Hi there. Welcome to another edition of demo reviews. I’m your host, Blockhead. This is where I listen to music sent in by blog readers and tell them what I think. It’s a good way to get an honest option from someone who doesn’t know and/or doesn’t really care.
I’m not an easy audience but everyone who sent in music was warned so, don’t feel bad for anyone here. They knew what they were getting into.
The reviews work like so: I write a paragraph or two about the song then arbitrarily rate them from 1-10 in these categories
Production
Vocals
Listenability
Originality
That’s about it. Let’s see what we got this week and don’t forget to vote at the end for your favorite demo. This is a contest where all you win is pride.

Artist: Paulie Rhyme
Song: Super String Theory

The beat is pretty dope…probably cause Blueprint made it. I have sneaking suspicion this was purchased from my buddy print on some “I’m selling blueprint beats!” shit. i could be wrong but it feels like that. I gotta say, I’m not a fan of when people send me songs with beats by producers who are already established. This isn’t his demo. He’s proven. But ,hey, it is what it is I guess.
The rapping is capable but, ultimately , uninteresting. Overall, the song isn’t bad at all, it’s just not something that sticks out much.
Production:6.5 out of 10
Vocals:5 out of 10
Listenability:5.5 out of 10
Originality:3 out of 10

Artist: Green Blaza
Song: Showdown with the showgun top off

If you were to ask me what the average underground rapper sounds like in 2004, I’d point you to this song. To be clear, this guy is not bad at rapping. He’s totally fine at rapping, actually. But he’s got an average voice, average presence, and there’s nothing drawing me in. It’s the subtly whiney white voice (though , his voice is not even remotely as bad as the average “white voice” plagued rapper) Also, that hook is pretty corny.
The beat is okay. I like the break used on the drums. Overall, It’s a little boring.
On a technical level, the vocals have an effect on them that makes them sound kinda thin. I’d remove that effect on future songs.
Production:5 out of 10
Vocals:5 out of 10
Listenability:5 out of 10
Originality:3 out of 10

Artist:Secret Friend
Song: Anyway how

This is a mellow little jam. It’s consistently builds as it goes. It kinda sounds like something that might be playing in a movie while it showed someone wistfully skipping rocks off a pond. So, perhaps its genre is “wistful-step”?
It’s perfectly fine though. I don’t have a problem with this.
Production:5.5 out of 10
Vocals:n/a
Listenability:6 out of 10
Originality:5 out of 10

Artist: Rich
Song: Louis Vuitton

The has a nice summery feel to it. The main sample chop is a little clunky (could use some effects on it to make it flow more fluidly) but the beat is cool. It reminds me of an earlier era in rap.
The rapper is pretty good. Not really saying anything ground breaking but I don’t think that’s the point of a song like this. I hear potential beyond this for sure.
Also, it’s pretty rare I get southern rappers here so this was a welcome change to my ears.
Production:5.5 out of 10
Vocals:5.5 out of 10
Listenability:5.5 out of 10
Originality:4 out of 10

Artist: Shirman
Song: Call him a rapper

Within two seconds of the beat starting I was like “mmm…nope”. It’s the drum sounds. It’s the synth sounds. It’s the bass line. It’s just mood-less and uninteresting. It’s not until the horn comes in halfway where a tone is even established. After that, it picks up a little but it’s still sounds like a skit made by a beginner , due to the choice of sounds used. There are some good ideas going on here (after the mid point) though. It just needs a whole lot of refinement.
Production:4 out of 10
Vocals:n/a
Listenability:4 out of 10
Originality:4 out of 10

Artist:Manos Lindas
Song: Atardecer Pt. 2


This is pretty much some noodling on his guitar with an effect on it, over drums. It’s certainly got a vibe and I could see someone enjoying this (a hippie), but it’s not for me. It just kind meanders and never ends up anywhere. But isn’t that the point of jammy songs like this?
Production:4 out of 10
Vocals:n/a
Listenability:4 out of 10
Originality:4 out of 10

Artist:El cholo & Chafoman
Song:Gancho


Sigh…Okay, this beat is cool. Nice loop and the drums are pretty decent. Here’s the thing though…can you guess what I’m gonna say?
I DON’T SPEAK SPANISH. As always, when sent rap in foreign languages, it’s nothing personal but if I can’t understand the words, there’s no point for me. I actually value that part of rap. There are people who can listen to some rap in a language they don’t understand and just go off the vibe…I’m not that guy. So, I really don’t even know how to review shit like this beyond the beat.
Production:5 out of 10
Vocals:????
Listenability:3 out of 10 (only cause I have no clue what the rapper is saying)
Originality:4 out of 10

Artist: Act one
Song: Atlas


This is a well done emo rap joint. I’m not mad at it. It’s emotive and the rhymes are very personal, without making me cringe due to corny over-sharing. There’s still work to be done for the rapper but he’s tapped into something that can definitely be built off. This reminds me of earls new album in a weird way.
The beat is simple and effective. Kinda hard to really review a beat with no drums but, hey, when it works, it works.
Production:5 out of 10
Vocals:6 out of 10
Listenability:5.5 out of 10
Originality:4.5 out of 10

So, what do you think?