Review: Mic Stew’s The Big L Mixtape: Hello My Name is Michael Stewart
Philly MC Mic Stew is more than a rapper, he’s a passionate lyricist with talent well beyond his years. His latest offering The Big L Mixtape: Hello My Name is Michael Stewart is equal parts homage to a late hip-hop legend and Stew showcasing his undeniable skills.
If you’re unfamiliar with Big L, Mic Stew doesn’t leave you in the dark; he includes 30 second verses from Big L classics like “’90 Freestyle”, “Ebonics”, “MVP”, and “Put It On” on the 13-track set as well as clips from interviews of Jay-Z and Lord Finesse speaking on his talent. On “All Black” he declares: “Giving up is a pipe dream…” an ironic statement to silence those who doubt his future. His “2014 Freestyle” finds him “…with the ’94 Nas flow, Illmatic with it don’t forget it”, another nod to a hip-hop hero and his work. Over old school hip-hop beats, Mic Stew works off the genius of his fallen rap idol to lay down hard-hitting verses that exhibit his own. Stream and download The Big L Mixtape below.