Review by Loose Cannonz

Clinton Sparks/Beanie Sigel - SP2: The Movie Mixtape

Beanie Sigel has so far dropped the best album of the year in The B. Coming. Will his follow-up mixtape (a follow-up mixtape, come with it like that!) take off with similar strides? Clinton Sparks continues his alliance with Dame Dash (see: Miri Ben-Air's joint) to present the State Property 2 movie mixtape, to which I'm hearing the film is getting rave reviews…... Clinton Sparks unloads some of his old self-produced goodies, such as "Philly" with Peedi Crack, tagging whistling beats and horn smacks into the Sirius funky horns of new joint "Roc Café" with Memph Bleek. If he doesn't produce all the tracks, Clinton mixes and blends them all, providing us with material that should last you a long minute; rather than the typical Best Of's that were on overboard earlier this year (Keyz, Smij). No need for another "Public Enemy #1" and C. Sparks does the type-A job avoiding that scenario. My favorite track could be Beans and Fabolous over "Call Me D-Nice." The two, being Beanie and D-Nice himself, have a convo later on in the disc. There are a lot of collaborations as well, so those disappointed with B. Coming-to which I prefer to call numbskulls-at least will enjoy this mixtape. C. Sparks, the Smashtime Blend champ, equally throws his persona into each mix, inserting tight but not overbearing cuts, magnifying effects, and random samples that mesh like a real tracks. Sigel Sigel Y'all rhymes over the infamous piano backdrop of "The Bridge Is Over" with Styles. But ever think you'd hear Beans and Jada on a track after all that mess from last year? Sure, why not, in any case, Clinton did produce the mixtape Brotherly Love, further proven on the excellent "Bastard."

Jay-Z makes a few key appearances on the Clinton Sparks layered "Wanna Do My Thing," with the funk backdrop's simplicity allowing the words to shine; and "Bang" does sound like a Dynasty throwaway, but it's an intriguing track nonetheless. Dipset drop by on the interweaving "Lights Out" as Juelz and Beans rock "Jigga My Nigga," and the ever mirthful Killa Cam lets you know "The P Is Free," re-treating a KRS classic-different and original beats produced by Mr. Get Familiar. Even current radio wave-makers T.I. (over "Dead Wrong"!!) and Cassidy help out Philly's Most Wanted with the mix. Or should we say Clinton Sparks helps Beans out, 'cause imprinting your own beats for a mixtape is that next gen shit. Only two maybe three DJ's doin' this right now…at least at a level worth mentioning… Keepin' it Triple B, B.I.G. and Busta say "Lets Get It On" with Beans over Clinton's organ-driving dreariness, while the masters of somber hip-hop Scarface and Beans make the perfect pair (still think they need to drop an album with Jay-Z) to 112's latest chimey tune. Also on SP2: The Movie Mixtape are exclusive freestyles, more notably ones that ride Erick Sermon's classic beats for Keith Murray, "Get Lifted" and "The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World." Always nice to hear old instrumentals people forgot about that are so dope. Alright, alright, Roc heads, so in this review we ain't talking about the quality of Beanie's raps. Well if you copped The B. Coming you know what you're getting. Actually, lyrically, this is a mixtape; to no surprise, the level of rhymes is not on par with the album. Isn't that to be expected? It's your normal battling or grinding rhymes that the majority of mixtape fiends check for from Beans anyhow. And rest assured, while the movie might suck this tape doesn't.

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