Classic Mixtape...Great Album
LT Twalo | Johannesburg, South Africa | 05/26/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The best mixtape of 2008 gets the album treatment. I may not be the most qualified person to speak about the best mixtape of 2008 given the fact I haven't been listening to too many mixtapes this year. But its hard to imagine any mixtape that could match the quality of material that is found in Mood Muzik III.
A warning to the unfamiliar though, this is not what you are used to hearing. MM3 is 78 minutes of lyrical molestation. Joe is an absolute beast on the mic and he is not concerned with song structures, choruses or catering to the clubs, radio or critics, Joe's sole motivation appears to be MC murder. On `All Of Me' Joe goes on a marathon tirade, the track eventually fades out in the middle of his verse at the 8 minute mark (hardly no chorus!).
However Joe is not just a punchline artist, although he shows he is no slouch either as he trades metaphors with Joell Ortiz on `Warfare'. The best material on the this disc though is when he displays his storytelling abilities and there is no better example of this than `Secrets'. On `Secrets' Joe weaves an intricate tale, over the 6 minute, chorus free track, with an amazing attention to detail and off course a twist at the end. Long time fans will know that his repertoire is packed with such songs (there's an idea for a mixtape - Joe Budden's bed time stories...lol).
What sets Joe apart is that he is 100% real and by this I mean he is not concerned with proving how fly, gutter, bossy or hot he is. He is eager to prove his skills on the mic and that's it! He has no insecurities so he doesn't mind letting the world know that he has weaknesses & vulnerabilities. MM3 is full of honest outtakes regarding his baby mama drama, beef within his camp, major label disappointments and the state of hip-hop. And all that is just in the 1st track `Dear Diary'.
Mood Muzik is not just a cool title, it describes the dark, moody content of the album. Although there are a few uplifting moments scattered throughout (e.g. `Star Inside Of Me') the theme is definitely a downer ("life is like a beach chair when you can afford it"- `Long Way To Go').
Musically, Joe takes full advantage of his independent status as the album features numerous, obviously uncleared, samples that ensure a certain overall quality. The group of lesser known producers do a brilliant job given the tools at hand. I shudder to think what might have happened if they were let loose in a major studio.
Finally, Joe pays a heavy price for not conforming to the hip-hop norms, there will be no platinum plaques or endorsement deals following this release but he gets respect for taking a stand for the dying art-form. Call it adult contemporary hip-hop which translates to respect without success (finance if you prefer)."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1