*** Funkmaster Flex

THE MIXTAPE, VOLUME 2

(Loud)

Mixtapes are a New York phenomenon. Peddled out of the trunks of cars and on street corners from the "boogie down" Bronx to "money making" Manhattan, they provide enterprising DJs a way to support their vinyl addictions and put food on their tables. NYC heavyweights Kid Capri and Doowop have made their names with tapes that often feature a mélange of never-before-heard freestyle raps and unreleased tracks. Record companies have long realized the utility of this method of promotion. Last year Loud Records took it to the next level with New York jock Funkmaster Flex's The Mixtape. This year Loud presents volume two, featuring the popular Hot 97 (New York's all-hip-hop radio station) DJ.

The set does a nice job of showcasing NYC underground vibes. The blends of old-school classics like the Gap Band's "Outstanding" with Parliament's "Flashlight" sound nice, but Flex would have done better to dig a bit deeper in his crates for tracks that aren't already classics. Layering the spicy reggae vocals of Lady Saw and Capleton over hip-hop beats blended into DJ Kool's DC Go-Go call-and-response stylings hits the mark, hard. However, the best moments come from Xzibit and Nas protégé Cormega. Let's hope this CD will catalyze hip-hop consumers to pick up other non-major-label tape kings like Tony Touch and DJ Evil D.

-- Adam Matthews