"Chip Tha Ripper...Rap's Gift"

If you listen to good music and you sleeping on @Chip216 you better wake the f**k up!"-Shanelle via Twitter

You know when you've been waiting for Christmas so you can finally open that gift you've been eying all month? And you've waited so long that when you finally get it your brain goes crazy, your limbs don't cooperate and no matter what you're doing you can't focus on anything except for unwrapping the gift? Well that's the moment I just experienced when i finally got my hands on the Highly Anticipated Mixtape from Cleveland's Own Chip Tha Ripper (@Chip216 on Twitter) "Gift Raps." I Don't remember when I first heard the buzz of this mixtape but I do remember the anticipation I felt when I got the news. I couldn't wait to hear this...I've been bumping Chip Tha Ripper since like '07 I believe and he hasn't disappointed yet.

Have you ever heard someone say, "So and So think they God's Gift to the world!"...well this mixtape is Chip's Gift to Rap. Literally. This 13 track concoction of creative, hard knocking beats and crafty, swift, intelligently composed rhymes makes for a very nice gift to the rap game. But more than anything I think it makes for a very nice gift to Chip's fans and every native of Cleveland, rap fans and foes alike. He "Puts On" for the city, plain and simple. Coming from Cleveland where we never quite get what we deserve, the credit that's do or the breaks that's needed, Chip makes the industry wake up to our city.

From the very start of the mixtape with "The Entrance," (Prod. By Chip, Duke & Julio) Chip Tha Ripper's delivery is so attention grabbing that you can't help but to stop whatever you're doing and pay attention. And the next track "Light One Up," does the same. But the third track, "U.A.F." does something different all together. If by the time you reached the third layer of this present, if you still found yourself sleep this "U.A.F." track pours ice water in your pants and forces you to wake the f**k up! U.A.F. which stands for Ugly Ass F**k is a very cleverly composed track which is a very smart song when you think about it from a marketing stand-point.

Think about it, whenever you have a song that says anything about pretty girls standing up, or ugly girls shutting up you sort of instantaneously have a hit on your hands as a rapper...well for appealing rappers anyway. Because this sort of track is very attractive to women and even men who may not necessarily care about lyrics, word play and delivery. This is the type of song that will be a hit just because, if nothing else, people will react positively to the message of the song just because they don't want to be the ones considered U.A.F.

"The Big Bang" and "Everyday Chillin" fits nicely where "U.A.F." leaves off. "The Big Bang," sounds like the title. The banging drums in the beat and tough but smooth delivery Chip has on the record is like an audible climax. "Everyday Chillin," is a nostalgic record with a head knocking beat that makes you bob your head unknowingly. "The Coldest," starts off with a sick beat that teases you a bit before Chip's distinctive tone overlaps the sounds and begins seducing ladies with his traditionally flirty rhymes. "Life," (a personal favorite) is a great song with incredible production that gives it a mid-90's Texas-styled, UGK feel. And Chip really shows versatility and depth on this particular song. Not to mention his delivery on the song....magnificent.

"DynoMan," comes of more production based, Chip only raps about 1 minute and 23 seconds into the song before he stops and let the rest of the beat play out. Which is a Neptune-ic, Futuristic sounding type of beat. It sounds the way I imagine being high off Weed feels. "Jumanji" and "Hang Out," also showcases some good beat production to go along with the cutting edge rhymes Chip displays. "Hang Out," reminds me of some like '07-'08 Classic Chip Tha Ripper. In "Plural," (co-Prod by Blended Babies) is a cool, summer-time feeling type of track where Chip The Ripper creates lyrical visions of him pretty much enjoying the company and pleasures of having two women (and blunts) at once. Very relaxing beat and laid back enjoyable song.

"UnderDogs," is thee anthem for anyone creeping on a come-up! The beat, again, is sick with boastful, encouraging raps from Chip. And then the gift is completely unwrapped once we come to a conclusion with "The Bio," which is pretty self-explanatory. Chip Tha Ripper goes on an lyrical assault with his delivery in 3 minutes and 15 seconds of quick paced, tongue twisting lines conveying his life story over a beat. Utter satisfaction. Pleasureful. Fulfilling. Chip Tha Ripper delivers.

In the end, "Gift Raps," lives up to its title. This mixtape is a gift to the game, the ears, the senses, and stereo systems. Chip shows measurable growth from previous works and showcases his undeniable rapping talents. A for sure 5 star mixtape. So I highly recommend any fan of Good Music and Better Rapping to cop this joint. Shoutout and #Salute to Chip Tha Ripper, if you live under the stupid tree and are not hip...Google him. Also you can follow him on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Chip216. Also big shoutouts to everyone involved in the making of "Gift Raps," especially Chuck Inglish who is credited as being the Producer of this mixtape as well as Johnathan Keller who gets Engineering credit, according to Livemixtapes.com. Cleveland Stand Up!

Signing Off,

In(F)amously Me,

Shanelle...@InFamousNelle

"Thank Me Later"

So you run home from FYE tear the plastic off and rip that annoying little sticker that keeps you from your own musical nirvana. After making sure nothing else is hindering you, you slowly and carefully crack open the CD case and gently remove the CD. You place the CD in the CD Player Press play and sit back. Two seconds later you hear the keys playing which almost tricks your brain to think you’re listening to an R&B album but just when you’re about to sit up his voice captures the beat smooth and soothing like milk and honey. This mid temple intro intelligently titled, “Fireworks” featuring the Grammy Award winning songstress Alicia Keys fills the room like scented candles. This is a great way to start the journey off into Drakeland.

"Thank Me Later," is the highly anticipated debut album from Young Money Cash Money recording artist and international sensation Drake aka Drizzy. This 14 song masterpiece starts off nice and melancholy like southern ice tea with sweet melodies as Drizzy croons over soft beats but cuts you with the swiftness of his rhymes. On the track “Karaoke” Drake sings/raps of a love lost and his vivid rhymes make you feel as if you’re the chick who plans weddings who up and left him for the ATL like he described in the verse. “The Resistance” is a free flowing tale of fame gone wrong. You know how it is when you find success and then life spends wildly out of control and you lose sight of why you started it all …yeah its one of those songs. Kind of makes you want to take a slice of Humble Pie. Next up is the hit single “Over” …you’ve all heard this song enough to know whats up. Moving on, “Show me a good time” is Drizzy’s plea for a little normalcy and fun on those seemingly rare occasions when he’s not super busy doing interviews and shooting music videos. His flow on this track has a Midwest feel to it and his lyrics reign true more than anything. He raps about going from a backpack rapper to thee only rapper really worth talking about besides Wayne at this point.

“Up all night” is what I like to call motivational music…this is the song you put on when people constantly doubt you and you have to get that extra bit of swag just to let em know whats up. It features Nicki Minaj and as usual she delivers her catchy bars and hard spittin’. And as if on cue Mr. Swizz Beats himself comes on chanting “Oh you fancy huh?” and with the previous track putting you in that “feeling myself” type of mode “Fancy” makes the mission complete...well if you’re a female. This track also features T.I. and his sleek southern style with Drakes cool breezy style really compliments the Swizz Beat laced track and it’s a must for any ladies getting ready to hit the club. By the time you get to “Shut it Down,” your confidence is probably through the roof and this song featuring The-Dream just makes you wish you had your own personal Drizzy in your pocket book besides the MAC lip gloss and mirror because of all the sweet encouraging compliments he delivers in totally Drake fashion. Not to the video to this song already! Then all of a sudden the sweet innocent voice of Aaliyah comes on as she sings the lyrics to her classic song “At your best (you are love)” and Drake starts off flowing mentioning that this is one of his “Dumbest flows ever” and following his swift level verse is followed by vocals by Young Jeezy and oddly the combination of the soft spoken, silky smooth style of Drake and the Rough and rugid style Jezzy has makes for a great combination on the track “Unforgettable”.

Next up to bat is “Light Up” the classic song featuring hip-hop juggernaut Jay-Z. It starts with Drizzy rapping in the style usually heard on his mixtapes…quick tongued and fast paced sort of reminiscent of his song “I’m still fly.” The drums gives the song a hard feeling and the beat is triumphant…truly fitting for the hip-hop royalty on this track. Jay-Z of course kills his verse with his confident never wavering swag as he raps advice to the kid most likely to take his spot one day. “Miss me” blares through the speaker next and the track sounds like a musical circus that sounds a little familiar…but that’s only because this was one of the songs leaked on the net before the album came out. But like most of their collaborations, this is a true Drake Lil Wayne banger full of catchy lines and witty word play. And if you are one of the little chica’s running around longing to be Drizzy’s Wifey then “CeCe’s Interlude” will surely pull at your heartstrings and its followed by the smash single “Find you love.” After this its time to thank my Drizzy Drake for his classic contribution to the ailing rap game. The final track entitled “Thank me Now,” and one can’t help but think of Lebron when he spits about becoming rivals with the one you once looked up to just to survive (LeBron VS Jordan) and one can’t help but think if this will become of Drake and Lil Wayne’s relationship considering that depending on who’s listening…Drake killed the game with this album. But who knows.

Despite the rumors bloggers and extra b.s. “Thank me later,” is a classic new age hip-hop album. What makes Drakes unarguably great is his incomparable style and original deliverance. It almost doesn’t feel right labeling him a hip-hop or rap artist seeing as he sings better than a lot of R&B dudes so we just won’t label him anything…well anything other than great music. So now as the remaining track dwindles and the lights in your head fade…the image of Drake starts dispersing from your mind and you leave Drakeland for reality…remember to thank this man next time you see him for delivering such a good album.