Artist: Uzi

Mixtape: Straight Flows Vol. I – The Blitzkrieg

Hosted by DJ Killa K & DJ Miami

Presented by the Street Killas

Written by Zenn

There has been a lot of talk as of late of how the music industry is quite over-saturated, especially within Hip-Hop. For some reason, anyone nowadays can be considered an artist. What happened to being talented, being able to spit and deliver a punchline throwing your listener off course, having the lyrics to execute a pattern. What happened to concept, subject matter, originality even? It seems as though those elements don’t really exist anymore, lately it’s about a hot beat and a catchy hook. And right now, there are very few artists in the game who still believe in those same fundamentals that were and still is the foundation of Hip-Hop.

Very seldom do I come across a mixtape like this, artists seem to forget that the definition of a mixtape once revolved around an artist paying homage to other artists by spitting atop the beats that these industry artists have already made famous, straight through without a single hook because at one in point in time, it was just about the lyrical content. The artist behind the structure of this mixtape has studied the culture and the concept of Hip-Hop to a higher extent; it is literally showcased within his material. It is artists like this that continue to breed Hip-Hop from its roots. The fundamentals that I spoke of are consistent within his lyrics, delivery, and inspirational subject matter. Uzi excerpts originality in this mixtape, actually making his lyrical delivery and flow almost sound better than the original.

The title was an eye opener, I had an idea that he was about to come with some interesting flare not many people were ready for. It was real interesting to hear the lyrical content he had put together atop the beats that he chose. These joints are on fire. It’s good to know that he’s quite confident on his signature style, but at the same time proves to the masses that he can murk any beat he touches.

Listen to ‘Pledge of Allegiance to the Swag Flow’ and H.A.M. Flow,’ he goes for the jugular on those two, strong-arming the beat from T.I., Kanye, and Jay-Z.

Tracks like ‘Hustle Hard’ and ‘No Hands’ gave him momentum if anything, it is quite evident that speed was not an obstacle.

The ‘Acapella’ track is seriously ridiculous; I had to put this in a paragraph of its own. From his intro, into his lyrical flow, and a climatic ending, that joint was seriously on point. These are the tracks that make you rewind it twice, three times just so the lyrics will eventually sink in.

And into ‘Right Above It Flow,’ this track exhibits his versatility. While listening to his lyrics, you can hear the harmonizing between certain bars. It is definitely a great outro as he explains in detail everything he’s been though from fucked up promoters to working his own grind and his own course.

And honestly, the road ahead of him is still long and less traveled. With dedication he still continues to push forward solo, no manager, no booking agent, no label. That is truly commendable.

All in all, if you listen close enough to his lyrics, his punchlines, metaphors, and similes are definitely on point. It has been a minute since I’ve heard lyrical flow straight through with no hooks or gimmicks at that. Uzi finds a way to formally introduce himself through lyrics with each track that passes. Each flow on each beat with different ideas; it showcases versatility atop delivery and concept. With each chosen beat complimenting his style, I can already imagine what volume 2 is going sound like. My advice to you, cop/download this mixtape and let Uzi reintroduce to you what the forefront of Hip-Hop use to sound like. Uzi is definitely an artist that shouldn’t be taken for granted and as you can tell; first mixtape, no features.

Most Notable Tracks:

Welcome to the Blitzkrieg Flow

No Hands Flow

Hustle Hard Flow

Acapella

Pledge of Allegiance to the Swag Flow

Shine & Recline Flow

One In a Million Flow

H.A.M. Flow

Right Above It Flow

DOWNLOAD LINK: Straight Flows Vol. I – The Blitzkrieg