My only regret is not getting into Kufa Castro sooner. I had obviously heard the name floating around the Caribbean Hip Hop scene before, but with the latest controversies, I really didn’t make any noise about it. Kufa, however, separates himself apart from many Hip Hop and Reggaeton artists alike as he seems to be able to appeal to both fanbases. With the stylistic approaches of Chyno Nyno and Guelo Star and the spitting techniques of Nejo and Voltio, Kufa is destined to cause some movement in this Reggaeton genre should he choose to do so, which I hope he does. The last thing we need is another talented MC who thinks he needs to jump on the “I hate Reggaeton” wagon in order to keep whatever fanbase he currently has. I look forward to more music!
Top Five Tracks Off The Mixtape:
5. Quiero Cualto
4. La Perdi
3. Amor De Lejos
2. El Diablo Habla En Mi Oido
1. Me Canse –DAMN!!!!!
Tu Engano – Classic Opening! Dudes need to get back to that sh*t! Kufa really carries himself on this track. The instrumental driven track isn’t always my cup o tea, but lately I’ve really been feelin that “Electronic Sex” sh*t, and Kufa sounds like he could fit right in with that whole movement. This track sets a really good tone for the mixtape. Even if it’s emotional lubby dubby, the real artists still keep it lyrical.
Sensual – His voice really sounds altered on this, which, in my opinion, really takes away from the track, especially with the rise of Delirious. This has that Baby Rank’s esque to it which I’m a pretty big fan of. I’m also a fan of any of that Reggae sh*t, so apart from the voice, which is supposedly his real voice, the track is definitely listen worthy. Hope to hear more joints like this.
Hace Tanto Feat. Rubi-o – This track reminds me a lot of 2006 when all those singy songy joints were comin out. Kufa doesn’t spit simple which I can respect, but the formula sounds a bit dated. I feel that the beat could be stripped and a better song could have been made out of this. Kufa also sounds a bit soft in terms of vocals on this one. The concept is there, I just feel that it should be a bit more raw.
De Este Lao Feat. Temperamento and Don Dinero – Any track with Don Dinero on it makes me immediately question the vadility of the track. The beat reminds me a lot of a joint I recently heard from New York… As far as lyrics go, Temperamento surprisingly comes out on top. Kufa’s opening verse sounds typical, while Dinero’s ruins the track through once again displaying his talentless inability to make good music. The track is definitely for mixtapes.
Hello Feat. Chavito – I’m not a big fan of slowin things down lyrically, especially in the current state of Hip Hop and with Yomo killin that sh*t in Reggaeton. Neither of the verses impress me on the mediocore beat. I can’t argue with anything on mixtapes, but I don’t see myself re-playing this anytime soon.
Amor De Lejos – Get Ghetto y Gastam on the remix!!! This joint reminds me of the Buddah’s Family era of straight up strings and deep voices, jaja!! I’m glad that Kufa took this one on his own, because this track could have easily been ruined with some sappy artist on it or some wack vocal sample. I actually wouldn’t mind a bit longer verses on this one. Overall, a dopeass track, especially considering the lyrical content.
El Fogon – MC Ceja really killed the whole Spanglish sh*t (he can still pull it off though), so I’m not really feelin it. The lyrical cliches on this are too much and I don’t hear much melody as far as hooks. The singin really takes me out this near the end.
El Diablo Habla En Mi Oido – This sounds a lot like a certain Naldo track I heard a while back, only better. As far as structure, the track sounds pretty old school (Vico?). It definitely sounds like somethin Kufa wrote for himself. A artist has so many tracks that they’re gonna write regardless, this is definitely one of the,
Me Canse – Straight up classic! Really displays the musical ability of Kufa. The genre of Reggaeton, and Hip Hop for that matter, really needs to take a lesson from this joint. This joint represents both the essecense of this whole urban music sh*t as well as where this whole urban music sh*t needs to be. If dude releases an album, this needs to be on it.
Hi Hater – Hi Hater made me laugh my ass off for much of last year, so I can barely hear the beat without breaking a smile. The joint comes off like a jingle and sratches and mixes plague the track. This could have been left out.
Loca Feat. Voiz – Definitely a crossover made track for the New Age Reggaeton crowd. The hook could use a bit more work, but if it’s targeted at the club movement, it probably wont matter in the long run. Voiz completely takes me out of the track though. He reminds me of this one comedian/rapper I used to watch on youtube! Kufa should have left him off this track.
Dirty Feat. Krook Rock y Moreno Rico – As far as Hip Hop in English, Rakim and Masta Ace rule my disc changer, so it takes more than Jim Jones rhymes to impress me in that area. Kufa shines the most on the track, but sitting through 3 minutes of silly lyrics is hardly worth the wait.
El Dia Feat. Chavito y Temperamento – How many times has that joint been sampled?!?! The overused Celia Cruz sample really took me out of it. Lyrically, all three dudes bring it, but I feel like the beat and sample should be brought down a bit. Kufa definitely regins supreme on this one, I would have liked to hear him ride it by his lonely.
La Perdi Feat. Brugal y Rubi-o – Another ridin joint. Its tracks like this that really take me back to that whole era when Mc’s could be hard without getting off on some Slam sh*t. This is another track, however, that I wish Kufa would have done by himself. I feel like when you have one dude on these types of tracks it adds a lot more value. Hot joint though.
Caminando Sola – Jaja! Reggaeton needs this dude now! This sh*t has that Nejo feel to it, so you know its dope. Kufa could have gone a bit more nastier on this, but this could definitely be an MT3 type hit, which would be a good alternative to that Frankie J sh*t they’re playin right now!
No Tiene Dueno Feat. Don Dinero y Temperamento – With a dopeass beat, this sh*t can mos definitely serve as a Spring Break spinner. Temperamento is unable to deliever on these types of tracks which adds to his devalue as an artist. Lyrically its obviously not a masterpiece but it serves its purpose as a party joint. I would have liked to hear someone like Chyno or Voltio on this sh*t with Kufa.
Quiero Cualto Feat. P.C.P. – I’m feelin this shiet! Musically, its something that I haven’t heard in a while. Lyrically, it’s the necessary braggio but Kufa makes it listen worthy. P.C.P. definitely takes away from the joint but it doesn’t completely take you away from the song. Money usually doesn’t phase me, but I can’t even hate on this one.
Te Lo Pongo Clari – Funny follow up to “Quiero Cualto”. I don’t really feel the type of beat so I don’t really feel the track as a whole. It sounds again a bit like an older Nejo track mixed with a mid millennium Voltio chorus. It’s whatever though.
I Got On It Freestyle – I guess its every rapper’s destiny to spit over this beat. But for someone who’s heard it more than the Dembow riddim, I find it hard to critic any freestyle over it.
The Only 1 Feat. Temperamento – The Intro got a bit stupid near the end of it, and Temperamento takes away from any meaning the listener might get out of it as, once again, he’s not fit for these types of joints. The sample seems to bump against the beat. By the time I got to Kufa’s verse, I was already taken out of it. I guess you gotta make a joint about moms though!
Outro – Jajajaja!!! I remember when dudes used to do this all the time to close their mixtapes! Did he really shout out to…C-Murder?!?!?! Jajajaja!!!
