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This week I got it on lock...

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Locksmith - I Am Lock mixtape

This week I'm slappin' the latest from Richmond's own Locksmith, I Am Lock. Locksmith, if you aren't aware is one half of The Frontline and has been on the Bay Area rap scene ripping battles, full length albums, and features for the better part of the last 8 years. What sets Locksmith apart from his Bay Area counterparts is his pure lyrical abilities on the mic. There is not another rapper in the Bay maybe even California that has Locksmiths uncanny abilities to mix metaphors, clever rhyme schemes, and pure freestyles on a single track. With that being said lets get into Lock's latest FREE project, I Am Lock. The project kicks off with the Ski Beatz produced That Bull Shit; what a way to kick off I Am Lock! That Bull Shit features a heavy, East Coast, grimy beat that will even rattle your laptop speakers. Locksmith proceeds to speak on all the bull shit in his life from the murder of his cousin, to promoters not paying, to his mothers death. That Bull Shit is very symbolic of the rest of I Am Lock. Locksmith can take topics ranging from wack rappers to malpractice at a hospital and spit each line with the same intensity. You can feel Lock's rage and passion in each bar. This is extremely true on the next track Fuck Life. Produced by the mighty E A Ski Fuck Life speaks on some of the heaviest subject matter that really portrays the feeling on many youth in these tough times. There are thousands of people saying Fuck Life and it's not because someone isn't balling or doesn't have a bad bitch, it's because of real pain. Fuck Life is some real ish' that a lot of Bay rappers are too afraid to touch on. There  are two freestlyes on I Am Lock, I'm On One and Preach. Both I'm On One, and Preach are classic examples of Lock's witty freestyles brain. It's crazy to think that these tracks are freestyles, because they sound better then most cat's writtens. Don't sleep on the freestyles, that's what Lock does best. One of the dopest tracks on I Am Lock has to be Random Thoughts produced by E A Ski. Random Thoughts is the first single off I Am Lock and features that classic E A Ski high piano hits and heavy drums. One of the dopest lines ever is also found on Random Thoughts..."You can't fuck with me, I'm in a coke white Benz-Brother Ali". I had to replay that one several times. Then after giving a respectful jab at a great rapper Locksmith talk on Obama and his failed health care plan. Locksmith's versatility on subject matter and how he can flip back and forth between serious and not is just pure dopeness. The only real problem I had with I Am Lock has to be Locksmith's singing on Special Lady and Fuck Excuses. I understand that he is spilling his heart on the track, but it's ok to get a singer to do the hooks. This is just a little problem, because all and all I Am Lock is one of the hardest hitting piece of Hip Hop to come out the Bay in years. Reportedly I Am Lock is just a warm up for a boat load of projects coming from Locksmith, so keep an ear out for one of the hottest spitters in the West and while you wait cop I Am Lock for free right here at ThizzlerontheRoof.com