Mash-ups are like Hansel from Zoolander, ‘so hot right now‘. The craze of The Grey Album by Danger Mouse caused everyone and their aunties to develop a remix album of their own to the not-so-rare Jay-Z a cappellas. Fact: The album was a work of genius. Fact: Many of the other remix albums that were attempted were tacky, cheesy, obvious and silly. Regardless, it led to the widely publicized and popular Collision Course done by Linkin Park with Jay’s participation and acceptance. Hova’s willingness to reach out to artists outside of hip-hop continued with his collaboration with Coldplay’s Chris Martin on the song “Beach Chair” from the Kingdom Come album.
“Beach Chair” seems to be the inspiration for the new Mick Boogie (Commissioner!) and Terry Urban mixtape, Viva La Hova. To carry on the grand tradition of putting Jay-Z’s lyrics to someone else’s beats, Viva puts Jay’s hot lines over Coldplay’s drums, guitars and vocals. Now, if you’re like me and don’t know a damn thing about Coldplay and prefer Chris E. Martin over Chris Martin, please check your apprehension at the door, because this is quite the worthy effort. Boogie and Urban gather up-and-comers (Remot, nVMe) and established vets (9th Wonder, and Cookin’ Soul) to hit the boards and merge Jay-Z and Coldplay into one cohesive sound. The result is one of the best Jay-Z remixes to hit our iPods since The Grey Album.
Viva La Hova doesn’t have a bad track (with Jay-Z spitting, how can you? Except Kingdom Come, but I digress). Two of the standouts, “Know My Place” and “Back at My Place”, both sample “In My Place” and both do justice to Hova’s confident raps from “U Don’t Know” and “Back Then”, respectively. “No Love Coming Home” effectively turns Jay’s hot fire lyricism on “Heart of the City” into a piece of reminiscence. It’s quite amazing to see what simply changing the beat can do to a song.
9th Wonder comes with a departure from his signature soul-sample-and-those-same-drums with “Cold Success”, which Nas sounded REALLY good over. Following “Cold Success” is the highlight of the album, Remot’s “What If We Cry?” Remot, whose American Gangster: Remoted won Hiphopdx.com’s American Gangster Remix Contest, seems to have taken a shine to remixing Jay-Z albums and brought the heat on this track, which takes “Song Cry” and puts it over a really smooth, soulful beat that samples Coldplay’s “What If?” The former sample is an introspective song, one filled with regrets, with a flash of boldness near the end. Remot ramps up the beat to match Hova’s intensity when he pleads his case in the last verse and then deftly tones it back down when Jay realizes he’s lost and the girl is gone forever.
There really isn’t a whole lot to not like on this album. One of the pitfalls of mashups is that the original vision of the artist can be lost through the changing of the beat. But since both Jay-Z and Coldplay both co-sign the project, it’s safe to say that the vision of the producers on this mixtape jive with that of Jay and Coldplay. And that’s a great thing, because their interpretations have brought forth a great offering and hopefully serve as an inspiration for more cooperation between rappers and rockers to support projects like these.
Overall Score: 85/100
Standout Tracks: “Know My Place”, ”What If We Cry”, ”Back At My Place”
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Thanks for the review Freddie!
I am glad to see that Mick and Terry are getting some recognition for the hard work they have been doing on all of there projects. I am also pleased to say that my company HotCards.com and our designer Glen Infante killed the cover for the Viva La Hova Cd… Kevin I hope you have an opportunity to check out Jus Mic when you have an opportunity, As I stated before Mick and Terry wouldn’t put there stamp on it if it sucked. Let me know what you think Blogger of the year, sorry I get the Music lover of the year.
Peace
Karl
Something definitely should have been mentioned about the cover art. You guys did a bang up job Karl.
Album art is very very dope
oh and who am i kidding… Freddie is the man.
dope review
You know it I see your man Krome is a beast also your site is kicking lots of ass. I’m going to stay posted I like your guys style. We are starting to work with a cat named Sickamore who owns the Famous Firm. I’m looking forward to networking as much as I can with people who are like minded as myself. I’m no A&R but I find myself with not enough time to listen to all the Cd’s people handing me Cd’s like I can get them a deal or something. So take your getting around to check out the cd and keep up the great work on this fucking Blog.
Viva la Hova
Karl Singleton Jr.
Goodshyt Entertaiment
http://www.myspace.com/goodshyt
info@goodshyt.com
Thanks for the love ya’ll. Many thanks to Kevin and the Deezill for the opportunity!
Sure thing Freddie…. let me know if you wanna write for us again.
Good review.
Karl – Krome is a (wo)man my man!
what ya’ll think of my “fallen shadows” ?
6th, you know its a banger!
Have to say THE best mash up album ever, hell gotta love every track!!! Collaboration and engenuity is appreciated in every aspect in bringing these two creative forces together. ” I told J i did a song with coldplay next thing i know he got a song with coldplay” – kanye hahahah nice addition to the intro.
Didnt like this at all. Mash up = played the f*ck out.
Half the tracks Jay Zs voice doesnt sound right.
Remot did his thing though on What If We Cry, but besides that…this didnt impress me at all and this is no where close to the previos Jay Z mash ups by Dangermouse and 9th of the Black Album.
Very good mashup album!