DJ Rerok Presents: Nickel-Us F - Cut The Check

Submitted by Str8hiphop.com on January 6, 2007 - 5:14am.

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Review By Francesca Djerejian (SHH Staff Writer) www.myspace.com/60523342

For those who thought Pusha T and Malice were the only rappers moving weight from Virginia, Nickel-Us F’s “Cut the Check” mix tape will make you think again.
Showcasing the rappers serious lyrical talent, compelling delivery and conceptual versatility, “Cut the Check” is laced with album-worthy cuts that only hungry underdogs can come with.

The title track, which borrows from Pretty Tony’s same sample from the soulful “Holla” track, has Nickel-Us describing his grind and readiness to put the game on smash. An ace with wordplay, Nickel-Us delivers countless memorable one-liners, such as his call to stop snitching: “niggas treat the cops like podiums, stand behind them and speak.”

After paying respects to deceased partner-in-rhyme E-Skummy, the VA rapper gives a nod to the old school on the nostalgic “Back in the Days”, replete with a claim to being the leader of the new school. Rising above the norm on “This is Life”, Nickel-Us gets on the psychological tip and ventures into un-chartered ground, issuing a metaphorical warning “can’t no man pioneer/ the terrain in my brain is too rugged for your ears”. Nickel-Us obliges the fiends on the self-produced ‘More Crack Please,” riding the rugged beat with a cocksure swagger, blending humor and ruthlessness with ease. In fact, Nickel-Us is at his best when riding his own beats, as evidenced by the gospel-infused “Hand on the Plough,” where the Burglarz’ front man bemoans loss and inner-strife in his crew.

After a long run of bangers, the 18-track mix tape suffers from a run of forgettable tracks, such as the serenade “Hold You”, littered with couplets such as “Let me hold you like a full bladder, piss away money and get you piss colored canaries”. Aside from these fillers, the mix tape is sure to have listeners begging for more crack, and maybe even getting some checks cut.

This is hot, I'm definitely gonna rock this one for a while (Superior)

Track Listing

01. Cut The Check (Produced by F.T.P Productions)

02. Back In The Days (Produced by DJ Rerok)

03. This Is Life (Produced by F.T.P Productions)

04. More Crack Please (Produced by Nickelus-F)

05. The Ova Guy (Produced by Tommy Hittz)

06. Goodnight (Produced by M Rell)

07. Hand On The Plow (Produced by Nickelus-F)

08. Point Blank (Produced by 9th Wonder)

09. Story Time

10. The Highway (Produced by Lab Ox)

11. AM/PM ft. Drake (Produced by F.T.P Productions)

12. The Confessional (Produced by F.T.P Productions)

13. Say Hi To The Devils ft. Lil Lee (Produced by Mr. Clean)

14. Head High (Produced by Gadget)

15. I'mma Piiiiiiiiiiiiiimp ft. Radio Blitz (Produced by
Con Artist)

16. Hold U (Produced by Nickeus F)

17. Military Brat Freestyle

18. (Bonus_Track) E-Skummy - 4 Page Letter ft. JR The Waiter
(Produced by Con Artist)

19. (Bonus Track) The Burglarz (E Skummy, JR The Waiter,
Nickelus F, 5Mics & Lil Lee) - Life's A Bitch (Produced
by JR The Waiter)