The Lone Reviewer - HHH DOWNLOADS, REVIEWS, NEWS & MORE: Street Pastor & KamB.I.N.O. - They Should Panic Vol. 1 (2009) [FREE DOWNLOAD!]

01. Reason 1 - The Call
02. Reason 2 - Joyful Noize
03. Reason 3 - Bumpin My Music
04. Reason 4 - K.O.
05. Reason 5 - Check Me Out
06. Reason 6 - The Blessing
07. Reason 7 - Let Us In
08. Reason 8 - The Arrival
09. Reason 9 - Fight For The King
10. Reason 10- Gutter
11. Reason 11- Get Em' Freestyle
12. Reason 12- AMilli Freestyle
13. Reason 13- The UnderdoG's
14. Reason 14- Impossible
15. Reason 15- Downtown
16. Reason 16 - Project Window
17. Reason 17- The Big Connect
18. Reason 18- Say You Will
19. Reason 19- The Winner Is...

REVIEW:

I said it once before - do not to sleep on Street Pastor - but you better not sleep on KamB.I.N.O. either. Street Pastor and KamB.I.N.O., Slingshot Media Group label mates, have teamed up to release a new free mixtape that I can say without a doubt is one of the hottest free mixtapes I've ever heard.

The mixtape contains 19 "reasons" why "they", probably referring to the secular rap industry, "should panic". And panic they should, because the skill and quality of rap presented on this free mixtape is outstanding. Easily mainstream competitive and even transendent the lyrical content produced by the duo will likely blow you away. If you've heard of Street Pastor you probably know about his amazing freestyles (and if you haven't check out his Zoo freestyle here) and his songs that have you wondering if it was off the top of his head or written. KamB.I.N.O. is equally talented. His grimy, slick flow complements punch lines that are likely to induce cries of "ohhh snap!" from anyone within ears reach of the stereo. Combining these talents on one project, it's a no-brainer that whatever comes out is going to be an absolute treat to any rap fan that hears it.

They Should Panic's main reason for existance seems to be to showcase both Street Pastor and KamB.I.N.O.'s skill to the secular industry while still maintaining and promoting their beliefs and ministry mindset. To pull that off, to let loose with pure skill without ever compromising the faith, is an accomplisment in itself. And this accomplishment is made especially evident throughout the mixtape as Street and KamB.I.N.O. take turns recounting the events that they experienced during a high profile Christian freestyle contest from start to finish. Having the story chopped up into small tidbits and mixed into the project keeps the listener engaged, and wanting to hear what happens next. Apparently this isn't the first time something like this has been done before, and in fact at the very start of the mixtape Street gives credit to another rap group for giving him the idea, but it still really fits in well. Even though the mixtape would still have been a show stopper without the story on top of it all, it really compliments the rappers, their skill, what they stand for, and the hand of God over their work.

I'm not sure who some of the beats were produced by, but as is the norm with most free mixtapes, you will find several bootlegs throughout. These include Flame's "Joyful Noise", J.R.'s "Ridaz", "A Milli" by Lil' Wayne, "Fighters" by Lupe Fiasco and Matthew Santos, and even Kanye's auto-tune saturated "Say You Will". Something that you rarely hear on bootlegs is an outperformance of the original artist, but both Street Pastor and KamB.I.N.O. have actually managed this for the most part on They Should Panic.

DJ Bruce O'Brien, hailing from the Netherlands, helps to create an authentic mixtape feel with slight blends and flow between tracks and subtle scratching. His best work on the album is definitly the mixing of the "Get 'Em Freestyle" track in which Street Pastor lets loose over 4 different beats, one after the other. The mixing is nothing special in itself, but it helped to show off some amazing lyricism and make one of the best tracks on the mixtape.

It's nice to hear a mixtape that actually sounds like a mixtape rather than a random compilation of different songs, as is often the case with recent mixtape releases. It's quite subtle, but I'd much rather that than having to listen to a roaring DJ's repeated voice-overs and loud, annoying scratches that sound more like the record is being abused than skillfully manipulated.

I can say without any doubt that Street Pastor and KamB.I.N.O. are some of the most talented up-and-coming artists I've ever heard in Christian Rap...or rap in general. Lyrcism and swagger abound in both of these mid-west talents without having to compromise their belief in Jesus Christ and their mission in reaching the streets. If They Should Panic wasn't released free, I wouldn't think twice about spending my hard-earned cash on it. Download it now!