Newish mixtape dropped from the Marvell Boys today. It features all the past ‘Marvell Monday’ releases, the work is crazy from them as well so far theyve released 9 accompanying videos from the mixtape, there will probably be a couple more as well. On top of that they’ve announced a new EP entitled Greatness, so look out for that one as well.
Despite his young age Kulez has been on the UK Hip-Hop scene for an amazing 6 years, making his start on Jump Off battles at only 16. He has now left the battle rapping behind him as he proves on his soon to be released mixtape ‘Euro Trip’.
The mixtape also ties in with a European tour, which will go ahead this summer! Euro-Trip will be available for purchase very soon but Kulez has agreed to give DAM an exclusive free version of the mixtape for all the Kulez fans out there, so stay locked for more details on that. Until then you can catch up with one of Kulez’s classic mixtapes -
North London’s Squeeks victoriously raps on his third mixtape Call Me Squeeko. Although it’s his third mixtape, the mixtape serves more as an introduction to the rapper’s music and his gruff style. This is due to him achieving national recognition with his smash hit video Big Squeeko. The track which gained him an army of new fans and brought attention to the artist.So the question is will this mixtape prove that the rapper has more hits under his belt than just one terrific track?
He starts the mixtape off with Riding In My Car, its typical Squeeks fare with rough rapping complimented by minimal yet effective production. It’s a solid starter as it sums up what he’s about stylistically. It’s followed up by the triumph which is Big Squeeko, the track is amazing because it achieves what most UK covers fail to do – its better than the original and you forget it’s a cover. Although Squeeks remixes some lyrics from the original, he makes it his own and turns into his signature song rather than just doing a generic version of an American rapper’s song. Squeeks makes the listener feel like it was his track originally due to how flawlessly he flows on it.
So how does Squeeks follow up one of the hottest rap songs of the year with Impossible. Impossible isn’t as good as it its preceding track but is still righteous in its own right. It is impressive because it has a distinctly British feel due to the sped up female vocal that evokes memories of UK Garage. The following track Changes mirrors Impossible as it features a female vocal again. This time Squeeks cuts more of a reflective figure and drops the boasting for a minute. Squeeks sombrely raps “I’m nearly 24, I’ve never been to prison.” It’s interesting seeing another side to the rapper, and there’s more dimensions to him than meets the eye.
Squeeks continues to show more sides to him with the track I Got You. There’s always the pre-requisite song “for the ladies” on every urban mixtape/album and most of the time it’s usually embarrassing and cheesy. Squeeks manages to pulls off a credible and cracking tune with I Got You. It’s one of the highlights on the mixtape which could’ve so easily been a low light. The track does well because of the heavenly vocal and the engaging ‘ride or die’ vibe to it.
After the exquisite I Got You Squeeks goes back to cover mode with his version of the heavily covered Stay Schemin’. His Stay Schemin isn’t bad, but it’s not necessary for the mixtape. This is because his version although solid isn’t particularly different to the countless versions out at the moment so it does nothing to define and set apart Squeeks as an artist. This happens again with his other cover of N*ggas In Paris that it’s not a bad track, but it’s not unique enough to differentiate it from the other numerous covers.
Overall with this mixtape Squeeks has shown that he’s a force to be reckoned with in the UK Rap scene at the moment. When he gets it right, he gets it extremely right and creates a banger. Squeeks rarely get its wrong, although some tracks might not be outstanding they’re always competent. He’s proved that he’s not just a YouTube sensation but has it in him and can make startling songs.
