Review by Loose Cannonz

Big Mike - Big Boy Game 11

Carmelo Anthony was left off the NBA all-star game rosters. The next best thing? Why, a Big Mike mixtape of course. While Carmelo's having a very solid season--he was basically snubbed--Big Mike is just beginning to hit his stride. Yet, like Carmelo, the competition for Big Mike is just as tough. Who takes the power forward spot in the game? Kay Slay has the mainstream on lock, but Mike has the step on them to-the-bone exclusives. To the bone meaning joints you probly won't hear on Hot 97 or Shade 45 (unless he takes them directly from there, heh); Mike is your official menu to D-Block, Dipset, and Game. Speaking of Compton's largest bullseye, The Game claims on "360 Bars," the final chapter to dissin' G-Unit and of 120 and 240 bars fame, that he's starting over fresh. Telling by an interview on Felli Fell last night with Mobb Deep, G-Unit doesn't seem anywhere near ready to let this one go. Big ups to Game for doing it cuz--like all beefs--it's getting tired. Game kicks lots of knowledge the way his Documentary was so-well received, through raw lyrics, similes and metaphors, and yes, name-drops. I don't think he'll ever let that go. The other side to the coin is Young Buck and Spider Loc gettin' at their ol' buddy. Beefs not done of course, J.R. Writer goes at Ma$e, which makes me wonder if Fifty signed the flashy Harlem star just so it would ellaborate to more beefs. So far Fifty's career revolves around that. Hell, his first track was "How To Rob (The Industry)." Relisten to J.R.'s joint and it appears more and more that the track is actually targeted AT Fifty, calling him Rocky among other aliases.

Highlights of this all-star game jump off include Busta's "Psycho" produced by the late, great J Dilla with features from Cassidy and Papoose (expect this one on The Big Bang) and "Cannon" produced by Aphiliate Don Cannon, featuring T.I. Like the Wu, the Diplomat family is ever-expanding. Now we get Chubby with a set of four. "Yayo" (no, not at Tony) is a certified banger with the likes of Hell Rell and J.R. Chubby's inflection is similiar to Juelz' with the flow leanin' straight forward. This style doesn't appear strong enough to carry a track alone, as evidenced when Hell Rell comes to save "Dip Music." Hell even Hell says "I got you Chubs" when this becomes apparent. J.R. returns to rip the snippet of "Come Work For Me" ("Got the holiday season the way I'm handin out 'cane") and, again with Chubby on "Babalu." Cam'Ron gears for another Killa Season on the comically-serious, dark synth-steaming "Wet Wipes," as well as with Lil Weezy on the horn-heavy "Suck It" not featuring Degeneration-X ("Get head in the strangest places / Two at the same time call it changing faces"). No surprise with The Lox rounding out the tape in premier fashion. Every track they touch is pure fire here, especially Sheek and Styles' "We Got Your Money" (from Still A Wolf) and the remix to "Coast To Coast" from MainO, Snype Life, and Styles P. That buzz coming back! With bombshells like "My Favorite Drug 2," hopefully this year the Ghost will get more fan votes than Mike's man Carmelo.

- In The Deck

RATING SYSTEM
	Trash
	Step Ya Game Up
	Diehards only
	In the Deck
	Straight Crack
	Among Year's Best
	Mixtape Classic