Ol Sol – PHAZES

It’s always a pleasure when I get to write reviews on artists I know personally, but this time there’s a little more meaning to it. 20-year-old Los Angeles emcee Ol Sol and I have known each other since damn near diapers! This week is a review on his debut full length mixtape PHAZES, which is available for free download at www.datpiff.com%2FOl-Sol-PHAZES-mixtape.526339.html&h=TAQFfBMYq.

Let me start by saying that PHAZES, which dropped late August, is definitely a solid new school project with traditional boom-bap hip-hop roots. Ol Sol, raised on a steady diet of modern hip-hop heavyweights like Lil Wayne, The Game, Snoop Dogg, and Ludacris, brings razor sharp delivery to each verse. As a young lyricist, he sports creativity in his verses and hooks on tracks like “WDRF” and “Rollin’.” Ol Sol carries the west coast aesthetic all throughout the 10 songs on the project. Most of PHAZES speaks to all our real smokers out there, so fans of Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa will definitely find the mixtape as an easy fit.

Personally, I would have liked to see more bars spit over jazz loops and breaks (similar to that of Madvillian, Joey Bada$$, or classic Atmosphere). Although only a mixtape, PHAZES noticeably lacked in sing-a-long types of tracks. Where I was most disappointed was the absence of slow jams for the ladies. However, crazy potential is displayed from this dude, and PHAZES certainly qualifies as a memorable project. My rating for PHAZES comes in at a fair 3/5 flies. I’m already looking forward to Ol Sol’s next project  Daily Routine, which is scheduled to drop December 17th. 

Ol Sol is backed by L.A. based newcomers Left Method, which serves as the in-house management team for Ol Sol, and other young rappers and producers. Look out for the music videos for “Californication”  featuring Cashy, and “Keep it Trill” featuring Richy Rott. Left Method promises to bring 100% independent hustle with production, video direction, and artist development.

Expect more news and updates here at INDI Buzz on Ol Sol and other Left Method artists.

-Dylan.

p.s.

Thanks to all of you guys for wishing me a happy birthday. I can’t believe I’m 21 now either. TURN UP!