If you’re looking for some local flavor to listen to, check out Attitude’s King of the Hill mixtape. I’ve just spent the last week or so listening to it, and I have very few complaints. Most of the songs fall into the A+ category, and all but a few of the one’s that don’t at least score high C’s. The one hour and twenty minute running time might wear you down a bit, and the lyrics might not always stand out, but even these two problems aren’t enough to change the fact that King of the Hill is a really good album.

While it’s very difficult to pick one favorite song on this album, “Don’t Go There” ft B.o.B. has to rank in the top two or three. The track and the hook are what will initially catch your attention, but the content is what'll keep it. Attitude explains that he’s just trying to make it in the world just like you and I. We may have different ways of getting there, and different opinions may cause us to bump heads sometimes, but let’s keep it on a grown up level. In other words, to each his own: you respect me and my decisions, and I’ll respect you and yours.

Another song that falls into the favorite songs category is “Blow Ya Back Out .” I absolutely love this song, from the track to the lyrics to the hook. The only thing that messes it up for me is the “shut ups”. Luckily, the rest of the song more than makes up for that.

And although I wasn’t too sure about it at first, I’ve fallen in love with “Hangover”, a feel-good, everybody’s-just-chilling-partying-drinking-having-a-good-time song that you can’t help swaying and singing along to. Although the “can you feel the love tonight” lyric will probably always feel a bit out of place to me, there’s really no way to not like this song.

A big issue that I have with King of the Hill is that it’s somewhat unbalanced in that almost all of the best songs occur on its first half. After that, things get a little boring. While there are a few bangers on the second half, it really doesn’t hold my attention as well as the first 11 to 13 songs. Of course this could have something to do with the fact that by the time you reach the half-way point, you’ve already been listening for 35 to 40 minutes. Maybe by that time, you’re already reaching the end of your attention span. Or maybe you’re just tired of hearing Attitude’s voice. Whatever it is, you might find yourself snoozing a little during the second half of the album.

One second-half song you won’t snooze on is “In the Wind”. This is definitely one of my most favorite songs on the whole album. At first listen, the slow, mournful track will make you think it’s a sad song about stress and strife, but when you pay attention to the lyrics, you’ll find that it’s anything but. Attitude tells his story over the course of three verses, and though this does require him to talk about his past and some of the struggles he’s gone through, the song is actually optimistic and thankful and is more about success than struggle.

On "I Be Like" Attitude's just doing the typical hip-hop ego-tripping, shit-talking and bragging - and I'm loving every minute of it!  The quiet track, the simple flow and even the lack of a real hook make it one of the best songs on the album.  I'm not sure if he meant for the lyrics to be funny, but some of them are - which is a good thing.  And it doesn't hurt that the lyrical pattern reminds me of one of my favorite songs, Cool Breeze's hit, "Cre-A-Tine" from his 1999 album, East Point's Greatest Hits .

“Speakers” ft JW is another of my second-half favorites. I love the track and Attitude drops a good verse (is it just me, or do I hear a little Common in his flow?) But unfortunately for him, when JW steps in on the second and final verse, he completely takes over the song. By the time the last word is spoken, all thoughts of Attitude are gone.

Even when there isn’t another artist on his songs, lost lyrics seem to be a big problem for Attitude (at least on this mixtape). He seems to suffer from what I like to call Janet Jackson Syndrome or Lost Lyrics Phenomenon: even on some of the best songs, the hooks and the tracks stand out more than his actual verses.  And it’s not that the lyrics are bad. They just don’t always register unless you make yourself pay attention to them. I don’t know if he needs to attack harder, turn up the volume on his mic or what, but on many songs, I just never hear the lyrics.

Just like an artist’s lyrics can get lost in the fray, so too can his songs. Every album has at least one song that just doesn’t stand out at all, and King of the Hill is no exception. I couldn’t tell you one thing about songs like “You Wish” and “Ballin in the 6”. But while a few songs from this mixtape are completely unremarkable, I'm happy to say that there aren’t any that I flat-out don’t like, (although “Why Wouldn’t I” ft David Banner, “This Time Next Year” and “Killa” come pretty close).

Regardless of its few problems, Attitude’s King of the Hill is a great listen that I highly recommend. You’ll love about half of the tracks, and you’ll really like most of the others. It’s definitely worth multiple listens and has earned a permanent spot in my music collection.

THE BEST OF...

King of the Hill

by Attitude

Our Favorite Songs

Don't Go There - featuring B.o.B.
In the Wind
Blow Ya Back Out
Hangover
Speakers - featuring JW
I Be Like - featuring Yo Gotti
Still Ballin'
When I Roll Up
Freestyle
 

Our Favorite Lyrics

Ask ya bitch / Ask ya mom / I'm a fool
I'm the shit / Where's the motherfucking stool
Head first in this shit like a pool
And I got a twelve inch dick / Bitch, I rule
----(Freestyle)

I'm 'bout my guapo
Beat a bitch / Call me Harpo
Smoking that Color Purple
Looking Like I hit the lotto
----(Freestyle)

We 'bout to hit the club tonight
I'm 'bout to do my thang
I'm 'bout to go berserk / Buy the bar / Make it rain
We just trying to get real fucked up
Smoke a whole lotta weed / Take ho's back home
Damn, I think I lost my phone
Whole bag of Kush and my car keys gone
That's okay / We got more
Rolled up one and held the smoke
I'm so high / This beat so fire
That the only thing I can do is choke
Mr. DJ, bring this back
Bartender, let me get one more shot
Club owner wanna put us out
Cause we standing on the couch / And we ain't gon' stop
----(Hangover - full third verse)