Backpack Thugs - Another Throwback Hip Hop Review

First let me say, I hear from too many people that hip hop is dead. There is no good hip hop out there. The hip hop that's out now has no sunstance. Well let me quickly correct this misconception. There is a lot of great hip hop out there and a lot of really great emcees out there, you don't know about them because they do not get commercial radio play. College station listeners are up on them because college, underground, community, internet and satellite radio is they only place you can hear this. Between the payola going on in commercial radio and these underground artists not having a major label support, most go unheard by the masses. But I feel my job as a hip hop journlaist is to let the world know.

This is one of those CDs. The reason I post this throwback review is because I truly feel this is a CD that needs to be heard by those who love but otherwise could find quality hip-hop. If you say 'that's why I only listen to old school' or 'I am tired of whats on the radio,' then this CD is for you.

If you were going to put out a CD with all the hottest underground joints of the previous years, what better way to get it accepted by the masses then mix it over some of the hottest mainstream/ commercial joints of the previous year. Well that's exactly what DJ Five did when he hooked up with HipHopSite.com's Pizzo for Backpack Thugs, a tape full of blends between mainstream and underground artists, pairing rappers like Game with Common, the Ying Yang Twins with Danger Doom and Mike Jones with the Gorillaz. Definitely a CD to check out!

Not just another mixtape that plays them most popular joints to get you to buy it, but a throwback to the early days. The day of mixtapes when breaking new artists and records were the most important then give u what you can hear all day on the radio and watch all night on video shows. While your heads nods to the beats that have received heavy rotation on radio, video and the club scene, you will hear some of the hottest emcees that carry the backpack or underground tag like a badge of honor. Emcees who haven't gotten the major exposure they deserve but keep given us hit after hit of pure unadulterated, unsaturated hip-hop like Cage, J Live, Edan and Little Brother, just to name a few.

DJ Five's mash-up megamix will introduce you to some artists that deserve to be supported. As an added bonus, Skillz hits it out the park with a grandslam with his "05 Wrap Up", where he gives you a lyrically looks of what went down in the world of hip-hop in 2005.

Tracklisting and credits for Backpack Thugs 2005 Megamix:

1, Common Dreams - Game Vs. Common
2. Corner Blueprint - Common Vs. Blueprint
3. No Cam - Buckshot Vs. Cam'Ron
4. Remember I Used To Love You - John Legend Vs. Fort Minor
5. We Want Preemo - Kanye West Vs. AZ & DJ Premier
6. Smart Went 50 - 50 Cent Vs. Atmosphere
7. Just A Lil' Scenester - Cage Vs. 50 Cent
8. Joy Live - J-Live Vs. Missy Elliot
9. Play Some Little Brother - Little Brother Vs. David Banner
10. Fumbling Over Ying Yang - Edan Vs. Ying Yang Twinz
11. Wait For Meat - Ying Yang Twinz Vs. Danger Doom
12. Go Quasi - Common Vs. Quasimoto
13. Watch Out For 1 Thing - Atmosphere Vs. Amerie
14. Galangalicious - M.I.A. Vs. Blackalicious
15. Hollaback Vegas - Felt (Murs and Slug) Vs. Gwen Stefani
16. Random Shake - Lady Sovereign Vs. Ying Yang Twinz
17. Stay In Control - Three Six Mafia Vs. Missy Elliot
18. Tippin' Feels Good - Mike Jones Vs. Gorillaz
19. The I's Have It - T.I. Vs. Zion I
20. Hate All Or Love Together - GZA/Genius Vs. Game
21. Crazy Memorial Day - Perceptionists (Mr. Lif & Akrobatik) vs. Young Jeezy
22. BONUS TRACK: 05 Wrap Up - Skillz
A must have for any serious hip-hop collection.
You can pick up Backpack Thugs at underground sites like hiphopsite.com, mixunit.com and turntablelab.com