various artists :: Hip Hop Mix USA (Mixed by DJ Woogie) :: Phase One Music

It's time for a summer mix - the weather is getting hella hot, the line to get ice cream is getting long, and the pools are packed full of teenagers as the opening night of The Hunger Games. People need some party tunes they can get their dance moves on to, and "Hip Hop Mix USA (Mixed by DJ Woogie)" aims to be your summer lick of chocolate, vanilla or swirl. It's fifteen songs made for the dance floor, and if you buy the physical version of this album it even comes with an instructional DVD showing you how to do the dances some of these songs made famous.

Let's stop daydreaming like Rae, Meth, Cap and Ghost though and come back for two scoops in a minute - there's some actual factuals to get through about this mix. There are 15 songs in total, and even though you can chapter your way to individual hits if you like, it's presented as one continous mix you can play from start to finish at your dance party/social gathering. The woman showing off her curves and moves on the cover may not be PG, but the mix itself is - no advisory sticker and no explicit versions of the songs on hurr. For these tracks the lyrics are somewhat secondary to the beat and dance anyway though. You might know the difference between the two versions of "Teach Me How to Dougie," but I guarantee if you're getting your D-Town boogie on, it doesn't matter.

"They be like 'Smoove!' (What?) 'Can you teach me how to Dougie?'
You know why? Cause all the girls love me (ay!)
All I need is a beat that's super bumpin
and for you, you, and you to back it up and dump it (get it)
Put your arms out front, lean side to side
They gon' be on you when they see you hit that Dougie right
Ain't nobody gettin wit my bro from Morningside
He go by Bubba and he hit that dance like thunder (okay)"

Only two words were changed in those eight bars, and they change almost nothing about the song. For other songs here, it matters even less. I guarantee I've never thought long and hard about the words to "Crank Dat Batman" by the Pop It Off Boyz or "Stanky Legg" by the GS Boyz, and I doubt anybody who likes these songs has either. That's the other important fact we need to address about the "Hip Hop Music USA" - these songs do not in any way, shape or form represent the epitome of hip-hop lyricism. The closest you're going to get to a top flight emcee is E-40's guest apperance on Lil Jon's "Snap Yo Fingers." That leaves 93% or more of the album on a B-Hamp "Ricky Bobby" level, so if you expect intelligence in your hip-hop summer mix, it's best to make your own.

For anybody who wants to get their dance on, the lack of top notch verses isn't a deteriment to what "Hip Hop Mix USA" represents, and even the hardcore underground rap purist can admit that songs like Unk's "Walk It Out" are catchy. Since the songs are meant to represent their associated dances though, some of the material on this summer mix isn't that current. "Chicken Noodle Soup" dates back to 2006, and "Salt Shaker" is even older - almost a full decade. This is definitely a party mix, but it's not going to be the current cutting edge dance songs you'd hear at a trendy nightclub either. The most current and/or infamous song on the whole mix is "Cat Daddy" by The Rej3ctz - and if you don't know why it's infamous we've included a Kate Upton video below for your enjoyment. Before that though a closing thought - while the songs here are by no means brilliant, for truth in advertising I can't say this isn't a "Hip Hop Mix" that many people will get their dance on to.

Music Vibes: 6 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 4 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 5 of 10

Originally posted: June 12th, 2012
source: www.RapReviews.com