AUDIO PUSH MIXTAPE REVIEW- KELLY WHYBROW (1/10/13)

The Cali duo Audio Push releases their latest mixtape ‘Come As You Are’. The 15 track project makes a statement and shows a promising future for them. The mixtape is carefully crafted, close to album quality with impressive production and features. Features include new-comers like Joey Bada$, Vic Mensa, IamSu! and of course, HS87 affiliate Hit-Boy. The project also boasts features from veterans Lil Wayne, Wale and T.I.

The producers on ‘Come As You Are’ include Hit-Boy, Hazebaangaa, Matt Burnet, Swiff D and others. The project has a 90s feel with a mix of 90s rap and also club records. Known for their catchy dance songs this makes a statement that they can spit addressing this in ‘come as you are’; “I hate when people bring up, teach me how to jerk 'Cause now my lyrics merk and they just salty I'm amazing at it.” Most groups release mix-tapes with either good lyrics or good club songs but they balance the two nicely. The songs are well put together, great concepts and shifts well between the two styles of 90s rap and club records.

Producers Hit Boy and Key Wane work amazing in producing old school quality beats with still a fresh and up to date feel and described as could be an old Busta Rhymes record. On the other hand, ‘Space Jam’ featuring Lil Wayne sounds as though it could be a single or could be a part of most hip-hop dance albums.

The songs that stood out the most were ‘Brown Bag’ produced by Swiff D with a strong beat and deep lyrics, a definite pull up track. ‘Anything Goes’ featuring Wale is a laid back track filled with good vibes and a good flow. On ‘Turn Down’ it’s filled with soulful sounds matching the lyricism of not wasting your life. ‘Come As You Are’ also name of the mix-tape is like a statement track of the project although without a doubt the strongest track is ‘Theme Song’, containing strong, fierce lyrics and incorporation of some singing with their rhymes. Every verse is strong including a T.I. feature and makes it a stand out track.

All in all, ‘Come As You Are’ has a solid production, conceptual songs and clever word play; proving they have good bars up their sleeve and good chemistry between Octane and Price Tag in the studio resulting in well put together tracks and is undoubtedly worth a download. This is a contender for one of their best mix-tapes so far this and could change a lot of people’s opinions on Audio Push.