For the past 2-3 months, I've realized how frequent I've been reviewing old stuff, whether it's Slum Village's Fantastic, Vol. 2 or a Tribe album. The reason being that I was eager to review those albums and I didn't really come up with much to review this Summer (well, Drake & Travi$ Scott were in mind, but if anything, I need to save that for later on). Anyway, since it's the start of the new annual, it's time to get into some recent material. And by recent, I don't mean recent as in this year of 2 weeks ago. Nope, let's rewind back to 2013.
When it came to Pro Era, I always said Dessy Hinds was my favourite out of the group, and thought he had potential. Well, it's been 6 months since I've reviewed Joey Bada$$ and said that, and Dessy has yet to release a freaking project, and instead of going to start of the group mixtapes, I decided to move to CJ Fly, who is probably the best behind Capital STEEZ, and making a breakthrough on Joey's mixtape with his unique style, was nominated for this year's XXL Freshman (unfortunately, like Mick Jenkins and a few, he didn't make it, leading XXL to make what everyone called one of the worst Freshman lists).
I came across the 22-year old Brooklyn rapper on an Alchemist mixtape. Yes, surprisingly, it wasn't 1999. It was on the bonus disc of The Alchemist's The Cutting Room Floor 3, on a song called "CBS". As a matter of fact, it was also where I came across Dessy and Nyck Caution, and was more aware of Pro Era. After, I began to be interested in the PE discography, mostly Joey where I found him again on "Hardknock" and "Don't Front", and started listening to his music via YouTube.
Anyway, CJ, after the release of Joey Bada$$' Summer Knights, released his debut project, Thee Way Eye See It, in October 2013 on Pro Era/Cinematic. The mixtape, which was downloaded over 45k times on DatPiff, featured 18 tracks, with features from Joey himself, Ab-Soul, Dessy Hinds, T'nah Apex & even Phife Dawg (of A Tribe Called Quest), with production from BrandUn DeShay, Statik Selektah, Cookin Soul, Chuck Strangers and more. The tape managed to get a lot of praise and recognition, leading CJ to some minor success, but having yet to release another tape.
Honestly, there's not much to say, whether it's that it was classify as one of 2013's best mixtapes... wait, let's see... *5 minutes later*... nope, not even! It's another underrated project I gotta get on with, as it's not as recognized as tapes like Owl Pharaoh & Acid Rap is. So, let's check it out, and see what CJ did on this, and why the hell he hasn't released another project yet.
1. FLintroCK
So the mixtape starts, and to begin, CJ takes no delay in rapping something a little quick, and actually kills this shit. Damn! The beat from Cy Fyre even makes it up more as CJ spits. A good opening and I realty liked it.
2. Tug-At-War
This is something laidback and so freaking chill! Esta provides a funky and jingly beat, while CJ raps about life the way he sees it, and how things are like from his perspective. I really liked this, and with the beat being funky, CJ's lyrical flow and content were on point, impressing me with his verses as he tells interesting stories. Great song.
3. Ernee (Feat. Dirty Sanchez)
Pro Era member Dirty Sanchez is the first guest on the tape, and with CJ, actually does well and interested me more than CJ did. Here, as the track opens up with a Biggie soundbite, the song focuses on their lives in Brooklyn and trying to make it out the hood with a name, and they actually pull it off, explaining their early stages and how survival isn't easy. It's an interesting song, which have CJ & Dirty at their most reminiscent, giving advice to people not from Brooklyn, to say what it's like. With a sombre ass beat, this was pretty good and is one of the standouts.
4. Day zZz's
Statik Selektah produces one of the most laidback beats. And behind "Carry On", this remains my favourite beat from him, as the drums and sample on the song is just amazing. CJ focuses on how his days go, and what he has got up to before in his lifetime, showing off his fantastic storytelling skills over a sleepy instrumental. Honestly, this is just so wavey and chill, to the point that I can play this everyday with no problems at all.
5. Loco Motives
Oooh, this is actually pretty good. The first half starts with a smooth interlude called "Head In The Clouds", which features a trumpet sample, but when the beat comes on, it's just sick. CJ does a quick verse over the chill instrumental, and it is what I love about this particular track. But after some time of a instrumental break and CJ doing the chorus, the beat switches up to the normal "Loco Motives", which actually departs from the normal boom-bap vibe, and goes to something more modern (with a sombre sample), and it's doesn't fail to impress me. And his flow picks up to be very fast and on point. If anything, I nearly thought I was gonna like "Head In The Clouds" more, but the latter actually proves to be very impressive as heck. A standout on the album!
6. Eyetalian Frenchip
A play on "Italian"/"eye/I" and "french"/"friendship", CJ tells a love story about him being stuck between two woman. The first verse focuses on an Italian girl he met called Bella, and how they became good friends, with a motive to take her out. However, the next focuses on the French girl named Eda, but actually is a double meaning, using her as a gun metaphor, telling all the things she/it will do for him. As CJ tells the story, he realizes how he's in trouble, not knowing who to choose. This is another performance from CJ as he tells his interesting stories, and honestly, right now, choosing between "Day zZz's" and this, this one is amazing, showing him at his finest.
7. Q&A
Nope, this ain't a skit that has CJ on YouTube responding to questions. Nah, as a matter of fact, this is the smoothest on the album, as CJ slows it down, honestly sounding like an outtake from a Chris Brown jam (not modern Chris, I mean 16-year old/Exclusive era), as he even does a take at actually singing (he has been doing that for the past songs, but not like this). But actually, this ends up becoming a great track, as I overlook everything I said.
8. Crew's Cunt Troll
Here, the first half kinda put me to sleep. It's bad enough that the beat is WAY TOO laidback, but with the storytelling, it's just boring. But the second part was impressive, with a more polished beat for him to show off his lyricism. Overall, it's just a decent song.
9. Side (Feat. Buckshot)
Now, this one's about to get all dusty as hell, especially if a hip-hop legend is present. On this standout, which is probably the darkest on the tape, CJ gets Buckshot but unfortunately, Buck doesn't get a verse on this, and leaves CJ to be on his own as he does the hook. That's sad, and I really expected him to come on and renegade this album. But oh well, that doesn't mean it's not good. I really love this song!
10. Left Get
This is alright. The storytelling is on point, and that beat is just too much. But at the end, not much stood out to me.
11. Too Paid
Chuck Strangers finally gets a beat on the tape, and he actually does a good job, making a chill boom-bap instrumental for everyone to vibe to. The content is on point, and CJ's flow is very intact and refreshing than ever. This is something I can bump my head to, and CJ comes with some fire lyrics, focusing on making it out the hood, whether it involves selling drugs or rapping, and honestly, it ends up being very decent.
12. Sadderdaze (Feat. Ab-Soul)
Soulo is the next guest, who actually makes the most out of this, over a brandUn DeShay instrumental. The song is good, giving a laidback and sombre vibe, and CJ & Ab proves to be really intact and their flows mesh together really well (although CJ suited on here a little better than Ab). It's a pretty amazing song, and one of my favourites.
13. Still The Motto
Cookin Soul cooks up a nice jazzy beat, for CJ to spit on, and it's a great way to show his amazing wordplay. CJ doesn't disappoint or bores me, at all, kicking from where we left off with "Hardknock", and giving out the smooth 90s showtime vibe, while Cookin Soul comes with the heat.
14. Sup Preme (Feat. Joey Bada$$)
Joey finally comes on for this standout, and has the best verse on this, while CJ comes with his sing-songy flow. Unfortunately, this ends up being way too short, feeling like an interlude. This is my favourite on this album though.
15. Seek Well (Feat. A La $ole & Phife Dawg)
Yes, ladies & gentlemen, A La $ole, an underrated Pro Era member comes on, but the legendary Phife Dawg is present as well. And it is the one from A Tribe Called Quest. On this track, it's a little more funky and the most nostalgic feeling track on the album, where it's more of a get-down song having CJ, $ole and Phife talking about their experiences with a girl. CJ starts off good, with $ole doing well, but sounds unexpectedly young than he looks. But Phife once again comes with the heat as if he's still in his prime, proving he still has it at 43, being a proud father and sports fan. This is probably the best on the album.
16. Outro-wed (Feat. Erick 'Arc' Elliot)
The album (kinda) concludes with a track, which has CJ at his finest, and a guy called Arc comes and actually does well, impressing me, considering that I haven't even heard of him. But however, the second part is a hidden track called "Feel Soul Good", which is more better than the previous, due to the chill instrumental and CJ's monotone flow. At the end, however, it's nothing of a standout.
17. Thee Heist (Feat. Dessy Hinds, Chelsea Reject & T'nah Apex)
Honestly was expecting this to be a big posse cut, but I like it, and like "Seek Well" it's really soulful and smooth as hell. Once again, Dessy is just amazing. I understand he doesn't have the recognition to drop something yet, but I wish he did tho. Chelsea Reject comes on with a sick verse, that had me bumping my head. T'nah comes, with her sing-rapping, and is pretty good. But however, BOOM! CJ comes in, and renegades this whole track with another one. before ending the whole track unexpectedly. Another epic track.
18. The Error
Another good song, which was previously a throwaway when CJ announced the mixtape. And once again, Cookin Soul is on the boards, making another smooth ass track. But hearing how good the track is, it comes out a little short and very quick. But iStillLoveIt tho!
And the movie is over... and you know what? Thee Way Eye See It is just... decent. Yeah, I said it. Just decent. It's nothing like 1999 or Summer Knights, but I didn't feel it. As I wrote this, I felt sleepy, OK. Nothing interested me as much. I mean, I wasn't bumping my head to this like I would with other albums. While there were good songs for me to vibe to, the whole feeling was a little boring. CJ couldn't switch up that much, and the 90s vibe was way too much on this. The production was alright. Cookin Soul was fire on "The Error" and "Still The Motto", with Carnage doing well with "Loco Motives" and "Sup Preme". The features are on point, with people like Joey doing well on "Sup Preme" and Dessy, Chelsea & T'nah doing an epic collab on "Thee Heist". But when it's all over, it ends up becoming a decent but a little forgettable tape. And I now understand why this is never mentioned as one of the best mixtapes of 2013. I mean, Acid Rap is a classic, Owl Pharoah is a full-length album banger, and Summer Knights is amazing. I don't recommend a purchase, if I'm honest. Listen to the 5 songs (and the honourable mentions), and see if it'll inspire you to actually listen to the whole thing. The(e) way I see it is different from how people see the mixtape. Many think it's good. I think it's shaky and mediocre. Now let's just wait for Kirk Knight's Late Knight Special, and seeing with "Extortion" and "Knight Time" (and features from Joey, Mick Jenkins and TheMIND), I can tell it'll be better than this.
The Furious 5ive
Seek Well
Eyetalian Frenchip
Sup Preme
Day zZz's
Thee Heist
Honourable Mentions
Side
Ernee
Loco Motives
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