Top 10 Most UNDERRATED Mixtapes of the Year (8-7)

Honestly, this was a hell of a year in terms of music. So many new artists showed their talents through sound, and it was easy to get lost in the shuffle (get it?). We saw Drake, Wale, KiD CuDi & J. Cole all get their time in the limelight. All over the blogosphere, I'm seeing everyone's top 10, or 5 or whatever, mixtape lists, and I'm seeing the same fucking mixtapes over and over again. That doesn't sit well with me.What about all the artists, and more importantly, mixtapes that flew under the radar? What about the mixtapes without the huge promotion and big name features? What about those mixtapes you DIDN'T hear? Those questions end as we enter the new year. Dear Whoever is listing it's top 10 underrated mixtapes, as well as the #dopetracks (my Twitter fam knows I love that hashtag). We'll cross two names off the list every two days, and end next week with the most underrated mixtape of the year. Check out who chimed in at numbers 8 and 7, and keep it locked to Dear Whoever for numbers 6 through 1...

8. Lloyd Banks - Happy Birthday



Lloyd Banks - Happy Birthday

#dopetracks
Real Recognize Real
Me and My Strap
Hottest in the Hood (Remix)
Money Moves the World
Don't Come Around

I'm tired of heads who think Lloyd Banks is 50's little brother on the microphone, because honestly, Banks shits on 50 on wax. And that's a fact. His 'Happy Birthday' mixtape went under the radar in terms of the blogosphere (heads are allergic to gangsta shit these days), but lyrically, Banks is still the top dog from G-Unit. To top it off, the release was 2 CD's!!! Seriously, if you liked Lloyd Banks before, you'll love him even more. And if you weren't a fan before, you will be now...


7. Harlem's Cash - CASHifornication



Harlem’s Cash – Cashifornication

#dopetracks
Keep It Truck'n
Stank You
Ignint Shit
Ground Level
Beyond

Harlem's Cash is a MONSTER. Say it with me. A MONSTER. Along with that trademark Harlem flow (all my Big L fans know what I mean), Cash has lyrics for days. CASHifornication was a short mixtape, but it had enough firepower for two releases. Also, he does a great job with his vocabulary and his wording on this release. He's always working with (not against) the beat, and his beat selection was great (even though three of them were Drake joints). I can say that Cash is another one to watch out for in 2010, along with the rest of the Notherground camp (a few more might make appearances on the list; hint hint). Follow him on Twitter @HarlemsCash.

Harlem's Cash - Cashifornication

Harlem's Cash - Cashifornication

When the radio gets boring, its always good to be introduced to new artists. I first heard Harlem's Cash on Outasight's group cut with The Kid Daytona and 6th Sense 2-0-0-9 (which is one of the best songs I've heard all year, trust). He's come out with a couple of mixtapes, but none of them feel as complete or as promising as Cashifornication. Cash's flow seems effortless at times, evidenced by the numerous laughs, free-flowing ad-libs and otherwise fun and joy shown on his part. You can tell that the lyricism aspect of this man's game has been finely tuned, so he's just having fun at this point. Don't get it twisted though. On wax, Harlem's Cash is all business. Yes, you can hear the fun, but you can also hear the passion and the hunger in his delivery.

Cash has been out grinding for a few years now and he's ready to blow (pause). Lyrically, he's above and beyond most of the up-and-comers he's classified with. He has punchlines for days and quick metaphors for you people who like listening to tracks more than once. I'm not going to say this was a masterpiece of a mixtape, because the true status of a work can only be seen once the smoke clears, but it's pretty damn close. His beat selection was a little suspect, as he used 'Ignorant Shit', 'Fear' and 'Forever' (who hasn't gone on these?). He still rips them all though, so it's cool. Newsflash people: Harlem's Cash is a beast. I HIGHLY suggest you download this. Just think of it as an early X-Mas present for your ears. Check the link, my picks, loosies, and videos after the jump...

Cream of the Crop:
Skyview
Real Rap, Real Talk
Stank You
Ground Level
City on My Spine

Cream of the Crap:
Ghost Joint (didn't like the beat selection)

Loosies:
6th Sense feat. The Kid Daytona, Outasight & Harlem’s Cash - 2-0-0-9
Harlem’s Cash – Real, Rap, Real Talk
Harlem’s Cash – Thank You f. Tanya
Harlem’s Cash – Ground Level

Harlem's Cash - Ground Level

Ground Level - Harlem's Cash

Harlem's Cash has a new mixtape coming out. It's called Cashifornia. If you like slick lyrics, please look no further. I haven't posted a lot of music up this month because I honestly haven't been feeling a lot of stuff coming right now. This track broke me out of a serious music funk. Check out Harlem's Cash spitting over Drake's 'Fear'...

Freestyle Friday (10/16)

AYYYYEE!!! It's Freestyle Friday and this week we have somebody who's been ghost for a few months. Mickey Factz gets recorded having a cipher in New Orleans, and to be honest, he hasn't lost a step. All we need now is a new mixtape to bring dude back to the limelight. Make sure you check out the other guy spitting, Lyriqs from New Orleans. The second one is from Harlem's Cash. I swear, Harlem's Cash is the TRUTH. If you want to hear punchlines, please press play. No lie. Have a happy Friday, and keep it locked to Dear Whoever...