Papoose - Military Grind (Mixtape Review)

Bleys’s Papoose Rant:

Papoose is no longer a new artist in my eyes. He has been around for quite a few year gaining underground buzz by solely releasing mixtapes. Back in 2007, he was really gaining popularity within the NY street scene. He was on point with everything. He was as versatile as any artist could be. When you listened to his shit it made you want to pick up your pen and start writing rhymes (even if you were like me and had zero talent). In other words he was a true lyricist. He could spit in every style, outshine anyone, and send chills down your spine with his complex and yet down to earth street lyrics. Not only was he streetwise, but you could usually find some positive and powerful message lingering behind his music. Even if you re-listen to his old shit that you may have heard over and over (ANY of his first 14 mixtapes), you will still hear a line or two that makes you go HO-LY SHIT! His beats have never really been perfect, but he used to make them work. However, beats didn't matter much especially on his first few tapes. It was all lyricism; raw and uncut. There was a while in his career, before the deal with Jive, where his music would knock me out of my seat. Then … he got signed and down came the waterfall to water down every verse. It wasn't immediate though, it was more linear. Either way, up until early-mid 2009 I just couldn’t stand listening to him anymore.

Mixtape Review:

For an entire year between 2008-2009 most of Papoose’s tracks were sloppily written, poorly executed, missing any previous originality they may have had. It was only in the beginning of this year that he started to comeback to his old self. This new mixtape (#22), Military Grind, shows about 40% of what he is capable of. The hottest tracks on here that represent what Pap is really about as far as lyrics and flow are: Knock Em Down (so sick), Pay Homage, Will To Survive, So Much More, Show & Prove, Power Cipher, B.E.T Freestyle, TKO, and Amnesia. The rest of this 24 track mixtape ranged from mediocre to terrible, 2.75/5. I am still trying to find some way to burn Swaggaction out my memory. It hasn’t worked yet. To prevent you from wanting to chuck your ipod at the wall while listening to the bad tracks, I just took them out and left the standouts. For this version click the second (Trimmed) link.

01. Papoose - Intro
02. Papoose - Two Hitter Quitter
03. Papoose - Realest To Run It
04. Papoose - Pay Homage
05. Papoose - Knock Em Down
06. Papoose - Will To Survive
07. Papoose - So Much More
08. Papoose - Show & Prove
09. Papoose - The Return Of The God
10. Papoose - Power Cipher
11. Papoose - B.E.T Freestyle
12. Papoose - Swaggaction
13. Papoose - I Just Want The Paper
14. Papoose - Foolish
15. Papoose - Rule
16. Papoose - Goin Back Home
17. Papoose - In Da Kitchen
18. Papoose - Fellin Some Way
19. Papoose - TKO
20. Papoose - Trophy Girl
21. Papoose - Amnesia
22. Papoose - TEST
23. Papoose - Military Grind
24. Papoose - Pillow Talk

Papoose - Military Grind Direct Download

Papoose - Military Grind Direct Download (Trimmed)