Hoodie Allen: Leap Year Mixtape Mini-Review

Note: This review covers the entire album briefly in order. Best when read while listening to the tape in sequential order!

After first joining the K team, I made it known that Hoodie Allen was an artist I solely wanted to cover. Not only was he sampling my favorite obscure artists, but he was delivering a memorable flow that made a lasting impression on myself, Kollectors, and music fans everywhere. I never imagined that I’d interview him, participate in a video shoot, or be involved with the Leap Year movement other than being an objective listener. After witnessing just a fraction of the passion that went into this Hoodie milestone, we at the Kollection are proud to present to you his most personal release to date, Leap Year .

With Hoodie [Born Steven Markowitz], it’s never been gangster rap. It’s also never been frat rap. He’s brought us an authentic hip-”pop” from the beginning, and has refined his lyricism and relevant sound throughout this highly-anticipated release. Considering the huge success of last year’s Pep Rally and sheer perfection of first singles “Dreams Up” and “The Chase is On”, Leap Year inevitably created huge expectations. After listening to the tape in it’s entirety (multiple times), I’d say it easily exceeds them.

If you’ve caught wind of the H.A. story, you know the recycled details: He can fire out pop-culture references like it’s his job (wait…), he’s a Penn grad, he boldly quit Google – etc., etc. On Leap Year, however, Hoodie reveals there’s much more he wants us to know… his 2 cents on the fake industry he’s about to take by storm, the shady characters he’s encountered, and even some painful love stories-gone-wrong. The project really puts this defining year of Hoodie’s full-throttled efforts at a music career in perspective; the title couldn’t be more appropriate. As promised in my March interview, Leap would be “still fun, but maybe a little more serious.” A man of his word. While it does contain those shiny, classic Hoodie moments, it also exposes darker, more mature hidden crevices of his being. We get inside his head, are entertained by a lot of new stylings, and perk up when we hear his pleasant SINGING voice at the tapes’ conclusion. During a time when he rests on the cusp of fame, Hoodie needed to expose more of himself to his dedicated fans (although kind, individually replying to fans’ tweets may not be enough!). Here, that soul-baring feat is genuinely accomplished.

Hoodie is consistently sample-savvy (probably a huge reason why many people first turned off by hiphop were suddenly turned on), credited to his musical sensibility. Producer, RJF, often chops up brief vocal samples for the instrumental – the outcome is a signature sound that never appears overdone or overused.

The Breakdown:
“Song for an Actress” serves as the soulful opener, featuring 1/2 of the “obvious” samples used (“Don’t Gotta Work it Out” by Fitz & the Tantrums). What begins with a Billy Joel-esque vibe diminishes to a simple piano line – all that’s required to begin Hoodie’s Leap Year journey. I hate the whole “SWAG” trend, but we’ll let it slide here – it truly is comin’ out his “fu*kin’ nostrils”. The single guest appearance (Tayyib Ali), a silly ode to James Franco, a confident “you’re welcome” and a soul anthem-that-could-light-any-room-on-fire later…comes the deeper side.

Catch the more personal storylines of lost love, featuring the ubiquitous angelic whispers of Miss Ellie on “Everytime You Go”. Again, an excellent example of “sample minimalism”. “Push You Away” sounds like nothing we’ve ever heard before; a solemn moment of withdrawal. “Sticks and Stones” is a straight-shot of lyrical fire without a hook (got a lot off his chest with that one!). The superficial ways of the world described by the next track will leave you chilled and “Flipping Out”, too.

As you begin to question just how well you knew this seemingly-straight edge Long Island guy (or how predictable you may have thought his music was), “#WhiteGirlProblems” & “Dreams Up” bring the fun vibes back – both anthemic and funky fresh. BUT, what goes up must come down: “Moon Bounce”. The shrill piano (think “Runaway”) with a hint of jazz paired with a thick bass beat help cultivate the longest, arguably most diverse piece we’ve heard yet from the emcee. It’s hard-hitting and raw, but features a contrastingly vulnerable falsetto on the hook.
“I’m packing up and going to Mars, and when I get there I’ma bounce – and I don’t wanna ever come down.”

Way to exit on a high note.

Make the leap with Hoodie, grab the full tape through his official site!
Download Entire Mixtape