Review by Loose Cannonz

Catch 22 -Holier Than Thou

You know this beef shit is gettin' stale and I hope fam from Catch 22 isn't ridin this wave just to sell tapes. Sheek Louch reminds me of D-Block's Tony Yayo, just that dude you know is the clown of the crew, funny on this diss I'm sure he came up with in a matter of minutes. Beef is good on wax, but let's face it: ain't none of deez cats runnin through they emeny like "Ether" or "Bitch In Yoo." How bout tuning into Whoo Kid's program on Sirius Saturdays and hearing "We Run NY" so much you want to scream? At least Joe Budden picks up the humor and, more importantly, skill with "I Run New Jerz": "And when dudes see what he keep in his belt / they turn into Mike Jones keep repeatin' they self," and "these fans is Star Jones they don't know a nigga's a fag and they fucks with him anyway." And what's with the Nextel rings through some of these tracks? I keep checkin' my phone like a fool. One who gon be hearin HIS Nextel blowin' up is Jo Jo Pellegrino with his second superb mixtape appearance in a matter of tapes over the soulful, whistling "Speak Softly." Reminds me of Q-Unique a little from the Arsonists. On the bare "Built Like That," Jo Jo does his best Jamal impression over a track I just hope doesn't land on Busta's Big Bang; regardless, only a matter of time before Pelle is signed… Styles' Time Is Money is another one of the most anticipated discs and the smooth backdrop, neck-snapping kicks of "Ghetto" should appeal to both thugs and shorties round the way. Too bad this one is a snippet. Catch 22 really goin' for that whole Whoo Kid thing! Swizz Beatz could be producing too much now cuz "Take This" don't quite par up to "Like That," "I'm a Hustla," "Set It Off," or "Bring Em Out." To see two newbies such as Cass and Millz collab is a good sign of the game's future-at least mixtape wise-so we'll forgive the typical beatz. The Mobb Deep exclusive ain't new; it's Clinton Sparks' "Okay Dunn" and the G. Rap "exclusive" is actually the Five Fam Click over a G-Unit tune, sounding transmitted over the phone as hail. Check out Game's impressive double-time flow on Boyz in the Hood's "Dem Boyz" rmx also featuring T.I.; the lovely "Magic Touch" by Mike Jones, Lil Flip, and Slim Thug with an 80s sample you know they just couldn't clear; and Bun B's obscure "Getcha Head Right" with a surprising appearance from the Mountain Brothers' producer-rapper Chops. Diversity has never been an issue with Catch 22.

DJ Lennox coming off the must buy Mixtape Phenoms 4 drills blend heads with the uber-brilliant "10 Mack Commandments," a combination of lyrics from "Dr. Knockboots" matched to precision over Kool G. Rap's "Hill Street Blues" with the B.I.G. hook from what else but "10 Crack Commandments." Again, a snippet. Look for Lennox's follow-up to Live Big out soon. Beanie's having an outstanding year, Styles P is looking forward to having one, but don't you think Kanye West is ready to be artist of the year AGAIN? Last year I said it was Jada, everyone else claimed Kanye. This year-I can't argue. His production is perfect, and the tracks "They Talk" snazzy-jazzed out to John Legend's hook, and Common and Consequence's rhymes, "Chi City" souled to constant head nod-eration with Com narrating about a Queen Pen you don't wanna come across, and "Love Is," also featuring the production of former Slum Village founder Jay Dee, takes off the same Jay Sonic record Premier's been spinning for months. I was shocked hearing this, but who dropped the sample first? (Lately I've been hearing a lot of emcees rhyme over tracks that aren't even out yet…) Even so, this track suits perfectly for the bitter realness of Com's heartbreak hotel perspectives, also packing another layer of samples to separate its likeness from other. Kanye also might be the man behind the resurrection of Pharaoh Monch. "It Can't Stop" should appear on violinist babe Miri Ben-Ari's next record, however. And of course, if you know Catch 22, it's World Premiere abundant. The EPMD-sampled "Scrub the Floor" from Peedi Crack with Sparks strives to put Peed in Nore-appeal territory, and should; Sean P "Don't Wanna Play" and early word on the Boot Camp Click vet's upcoming debut is outstanding; while the obvious sampled, Tupac-featured "Don't Stop" sends off bad vibes for Outlawz next album. Let's hope it doesn't show up. And despite blatant attempts to push O.C.F. Entertainment, even with the differing direction Catch 22 is going, there's still way too much heat (including additions from Canibus, Royce, Swigga) on Holier Than Thou to not cop.

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