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You best believe I would be slappin' this...

This week I have been slappin' Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape. I know, it's a shameless plug, but my boy Em Dub has been killin' it for you and its a free download from some of the illest cats in the Bay. Did I mention that Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape is also a certified banger? Oh I didn't? Well it is. Featuring exclusive tracks from the likes of Nima Fadavi, QM and Richie Cunning, Casual, Z-man, Equipto, Nio the Gift, as well as a host of other Bay MCs, Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape is a nice collective of sounds and styles from the diverse Bay Area. Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape opens up with your boy Em Dub setting it off with the Intro letting you know the business, then quickly jumps into two of the hottest joints on the mixtape. Dope.Man by Clif Soulo is that Bay banger that will have your trunk waking up the neighbors. The track is hype, enough said. The tempo and pace quickly changes with Nima Fadavi's Spaceships featuring Rey Resurreccion. Spaceships is one of the highlights of the mixtape; the haunting synths, and vocal loop will have you riding to this song for a long time to come. Rec League's Richie Cunning and QM are up next with Alcoholiday. Now if you didn't think this was a Bay Area mixtape, you would know for sure after this joint. Alcoholiday is a good time summer jam, from one of the freshest crews in Northern California. I dare you not to smile when you listen to it. But giving you a very different harder feel from Alcoholiday, you have tracks like Wild Side by DaVinci, Around That Corna by Equivalent Exchange, and Get That Money by Big A. These tracks give Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape a more street feel. That's not to say that the other artists on the mixtape aren't from the streets or not real, but the above mentioned tracks have a grittier feel. Bay Area Hip Hop heavy weights such as Balance, Casual, and Equipto show up all over Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape. Causal's track Casual-ual! is extra saucy and will have you nodding your head until it breaks off. Casual has been doing it for years now and he never lets you down with his witty, quick flow. This track alone would make Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape a heater, let alone put it with 22 other bangers and you have one of the best Bay Area Mixtapes of the year. There are way too many good tracks to mention, but others include Vinegar by The Dime, I Gets It In by Nio Tha Gift, and Big Ole Bump by Kewl Chris. I have to give it to my man Em Dub for working his ass off putting together 20+ of today's hottest Bay artists and bringing it to you in a FREE package. Do me a favor and download Under The Bay The Mixtape: Season 1 not for my sake, or Em Dub's, or even the artists; do it for your ears. 

Free Download: Under The Bay Season 1: The Mixtape

I'm going to throw it back a few years with the next album I have been slappin': Mistah F.A.B.'s 2007 release Da Baydestrian. I wanted to talk about this album because I still find myself bumping this album three years later. I would say that this album is the best example of Hyphy music and also shows the contrast with the lyricism and brains of Mistah F.A.B. Da Baydestrian features the likes of Messy Marv, Too $hort, Keak Da Sneak, J. Nash, and Dogwood. Da Baydestrian is half heartfelt tracks about the history and future of African Americans, fallen homeboys, and his deepest thoughts. These tracks include 100 Bars, Feelin' Fine, and Jamonie Robinson. These tracks will make you say, "this is what Hyphy music is?" No this isn't what Hyphy music is, these tracks represent the duality of Mistah F.A.B. and his raps. When I first heard this album I was most impressed by these tracks. Now the other half of Da Baydestrian is pure Thizz, party music. Tracks like Dem Cars, Baydestrian, and Goin' Crazy are what you expect when you play Fabby Davis Jr. Fast paced slumps from Rob E and Trackademicks make these song GO. Mistah F.A.B.'s mentor Mac Dre would be proud and I can see him breakin down the bird while slappin' Dem Cars right now. Da Baydestrian is the last full length album from your boy Mistah F.A.B. and it still slaps in 2010. I can't wait for a new full length album from the prince of the BAY.