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Around these parts, the summer heat crackles the earth beneath your feet and brings most life to a standstill. The smart ones get away and the loyal ones return. Peer into the horizon and you'll spot the savvy traveler whose arrival on the scene sets things in motion as do the turning of seasons. The figure in the distance is Juicy the Emissary, and he comes bearing fresh-squeezed beats from his magical bag of tricks. Juicy, the leader of the Denton, TX-based Vortexas crew, introduces The New World Renaissance Mixtape 1, his first solo production release. Not to be pigeon-holed, Juc toys with samples and sound to elicit an array of hip hop for listeners of most types. It's not simply palatable; it's funky, new, and fun. Meticulous as usual, Juc foments extended listening pleasure by orchestrating several seamless transitions. The mixtape's fifteen tracks are divided roughly into three tempo groups: the first sets a bobbing, marching pace; the second tweaks up the speed; and the third reigns it all in for a darker, chilled out landing. The up-tempo, five-track middle section of Mixtape 1 is especially cohesive and suitable for high-speed, interstate travel (most effective at night). Regarding clarity, the snare hits are crisp, the bass lines varied and groovy, and the musical quality stands uncompromised. And if that isn't enough, heads with keen ears will appreciate Juc's ability to incorporate a hemiola in one beat and a mizmar sample in another.
Of course, this release isn't just about the beats. Any messenger, no matter how technical or exotic, cannot deliver his message without the aid of fellow wisemen. Several Denton (including membes of Vortexas, Fab Deuce, LIGHT, and Scribe Cypher Collab) and Dallas-area talents (Lejend, Guillotine, Solomon Infinite) blaze voice tracks along the Emissary's trails, along with drop-ins from a few East Coasters and Arizona desert dwellers. There are no urban Shakespeares in our midst, but these rappers embrace the beats and the beats certainly embrace them. Depending on the rhyme, you'll encounter wily dreamscapes, vows of friendship, simple truths, or wanderlust. The verbal elements on this album are catchy or legitimate and often both. If you're a fan of North Texas hip hop, or new to the scene, get your hands on a copy of the NWR Mixtape 1. Son of Denton, TX, music messenger to the world, Juicy the Emissary will touch down for the Official Release Party on September 22, 2007 at Rubber Gloves in Denton.
