Six days before releasing the long-awaited studio album with Shady Records, Conway the Machine releases a promotional mixtape. This project takes us back to the modern origins of the mixtape in hip-hop, when 50 Cent gave a twist to the mixtape circuit and a new meaning to the term itself, and Lil Wayne also made part of his fortune with the same formula, publishing some of his works most appreciated by fans: La Maquina raps freestyle on some rhythms of other artists. Furthermore, he includes some songs that hadn't found a place previously, such as "Language" (aka "Sign Language") and "Fredo Shit" (aka "Fredo Joint", originally featured in "Danger Room Instrumentals 2"), both from 2020, produced by Daringer and Greymatter respectively.
To note is the presence of "Tru Bethel", a brilliant joint with 2 Chainz which was included in the EP "The Missing Bricks" (2021). It would be an average mixtape if it didn't come straight from one of the best hip-hop artists of the period. Conway gives away other gems during this listening hour, including the two singles from his future LP, "Piano Love" and "John Woo Flick", the latter as a sort of bonus track after the outro. Both are fantastic and among the best tracks on the mixtape, paired with "Earthlings", if not surpassed, another top track by the MC from Buffalo. Most guests arrive on the latest songs, and they're Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, Jae Skeese, 2 Chainz and Goose.
The record mixes trap and boom bap rhythms typical of GxFR, with a top lyricism, even if it's not an essential listening, and I recommend it to fans. The release accompanies Conway's announcements of his recent releases from both Shady Records and Griselda Records: if the first was by now obvious in the aftermath of the release of "God Don't Make Mistakes", the second sees the exit of one of the two historical founders of the Buffalo label to continue his career as independent under his Drumwork Music Group.
Highlights: "Piano Love", "Language", "Fredo Shit", "Earthlings", "Tru Bethel", "John Woo Flick".
Rating: 7/10.
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