I recently had the chance to lend a hand and ear in the studio with Joe Smith while his "Joe The Beast" The Beginning Mixtape was being recorded and produced. If you aren't sure who Joe Smith is, then you probably don't follow basketball much. He is an NBA journeyman who has played for 9 nba squads and was the first round number one pick in The 1995 NBA Draft. Joe currently plays for The Cleveland Cavaliers.
Typically when you hear of an NBA baller releasing rap singles, the critics, djs, and general public tend to write them off for many good reasons. I can give you an example off the top of my head. How about Gary Payton "Livin Legal and Large" What a joke!...Anyhow...with Joe Smith's mixtape, you are getting nothing but a grade A product, that is fire for the club and the streets. I have personally worked with many indie and mid-level rappers and rock bands, in studios and on stage for nearly a decade and I have never seen anyone on their grind, with such enthusiasm and work ethic like "Joe The Beast." If you were unaware that Joe was a pro basketball player and chopped it up with him in the studio or at a club, you would likely think he was a humble rapper trying to make it in the hip hop world and would do whatever possible to get his music produced, recorded, and heard. I believe Joe Smith is a rapper that plays basketball rather than a basketball player that raps. I give The Beginning Mixtape a 10/10 rating and truly feel as a DJ/producer, that Joe showed more creativity than the original artist's instrumentals he used on the tape, proving himself as a lyricist. My personal favorite, which I have been rinsing out in the club is "Lucifer." With a Bob Marley swagger jacked hook, uptempo beat and reggae/dub vibe, this joint is a perfect club track and will go over well this summer when it gets heard and is in rotation.
Download this mixtape you won't be sorry. If you get a chance, add Joe The Beast's Myspace for updates, future releases, and info on Joe's label, Nova Unit Records.
-DJ SWITCH
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