Aug 25, 2015 This is the version of Hub City Threat - Minor of the Year that i found on the internet, yours might be different but on different websites there are different tracklists etc. I was expecting a bunch of popular beats with kendrick biting lil' wayne or other similar artists, and thats no diss to kendrick but thats just usually what starting out rappers usually do. If people are listening to this and expecting stellar flow, lyrics, and beats are just looking to be dissapointed.. Kendrick introduces this album with "Intro (Hova Song)" and you can obviously tell this kid is young, but he sounds hungry and determined even with lines like "its kendrick the god', overall solid start to this mixtape. "What the Deal" is one of the only songs ive heard before listening to this project, and re-listening to this confirms the reason why i got it in the first place. Dope rhymes with a catchy hook. This next song "Compton Life" slows the pace down with an anthem for Compton, Kendrick's home city. Pretty decent, nothing special. "Go DJ" starts off with a nasty beat that you would expect nowadays kendrick to murder, a 2003 kendrick handles it pretty well, his voice sounds really young in this song, probably recorded when he was 16. I kinda like this song because the beat and his flow he uses fit pretty well together, probably equal with "Intro (Hova Song)" as the best song atm. I like this next song "Hovi Baby" just because of the line "So many nikkas try to f--- with the ken, but the only problem is they can't win". He has so much hunger to be noticed and stives to be one of the best. A little bit of confidence in yourself and your abilities is expected in hip-hop though. Decent track. "Put That On Somethin’" in my eyes is kinda a low point for this mixtape, both the features seem to overshadow kendrick. Buddens voice dosent sound like CDQ but the lyrics are there. Its nice to think budden was supporting kendrick back in 2003, props to him. Sometimes remixing brilliant songs where the flow and lyrics match the beat perfectly can just be awful, because the remix just dosent sound right, and thats how i feel about this. "Drop It Like Its Hot Remix" just seems for some reason corny because they make their own hook etc. "For my nikkas that hate the fight, get it with the glocks" "Industry n----s (Skit)" is a nice way to slow down the mixtape with a conversation with some other atrists. And now onto my favourite track on this whole mixtape after listening to it 3 times, "Biggie". This to me is a standout track, the beats (obviously from biggie) are superb, the lyrics are superb, its times like this when you forget this kid is 16/17.... Following after "Biggie" is "Youngest n----- In Charge", which starts off with this brilliant quotable peice from kendrick, "Nikka asked me at school right, what separates me from other young high rappers, i f----- his head up, i said there is no separation, im not competing with them... im competing with their favourite rappers". This is the attitude ive always loved about kendrick, he seems to aim for the highest possible, without sounding like a d-ck. Good follow up to "Biggie". A familiar beat leads into the next song "Hub Walk", flow seems to be similar to nowadays kendrick. A string of 3 really good songs in a row for kendrick here. Starting to become a pretty decent project. "Steady Mobbin" seems to be a filler song at the start, but it evolves into a good track, with a reserved beat and stop and start flow. Dosent sound like usual kendrick, i cant quite put my finger on who he sounds like though. "Say Ur Prayer" was the song that made it into the "Song of the Day Thread" as "Track 13" (@YouNeedYeezy ). Heard this before and i wasnt dissapointed listening to it again, sounds like old kendrick (which it is) so that makes sense. One of the better songs on the mixtape. "Hail Mary" felt like a filler song which i dont really care for anyway. It could be removed from the project and it wouldent really bother me. I do like the beat in "Track 15" but the length of the track is annoying, would have loved to hear a full length version of this song. Great flow and a few quotables. A change of pace for "Westside Story" with a slow track. Although if i could use one word to describe this song it would be average. Another slow song with "Whatcha Know About It", another word for this song could be "Westside Story Done Right". Great song, serves as an example that there is a good way to handle a slow song. Going straight on my kendrick playlist. "I aint here to compete with every teen my age, im here to compete with Nas, Em and Jay" As we near the end of kendricks first mixtape we are handed with an untitled "Freestyle", Iggy needs to take some freestyle tips from kendrick, hes spitting over no beat, just raw lyrics and flow. Dope Freestyle. And finally the last song "Track 19", seems like a bonus, upbeat classic kendrick flow and a Step Up kinda beat (dont ask me why it reminds me of Step Up, just does), kendrick seems to k--- this song, continuing his hungry flow, attitude and lyrics. Solid way to finish the project. Verdict - Overall i think this is a pretty decent project when you realise he is only a kid at this point in time. The only problem with this project is the songs i dont like, i really dislike. But if you forget the few i don't care for, and focus on the rest, you can obviously notice this guy has so much raw talent, you can see why he is now one of the greats when his first ever project can stand up to most nikkas 3rd or 4th project. 7.5/10 - as i liked around 75% of this project, this seems like a fair score. Download Link This is my first proper review on SXN80, so be nice! This has been your boi Maximus, reviewing Kendrick Lamar's - Hub City Threat. Peace
Aug 25, 2015 Good review , some advice I could give you is to use paragraphs when doing the track by track review, but apart from that im looking forward to the next one. I too agree with you that Biggie is a standout track of the tape. Also where did you get your version of Hub City? That's a good find I had no idea Track 13 had a official name.
Aug 26, 2015 Honestly don't like any full projects by Kendrick pre-GKMC. I don't know why. A few dope tracks, but I can't f--- with the mixtape as a whole.
Aug 26, 2015 Also, as others have already said, breaking up each song into their own paragraphs would make it easier for the general reader. Decent review nonetheless.
Aug 26, 2015 A couple tracks I like, but don't like the full thing. Maybe I'll give it another listen and see if my opinion changes. It took me three listens to like AEOM after all lol.
Aug 26, 2015 I found the tracklist on some asian website, some of the tracks were missing and track 13 had that name, not 100% sure if its correct tho
Aug 26, 2015 Section.80 seems to be the project for me that got me into kendrick, so i will allways love it
