Astro-Starvin Like Marvin For A LL Cool J Song--(2013)
Artist: Astro
Mixtape: Stravin Like
Marvin For A LL Cool J Song
Label: Independent
Producers: Statik Selektah,
Brandun Deshay, Easy Moe Bee, BMC, That Loser Laron
Does
the name rapper Astro rings a bell? Can I scream Brooklyn! That probably still
doesn’t resonate in some of the fans brain. Let’s give a rundown of the young
rapper from the Brownsville section of Brookly. Astro also goes by the name of
the Astronomical Kid as he is an actor/rapper and made a strong stint on the
show X-Factor. Astro does have the skills with the microphone under the belt
with young emcees like Joey Badass and Bishop Nehru. Astro display his lyrical delivery
as he puts out the mixtape that is a catchy title Starvin Like Marvin For A LL Cool J Song
This mixtape is a fresh turn out for the
new ears. Astro has a cool old school flow that many artists try to avoid only
to get paid. Astro doesn’t fit into that category as his lyrical flow is
constructed perfectly on tracks. The “Intro” proves that he can pick a beat and
flow on point over some piano beat feel. This is how lyrics is done by this
youning on the Intro track: snuck in like brah man, killing cats like the son
of Sam/ and the summer man time flies/I use to be a fly on the wall, observing
it all, but now I fall in the category, with the statutory emcees/preach making
dollars with my sermons like EPMD’s. What impresses me about Astro is his sarcasm
is catchy: my homey gotta work tomorrow, I gotta show tomorrow, and we the same
god damn age. The album takes you on a fun rollercoaster ride especially the
Statik Selektah tracks who provide the beats perfectly for Astro such as the smooth
mellow “Didn’t Know” with the Notorious BIG scratching in the background as
Astro bodies the track on hip hop industry that he didn’t know Others stand out
for the Statik Selektah/Astro pair such as the smooth sample based “Stranger”
as he pairs up with Skyzoo, the golden era 90’s hard boom bap head nodding with
the kicks on “War” featuring Wordspit the Illest and the piano keys on the
background on “Lisa” where he bodies that track about a good girl from the hood
to get with but ends up shady as he puts it eloquently from being so proper to
a homey hopper.
We
all know there is a break out song somewhere right. Yes there is as Astro
brings out a standout track with the anthem song “Brooklyn” where he takes us
on a lyrical tour of his borough with a LL Cool J “Doin It” influenced track.
This energized song will bring peeps out as he has mastered the way how song
structure and creativity works. Astro does show diversity which is a good thing
to avoid monotonous structure. The consistency of this mixtape holds its own
with tracks having that 90’s feel like the simple beat to BMC produced “Crazy”
with a little infused reggae bounce that works and the other energized joint “Breakdown”
while he flips his lyrical cadence on another level over a fast pace trap like
beats that work like “Don’t Stop” and “Bout It”. A few tracks that sound like
fillers which are cool and listenable but doesn’t surpass the others like “In
My Mind” which is dope but not one of those hard hitting hits and “Yes I Know
My G” sounds basic which is not one of the favorites.
This is an impressive mixtape that puts
Astro with the relevant emcees in the game. This can place Astro on another
level where lyrics do matter. What’s really impressing is majority of the
tracks gel together and sounds dope without changing the focus of the title.
Although Starvin Like Marvin For A LL
Cool J Song may sounds out of place to some fans with the weird title, it
stands out great with either Brooklyn or LL Cool J influenced tracks keep the
theme of the project in its entirety. Astro’s lyrical cadence, energy and flow keep
you up on your toes and brings out the song. The guest appearances gel well along
with Astro’s beat selection. We will hear more of the former X-Factor
contestant from Brooklyn. This Brooklynite will carry his borough on his back
like a Jansport knapsack filled with fresh rhymes and hard beats; that’s the
rapper’s way.
Strong
Tracks: “Intro”, “Brooklyn”, “Lisa”, “Stranger”, “War”, “Don’t Stop”, “Bass”
Rating:
out of
Go download Astro's Mixtape Stravin Like Marvin For A LL Cool J Song on datpiff.com
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