Stephen Jackson “What’s A Lockout” Mixtape Review

Remember Stephen Jackson’s debut single from a few months back?  I made a post about it because it was one of the better hiphop offerings I’ve ever heard from an NBA player.  Well guess what?  Stack decided to build on his successful single and release an entire mixtape appropriately entitled “What’s A Lockout?”  You can listen to it by clicking here.  I’ve already made my way through the entire thing, and I’ve got some feedback.

Disclaimer: for my readers who don’t like rap music, particularly modern rap music from the south, just stop reading right now.  This will not interest you.

To describe Jackson’s style in one line, I’d say his sound is a blend of traditional Texas street rap and more contemporary southern hiphop.  He’s no Slim Thug, but you can certainly tell where he hails from.  As a big fan of Texas rap and an occasional fan of modern southern music, I’ve heard a lot of both… and while Stack obviously isn’t even close to being the best I’ve ever heard, he’s not nearly the worst, either.

The tape is legitimized by apperances from southern legends like Z-Ro, Scarface, and Killa Kyleon, as well as production from two of the finest in the game, Big K.R.I.T. and South Side.  If nothing else, this shows that Jackson spent some real paper to put this thing together, indicating a serious approach and a sincere effort.  Definitely a good sign.

The tape begins with a brief intro that is effective in setting the tone (this sh!t’s gonna be about money, cars, clothes and hoes), and quickly moves on to a bass-heavy trunk rattler called “Everythang A Go.”  I can’t even lie, this beat goes hard.  As for the rapping… I wasn’t overly impressed by the features or Stack himself, but they didn’t completely ruin the beat.  The hook is pretty catchy, and it struck me as an ideal song with which to kick off a tape.  Overall, this thing is off to a better start than I expected.

Stack steps up his rap game on the fourth track, “I Got This.”  He begins with some predictable lines like “my flow’s so sick, it’ll hospital you,” but then he hits you with the following:

“you’re so typical, so far from lyrical/ claim you a beast in the streets, I see the b!tch in you/ so what I fix ta do, expose me a b!tch or two/ the game gettin’ weak, we need some trill sh!t to listen to/ you n!ggas fake, break rules and regulations/ ain’t payin’ no dues, abusin’ the whole situation”

Nothing that’ll leave your mind blown, but solid rhymes which he lays down nicely.  He vastly outperforms the guest feature, too.  As was the case with track two, the beat knocks. 

Jack shows a little varsatility on track number five (“What’s A Lockout”) as he sing-songs to the slow, smooth beat.  His rapping gets average to poor as the song moves along and he switches back to his usual style, but overall this song wasn’t bad.  If he could’ve finished it as strong as he started he would’ve had a little somethin’ here.

The next track is carried by Texas legend Z-Ro, so you know it’s as solid as any offering from the tape (Jack does drop an “OMG” at one point, which is never a good look).  However, I don’t like it as much as the old single from months back, “The Season.”

Song is legit. [insert pimp emoticon here]

Moving on to “All Black,” the one that features Scarface… if Jackson was actually a rapper looking to make a name for himself, this is the song I’d tell him to promote.  It wouldn’t be gettin’ any pop-station radio play, but I can see it being rotated in the streets.  Probably the most legit song on the tape. 

“Just Entertainment” (feat. Alley Boy) is another solid offering, but the hook leaves much to be desired.  I was feeling the beat as well as all three verses, including Jack’s.  I keep expecting to come across a complete dud, but it’s not happening.  I’m pretty damn impressed at this point.

Tracks 11 and 12 (“Play Around” and “Hit Da Floor”) have that signature Lex Luger/South Side sound.  “Hit Da Floor” was actually produced by Sizzle, but unfortunately, Jack and some dude by the name of Peper Spray kinda wasted the bangin’ beat by laying a pair of uninteresting verses.  “Play Around” was easily my favorite of these two tracks, although “Hit Da Floor” had a lot of potential.

Track 13, “Cars And Clothes,” is produced by BIG K.R.I.T., so you know the beat is top-notch.  Jack definitely should’ve left this one to K.R.I.T. and Killa Kyleon, though.  That’s not really a shot at Jack; most guys in the game right now can’t f@ck with those two.  Yeah… the more I listen to this the more I wish K.R.I.T. kept it for himself.  Skipping the end due to frustration.

“We Ride” is another track where Jack was out-performed by a professional.  Alley Boy layed the only good verse on this one.  The final three tracks kind of continue on this way… no standouts, but, shockingly, I never came across that complete dud either (aside from the bonus track, but we’ll give him a pass there).  I’m not saying every song is incredible, or even that any of the songs are incredible, but not a single one of ‘em had me dying to move on.  Hell, a lot of guys that rap for a living these days have me dying to mute their sh!t.  The fact that Stephen Jackson was able to rap in my ear for the duration of a full-length mixtape and not leave me feeling this way a single time… that’s impressive.  Overall, this is not only surprisingly listenable, but solid.  It’s definitely not bad, making it better than anyone expected.  I don’t think he’s left any “rap n!ggas mad cause he raps better than them,” but I certainly don’t think he should become a punchline a la Troy Hudson for this offering, either.  My official rating:

3/5 Mics

Well done, Stack!