Writer's Block 4: Duke da God Presents [PA]

With Writer's Block 4, J.R. Writer took his underground Writer's Block mixtape series way above ground by releasing it on the Warner Brothers associated label Asylum. Throwing Dukedagod's name on the cover adds some street cred since the man is in charge of Dipset's mixtape division, but this effort would earn that cred just fine without it. Things are a little tighter than usual and yet there's no concession made for the mainstream. Writer himself keeps things sharp and vicious, going after everyone and anyone who challenges his Dipset crew, with special venom saved for their favorite rival for 2007, Jay-Z. Fortunately, Writer's Block 4 doesn't dwell on the current beef as Dipset mixtapes are prone to do, and Writer's increasingly strong lyrical skills are given room to roam. The producers are B- and C-list but still the grooves are tight and the hooks are numerous. It's relentless, and in turn overwhelming, but that's just what faithful fans expect from the crew's fringe releases. So proceed with caution if you expect radio-friendly polish. This is unforgiving street music concerned only with leveling the "swaggerless." ~ David Jeffries