JR WRITER – I REALLY RAP

This was a lazy release from a Diplomat veteran which is something I didn’t think I would ever type. JR Writer has always been nice lyrically and I don’t think you can ever take that from him. He does have some nice bars on this project also but he just sounds lazy overall. There is no “umph” in his voice at all. It’s almost like he showed up for work and just kind of robotically went through his day. The beats are not great on here either. I think they are maybe distantly reminiscent of old Diplomat beats at best, but nowhere near their great sound. Overall this was just a lazy attempt. I know JR is capable of doing so much better, but it’s almost as if he didn’t try very hard on this one.

OVERALL RATING: 2.5 out of 5 Cheesesteaks

#jrwriter #jrwriter_ #zeus #ireallyrap #thunda #dipset #diplomats #harlem

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CAM’RON – THE PROGRAM

The Diplomat and Harlem legend Killa Cam is back after a long break with this mixtape The Program. This joint sounds awesome and you definitely need to hear it. This is a must hear. Lyrically Cam is just as good as he ever was. He spits crazy bars over the best beats. It’s as simple as that. You ain’t messing with Cam. There are so many good tracks on this album it’s hard to list them all. The 2 best tracks are the Just Blaze produced “Kiss Myself” and “U Wasn’t There.” These tracks are just amazing. This album is the classic Diplomat sound that you have come to love. This was very much needed and I hope with the return of Hell Rell and of Cam’ron, that we will see more work from the Diplomats very soon. The game needs it badly and there are pretty much no better to give us that classic NY sound.

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5 Cheesesteaks

#camron #cam’ron #mr_camron #camerongiles #theprogram #diplomats #dipset #harlem

HELL RELL – THE SCALE

Hell Rell drops a long awaited mixtape here and Diplomat fans rejoice. This was very much needed in the game. Hell Rell comes back hard with this project. He sounds hungry and refreshed on here. The rhymes are great. Blatant bragging and crime bars dominate his subject material which is what we have come to love about Hell Rell. The beats are decent as well. They are reminiscent of old Dipset material but also sound updated to match with today’s styles. This is a decent attempt at a comeback. There aren’t really any standout tracks but at the same time, there is nothing that is really trash on this project either. It’s a good listen the whole way through. If you are a Dipset fan, definitely peep this joint out.

OVERALL RATING: 3.5 out of 5 Cheesesteaks

#hellrell #therealhellrell #thescale #diplomats #dipset #harlem

UN KASA – VANILLA SKYE

This album was surprisingly good. I am a huge Dipset fan and have always looked forward to anything that any of their affiliates have done. With a lesser known MC like Un Kasa, I was scared that this album might not be too good, but this project is quite the opposite. Every track on here is at least decent. I wouldn’t say there is anything stellar on here but he at least shoots for par. Un Kasa is very capable of making good songs about different topics. Lyrically he is probably best able to describe certain objects in detail. The way he talks about colors is amazing. The beats on this album are very good. Nothing that is earth-shattering but definitely worth a listen. I would say this is a solid release overall and definitely deserving for more than a few spins.

OVERALL RATING: 4 out of 5 Cheesesteaks

#unkasa #kasa #uncasa #casa #vanillaskye #dipset

JR WRITER – MEET ZEUS

JR Writer comes back strong with this mixtape. There is absolutely no doubt that this dude can spit relentless fire. His bars are virtually fire throughout most of this project. He also has a decent sense for making a good song. The beats are decent across most of this project. The standout track is the joint with him and fellow Harlem native Dave East called “Hell Yeah.” This is Writer at his best. The lyrics are complete fire all the way through. In contrast, the absolute worst song on here is “Dip$et” featuring MadeInTokyo and Rich The Kid. This is one of the worst songs I have ever heard in my life and should have been automatically deleted upon finishing it. That aside, this is a dope release that deserves a good listen. JR Writer is often left out of conversations but proves that he should not be with this latest release.

OVERALL RATING: 3 out of 5 Cheesesteaks

#jrwriter #jrwriter_ #zeus #meetzeus #thunda #dipset #diplomats #harlem

JIM JONES – THE KITCHEN

Jim Jones has been putting out some crap for the last few years. I’m talking some real piles of feces. So when I saw that this project was coming out, I fully expected more of the same. He sort of fell apart ever since the Diplomats disbanded. Upon listening to this album, it actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it would have been. It’s not a great album but I feel like he may have done an about face and started coming back to some better work. It does seem like he stepped up his lyrical ability on this one. Instead of boring us to death with stupid adlibs about Vamp Life and how his cars sound, he seems to make a good attempt at describing the Harlem drug-trading life a little bit better. While the rhymes seem to have a little bit of life breathed into them, the beats fall flat. There is nothing on here that really sticks with me after I listen to it. Nothing “rewind-worthy.” I wouldn’t call this project a failure but it is definitely not a win either. I still await the Jim Jones of days past when Diplomats were on the rise. I know he’s got it in him.

OVERALL RATING: 2 out of 5 Cheesesteaks

#jimjones #jimjonescapo #capo #thekitchen #diplomats #dipset #eastside