These are my review notes for my mixtape review of Another Mans Treasure Sextape Vol. 1 by Big Bad Baragon, which was released on April 17th of 2013. You can watch my full video review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=061_TxaU5A4

1. Another Mans Treasure: Sextape Vol. 1 mixtape by upcoming hip hop artist Big Bad
Baragon. Released April 17th 2013, it is his debut tape.
Artist Background
•
Big Bad Baragon is a 20-year old east coast rapper from New York State.
•
His love of hip hop/rap started at an early age as he would listen to his
friend•s copy of Eminem•s Slim Shady LP on the school bus ride home, because his
parents wouldn•t allow that type of music.
•
Some of Baragon•s music influences include: Ghostface Killah, Big Daddy
Kane, MF DOOM, Kool G Rap, The Notorious BIG, Kayne West, Al Green, James Brown,
and Blink-182 (who he sampled on the song •Angie•).
Album Background
•
This tape is actually 2 different EP•s in one combined to make a mixtape.
The first half of the tape has an older, heavier early hip hop inspired feel,
which Baragon prefers, while the second half is comprised of more modern sounds
and influences.
•
Production - Most of the production on this mixtape is original; only 4 of
the 16 tracks contain instrumentals that are pre-recorded. Also, an album
sampling technique is used to create a mix of modern a 1990•s, early hip hop
inspired sound rather than using a bass-heavy, electric sound that we see today.
•
The title of this tape comes from the phrase, "One mans trash, is another
mans treasure", which seems to go well with the albums concept of redoing old
songs (which are considered trash) and bringing them back to life with a new
sound.
•
The •sextape• portion of the title came about when Baragon jokily said
•I'm going to call my mixtape a sextape, 'cause everybody's going to fuck [mess]
with it".
Track by Track Review:
1.
Intro • This opening that reveals the meaning of what Baragon means by the
phrase and title •Another Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure.• - Make the best
out of what you have when you have it.
Papi Balboa • On this track Baragon uses his fight and desire to get what he
wants as well as his love for the Rocky films as inspiration. The backing beat,
which is an adapted version of the Rocky instrumental theme, really sets the
tone for the track, especially during the chorus; when the beat gets heavier and
louder to support Baragon•s catchy aggressive verses.
2.
Call From YL • Skit
I Wanna Be A Rapper • Baragon•s true passion for rapping can be heard on this
track as Baragon uses his laid back, west-coast inspired rapping style over a
simple beat and catchy •sing a-long• chorus to not only boldly tells his mom
that he is quitting school because he is •decided• to rapping and the hip hop
lifestyle, but he also calls out his pastor to let him know that his weekly
Sermons about the Bible will not deter him from following his dream.
3.
Angie •This track can only be described as a retro sounding modern hip hop
love song. On this track we learn a little bit about Angie, Baragon•s love
interest, by way of a conversion between Baragon and a friend in which he
details his interest in Angie through some slow paced- simple yet, cleverly
written lyrics. The song then switches tempo to an modern feel, especially
during the verses with an upbeat backbeat that appears to be a sample of Blink182' Miss You, as well as a breakdown in which Baragon mentions other bands
[Beatles, Fleet Foxes, Green Day] that could have influence him as a musician.
Finally the track ends with Baragon asking Angie to marry him.
Romeo & Juliet • This slower-paced track continues with the love theme as
Baragon expresses his love and appreciation for having Angie in his life. He
does this by rapping about how he feels when they are together as well as
treating her right (not physically but emotionally), which inturn seems to be
attempting to break the sexual stereotype of women around the hip hop community.
4.
Call From Madi • This skit features Baragon talking to one of his friends
asking her thoughts on the pervious tracks (Angie & Romeo & Juliet). The
funniest part of this conversion is her response to what she is doing• "What're
you up to?" "Oh you know, watching porn"... Baragon•s reaction adds another
humorous element to this tape•

2. 5.
So Good – This upbeat, faster paced, –feel-good– track as an overall
experimental and fun vibe that really caught my attention so the point where I
believe it could be played on mainstream radio. This experimental feel can be
seen all over the song with a different beat selection, which gives off a very
–swing– or dancey vibe, from Baragon vocals, that seem to have fun, singing-rap,
Ghost Killah influence that seems to go with the fun lyrics that overall message
of the song which is one of not having a relationship, instead just –hitting and
quitting it– or having a one night stand.
6.
Deep Cover (845-Mix) (Deep Cover by Dr.Dre/Twinz by Big Pun) - If you are
listening to this and wondering –what makes this guy so different?–, then listen
to this track. Right from the start Baragon–s non-stop lyrical assault and
timing with the beat on this is something that is guaranteed to impress.
7.
Pink Matter Interlude (Pink Matter by Frank Ocean) – This skit takes a
break from the heavy style used on Deep Cover to add a little bit of humor as we
see Baragon–s friend attempting to make this an R&B tape under the name Frank
Lotion.
8.
845 In Newburgh ft. Don Phenom (5am in Toronto by Drake) –This heartfelt
song, which samples the beat from the Drake song –5am in Toronto–, features some
rough, poetic and truthful lyrics that not only give the listener a peek into
Baragon–s life as he talks talking about his crew, The BlueHeartFam, but will
also make you wonder more about Baragon–s life.
9.
Call From Vicki (prod. by Dj Husky) –This skirt sees Baragon talking to
another one of his friends about the set of songs they just previewed as well as
introduction the next song (Chill With Me) as a –song for the ladies.
10.
Chill With Me ft. Renee Francisco – It is no secret that Baragon seems
like quite the ladies man because he knows how to treat the ladies right. (As we
saw earlier on this tape with the song –Romeo & Juliet–). This is once again the
case of this slow-paced track, as Baragon,who accompanied by Renee Francisco,
who belts out some beautiful, soulful vocals reminds the male listener that
they can do more with our ladies, such as chilling with them.
11.
BONG ft Jean Paul Viteri (OPP by Naughty By Nature) – This track is
another one of my favorites off this tape. It is a very jumpy, fun track that
will leave you singing along, with its catchy lyrics and fun beat that features
samples of ABC by The Jackson 5.
12.
Outro ft. Jacob Kondrath -This track seems like a standard –shoutout
track– in which Baragon thanks everyone who helped with the record, however, a
pizza delivery disrupts the recording process, which adds a rather humorous
element to this track.
13.
Hustle (ft. Na–Cir Jamill) – This track features some clean and excellent
production, with the instrumental backbeat as well as some over good lyrics
through.
14.
Gotta Win (with Kool G Rap) – Baragon really shines on this track. This
track has both a powerful beat that drive the tempo and good lyrics by both Kool
G Rap and Baragon.
Favorite Songs:
Papi Balboa, I Wanna Be A Rapper, Angie, Romeo & Juliet, So Good, 845 In
Newburgh,,Chill With Me, BONG.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed what Big Bad Baragon did with this debut mixtape. This mixtape
was able to keep me interested from start to finish with its:
1.
Retro Feel – What really caught my attention as I listed to this tape was
the overall relaxed vibe of the tape as well as Baragon–s vocals, which is built
around a somewhat harsh yet laid back, almost west-coast hip hop inspired
delivery with some added old school humor and flare that brings me back to hip
hops early days and particularly seems to hint at an 2 Pac and Biggie influence.
2.
Production – Two different styles of hip hop are used on this tape --- the
first half has an older, heavier feel (which Baragon prefers), while the second
half is comprised of more modern beats and influences. I think setting up the
tape in this way plays in the favor of Baragon because he is not only satisfying
both crowds (old school vs. new –bubblegum hip hop ) but he is also showing his
versatility and ability as an artist to change his style.

3. 3.
Real Life, down to Earth writing style - Baragon, like Jet Gladstone,
writes and raps about real life events. Whether he’s using lyrically heavy
rhythms on a track to describe a specific love interest (’Angie’ & ’Chill With
Me’) or a laid back yet aggressive feel on a track about the successes and
failures as an upcoming artist.
(Successes: "Papi Balboa" & "Gotta Win"), (Failures: ’Hustle’ & ’I Wanna Be A
Wrapper’).
In general I think it’s great that young an upcoming artists are writing
meaningful, personal songs because it gives them a ’human side’ that a lot of
today’s bubblegum pop rappers don’t go for, instead they write meaningless
lyrics, filled with sexualization and topped with generic beats that they hope
will land on the ’top hits’ list
’
Baragon’s down to earth yet aggressive writing and rapping style and
understandability clear flow is something that I believe a lot of people will
easily relate too and leave them wanting more and will eventually land him in
the spotlight.
Upcoming reviews include:
1.
Lorde
2.
Avenged Sevenfold
3.
Paul McCartney
4.
Queen of the Stone Age
5.
Blue October
6.
Dr Dog
7.
The Strokes
8.
Luke Bryan
9.
Tan Vampires
10.
The 1975
11.
Tom Odell
12.
Imagine Dragons
13.
Halestorm
14.
Alter Bridge
15.
Jet Gladstone
16.
Eric Church
17.
Tom Petty
18.
Sound City Soundtrack
19.
Guns N Roses
20.
Jimmy Eat World
21.
Theory of A Deadman
22.
Moon Taxi
23.
Grouplove
24.
Sleeping With Silence
25.
Blink-182
26.
Blake Shelton
27.
Black veil Brides
28.
Darius Rucker