It shouldn’t really matter where The Mixtapers hail from. But on the other hand, their music in the midst of Future Funk (à la The Internet, Dam-Funk oder James Pants) and classic hiphop reminds of the sound from LA and Toronto which is conquering the world right now. Martino Bisson and Michele Manzo come from Bologna, Italy though. And that’s exactly where they assembled a forceful squad to record 100% organically (no samples, no loops or any other Ableton gimmicks) with vintage synths (with Fender Rhodes leading the way), old drum machines and proper instruments a harmonious mini album.
Having yet attracted minor attention only with two cassette tapes (via Expansions Collective) within the blogosphere, now thanks to the signing by Sonar Kollektiv The Mixtapers will be introduced to a wider audience. “We So Good”, the title track of this collection, masterfully treads a tightrope between Golden Era Hiphop and the current funky friskiness of, let’s say Kendrick Lamar or Chance The Rapper. No wonder, since we have the pleasure of a guest performance by the reincarnation of the legendary Yancey Boys here: Illa J and Frank Nitt celebrate the good ol’ days. For “Peaces” the Italians managed to get one of the hottest and “one to watch” MCs in their studio: DistantStarr from New York. The combination of his delivery with the voice of singer ALO and an extra bold production results in actually the perfect springtime hit of this still juvenile year. “Fresh for 2016”, can be said as well about “Don’t You Let It Go”, with Nico Menci at the keys and Danilo Mineo on percussions (both are present on all of the four tracks by the way).
On the flipside, “Glorious Days” gets treated with a bonus, a club remix by fellow Bolognese but now in Berlin residing The Ivory Boy. With his rework Scott Xylo! from Leicester shoves “We So Good” into Kaytranada waters while gaining head’s approval. The two instrumentals finishing this release off also make perfect sense when you have extraordinary musicians like the foursome The Mixtapers conjuring magic throughout “We So Good” and making us not getting enough of it at all. That’s how we will crave for more.
