DJ Five and Pizzo - Backpack Thugs 2005 Megamix
Label: N/A
Grade: A-
Highlight: Play Some Little Brother (Little Brother vs. David Banner)
Overview: Mash-ups are officially the new remix. Ever since Danger Mouse mixed Hova with the Beatles, DJ’s have been getting more and more creative with the blends. God’s Stepson, Blue Eyes Meets Bed Stuy, 80 Cent…the list goes on and on. This mash-up album brings together two Sin City turntablists (DJ Five from Abe Froman Showmen and Pizzo from The Inhumanz) to bridge the gap between mainstream and the underground. They put a new twist on last year’s fan favorites while showcasing some cuttin’ and scratchin’ along the way. This is definitely a joint that a backpacker and a radio head can listen to as one. Your commercial rap friend can nod his head to the beats while you recite the verses you’ve come to know and love. Some sample blends include “Gold Digger” mashed over a Premier beat originally used for AZ. Others include Edan rhyming over Ying Yang, Common spittin’ over Blueprint, and Murs and Slug (Felt) blended over Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” Props to DJ Five and Pizzo for making these blends sound authentic and not “cut and paste.” These gimmick mash-up albums are becoming a dime a dozen, but if some mainstream fans can learn about the underground by listening to this, then let the education begin!
