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Sinister Six, Bluff, Element, Skandalous Scoobs, and Aneek, collectively known as Custom Made, are the first west coast artists to be signed by popular underground label Babygrande Records. With all the members ranging between the ages of 19 and 20, and already creating a major buzz in the streets of LA, by moving over 100,000 mixtapes, they boost an already impressive talent roster, and could be a notch in Babygrande’s belt for years to come. Sidewalk Mindtalk is a collection of their best work from all their previous mixtapes, and the prelude to their official debut, which should drop sometime next year.

Like most mixtapes, a lot of the beats are jacked from other artists, and repackaged with original lyrics. It was a nice selection though, as they never sounded out of their element with the wide variety of sampling. It really got my excited at the prospect of a Babygrande album, with all the elite producers they employ, and seeing what they can do with the original background music.

Any group with multiple lyricists, are only as strong as their weakest MC, and it is obvious that there are no holes here. All five men are very skilled lyricists, and sound like veterans, despite how young they really are. Another thing I really liked, is that they didn’t try to squeeze everyone on every track, like some other large groups do. Instead they mixed and matched, and went for quality over quantity per track, giving each MC a better chance to showcase their individual skill, despite the group setting.

Mixtapes usually serve as hype to major releases, and this is no different. There is nothing groundbreaking, or jaw-dropping here, but there is a lot of energetic, raw, rugged, vicious style. The potential is blatantly obvious, and writing for your debut album, and writing for mixtapes you’re going to move independently, are two altogether different experiences, but I think Custom Made will prove up to the tasks.

As far as Sidewalk Mindtalk goes, it’s definitely got more than a few bangers on it. “Lost In The Yard”, “Marley Money”, and “Dawn” will all have you reaching for the volume button, because they need to be bumped, not just played. “Gridiron Hash” is also a good song, and Bluff shines on “Here 2 Take It.”

The Bottom Line: Custom Made are truly the young and the gifted, and could be a major force in the underground hip-hop world a lot sooner than later. This serves as an adequate appetizer, that wets your appetite for Custom Made’s debut release. Based on Sidewalk Mindtalk though, it looks like Babygrande has done it again, adding even more depth, to an already deep list of dope artists. Don’t sleep on this one.

Tracklisting

01. Lost in the Yard – Bluff, Element Eighty, Six
02. Live from Parker Center Part One (Interlude) – Custom Made
03. Dawn – Bluff, Element Eighty, S-Mak, Scoobs
04. Gridiron Hash – Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs
05. Here 2 Take It – Bluff
06. Consignment – Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs, Six
07. Raw Times – Bluff, Scoobs
08. Go Away – Aneek, Paradox, Six
09. Live from Parker Center Part Two (Interlude) – Custom Made
10. Marley Money – Aneek, Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs
11. Head Is Heat – Bluff, Element Eighty, Six
12. M.I. Aneek – Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs
13. I Get Busy – Scoobs
14. What I Want – Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs
15. Power Struggle – Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs
16. Advice to the Homeless – Bluff, Scoobs
17. Live from the Parker Center Part Three (Interlude) – Custom Made
18. Real Pt. II – Aneek
19. Solo Gofo – Bluff, Element Eighty, Scoobs, Six
20. Walk the Talk [DVD] – Bluff, Element Eighty, Six

Websites

MySpace.com/CustomMadeHipHop
BabyGrande.com

Record Label:

• Babygrande Records

Release Date:

• 09/19/2006

Reviewer:

• SeL