Curren$y - This Ain't No Mixtape

Released: April 21, 2009

Curren$y is a known veteran in the rap game, dropping heat consistently, whether it's an album, mixtape, EP or just one song. Although he has never broke into the mainstream fully, he had gained a lot of buzz with his projects, having a fanbase of hip-hop fans and stoners that anticipate his work. The New Orleans rapper's first breakthrough was when he was a new member of 504 Boyz in 2002, signing to Master P's No Limit and appearing on his labelmates' albums. By 2004, he'd leave the label and sign to Lil Wayne's Young Money imprint, having a guest appearance on Birdman and Weezy's projects. He remained with the label til late 2007, moving on to do his own thing.

At this time, Spitta had yet to drop a freakin' debut, and made a name for himself by putting out mixtapes. He had only released 3 mixtapes while with both No Limit & Young Money, but, after leaving, had one of his most consistent and productive years in 2008, releasing a number of tapes including Independence Day, Fear and Loathing in New Orleans, Super Tecmo Bowl, Fast Times at Ridgemont Fly and Fin.... It was in 2009 that he calmed down with the amount of projects he was dropping, as he was finally working on his long awaited debut.

Appropriately titled This Ain't No Mixtape, the album was released digitally in April 2009, being the first of two albums released from him that year (the other being Jet Files in October). It features 16 tracks, entirely produced by Monsta Beatz, with guest appearances from Dee-Low, Jean LePhare, Trademark, Young Roddy, Bun B and more. It would later have a physical release two years later in June 2011.

Let's get into it.

1. The Briefing

Spitta starts off this album with a little monologue setting up the mood. He lists off the mixtapes he had released in the past year, before declaring that this project isn't a mixtape. He talks for a long time tho, and it's easy to think this is nothing but your average rap album intro, but he does spit a little verse 2 minutes in. It's a decent cut, opening up the album very well.

2. Get It Ya Self (feat. Dee-Low & Jean LePhare)

I remember at first, I wasn't sure how to feel about this song, but this is dope. Dee-Low & Jean LePhare come through with the hook over a chill, funky, elevator music-like beat from Monsta as Spitta provides 3 solid verses, with his usual lifestyle rhymes. I absolutely love it, and the vibe is just so relaxing. One of my favourites already.

3. Blown Away

At first, before my official listen, this and "Elevator Musik" were the only songs I checked out from the album. And this was a standout. The vibe was too wavey on this, and Spitta rode over the beat like a beast. Years later, this song is still a breeze. The hook is just catchy as hell, even if "Blown Away" is said so many times. Curren$y really came through on this one!

4. Scared of Monstas

This beat is nuts, man! Monsta killed this one. Spitta was alright on this one, I guess, this was one of the moments where he didn't impress me too much. It's still a solid cut tho.

5. Elevator Musik

One of the first songs I've ever heard from Curren$y, and it's still a tune! Over a smooth beat that samples Ahmad Jamal's "Sustah Sustah", Spitta spits his usual lifestyle rhymes, about his cars, weed, elevators and also mentions his former labels No Limit & Cash Money. The hook is one of my favourite moments on the album, and it gets me vibing to the fullest. I was like 10 when I first heard this shit, around 2011. It's 2017, I'm 16 and I still love it.

6. On My Plane (feat. Dee-Low)

A chill track to ride out to, with your typical hook from Dee & Jean. This was alright. Not a standout, but still nice.

7. Sixteen Switches

I remember checking this song out after hearing the second part on New Jet City, and I didn't care about it too much. But listening to it now, this song is a freakin' gem! Spitta really rode on this beat like never before. Not even some of the standouts see Spitta on such a vibe like this. The hook is amazing, and the production screams "Summer" so bad. I'm even nodding my head to this as I write this. Forget the rest, this is the best song on the album.

8. The Jet-Sons (feat. Dee-Low)

I only heard this song once and hearing it the second time had me singing the hook. This is how memorable this song is. Spitta comes through with some solid verses, and the hook is such a moment on the album. Dee-Low actually raps on this instead of just providing a hook, and he's actually... alright on this. He ain't the best but he did his thing on it, I guess. Overall, I fux with this. Another one of my favourites.

9. LOL (feat. Trademark)

Another nuts instrumental from Monsta, as Spitta & Trademark da Skydiver link up for such a standout. Curren$y's flow on this was on another level, and he killed it. Trademark did his thing on this, and I liked it. The hook was trash tho, and this is one of the moments where Dee & Jean disappoint. Doesn't make the track worse tho, as both Curren$y & Da Skydiver go back and forth for some time and it's nice.

10. Sail On (feat. Young Chris)

Young Chris is the next guest on the album for such a Summer jam on the album, and both him & Spitta do their thing. I think Chris did better on this one than Spitta, and so far on this album, Spitta has outrapped his guests. It's nice to hear both of them on this tune, and they ride on the instrumental so well.

11. Got It

This song so laidback, and I absolutely loved it. I'm gonna say the usual here. Good rhymes, nice beat and flow, ha! NEXT!!!

12. Power Button

A more spacey feel compared to the rest of the album, but you can still ride or get high to it. Spitta comes through with some solid rhymes and a nice hook, as Monsta provides a chill/space-like instrumental which I absolutely love. One of my favourites, which gets better with every listen.

13. Up Here (feat. Young Roddy)

A nice tune, but compared to the rest of the songs, it's alright. Spitta did his thing and I liked Roddy on this.

14. Cook Up (feat. Bun B & Dee-Low)

One of my favourites on the album, with a slow Down South feel, as the legendary Bun B links up with Spitta. Dee-Low provides an annoying hook tho, but the rest of the song is alright. Curren$y is nice on this, but Bun had the upper hand here. He snapped! The beat is a banger, and both Spitta & B flowed over this beat smooth AF.

15. Food 4 Thought (feat. Mickey Factz & Amanda Diva)

A more funky cut to vibe to, and it's another standout. Spitta gets Mickey Factz and Amanda Seales/Diva for this, and they all kill it. Spitta starts off fine, but Mickey really murked this. And Amanda did alright on this. Her flow was nice on this, reminded me of some old school jazz. But obviously, Curren$y had to come back for another verse, he didn't want Mickey to wash him. And yeah, he did absolutely better on this verse, I fux wit it so much. The hook gives such a relaxing vibe, and the samples Monsta used for this shit were fire. Love this song.

16. Galaxy (feat. Jean LaPhare, Dee-Low & Whodinsky)

The album concludes with a chill R&B like cut, that uses the same sample as a rare J Dilla beat. Here, Curren$y tries to seduce his girl, as Jean LaPhare provides a nice ass hook to set the mood. To even make it better, Whodinsky acts as a show host, giving props to Jean, Spitta and the band; and it even sounds like he's concluding the album. This song is so laidback, that bedroom music and all. I love it!

Final Thoughts

Going through this for the first time, I expected This Ain't No Mixtape to be mid. But this is actually pretty good. The album is an hour of audio dope aka fire lifestyle rhymes, chill production, mainly memorable hooks and impeccable flows.

Spitta's subject matter throughout the album is pretty limited, which isn't a bad thing, the production and laidback flows really make his rhymes sound better than ever. For a lot of people, being repetitive isn't the best thing. But this guy been making the same music for almost 10 years and still sounds great. Anyway, the album is still pretty good. Songs like "Blown Away" and "Elevator Musik" see Curren$y rhyme about his cars, weed and money. It's generic topics yet sound so good, and the hooks make it even better. 

He switches the vibes up tho, and I enjoy it. "LOL" is a lot more hardhitting and aggressive in comparison to most of the album, as Spitta & Trademark provide fire verses. While the hook from Dee-Low is mid, it doesn't make the track worse or anything. "Power Button" has such a spacey feel, and I love it. It takes you to a higher level compared to the rest. "Get It Ya Self" has some slight 90s vibes with the sample and the beat kickin in. Spitta rides through the beat so well, and this song also features one of Dee & Jean's better hooks. Songs like "The Jet-Sons" and "Cook Up" create a clear Southern vibe. Their banging instrumentals make it something to easily ride to in the Summer or get high to. And "Galaxy" is a smooth R&B cut which sees 

When it comes to the features on This Ain't No Mixtape, Spitta uses them appropriately most of the time. Dee-Low & Jean LaPhare come through with some solid hooks on songs like "Galaxy" and "Blown Away". Not only does Dee provide a pretty catchy hook for "The Jet-Sons", but his verse isn't actually that bad. And I loooooveeeeed Jean's hook on "Galaxy", it really added a lot to the chill and smooth vibe of the song. It was alright, although he's better on hook duties. His contribution on "LOL" was shit tho, but luckily, Trademark comes through, linking up with Curren$y for an aggressive standout. The legendary Bun B killed his verse on "Cook Up", I enjoyed it so much and he really made the song better, not that it was trash tho. Mickey Factz was a beast on the funky "Food 4 Thought" and Amanda Diva did a decent job too. Although "Up Here" wasn't necessarily the best song, Roddy did his thing on it and impressed me slightly, to be honest. 

Finally, I gotta give it up to Monsta Beatz, cos his production was real fire. Being consistent with the beats, providing such heat to ride, vibe out or some to. He really delivered with the range of vibes. He killed "Elevator Musik", flipping that sample so well. "Sixteen Switches" is one of my favourite instrumentals on the album, with such a Summer vibe. Spitta freakin' floated on that. "Food 4 Thought" was on some funky shit, Monsta was on one, man! One of the best moments on the album, where the album's vibe switches up. Even "Get It Ya Self" reminded me of some 90s hip-hop, especially considering the sample.

Overall, This Ain't No Mixtape is pretty solid. A great piece of work that shows Curren$y at his finest during his early Jet Life years. The vibes are there, the bars are tight, the flows are on point, Spitta floats all over the album effortlessly, and the features do their thing. Is it my favourite project from him? Nah, but it is what it is. Classic Spitta that gets me vibing.

Recommended Tracks

Sixteen Switches

Blown Away

Elevator Muzik

Food 4 Thought

The Jet-Sons

Power Button

Cook Up

Get It Ya Self

Sail On

Galaxy