The Hamilton Mix-Tape came out this week and it has a lot of fans of the critically acclaimed broadway musical Hamilton excited.
The mix-tape features the following artists in order: The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, Nate Ruess, Nas, Dave East, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Aloe Blacc, Usher, Watsky, Shockwave, Sia, Miguel, Queen Latifah, Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, K'naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC, Residente, Jimmy Fallon, Ashanti, Ja Rule, !llmind, Jill Scott, Dessa, Andra Day, J.PERIOD, Stro Elliot, Wiz Khalifa, John Legend, Chance The Rapper and Francis and The Lights. The album is 23 tracks long. Some of the songs are covers and some of the songs are new.
Lin-Manuel Miranda - being himself - teased the mix-tape before it came out. This only made already fans of Hamilton excited for it's release.
The album starts out with The Roots performing the first few songs. Then, Nas takes it away with a new rendition of Hamilton’s song “Hurricane” called “Wrote My Way Out.” The song has a great back-beat and very thought-provoking lyrics. Lyrics such as, “I picked up the pen like Hamilton. Street analyst, now I write words that try to channel ‘em. No political power, just lyrical power,” Nas says. The song focuses on the lyric from “Hurricane” “wrote my way out,” and goes deep into that lyric to then bring it to life in personification.
Another song that I enjoyed was “Washington By Your Side,” by Wiz Khalifa. This song was based off of the song, “Washington On Your Side,” from the Hamilton musical. Lyrics such as, “Whether you coming or leaving, know everybody be talking, you be having a problem, straighten up soon as you walking, some of them familiar faces, fame is so easy to get lost in, so many different motives, if you slip up it’ll cost you,” Khalifa says.
Lastly, the song “Say Yes to This,” off of the Hamilton mix-tape (based on the musical Hamilton’s song “Say No to This”) is incredible. Jillian is a phenomenal singer who brings a deep tone to the song. I completely recommend listening to this song when someone is in a jazz mood.
Take a second out of your day and listen to John Legend's "History has it's eyes on you" cover. It will leave you absolutely breathless.
The Hamilton Mix-Tape is changing the music game. Listen to it today.
