There are no more breaks in the music industry, especially in the streets. During the holiday season, cats were either dropping mixtapes or hyping up releases that are soon to come. Fab, don't worry. We're not gonna sweat you over not dropping on Christmas as promised. As long as you bring that Loso quality, we'll wait. Lupe and DJ Absolut coming soon? We're definitely anticipating that one, as well as Jay Electronica's new tape. Is there anything out right now as dope as "Exhibit C"? Styles P and Green Lantern coming next month? Young Jeezy promising to come any day now? 2010 is going to be a nutty first quarter, and that's just on the streets. In any event, here is a special edition of Don't Sleep, where we highlight some of the tapes that came in the past several days.Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables
» Lloyd Banks' V5DJ Collaborator: DJ Whoo Kid
Necessary Notes: Banks isn't pulling any punches. You should've seen all the smiles on the faces on Jamaica Avenue in Queens when the bootlegger opened up a box of brand-new burned copies of Banks' latest installment of microphone terror. Banks sounds a little hungrier on this one (his voice is raspier and louder on tracks like "Sh---y City 2"). The early word from the Unit is that the crazy mofo named Banko is going to actually drop an LP this year in addition to all the underground heat.
Can't-Miss Tracks: "Power Back" and "Rather Be Me"
» Bow Wow's G2 (Greenlight 2)
DJ Collaborators: DJ Ill Will and DJ RockstarNecessary Notes: That retirement Bow talked about in the wake of his last LP, New Jack City II (released in April 2009), was shorter than WWE wrestler Hornswoggle's. The 22-year-old Ohio player (he lives in MIA now, BTW) was back to dropping freestyles in no time. He even signed a brand-new record deal with Cash Money last year and has a new album due for this summer. As we learned from the original Greenlight, everything's a go. This is not your little's sister's Bow Wow anymore. How could he top the first Greenlight's shock value of "Regrets," on which he talked about sipping syrup, smoking weed and being high out of his mind? Well, Bow, fresh off the set of his film "Lottery Ticket," shouts out that purp on "I Do This" to open the mixtape. He also warns Diddy that he has eyes for Cassie on the You So remix of "Say Something." Also, for a little trip down memory lane, check out the video for a Mixtape Daily interview with Bow from early 2009.
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