Tune in regularly as Trevor Williams brings us a recap of his favorite recent mixtapes.

Rich Boy, Bigger Than The Mayor

This one isn’t brand new but it deserves attention. Rich Boy continues to develop his DBoy lifestyle and hedonistic celebration raps while his beat choice remains uncanny: dark and sophisticated balanced with lush R&B. If this superb stuff is his placeholder material leading up to his next album proper, what could he possibly be saving?

Highlights: “Chevy A Monsta”, “Wrist Out the Window”, “Rollin Rollin”, “Ms. Pacman”
Download it.

Elzhi, Witness My Growth

Solid compilation of older and unreleased material from Slum Village alum. Nothing seems like a throwaway here. Elzhi always seems inspired, especially paired with lots of heavy production talent (Dilla, Alchemist, Kareem Riggins, BR Gunna).

Highlights: “The Alchemist”, “Concrete Eyes”
Download: Disc One, Disc Two

Disturbing tha Peace, Disturbing the Streets (presented by the Guapgetter)

Ludacris hasn’t sounded this excited about making music since he cut his hair. Plenty of great beats and relevant collabos (Playaz Circle, Block Exchange) with some quality old material, remixes and freestyles with minimum drops. Chingy even comes off good on “Gimme Dat”. That said, just try and ignore the comically awful celebrity pandering on “Stay Together”, which sounds like it was commissioned by US Magazine.

Highlights: “I Believe It”, “Head Noddin’”, “Gimme Dat”

Trap O Holics present Webbie and Lil Boosie

Super concise and to the point. Webbie and Boosie make hard, energetic music on uncompromisingly spare southern beats.

Highlights: “Adios”, “I Represent”
Download it

DJ Smallz, Best Thing Smokin Vol. 14

Notable compilation featuring a couple of the newer Wayne tracks, the new Big Boi (with epic Andre 3000 verse) and Mike Jones debut as a singer on
“My Burner”(?!).

Blind rap trends represented:
• “Country Rap”- B.O.B. feat Lil Bossie & D.G. Yola- Fuck You
• “Daft Punk Samples” - Play-n-Skillz feat. Lil Jon, Bun B & Krayzie
• Bone- One Mo Gin
• “Lolly Pop Imagery” Three 6 Mafia feat. Project Pat & T-Pain- Lolli
• Lolli (Pop Dat Body)

Highlights: Lil Wayne, “A Millie”, Big Boi feat. Raekwon & Andre 3000, “Royal Flush”
Download it.

Curren$y, Welcome to the Winner’s Circle

Curren$y spits over a familiar array of east coast 90s classic beats. A sort of surprising move from a guy from New Orleans, but his style is highly suited to this backdrop.

Highlights: “The World is Yours”, “Bubble Gum Gangstaz”
Download it.

Tyga, No Introduction

Tyga oozes manic creativity and madcap energy, although with more coherent concepts and fewer nonsequitors than his boss, Lil Wayne. He is shockingly full-formed for an 19-year old and may be the first rapper to unabashedly represent his young generation’s obsession with technology (see his remix of “Google Me”). His beat choice reflects the eclecticism fostered by the total access made available by the Internet and he’s about as precocious as you would expect from someone who embodies all that.

Highlights: “Google Me remix”, “Christmas Story”, “Photo”

Listen here.