, on a heavy and enveloping, tight jazzy rhythm, a nice beat by Cookin Soul for his smoothness and raw flow. 50 Cent is back on an essential, rhythmic, syncopated, jazzy production with simple minimal drum machine, to welcome his energetic delivery. CL Smooth's second track, the beatmaker offers a tight and light jazzy rhythm, with strings to accompany the rapper's smooth and clean delivery, hook left to a splendid female soul sample looped in the background which is part of the original song. Here comes a classic, one of the strongest cuts of this remixes tape. Cookin Soul offers a clean and ethereal jazzy rhythm with female soul samples looped in the background, Rebel INS starts immediately with a relentless flow and a perennially smooth, spectacular and unstoppable delivery, sweeps away everything he meets. If you listened to the original one, this choice is impressive for how much it manages to make a song that was simply good on that album ("The Movement"), in a sort of masterpiece finding a profitable rhythm that manages to enhance the quality of the delivery of the Wu-Tang member.

Vibrant jazzy rhythm for the tune of Eminem, Obie Trice and Dr. Dre. Simple production, lively drum machine, hint of g-funk soiled by jazzy vibes, pretty good track. Showcase also for the veteran of Boston Edo G, with the progenitor "Sayin Somethin" who finds new life here on a light and jazzy soundscape, scratched hook, simple production, leaves much room for the rough and smooth delivery of the MC. A nice heavy and tight, modern jazzy beat follows, to welcome the East Coast legend Big Daddy Kane in "Hip-Hop Icon", clean and flowing delivery, excellent cut well supported by the jazzy rhythm. Scratched hook. Tense beat, jazzy, minimal and heavy drum machine, well cadenced like raindrops on a gloomy day, simple and disturbing beat, dystopian, good delivery by Jeru the Damaja, Prodigy gives value to the chosen production with a meager delivery, interpreted with a flow light and dull, inside also Tremendo, Spanish MC inserted by his friend Cookin Soul, and Big Twinz, affiliated to Mobb Deep, well too.

The Little Brother arrive on a heavy and simple, tight jazzy beat, heavy and minimal drum machine in the background, female soulful sample looped in the background that breaks up to dominate the group delivery, simple soulful hook, smooth and technical deliveries, good piece. A choice of Rasco follows: the producer chooses a tight and simple jazzy musical carpet, light boom bap, enveloping beat that leaves Rasco ample room for action, smooth and raw delivery, excellent lively but light rhythm, in the end there's space for a solo of trumpets. Cassidy comes forcefully in this type with a thug cut, accompanied by a light and vibrant jazzy rhythm, minimal and syncopated drum machine, good delivery by Cassidy who's assigned an easily dominable rhythm. Vicious song for the third and last spot by CL Smooth on a lively jazzy carpet by Cookin Soul, who chooses an "affectionate" rhythm to greet the MC who has dropped classic albums in series. Common is the last MC chosen by Cookin Soul for his debut record: "gentle", soft, candid, clean, simple jazzy rhythm, calm / quiet drum machine for the smooth and light delivery of the Chicago MC. The tape is closed by a good outro, light jazzy rhythm and light drum machine.

Highlights: "Flamboyant", "Shine on Me", "Ante Up", "It's a Love Thing", "City High", "Hip-Hop Icon", "The Way U Do", "The Beat Down", "The Corner".

Rating: 8/10.

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