RULE's Reviews: SBT The Messiah - Fresh Home (Mixtape)

[Revan]

RULE's Reviews:

SBT The Messiah - Fresh Home (Mixtape)



Overview

The first mixtape in 3 years from the veteran audio Grand Champion. SBT is a member of the hip hop collective named: EMG (Extraordinary Music Group).


Track By Track Review

1. Intro

Just the generic short mixtape introduction. N/R


2. Fresh Home

Expected better from the title track. Generic content and flow. Hook was very basic, beat was ok. Very underwhelming start to the tape. 6/10


3. Where 2 Go

Already better than the first track after 10 seconds. Flow and production much improved. The content seemed much more personal and as a result potent. The hook was a nice with a passable singing vocal. Production grows on you more and more. Catchy tune. Low... 8/10


4. I Swear

R-Kelly line was nice, a stand out. With such a played out concept it was always gonna be hard to bring anything overly adventurous here. The delivery was infectious tho, a very likable flow. Again hook was a bit bland. 6/10


5. Skit 1

Skit title alone had me worried, Just a short LL-esqe spoken word skit. N/R


6. Raunchy Nigga

SBT brings it back with energetic delivered verses on this track. Hook was a bit plain, the verse were flames though. Nothing expection lyrics wise, but still carries the interest for the length of the track. 7/10


7. How Im Living (Ft JIM D)

Another SBT performed hook, this one is one of the better ones though. Beat is hype as hell. SBT's delivery again was entertaining. Content was the usual hip hop schtick though. JIM had a Krayzie Bones type flow. Catchy song. 7/10


8. Hold On

Production and flow yet again was top notch. The best way to describe SBT would be to say he sounds like a more agressive Ma$e. Content and flow wise. 7/10


9. Ballin Out (Ft JIM D)

A pattern is emerging. Same quality content, same quality delivery, same quality production. The two latter being good, the foremost being mostly generic and cliched. Low... 7/10


10. Skit 2

Spoken word thoughts about the attitude of commercial artists. N/R


11. Random Thoughts

More heart in the hook than ive heard in the last 6 tracks or so. Lyrically more focused than previous tracks. Ended way too soon. 7/10


12. Get Money

Sampled beat was absolute flames. SBT with his customary flow and delivery. The content what you'd expect from a track with the title this has. Hook was ok. 7/10


13. In 4 The Kill

Another sampled beat, another dope one too. Lyrics got a touch more personal here. Its no suprise that SBT's bars get 10x better when he's speaking on more personal matters. Best track so far. 8/10


14. DJ Renaissance P Skit

Generic DJ Skit. N/R


15. My Religion

The Ma$e comparision is even more evident here. Lyrically on point. Again more personal and intriguing. Captivating verses. 8/10


16. She Down Low (Ft JIM D)

Intro suggested the track was gonna become a racial introspective song, but it turned into a generic hoodrats & hood life song. Low... 7/10


17. Skit 3

Another spoken word skit. These skits add a little personality to the tape, but are pretty basic in execution. N/R


18. Dedication 2 The Leechers

Another track with a more personal style of content. Beat yet again was great. Slick track here. Low.. 8/10


19. What The Basis Is

The first real conceptual track of the mixtape, looking at people following the cliches of Hip Hop blindly. Unfortunately SBT has been a little guilty of these over the mixtape itself. As a track its self though this is another standout. Reflective production and flawless delivery. 8/10


20. Racin

Another more introspective song. Beautiful production. High... 7/10


21. Lost But Found

Another track aimed towards being more heartfelt but came across a little cliched. Second verse was better but SBT seems to fall back to the fuck bitches, make money cliches to fill out a verse a lot of the time. 7/10


22. Stories Of Me

Sprinkles of honesty coated in a generic icing. Story of the tape to be honest. You could feel the pain in the delivery though. Production top notch as always. 7/10


23. Real Niggas

Boombastic beat, epic feeling track. The track almost encapsulates the mixtape itself: It threatens to let the real, personal stuff out but in the end it comes back to the same ol same ol. 7/10


24. Outro

Another DJ generic outro. N/R

Average Track Rating: 7.2/10


Track Of The Tape: In 4 The Kill


Verdict:

I cannot tell you how frustrating a listen this was. SBT shows on every single track the lyrical ability he has, yet almost seems to desperately, intentionally try to dumb it down to meet the generic cliches of the hip hop industry. Things like the terrible DJ skits, the constant return to the subjects of fuckin bitches and hood shit. Dont get me wrong, in the genre of the Jeezy type rapper i'd place you very high, but when you have the potential to do soo much more its extremely annoying. Damn near every track has a line of two that shows a glimpse at the ability of SBT, but it struggles to be seen in the sea of posturing. What makes it worst is that you can clearly hear that SBT DOES HAVE a lot to talk about. Its there, but it seems, infact i'd say it definately is a case of SBT trying to making a tape in the mold of all the other generic hip hop tapes put there. From the skits, to the majority of the content its like you wanted more to just be another clone than to really push the boat creatively. This might sound harsh and it probably is. Because in the world of hip hop mixtapes this was a very good one. But SBT has the ability to be so much more. My advice to the man would be to stop trying to be what everyone is and thinks they should be, and instead just focus on making something unique and different. Easier said than done but it CAN be done. Rant over lol let me focus on a few minor things. The S...B...T... intro to nearly every song started to take focus away from the get go, just be wary of that. The hooks were very hit and miss, there are many ways to make a hook rather than repeating 2 bars over. Positives? there were many. The production was great throughout even if a little tired in its direction. The delivery and flow was absolutely sublime and the glimpses of lyrical ability show the beast waiting within. To aptly sum this tape up, it was picasso doing a paint-by-numbers. While it still ended up looking great, you knew that there could of been so so much more.


Tape Rating: 7.5/10


Download Here: SBT The Messiah - Fresh Home

[Revan]

RULE's Reviews:

SBT The Messiah - Fresh Home (Mixtape)



Overview

The first mixtape in 3 years from the veteran audio Grand Champion. SBT is a member of the hip hop collective named: EMG (Extraordinary Music Group).


Track By Track Review

1. Intro

Just the generic short mixtape introduction. N/R


2. Fresh Home

Expected better from the title track. Generic content and flow. Hook was very basic, beat was ok. Very underwhelming start to the tape. 6/10


3. Where 2 Go

Already better than the first track after 10 seconds. Flow and production much improved. The content seemed much more personal and as a result potent. The hook was a nice with a passable singing vocal. Production grows on you more and more. Catchy tune. Low... 8/10


4. I Swear

R-Kelly line was nice, a stand out. With such a played out concept it was always gonna be hard to bring anything overly adventurous here. The delivery was infectious tho, a very likable flow. Again hook was a bit bland. 6/10


5. Skit 1

Skit title alone had me worried, Just a short LL-esqe spoken word skit. N/R


6. Raunchy Nigga

SBT brings it back with energetic delivered verses on this track. Hook was a bit plain, the verse were flames though. Nothing expection lyrics wise, but still carries the interest for the length of the track. 7/10


7. How Im Living (Ft JIM D)

Another SBT performed hook, this one is one of the better ones though. Beat is hype as hell. SBT's delivery again was entertaining. Content was the usual hip hop schtick though. JIM had a Krayzie Bones type flow. Catchy song. 7/10


8. Hold On

Production and flow yet again was top notch. The best way to describe SBT would be to say he sounds like a more agressive Ma$e. Content and flow wise. 7/10


9. Ballin Out (Ft JIM D)

A pattern is emerging. Same quality content, same quality delivery, same quality production. The two latter being good, the foremost being mostly generic and cliched. Low... 7/10


10. Skit 2

Spoken word thoughts about the attitude of commercial artists. N/R


11. Random Thoughts

More heart in the hook than ive heard in the last 6 tracks or so. Lyrically more focused than previous tracks. Ended way too soon. 7/10


12. Get Money

Sampled beat was absolute flames. SBT with his customary flow and delivery. The content what you'd expect from a track with the title this has. Hook was ok. 7/10


13. In 4 The Kill

Another sampled beat, another dope one too. Lyrics got a touch more personal here. Its no suprise that SBT's bars get 10x better when he's speaking on more personal matters. Best track so far. 8/10


14. DJ Renaissance P Skit

Generic DJ Skit. N/R


15. My Religion

The Ma$e comparision is even more evident here. Lyrically on point. Again more personal and intriguing. Captivating verses. 8/10


16. She Down Low (Ft JIM D)

Intro suggested the track was gonna become a racial introspective song, but it turned into a generic hoodrats & hood life song. Low... 7/10


17. Skit 3

Another spoken word skit. These skits add a little personality to the tape, but are pretty basic in execution. N/R


18. Dedication 2 The Leechers

Another track with a more personal style of content. Beat yet again was great. Slick track here. Low.. 8/10


19. What The Basis Is

The first real conceptual track of the mixtape, looking at people following the cliches of Hip Hop blindly. Unfortunately SBT has been a little guilty of these over the mixtape itself. As a track its self though this is another standout. Reflective production and flawless delivery. 8/10


20. Racin

Another more introspective song. Beautiful production. High... 7/10


21. Lost But Found

Another track aimed towards being more heartfelt but came across a little cliched. Second verse was better but SBT seems to fall back to the fuck bitches, make money cliches to fill out a verse a lot of the time. 7/10


22. Stories Of Me

Sprinkles of honesty coated in a generic icing. Story of the tape to be honest. You could feel the pain in the delivery though. Production top notch as always. 7/10


23. Real Niggas

Boombastic beat, epic feeling track. The track almost encapsulates the mixtape itself: It threatens to let the real, personal stuff out but in the end it comes back to the same ol same ol. 7/10


24. Outro

Another DJ generic outro. N/R

Average Track Rating: 7.2/10


Track Of The Tape: In 4 The Kill


Verdict:

I cannot tell you how frustrating a listen this was. SBT shows on every single track the lyrical ability he has, yet almost seems to desperately, intentionally try to dumb it down to meet the generic cliches of the hip hop industry. Things like the terrible DJ skits, the constant return to the subjects of fuckin bitches and hood shit. Dont get me wrong, in the genre of the Jeezy type rapper i'd place you very high, but when you have the potential to do soo much more its extremely annoying. Damn near every track has a line of two that shows a glimpse at the ability of SBT, but it struggles to be seen in the sea of posturing. What makes it worst is that you can clearly hear that SBT DOES HAVE a lot to talk about. Its there, but it seems, infact i'd say it definately is a case of SBT trying to making a tape in the mold of all the other generic hip hop tapes put there. From the skits, to the majority of the content its like you wanted more to just be another clone than to really push the boat creatively. This might sound harsh and it probably is. Because in the world of hip hop mixtapes this was a very good one. But SBT has the ability to be so much more. My advice to the man would be to stop trying to be what everyone is and thinks they should be, and instead just focus on making something unique and different. Easier said than done but it CAN be done. Rant over lol let me focus on a few minor things. The S...B...T... intro to nearly every song started to take focus away from the get go, just be wary of that. The hooks were very hit and miss, there are many ways to make a hook rather than repeating 2 bars over. Positives? there were many. The production was great throughout even if a little tired in its direction. The delivery and flow was absolutely sublime and the glimpses of lyrical ability show the beast waiting within. To aptly sum this tape up, it was picasso doing a paint-by-numbers. While it still ended up looking great, you knew that there could of been so so much more.


Tape Rating: 7.5/10


Download Here: SBT The Messiah - Fresh Home