Estelle and DJ Trauma - I Almost Made A Mixtape (Mixtape Review)

In the past, mixtapes served two purposes. They were meant to keep an artist's name in the forefront of fans' minds while the artist completed the official album and to give fans a taste of music the record companies wouldn't allow on the album. This mixtape by Estelle and DJ Trauma successfully does both. Instead of straight singing on every track, Estelle brings it back to when she first started out and raps a great amount on here. She confidently holds her own against rappers like Nas, Maino, and Kardinal O.

I Almost Made A Mixtape also proves Estelle to have a great ear for production. She rhymes over beats like Jay's "Dear Summer", Common's "They Say", and Kanye's "Last Call". The original soundscapes are uniquely individual just like the singer/songwriter. They range from smooth neo-soul jams to sparse, bass heavy hip hop cuts. Each one sounds as if it were specially tailored for her voice and style.

The lyrics are immersed in personal truth. On "The Rocks", she says," I talk about stuff that's real to me. The stuff that I've experienced and that my friends have experienced." That sentiment is exemplified on the track, "Star", where she sings, " I went through drama like you. I was all alone. Now, I got extra cousins I aint seen before. Because I'm a star." Sometimes, the words are funny and others are deeply serious. Either way, the emotion is always coming from a genuine place.

As a whole, there isn't a cohesive thread. But a mixtape usually isn't a cohesive project. It's more of a collection of extremely diffrerent sounding tunes to prove the range of the artist. Estelle's mixtape proves she has range and skills in the arenas of singing and rapping. This is definitely worth the download. If her album is as good as this, then she'll have another hit on her hands.