The conceit of Check Ya Footnotes is simple, and yet incredibly effective. Jive Records’ DJ Raize and Sunny Day Entertainment compiled a list of some of their favorite rap classics and then investigated the references made within those tracks. Raize then spun the reference material in, creating a litany of interesting juxtapositions.

Some of the references, like Nas’ mention of “Renegade” in “Ether,” are a bit on the nose, and a couple others don’t really meld well into the songs they reference. But, overall, the mixtape is an incredibly fun listen. It also gets bonus points for its use of Clipse’s “Kinda Like A Big Deal,” and for introducing me to “Strokin” by Clarence Carter.

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