To: Dilla From: Termanology

Termanology has been around for a few years running back and forth up and down the east coast, putting in work with a great many of raps most respected and well thought of producers and emcees. He recently released a full length on Nature Sounds last September. And it seems that it hasn’t garnered the attention that it perhaps deserves. If nothing else he’s on the same label as MF Doom, Masta Killa and Pete Rock.

It seems though that since being checked as one of the next biggest things in the Source’s “Unsigned Hype” and by XXL, it all hasn’t been dollar signs and limos for the rapper. Not that Term’s not doing what he wants to do, but the hype that once surrounded him has dissipated to a certain extent. And really, that’s pretty unfortunate considering he seems like one of the truly nicest dudes in the game right now – SEE?

But over the last few weeks, his stock has risen exponentially. He certainly isn’t the first to pay tribute to Detroit’s J Dilla, he might not even be one of the first fifty people to do so. But his newest mixtape, If Heaven Was a Mile Away, seems to be everywhere you look in those interwebs.

The company that Term’s been keeping is pretty reasonable, DJ Premier for example – who apparently had a great deal to do with Term’s raised visibility. And on this tape Smif ‘n Wesson, Little Brother and emcees from every corner of the game find themselves beside Termanology on various tracks.

For the most part, the beats seem to be more entertaining than most of the guests – Term though seems as focused as ever. However, on “What Type of Money,” there’s an offhanded reference to “Jew Money” and really that’s probably not a valid phrase to complain about, but if you consider yourself a literate and intelligent rapper, you probably shouldn’t let dudes rap nonsense on your mixtapes.

Maybe that advice is a bit less valid since I’ve been on no mixtapes and have nothing to do with the recording industry or music production in general. It just seems like a dull spot amidst some fine music.