MUSIC REVIEWS
Wordsmith - Statements and Stipulations
Josh Brown
What exactly is the qualifications for naming a new mixtape king of hip-hop? Is it strictly based on the number of units sold, or are there other factors included? If so, are lyrical skill and ability, range of styles and topics, production and overall likeability of the mixtape part of the equation? For the up and coming emcee taking the streets of Baltimore by storm, Wordsmith, let’s hope so. Because after the release of “Statements and Stipulations, the mixtape,” a new mixtape king may be lurking in the shadows waiting for his spotlight.
The album is put out by 730, which is evident by the “730” voiceover add-ins throughout the whole album, which get sort of annoying at times. They don’t take away from the album, but definitely don’t do anything for the album itself, just the label. Other than that, it’s hard to find negatives within this album … err, mixtape.
While it is dubbed a mixtape and has a mixtape feel to it at times (such as the constent “730” voiceovers, and fading out of songs at the end of them), it is hard to classify it as a mixtape. The production and quality is absolutely amazing sounding, bringing a very clean, professional studio sound booming through the speakers. With a full 19 tracks, four of them being “episodes” that are anything but sketches, it is a full album that not only shows off the lyrical ability and range of Wordsmith, but also highlights his strengths and hides his weaknesses, if he has any, very well.
Wordsmith displays a wide array of topics throughout the album, all of which follow an overall theme of him trying to get the spotlight and recognition he feels he rightfully deserves. His rhyming style varies at time, forming seamlessly with the head-nodding beats (which are excellent as well). His delivery is soft, catchy and straight up smooth.
The most creative part of the album is the “Episodes,” which I mentioned earlier. There are four episodes on the album err, mixtape which tell the story of Wordsmith going through four different trials in the form of four different rival emcees. Basically, each episode is him battling each faux-emcee, while telling a story of the journey through all of them.
Overall, this mixtape, or album or whatever you want to call it, is banging from beginning to end. It is one that keeps your attention through the entire album, and is worth a listen all the way through, if only to catch all the episodes. For Wordsmith, this mixtape may be the stepping stone to getting his spotlight and finally going where he wants to go with the music.
Even if he doesn’t get the title of Mixtape King, this album is good enough to move him past the rankings of mixtape emcees and up to the next level.
