I've griped about how there really isn't too much distinction at this point between a mix tape and a proper album if it's released free via the internets. Most frequently, my issue is with projects that are referred to as albums, but are wholly indiscernible from mixes. That being said, Black Cotton from Jabee and aDDLib is pretty much the opposite. The disc is twelve tracks deep and has production as consistent as any major label release in recent memory. And while, for the most part, after listening to mix tapes dug up from the internets, I delete 'em. I might hafta give this release a few more listens before I make that decision. But the fact that I'm even thinking about this process speaks volumes for Black Cotton.

The two folks responsible for this effort aren't necessarily the most well known names in the internet rap game, but perhaps, soon that will change. Jabee might be notable for that Valentine's Day download he unleashed a few months ago. But part of the reason that this disc - which apparently is only the first part of a two part offering- works is the interplay between Jabee's flow and the funk heavy production of aDDLib.

Musically, there isn't new ground broken here, but the funky samples that comprise the entirety of this disc are on par with basically anything from the golden era that you might recall. As for the raps, there enough one liners to please any fan. "You can get married everyday and you're still a part of me," comes off as particularly poignant. But even with the title of the disc pretty obviously references black folks' history, there isn't any thoughtful dissection of it.

With all this fan boy lauding, there are a few issues that need to be addressed as to why this release does, I suppose, count as a mix tape. Firstly, while the production is overall above boards, it almost seems like rote repetition. aDDLib does assuredly have a specific style, but there needs to be some sort of derivation, otherwise every beat's gonna end up sounding exactly the same. That doesn't happen here, per se, but it could impact other works in the future.

The ideas and stories that accompany the production here do find Jabee unloosing a pretty dense flow for a dude that isn't exactly world renown. But seeing as each track clocks in at around three minutes, there isn't too much story telling or anything approaching in depth. And really, no one needs another song recounting how one might rock shows. This isn't meant to denigrate the work as a whole, but with an entirely new mix tape expected from these folks, it would seem sensible to flesh out one before figuring work on another release would be warranted.

Again, though, this tape squared up against pretty much anything - Charles Hamilton or U-N-I even - should probably come out on top. But subsequent work from these folks then needs to have some sort of evolutionary bent to it. 'Cause what we don't actually need is another twelve tracks of Black Cotton.