Mixtape Review: M.I Illegal Music 2

Unsolicited Review of Illegal Music 2

Do I think MI is an ass? Well umm, maybe. Is he a drama queen? Yeah I guess, but hey, I’d say all these things about Kanye too! I joked about writing this review and someone did say I will be biased, but then again we are all critics. If you wonder why I’m doing this or what gives me the authority to write this, then you really don’t need to read this.

P.S.: This is more about the people he featured, not necessarily about M.I.

TRUTH
I felt it was quite unprofessional the way M.I. delayed the release of Illegal Music 2 and most times waited till the last minute before he eventually came to apologize in a cocky way on twitter. Wait! Before you agree with me, it’s a free product right? Maybe he should have had it ready before he announced it. All said and done, he made us anticipate his mix tape. I’ve never seen people anticipate ANY album like that in Nigeria... and it is (just) a mix tape. After all my rants and my anger, I still waited to download a mix tape I already had. The site crashed 5 minutes after it went live (I won’t even take shots at the developers) but that said a lot. Is MI talented? You tell me.

Observation
This is my biased view:
• Why didn’t we get to hear Jesse Jagz on IM2?
• Not even one line in Pidgin English from MI. You want hip hop?
• “Remember me” and “Jade’s intro” didn’t make the final cut (he mentioned both tracks on twitter months ago.
• Dear Critics, M.I. is not happy with some of your reviews. You had a lot of shout outs directly and subliminally. Truth is every rapper wants some credit, I guess. (Cc Don jazzy, MTN for Jude)

Illegal Music 2 Review

Track 1 – Coming Home ft Tonii

Starts like a movie, very ghen gheun... who is Tonii? I don’t know her, never heard of her, but she made me listen and MI came through. My Opinion: 3.2/5

Track 2 – 6-Foot ft Phenom
One word, Punchlines! You may need Wikipedia to get through this one. M.I. hates being compared or likened to Lil Wayne but I know he is a fan, especially when you remember how he went hard on “A Millie” in Illegal Music 1. Move aside M.I., this is not about you... Phenom is the future already present. That’s all My Opinion: 4.5/5

Track 3 – Lost ft Loose kaynon
Kinda old to us now as this was the first single from the mixtape and most people said Loose murdered M.I. on it. I think they both did, but most people concentrated on Loose Kaynon. My Opinion: 3/5

Track 4 – Sex Love, BS ft Kahli
This one leaked a week before release, but not a lot of people heard it. Nice sample of Chris Brown’s “No bullshit”. Kahli’s “The bandit” EP speaks for itself. P.S., did you hear Lindsey’s voice at the end? (4mins into it) My Opinion 3.5/5

Track 5 – Do I move you
M.I. sampled Nina Simone and he did this quite well as and I couldn’t really fault it. I like it... he went in. My Opinion 4/5

Track 6 – Notis ft Pryse
This song didn’t do Pryse justice. She sounded nervous but she did well. The extra bit at the end vindicated her. Watch out for her. My opinion 3/5

Track 7 – Star ft Efa, 5-Mcs
Good sample of “Stay Scheming” and Drake’s Crew Love” I think? Nice punchlines from 5Mics and M.I., the song sounded a little too busy. My Opinion 3/5

Track 8 – Superhuman ft H.H.P
Novacane sample: hard to hate. I wasn’t too impressed with HHP but then I listened later and the passion in his voice made me smile. Dude needs to go and take cough syrup though he sounded like he needed to clear his throat. My Opinion 4/5

Track 9 – The XO bit ft XO
For Hip Hop, this is street, XO is a happy rapper, he had fun with this one. Although, he unconsciously tries to simplify his lines so the listeners can actually get what he means. For hardcore hip hop heads. My Opinion 4.3/5

Track 10 – F**K You
Silly M.I had fun here and this is Iceprince’s hardest rap ever, even though people will still take shots at Ice no matter how good he is or not. Funny song, Eminem Sample, hard hit at critics and competitors. Please kindly pick your subs here. My opinion 4/5

Track 11 – Eyes
For the ladies.... P.S. Makiller killed it. My Opinion 4/5

Track 12 – Export ft Yung6ix
Yung6ix saved his best part till the end and by that time I had judged him as average. I think he is good but tried too hard and it didn't help him. MI on the other hand did good but pretty much gave Yung6ix space to show his skills. My Opinion 3/5

Track 13 – Beg for It ft Matronomy and Funbi
This is Nice. I think Funbi is very talented, the raps were also cool. It is a laid back song. My Opinion 4.3/5

Track 14 – Ridiculous ft Hench and Boogey
HIP HOP HARD: They had fun with this one, They all gave their best but my high point -a Boogey! Remember that name My Opinion 4.5/5

Track 15 – Pain ft Shaydee
Not my favourite and for no particular reason. M.I was still taking shots at critics? Rappers should get used to it criticized, criticism may not be that bad. My Opinion 3.8/5.


Track 16 – Loving Me
Mushy and nice pleasant, for the ladies. I listened to this one over and over again. Good work 4/5

Track 17 – Heart of the City ft Show Dem Camp
SDC deserves more credit than they get. Those guys are sickly good. MI poured his heart and soul out in this one 4.5/5

Track 18 –Flower ft Ruby
Took me to the 90’s.... Ruby sounds really cool. My Opinion 3.5/5

OVERALL
This is not for pop heads, this is hip hop and if you are not impressed, show me someone who has or is doing better! My Opinion 4.2/5

Shoot me (not).
For putting all these people on the mixtape and giving them a chance to be heard, I respect that. I also remember that was how we heard about Wizkid. This was definitely worth the wait. On a general note once again, rappers shouldn’t hate critics or take it personal. Not everyone will like you, no matter how much you try.

Good job Mr Abaga, but don’t make us wait like that next time. *Slaps him*.

That Andy