P-Major :: Break Me Off/That’s Where I Want to Be (Mixtape)

It seems hardly a week goes by without a hot new emcee hitting the mixtape scene. The process of getting a freestyle on a mixtape is quite simple, involving more money than actual skill. But the progression from a few random freestyles to creating full songs and having your own mixtape starts the process of weeding out those who lack the talent to make a commercial splash. Among those who actually create a buzz in the streets it really is impossible to predict who will actually get signed and be successful. No one really knows why Fabolous and Joe Buddens have released albums while Paul Cain never quite made. Even among Fab and Joe, it’s hard to fathom why Fab blew up before Joe. The point isn’t that they aren’t talented, but that once you reach a certain level its more luck and marketing than skill that gets you further.

P-Major is another street emcee looking to reach the semi-pro level of the mixtape scene. On “Break Me Off” he definitely proves that he deserves a spot on the roster. The full songs here display P-Major’s skills well. His voice is distinct and his flow is on point and versatile. Lyrically, P-Major fit’s the mold of your average street emcee perfectly. Like Gravy, Graph, Cassidy, and Red Café, P-major spits mostly street tales and club anthems that incorporate your occasional hot line. It’s a system that worked well for Fab and Joe Buddens and continues to be successful. Lines like “Ya’ll haters better move like roaches, once my lights on” and “Not buy my CD – that’s a no-no, like Puerto Rican cooks with no adobo” give you a good idea of the extent of P-Major’s rhymes. Nothing mind-blowing, but entertaining enough to garner your attention.

Beat-wise, the producers are solid though a little too dependent on the synthesizer. “Break Me Off” is an obvious attempt at a club track, but its good enough to deserve to be in the mix at any club. “That’s Where I Want To Be” is a street anthem that is no worse than your usual street track. These two tracks capture the spirit of P-Major, he’s a rapper that is as good as anybody on the mixtape circuit, but past that isn’t good enough to stand out among his peers. With the right promotion and single, P-Major could be the next street cat to blow – but the same could be said about almost every rapper with a street buzz and mixtape out.