Mixtape of the Week: Gunplay's new project with P-Cutta

Mixtape of the Week is a weekly department reviewing the latest local hip-hop mixtapes on Crossfade, New Times' music blog. Visit blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade to read it every Wednesday.

Gunplay has been doing the artist thing for a while. A lot of people first heard him in 2003, on the "Represent (Remix)" with Trick Daddy and others, but he's come a long way since then. He's been part of Triple Cs for almost a decade and has ridden with Rick Ross through thick and thin.

Well, it's definitely about time for Gunplay to start his campaign as a solo artist, and now he's done so with the release of the mixtape Don Logan. With the help of DJ P-Cutta, the MC has put together a solid collection of songs, freestyles, and collaborations for your listening pleasure.

Gunplay jumps on a typical choice of popular beats that have been released over the past few months, but he also goes in on not-so-typical old-school beats such as Tupac's "Picture Me Rollin'." Also featured on the tape is a song called "Finer Things" off Triple C's Custom Cars and Cycles album from last fall. That song alone proves that with quality production and a good hook, Gunplay can definitely shine on his own.

The only drawback to the tape is that it feels like Gunplay held back a bit. Actually, he held back a lot. Gunplay is capable of more; he can rap head-to-head with the best of them, in terms of both lyrics and cadence. So for the next release, whether a mixtape or an official project, let's hope he jumps on a more diverse selection of beats and really goes a little harder. Nonetheless, it's a good mixtape from Carol City's own. Download it for free here.