Let's start with the cover. If you follow eXquire on twitter (I seriously doubt you do) he uses the hashtag cosmic all the time. I figure that is a reference to the color and back drop of the cover, because that is all I can think of. Now for the exciting part, eXquire is abstinent! That's right he does not have sex anymore, because he was tired of having meaningless sex with women. Now while I respect that, hold the fuck up. The same man claiming abstinence is gripping the naked ass of a woman on the cover of his mixtape. Let that sink in and have a nice laugh.
While he is often repackaged as, "mr. MFN eXquire" this is not by his choice. This is the type of guy who if asked in an interview at the Grammys what his rap name was, he would exclaim, " mr. MUTHAFUCKIN eXquire!" While he has this attitude that would indicate a lack of caring, he also is incredibly smart for a rapper, hell, for any person in general. That attitude will stifle his ability to break out to a mainstream audience, he will still garner enough of a following because of his ingenious lyrics, and impeccable flow.
You know how much I love this guy, but now I want to see if I can sway even one reader to download this free tape. You heard me, you don't have to pay a cent for this shit. What the hell would stop you from downloading it. Hell if you want, hit me up and I'll give you my Datpiff password, anything to get this some more listens.
After that tirade I'm sure you want to hear what all the fuss is about, well your ass is in luck.
1. Cauldron
If you are a mixtape type of guy, you know the first track usually includes stupid DJ shout outs, and general promotional messages, with maybe a few bars thrown in. Here we get one of the best opening tracks ever. This is what you call starting off on a high point. A wonderful thing about this mixtape is that there is no rising action, is starts great and ends the same way. This song is about the struggle and the growth of eXquire. The flow on the first verse is absolutely incredible, when he starts with the, "rumbling in the jungle," lines. The second verse is about him with a woman, and his new view on life after success. It is much more aggressive than the first verse, but maybe even better. One of the lines that hits hard is, " the same shit I was avoiding is the same shit I turned around and deemed important." This is a great introspective track, and is unimaginably easy to listen to.
2. Noble Drew Ali
This name is a character of eXquire. Once again it is crazy how often he talks about sex, while saying he is abstinent. However, sex is not the theme of the song. The lyrics are so good, and the flow is so constant that this is the type of song you have to Rap Genius. It has two very good verses separated by a speaking interlude in the middle. He talks more about how really being a rapper isn't all it's built up to be. He also eludes to the idea that he is too complex for the average listener, which I find to be almost fact. If you are in love with dumbed down lyrics, and think the new Rich Gang album was a classic. I demand you turn this shit off, because you don't deserve to listen to it.
3. I Was Drunk When I Wrote This
The hook is very catchy, and something you could hear on the radio and not think twice. This is the first song that even has a hook, so it is fun to have something that is easily repeatable. This is a much more basic song lyrically than the previous two, but his flow has never been more on point. I am saying right now that if eXquire was truly intoxicated while writing this then I have no faith in the direction hip-hop is heading. This is still lyrically better than ninety percent of the bullshit you hear daily, and he is supposedly drunk. Listen to this shit, and tell me Ace Hood could touch it lyrically while sober, so sad.
4. She's Not Fucking With Me (skit)
This skit sets up the next two songs nicely, but isn't wildly entertaining by any means at all.
5. Cherry Raindrops
This song basically tells the story of a love that was doomed from the start. While this is a love song, the most masculine of men will still love and respect the lyrical ability and flow of eXquire. As for the story, these two people fell in love in three days, and surprisingly it did't work out. Apparently the love was genuine and the timing was all wrong. The beat changes before the second verse and we get a little more back story. Apparently the female has a lover, but her and eXquire are in love. This is all summed up by the four words eXquire utters at the end, " Perfect couple, bad timing."
6. Vanilla Rainbows
As a sequel to the last song, the happy tone of the beat is surprising. We get an opening monologue about the word passion, and how eXquire doesn't see a comparison between himself and any other rappers. Other than that, this is just an upbeat song, in which eXquire shows out as usual. The whole theme around the song is that after something bad comes something good, hence the line, " Vanilla Rainbows after cherry raindrops." This is just an enjoyable listen, fairly short, and to the point.
7. Illest N***** Breathin' (ft. Goldie Glo)
So which one of you dumb big stupid assholes thought eXquire was soft. After what was essentially a two part love song, we get the real thugs anthem. Goldie provides an average verse, but the catchiest hook of all time. The beat resembles the music in Lord of the Rings when the setting was Mordor. Lyrically it's not like eXquire was brilliant, but it was simplistic and hilarious. He has a line about his arms getting, "strenghter" which is hilarious. Imagine fucking waking up to this song. One could not possibly have a bad day after setting this as an alarm. School might not be as much of a hassle waking up to this song.
8. Chains (ft. Heron)
This is a super lyrical, Afrocentric themed track. eXquire goes with a more introspective verse rather than blatantly talking about racism or any similar issues. On the flip side Heron, who is known as a black activist, is much more up front about the theme. While Heron doesn't sound bad, eXquire is just so much better and easier to listen to. After hearing the first part of this tape, the harshness of Heron's voice is kind of annoying. However this is still a good song, at this point I'm searching for even the smallest things wrong with this tape.
9. Hoes (Prelude)
This is the beat to the next song, and a speech by a man named Gorgeous Black. Much like the other skit, it does nothing more than set up the next song.
10. Hoes I Don't Remember
While this is shockingly good track, it still doesn't make complete sense. He says at one point that he will never forget any of the girls that he's been with, but still says in the hook that the song is for the hoes he doesn't remember. That aside this track is weirdly good, and not what you'd expect it to be. It depicts eXquire as a very good guy, and he seems to regret all the sex that he's had with the girls. As a kid I can't relate to this song at all, but I still understand what eXquire is going for, and I applaud him for it. If that confused you, trust me I'm just as confused.
11. Tomorrow's Gone (ft. Danny Brown, Nacho Picasso, & Flatbush Zombies)
Man eXquire fucking murdered this track. This is a posse cut, but each rapper gets an above average length verse. eXquire destroys the first minute of the song, and while I'm a huge Danny Brown fan, he could hardly keep up. eXquire had such an odd tone in his voice where it was some how aggressive and mellow at the same time. His flow was absolutely sick, and no one would mistake that someone out performed him on this track. However, Brown managed to still kill this track. I always love having his voice on a track, because it is something different and always adds an aspect of creativity to any situation. As much as I hate to say it, without the first two rappers, this song would be garbage. No one else is even slightly notable, so you may find yourself fast forward after the second verse, and I can't blame you.
12. Orbz a.k.a Some Wise Quotes Drake Never Said
Unlike most of the other tracks, this song is mostly more of the same. The rapping is still as incredible as it is on every other track, and the title is amusing. The downfall is just how long it is. With no defining characteristics that go along with this song, it is easily forgettable, and is really the only track you can afford to skip. That being said I would not at all advise a skit as eXquire still performs very well. Just don't say I didn't let you know when this song drags on a minute or two too long.
13. Never Running Again
This song is cool, but is just a few seconds over a minute. eXquire explains all of the running he's been forced to do in his life, literally, and metaphorically. His flow is nuts on this song, and we get an introspective view on eXquire, which is always fun because he is an eccentric guy. One problem I have is that the track gets quiet and eventually ends while he's still rhyming. I don't know if this was a snippet and there is more to the song I definitely wish it was on this tape. I can't imagine him having more to say and cutting himself off on his own mixtape, but that sounds like exactly what happens.
14. Ozwald's Moment
This is a skit. You can listen to it if you want but you don't need to. It is cool, and I feel as if the narration is what is going on in eXquire's mind, but that is all I got from this.
15. Paper Hearts
Holy mother of God this track is incredible in every way that one could imaginably wish to judge a song in. The first verse we really just get what eXquire is about and that he only lets God judge him. He knows how good he is and basically telling all the people that don't believe in him to blow him. I believe what he is saying when he says that labels and other artists have a phony front that eXquire isn't talented so they can save themselves. If eXquire got enough of a name he could end any rappers career, and be a serious problem in the game. After the first run of the hook we get a definition of paper hearts. If you thought you knew what it meant rethink that because it has nothing to do with paper or hearts. The beat slightly changes at the beginning of the second verse, and this verse is all about his childhood, come up, and introduction to rap. From the lyrics, to the flow, the beat, and the hook, this might be my favorite track in 2013.
16. Studio (ft. Goldie Glo, & Cokey Briccz) [ BONUS]
I didn't know mixtapes could have bonus tracks, and I don't get the point, because with or without this track the tape is still free. Regardless this is on the version I got so I must give my commentary. Much like the other Goldie song, this is a more mainstream themed song, with a very basic repetitive hook. Hearing this song after Paper Hearts, it just can't live up to the expectation set by that track. And honestly, this track has a very basic flow and lyrics. While I have no problem with it, I don't think it is very good by any means.
Rating: 4/5
This is the most complete mixtape I have ever heard. It is so cohesive as a project that I am baffled that eXquire didn't try to make a lot of money off of it. There are really no slip ups on this tape, and the replay value is incredible. I usually find the time in my day to listen to it in its entirety, which is rare for any project. This is another case where if I were to redo my top five list, this would be very near the top. This is my second favorite release of the year, only second to Rn The Jewels. If you don't download this mixtape right after reading this I will be personally offended. As a matter of fact if you are bold enough not to download this shit now, I want a two page letter on why you are shitting on my opinion, and everything I stand for. Not only will you thoroughly enjoy this, but it will open your eyes, and give you hope for a world in which newly released hip-hop doesn't suck. Nothing about his appearance and demeanor would indicate the sheer brilliance that he was about to spit, but trust me, he is smarter, and more talented than most rappers out.