"DAMN SON, WHERE'D YOU FIND THIS?"
So... I've been MIA.... not like the girl rapper but.... actually missing, peoples.
I wondered if you were coming back...
Of course. Music, like time, waits for no man and I have been avidly listening. Without further ado, I'm going to release a slew of takes from myself on what is making waves, peeps.
Come As You Are
Audio Push, the California based duo comprised of Oktane and Pricetag, had dropped a mixtape in late 2013. Now if you aren't familiar with these guys- you're lying to yourself. Remember the guys that taught you how to "jerk": Teach Me How To Jerk? Well funny story, Hit-Boy found them, founded his own label (Hits Since 87 Inc), and signed these peeps. Since the days of jerk, these young dudes have been hard at work in the studio and their 8th mixtape, Come As You Are, is making big waves.
Content
Audio Push in my fair opinion has fallen off and was not taken seriously in the music industry. The dance crazes of the late 2000's took the youth by storm and left the older listeners shaking their heads... However, you cannot fake on how much growth has taken place. Come As You Are has a cohesive story and lyric system that is comparable to that of major albums such as Born Sinner, Trap Lord, and Ambition. Audio Push is stating where they are from, putting themselves on the map, and showcasing their accent to the top. Songs such as Theme Song (featuring T.I.) and Tis The Season (featuring Joey Bada$$) shout out their humble beginnings while applauding the situation they are in now.
It is arguable that Audio Push's content isn't as strong as their counterparts' but this recent vibe of west coast "getting it how you get it" definitely plays up what Oktane, Pricetag, and company have to say. Yeah, I'm saying Audio Push isn't the most socially conscious. However, the duo does an excellent job at poking at society's current petty ills: for example the song Turn Down "...you got one kid, two kids- don't take care of 'em. They always at they grandmama house,".
Flow
Audio Push's flow is flawless. I can listen (I have) to their mixtape all day on repeat, no problem. The laid-back but pinpoint voices of the duo are thick with a southern California swag that is hard to emulate. These guys have been at the drawing board several times and everything gets better with practice. Tis The Season, the perfect example again, is seriously one of the best song on the entire project. The guys are mad confident on the track and any listener can just take an easy listen. Oktane and Pricetag articulate beautifully; I swore I was chilling with them on several tracks.
Production
I saved the best for last...Oh gee!
You seem excited...
Seriously, the matrimony between Audio Push and Hit-Boy was made in heaven. The production and features on this mixtape are too nasty. The likes of Joey Bada$$, T.I., Wale, Ty Dolla Sign, James Fauntleroy, and Vic Mensa grace the mixtape without over saturating the mixtape. These beats are all fire, and set the mood for each song. Hit Boy and Hazebanga come together to execute Audio Push's best sounding project to date.
This mixtape is more musically diverse than full blown albums backed by major labels. There is club-bangers, slow jams, social conscious jams, hilarious interludes, intelligent samples, easy listeners, and the hard-hitting cypher style songs. As to be expected from a producer that has a strong track record (Watch the Throne). Audio Push under Hit-Boy is a godsend and the music from this partnership has no rivals. In the era of self-production,
I'm talking to you Mac...
Audio Push has no rivals.
Conclusion
I'm giving this mixtape three-thumbs-up. Come As You Are made me a believer, okay? The pieces are finally falling together for this group and I am a true fan. Without bias though- I have to say this was one of the stronger projects of 2013. This mixtape was as authentic as any others dropped in 2013. This duo, Audio Push, under Hit-Boy is no different. Watch them- they're eating opposition right now.
"Why Hit-Boy sign them? They can't rap its all these discussions. So you mean to tell me since we dance are music ain't bumping? Cause please lets not forget, Tupac was on stage humpty-humping. Back up dancing like he couldn't rap- when in fact he was good at that-"
