******NEW JERSEY LOVE EDITION******
PARTY BOYZ 609 (Lou Kang, J2O, Mayham) are an rap outfit hailing from Southern Part of New Jersey..(Ventnor, Atlantic City, Seaside that whole area) hence the 609 in their name. I decided to give this mixtape a listen as a part of my "New Jersey Love Initiative". At first listen I was ready to write off the crew because I heard a lot of "Industry Beats" and I absolutely detest that about mixtapes...mainstream or underground. Personally I'm all about ORIGINAL BEATS because I feel that the artists true voice and skills can only be heard when they DON'T have a template already made for them..Industry Beats kinda force you to stay within the song that was already made and you have to work that much harder to make the listener forgot about their respective jams.
With that being said "Respect Iz Earned" works on a certain level. I will admit The the title track pissed me off..not because it was wack but because of the aforementioned Industry Production thing. But before I could get a chance to care...The first ORIGINAL song "Put It In The Air" started. Yes this song title is self explanatory but it works...The production on this song is a slow groove and I KNOW for a fact its a video game sample... I can dig it....I think this song is the starting point and it brings you into their world. "Partybration" is their version of Game's "Celebration"....Same topic matter as the latter so there isnt much to gather from this song.
"Hit From The Back" is the undeniable party banger....Meaning that you'll be to drunk or high to care about the lyrics but the beat is infectious and the song as a whole will get you moving and if not... you probably took to many mollies and you no longer have a pulse. "God Bless" is another Original song that does its job..Decent Hook...All three rappers show up on the track and the synth beat will weave its way into your head I promise.
"RRR" (Real Recognize Real) is really a throwback song of you ask me....It reminds of the "Dirty Jersey" days circa 2002...when I was in High School and somebody had a Civic and this song would have been blaring out of the car in the school parking lot after class was over. "We Love It" is even MORE of throwback track. If RRR was 2002..Then "We Love It" is 1992...I actually found myself running this song back 4 times...Gotta love the 90's.
"Baby Bowe Entrance" and "Regroup/Rebuild" help round out the mixtape and brings it to a close. In all fairness These three guys have A LOT of promise. The original songs give the listener a glimpse of what they have to offer..I for one am looking foward to hearing another project with more original compositions and concepts. I know these things take time but they are definitley on the right path. I expect to hear Party Boyz 609 improve their sound and their overall identity as a group. When they put all the pieces together they WILL make some noise..Keep Grinding Guys...You've earned my respect.
