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| Cover Art for Cozz's 2016 Mixtape "Nothing Personal" |
Yet another throwback review...turns out I have written gold scattered throughout the internet. Anyway, today's review comes from Dreamville signee Cozz (who recently dropped his sophomore album "Effected" (which, I may or may not review...most likely not but then again...you never know)...so yeah, Cozz dropped a mixtape in early 2016 called "Nothin' Personal" and today we're going to be checking it out.
NOW GOING BACK TO 2016 JOSEPH S...
My track-by-track review of Cozz’s “Nothin’
Personal”: I have never heard a Cozz project prior to this, so I’m completely
unbiased. I’m going try to review some of the projects I’ve heard this year,
and since this is the first project of 2016 I’ve heard, why not start here?
1. Wake
Up Call
A good, “Wake em up” intro. Cozz lays out his mission for 2016 and
it’s entertaining as hell. The beat takes a backseat and lets Cozz do his thing
but is still catchy enough to get stuck in your head. Dude comes out really
hype and on top of that drops a few clever lines that proves he can spit. I
really like the line “You know Cozz be
after the bill like Cosby” that was fire.
2. All
eyez on me
Cool little “stunt on these haters” anthem. I can only imagine
what it’s like being signed to Cole’s label it must be really exciting. The
hook is really the best thing on this song. The verses are forgettable, but I
think Cozz wanted the hook to be the highlight anyway.
3. My
side
This project is basically a 1 rapper 1 producer project because the
producer “Meez” is on the beat for every single track, there are some
co-producers, but this is basically the Cozz & Meez show. I mention this
because this beat is pretty good and works well with Cozz, during the hook. So
far it’s my favorite track.
4. Grey
Goose
I did not like this track. The production is good, but its Cozz himself
I didn’t like. It feels like he’s trying to be like Bryson Tiller, Tory Lanez
and Fetty Wap. I’m not knocking him for experimenting, but it just didn’t sound
good to me. Take that how you will.
5. City
of God (feat. Boogie)
Shoutout to Meez, The beat is lowkey and has a catchy
piano loop that comes in during the hook, which was my favorite part of the
beat. I liked how Cozz compared himself to Benny from the film City of God,
cool and collected, but don’t cross him. Nice. For a second I thought Boogie,
the feature, was Cozz for a second. He’s not terrible, but I didn’t take away
anything from his verse.
6. Choice
Today – I like everything about this song except the hook. Singing hooks are
not Cozz’s strong suit. He should either rap the hook or get someone else to
sing the hook. The hook really ruined this song for me.
7. Grow
(feat. Correy C & Deborah)
These beats are so laidback and cool. Meez,
really is a talented producer. This is what I’m saying about the singing hooks.
Get someone else to sing it, as the hook was more tolerable on here. Cozz’s
bars on here are really relatable as he spits about his struggle with haters,
poverty, his past (especially the part about how he would rather spend money to
get high then get himself something to eat, that was real as fuck) Standout
track, and a favorite of mine.
8. Who
Said
Cozz’s first verse on here is my
favorite on the entire project. Just fire. Especially when he starts chanting
the hook from 2pac’s hail mary during the verse. That was great. Now Cozz does
do a little bit of singing on here, but its short and tolerable. When he tries
to sing for a full song is when I’m not feeling it. Anyway this track is fire.
9.
Tabs (feat. Bas)
Best feature on the entire project. I don’t know who Bas is, but he steals the show from Cozz on this
track. His entire verse is fire and I
like the ending when he says "And all these hoes ain't worth a dime/ For real, combined" made me laugh.
10.
Tell
me
Same gripe with Choice Today. Cozz channels his inner Miguel and tells the
girl to tell him that the pussy is his. Except the difference is I like
Miguel’s singing voice. Once again, Sung hooks are not Cozz’s strong suit.
11.
GWBW
[All Good]
Yo once again, shoutout to
Meez on the beat. His beats are so smooth, yet so fire. Anyway, this song is
good for what it is. If Cozz were to try to sing on a hook, this is how I would
prefer him to do it. Not go full Miguel and try to turn into an RnB singer, but
rather just harmonize a word or something small like that. Cozz talks about his come up and it’s really
just a smooth ode to getting high. Not my favorite but not bad either.
12.
Bonnie
& Clyde (feat. Freeackrite)
Cozz & Feeackrite question their girl’s
loyalty. Really forgettable track in my opinion. There’s nothing necessarily
bad about it, but it feels generic to me. I’ll just sum this up in one word:
“meh”
13. Guiness
My favorite hook on
the mixtape.“We want the culture so we takin' over We
want the culture, y'all don't know what to do with it/ we takin' over you
fuckin' posers” Cozz spits some of the best bars of the whole project on this
song. And the hook is good too. Good way to end the project.
Overall,
I thought it was good. Cozz shows promise as an upcoming rapper, and shows why
he deserves to be signed to J. Cole’s label. He already proves he can just go
off with bars, or get introspective and tell you about his thoughts, feelings
and experiences. He really needs to work on his sung hooks if he’s gonna try to
pull a Drake and sing for an entire song, as the hooks sung by Cozz were a
major turn off for me.
Anyway,
I give it a 6.5/10
Favorite
Track(s): Wake Up Call, My Side, Grow, Who Said, Tabs & Guiness
Least
Favorite Tracks: Grey Goose & Tell me
Listen to Cozz's "Nothin' Personal" here.
Listen to Cozz's "Nothin' Personal" here.
written by Joseph Sanker II in 2016.
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Until next time! Peace out! One.
Written by Joseph Sanker II
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