The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1 [PA]

Performer: Various Artists/DJ Kayslay
Artist: Fat Joe; 50 Cent; Foxy Brown; The Flipmode Squad; Eminem; The Beatnuts; Scarface; Wyclef Jean; Mobb Deep; Aaron Hall; Raekwon; The Lox; Craig Mack; G. Dep; Black Rob; Amerie; Nas; Baby; Cam'Ron; DJ Clue; Doo Wop; Funkmaster Flex; Kid Capri; Ron G; S&S; Tony Tony Touch; Brucie B; V; Graf; J-Hood; Posta Boy; The Shells; Cassidy; EA Ski; Kam; Mc Ren; N.O.R.E.; Styles P.; Bristal; Hak Ditty; Joe Budden; Killer Mike; Sauce Money; WC; Bun B; Hollywood; Eightball; Jagged Edge; MUG
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel includes: DJ Kayslay, Aaron Hall, Scarface, Raekwon, Fat Joe, The Lox, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Black Rob, G-Dep, Craig Mack, Foxy Brown, Amerie, Nas, Baby, The Diplomats, Cam'ron, Eminem, Doo Wop, Tony Touch, DJ Clue, Funkmaster Flex, S&S, Brucie, Kid Capri, Angie Martinez, Duchess, Lady May, N.O.R.E., Wyclef. Producers include: Dr. Dre, EZ Elpee, The Alchemist, DJ Scratch. Personnel includes: DJ Kayslay, Aaron Hall, Scarface, Raekwon, Fat Joe, The Lox, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Black Rob, G-Dep, Craig Mack, Foxy Brown, Amerie, Nas, Baby, The Diplomats, Cam'ron, Eminem, Doo Wop, Tony Touch, DJ Clue, Funkmaster Flex, S&S, Brucie, Kid Capri, Angie Martinez, Duchess, Lady May, N.O.R.E., Wyclef. Producers include: Dr. Dre, EZ Elpee, The Alchemist, DJ Scratch. As the rap world began to heat up during the early 2000s with one battle after another -- Jay-Z versus Nas, 50 Cent versus Ja Rule, and so forth -- Columbia Records felt it was timely to sign DJ Kayslay, the loud-mouthed underground mixtape DJ known for instigating much of the rhetorical warfare. Over the years, Kayslay had disseminated innumerable bootleg mixes through the streets of New York (and, in turn, over the Internet), most of them featuring popular rappers freestyling over popular beats. Kayslay's major-label debut, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, is intended to replicate one of those mixes; in fact, it's even named after one of the so-called Drama King's better-known ones. It's not that simple, though. Columbia can't simply re-release the original Streetsweeper mix, for instance. Anything goes in the underground, but in the mass market, everything needs to be legal, which means performers and beats must be properly licensed (there's 60-plus of the former, 20 of the latter here). Well, everything here is properly licensed, which is impressive legally, yet what results is disappointing musically. At first glance, the lineup looks great on paper: Scarface, Raekwon, the Lox, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Nas, Foxy Brown, Cam'ron, Eminem, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Joe Buddens, Eightball, and so on. That's where the greatness ends, unfortunately. In general, the beats here are OK -- a few of them notably produced by EZ Elpee, the rest by a bunch of up-and-comers that sound like Just Blaze -- and the raps are passable though refreshingly spontaneous at times. However, the hooks are weak all around (sans the exceptional single, "Too Much for Me"), often little more than a looped vocal chant, if that, and the mixing is practically non-existent. And also, where's all the drama? Belligerent gun-talk gets dull quickly when you have this many wankstas trying to out-gangsta each other. In short, stick with Kayslay's more representative, edgier underground mixes; there's no drama here, just savvy marketing and diluted mass appeal. ~ Jason Birchmeier As the rap world began to heat up during the early 2000s with one battle after another -- Jay-Z versus Nas, 50 Cent versus Ja Rule, and so forth -- Columbia Records felt it was timely to sign DJ Kayslay, the loudmouthed underground mixtape DJ known for instigating much of the rhetorical warfare. Over the years, Kayslay had disseminated innumerable bootleg mixes through the streets of New York (and, in turn, over the Internet), most of them featuring popular rappers freestyling over popular beats. Kayslay's major-label debut, The Streetsweeper, Vol. 1, is intended to replicate one of those mixes; in fact, it's even named after one of the so-called Drama King's better-known ones. It's not that simple, though. Columbia can't simply re-release the original Streetsweeper mix, for instance. Anything goes in the underground, but in the mass market, everything needs to be legal, which means performers and beats must be properly licensed (there's 60-plus of the former, 20 of the latter here). Well, everything here is indeed properly licensed, which results in a wonderful lineup: Scarface, Raekwon, the Lox, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Nas, Foxy Brown, Cam'ron, Eminem, Noreaga, Busta Rhymes, Joe Budden, Eightball, and so on. In general, the beats here are OK -- a few of them notably produced by EZ Elpee, the rest by a bunch of up-and-comers that sound like Just Blaze -- and the raps are refreshingly spontaneous at times. Kayslay's more representative, edgier underground mixes are preferable, yet the major-label edition of Streetsweeper is nonetheless a suitable showcase of the gully DJ's style and certainly much easier to obtain as well as much better sounding. ~ Jason Birchmeier There is no story quite like that of DJ-turned-acclaimed graffiti artist-turned mixtape king DJ Kayslay, who released his first widely distributed album THE STREETSWEEPER VOL. 1 in 2003. His career spans the history of hip-hop, incorporating all angles of the hip-hop world, and his debut reflects the breadth of his experience. The level of respect reserved for Kayslay on his crossover from underground distribution to major release is evidenced by the almost absurd collection of all-star talent present. After an opening track where the DJ steps in front of the mic, Kayslay lets you know what you're in for with "I Never Like Ya Ass," bringing together the unlikely grouping of Fat Joe, Raekwon, and Scarface, each delivering some of their most potent raps. And on it goes in a dizzying fashion with lyrical masters like Nas, Eminem, Killer Mike, 50 Cent, Noreaga, and Wyclef dropping science. The best producers, such as Dre, Scratch, and the Alchemist supply their knowhow, and there's a show-stopping battle between the kings of the mixtape game, featuring Funkmaster Flex, Kid Capri, and DJ Clue smack in the center. THE STREETSWEEPER is one doozy of a coming-out party for DJ Kayslay. There is no story quite like that of DJ-turned-acclaimed graffiti artist-turned mixtape king DJ Kayslay, who released his first widely distributed album THE STREETSWEEPER VOL. 1 in 2003. His career spans the history of hip-hop, incorporating all angles of the hip-hop world, and his debut reflects the breadth of his experience. The level of respect reserved for Kayslay on his crossover from underground distribution to major release is evidenced by the almost absurd collection of all-star talent present. After an opening track where the DJ steps in front of the mic, Kayslay lets you know what you're in for with "I Never Like Ya Ass," bringing together the unlikely grouping of Fat Joe, Raekwon, and Scarface, each delivering some of their most potent raps. And on it goes in a dizzying fashion with lyrical masters like Nas, Eminem, Killer Mike, 50 Cent, Noreaga, and Wyclef dropping science. The best producers, such as Dre, Scratch, and the Alchemist supply their knowhow, and there's a show-stopping battle between the kings of the mixtape game, featuring Funkmaster Flex, Kid Capri, and DJ Clue smack in the center. THE STREETSWEEPER is one doozy of a coming-out party for DJ Kayslay.

Entertainment Weekly (5/30/03, p.114) - "...Pulses with the populist power of the street....as steady and current as hip-hop radio at its best...offers the communality of a neighborhood block party..." - Rating: B Entertainment Weekly (5/30/03, p.114) - "...Pulses with the populist power of the street....as steady and current as hip-hop radio at its best...offers the communality of a neighborhood block party..." - Rating: B

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