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This week I'm picking up my hustle.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Mike-Dash-E - #IAMHUSTLE

This week I have been slappin' I Am Hustle, the latest mixtape from Mike-Dash-E. 2011 was a big year for Mike-Dash-E; the year included a debut album, Dash With Me, killing shows from the Bay to SXSW, and being named one of the top 10 Bay Area Freshmen. Mike-Dash-E is not slowing down and starting 2011 off with his brand new mixtape I Am Hustle.

The mixtape kicks off with a a real heartfelt track, Dreams that Fail if you don' Try. With a soulful sample of a women singing softly, Dreams that Fail if you don't Try is a statement from Mike-Dash-E about his journey towards his final dream. To never try is to fail; Mike-Dash-E has already succeeded in my mind. Along with being a inspirational track Dreams that Fail if you don't Try has some of the best rhymes on I Am Hustle. Defiantly a good way to start the mixtape. 

If you have read my articles before you know I'm feeling those party tracks about women, and that's exactly what Harder A.K.A (Shot Colla) is. If you were unaware that Mike-Dash-E liked Jameson whiskey you sure will be after Harder A.K.A (Shot Colla). It's nice to hear a rapper spit about some white folk whiskey instead of Nuvo or Hennessey. Cause we all can't drink the priv all the time. Besides my love for alcoholism, Harder A.K.A. (Shot Colla) is actually one of the dopest tracks on I Am Hustle. Directly following Harder A.K.A (Shot Colla) is another dope party track that I can see turnin' up the club is Back featuring Loverance & Jay Ant. Back has this real slow brooding melodic beat that is extenuated with a high peeling guitar riff that breaks up the song and gives it a real fun feel. With the killer beat, Mike-Dash-E lyrics and Loverance's new found popularity I could see this track on KMEL and other "urban" radio stations up and down the coast. 

My favorite track and I believe the best effort from Mike-Dash-E on I Am Hustle comes from So Much More. A J. Dilla beat that was originally crafted for De la Soul, Mike-Dash-E makes me forget that De La ever touched this beat. So Much More is Mike-Dash-E crown jewel on I Am Hustle; even though it's only really one verse it's still the best rapping I've heard from Mike-Dash-E. Killer beat that I don't hear a lot of people try and use, and a killer flow make So Much More a banger. 

Those were just a few of the tracks I was feelin' from Mike-Dash-E's I Am Hustle. Other bangers on the album include Like A Million, Lord Knows, and Turning Tables featuring Adele. The track really doesn't feature Adele, but just uses a sample with her voice. This is a little pet peeve of mine, but it's a small complaint on otherwise solid mixtape. Make sure your cop your FREE copy of I Am Hustle from THIZZLER.com and www.mikedashe.com and check out one of the most well rounded MC coming out the Bay.