Mixtape Reviews: Re$T AKA Mr. Pyrex, and Dubb

The mixtape scene in hip-hop is, much like experimental and ambient music and limited edition cassette tape labels, an endless abyss. Once you discover one or two, you’re lead to, like, 100 others, and it just never ends. Sites like Datpiff and Live Mixtapes are just like labyrinths—if you aren’t careful, you can lose a lot of time just browsing around, sampling artists, waiting to make another discovery.

This may be somewhat of a gross generalization about the mixtape industry, but there are really two kinds of “tapes” out there: the first is by either marquee or established names, looking to either distribute previously unreleased material and/or drum up promotion for an upcoming major label project. On Datpiff, you’ll find Pusha T’s pre-My Name is My Name tape, Wrath of Caine, as well as efforts by up acts like Meek Mill, French Montana, and even a superstar like Lil Wayne.

The second kind of artist you’ll find on a mixtape site is a relatively unknown name—someone looking to just get their music out there, and hoping someone will find it, someone will listen to it, and that someone may connect with it.

I recently downloaded two mixtapes from Datpiff—one based on the artist’s name, the other based on the cover design. Both of them turned out to be pretty great, so I thought it would be worth reviewing them here, since I know so many readers of this blog love rap music as much as I do.

Hip Hop Needs a Re$T was downloaded purely because of the artist’s name—Re$T AKA Mr. Pyrex. Because as you may or may not know, sometimes I have those Pyrex Visions. Aside from the excessive air horn sound effects and DJ tags courtesy of the tape’s host, John Burgundy, Hip Hop Needs a Re$T is pretty intense. Mr. Pyrex has a serious delivery and flow, and it’s paired well over what are predominantly interesting and diverse beats—old school shimmery stylings, trap music, and big synths are all present and accounted for at one time or another.

Hip Hop could be classified, primarily, as next generation “coke rap.” Lyrically, it’s INCREDIBLY gritty—bagging up product, catching bodies, and generally being “’bout that life” are the topics discussed throughout the hour-long running time. But there are moments that surprisingly clever—on “Theraflu,” Re$T drops a reference to the somewhat obscure 1997 Kurt Russell movie Breakdown, a movie that I actually saw in the theatre with my dad when I was, like 13 or 14; and there are also moments that are hopefully and triumphant—the very upbeat “Caviar Dreaming” is structured around a loop of string samples, and gets an added assist from the refrain sung by Michelle Singz.

Dubb’s Never Content was downloaded because of the cover art—the title’s layout was slightly reminiscent of the strikethrough motif used on Magna Carta Holy Grail; and hey, while that record was intolerably bad, from a design standpoint, the artwork was aight.

Never Content is much smoother than Hip Hop Needs a Re$T, and by that, I mean, it’s the kind of more “urban radio” style of post-Drake hip-hop that you may hear on the radio—which is interesting, considering on “My Own,” dub says, “..radio won’t play me because I refuse to go the dance route.” 

Just because it’s smoother in comparison doesn’t mean you should discredit Dubb, or take his effort less-seriously. It’s just a different style of hip-hop. Never Content is full of some well produced tracks (the swirling synths on “Don’t Take Days Off” are incredible) and lyrically, there the #realtalk arrives in the second half of the record, with “If I Wasn’t Black,” and the somber closing track, “Talk For A Minute.”

Because these are both free mixtapes, they are both “hosted” by a DJ—DJ Carisma hosts Dubb’s Never Content, and aside from the occasional check-in, she is not intrusive.  There is also a DJ-tagged free version of Never Content, complete with bonus tracks, available in the iTunes Store.

That is unfortunately not the case for Hip Hop Needs a Re$T. John Burgundy’s air horns and constant yelling at the beginning and end of each track is, needless to say, a little much at times. “AAAHHH MAN!!!! YA’LL KILLED THAT” he resigns breathlessly at the end of “Oil Money Gang.” I mean, this guy’s energy for shouting is unrivaled. I wish I had that much energy or cared that much about anything. It’s exhausting, really, listening to that much hype. It’s like when I watch my rabbits run around excited for fresh hay or a piece of cilantro: I just wish I cared that much about anything at all.

I would stop short of saying that Hip Hop Needs a Re$T and Never Content are drastically different from one another, but they are from different sides of the hip-hop genre from a stylistic standpoint. However, they are both similar in the sense that they were both rather interesting, refreshing, and enjoyable to listen to. And because they are both free, you’d be foolish to not give them a try, and support some new, up and coming talented performers.

Hip Hop Needs a Re$T and Never Content are both available now as free, "sponsored" downloads from Datpiff.