My friend Bobby Drake recently released his first mixtape 'Casablanca' and I thought I'd post my review for it. The link to listen to it is at the bottom of the post. GET IT!!!
When I first started the download of Bobby Drake’s Casablanca, I had a thirty minute wait ahead of me. While I waited I decided to look up the film Casablanca (a film that I’ve skipped multiple times) but nothing could’ve prepared me for the creativity I’d hear within the album.
With this being Bobby D’s first mixtape it, Casablanca has an original feel that most first’s lack. It mixes mellow productions with charismatic and satisfying flows. The spoken word elements of his rapping are refreshing in a world with artists such as Soulja Boy and Gudda Gudda. It’s reminiscent of Gil Scott-Heron as far as delivery goes. Tracks such as “BST” and “Cloud Nine” shine as the most complete songs while Cruisin brings me back to the feeling I get while listening to Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day”. Farewell is by far my favorite production though. It conveys complexity in simplicity as Bobby says farewell to a past that cannot contain his aspirations.
With all that being said Casablanca is not immune to criticism. As a whole the mixtape is near brilliance but certain tracks don’t seem mesh well with the rapping coupled with them. (Nouveau comes to mind as an example).There is also a problem you’d expect from a first mixtape. While Bobby Drake seems to understand how to link words together as a form of art, it seems as though his delivery lack fluidity at times and at other times he seems to just be trying to sound cool.
All in all, Casablanca is on the cusp of being avant-garde with solvable problems holding it back that have the listener awaiting musical maturation while still hoping that the dedication stays.
Overall score: 8.3/10
Download link:
Bobby Drake's Casablanca
Here's his facebook so you can tell him what you think :)
Bobby Drake's Facebook
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