// Bei Maejor //
// ǝpısdn uʍop (uSd) //Rating: 3.75 out of 5
Introducing Bei Major: the 23 year-old rapper/singer/songwriter/producer. Despite his age, his songwriting credits date as far back as 2004. He's worked with Bun B., Ne-Yo, Chrisette Michelle, Trey Songz, Letoya, Monica, and now notables such as Keri Hilson and Drake.
Released today, ǝpısdn uʍop (Upside Down) serves to announce his arrival before his first full-length offering comes out later this year. The mixtape has pleasantly high production values and the songs on it are very approachable. It doesn't take long to see that the music targets a younger crowd, but I can still dig it. His lyrics seem to have more of a youthful innocence rather than douchey immaturity to them.
There's some smart music-making happening here. Take "All Night" for example: Maejor rides the uber popularity of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing", looping the song's opening piano riff. The riff is instantly recognizable and invites you to listen to how he handles a legitimate rock 'n roll classic. This is a really risky move. Normally I'd hate on such blatant swaggerjacking (come on, Glee re-made the song cool first), but he actually pulls it off. It's a little early to say he's a jack of all trades, but he's in good shape if this is any indication of things to come.
Summary: You've already heard stuff like it, but that doesn't mean it's not worth getting your hands on. This dude is pretty slick, and it looks like he's going to be on the airwaves and in your earbuds for a good while. It may be just pop, but Bei Maejor is right up there with the best of them.
// DL //
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