Already a well-known name in the Steel City, Jon Quest blesses us with “The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest”, a mixtape that boasts everything from quality production, to lyrical dexterity, to solid guest appearances, to those always welcome “freestyles” over classic beats. This isn’t a mixtape you play once and then send to the recycle bin, this is something to be listened to multiple times and enjoyed thoroughly. I definitely recommend entering the mind of Jon Quest and experiencing the adventures from the headmaster of Emcee University.

Instead of bothering to ease you in, this mixtape pops right off, with the “Intro” track immediately dropping and Jon Quest going in over the laid back boom bap beat. Following that is “Hip Hop”, which pays respect to many legends in the cut samples, as well as bringing a funky but smooth beat, and again Quest comfortably flows with the skills of a vet. The hardest question to answer with this mixtape might be who had the hotter verse on “Bad Meets Evil Part 2” as both Beedie and Quest bring fire to the already hype beat, and leave you sitting back just dumbfounded at how these two feed off each other so well. “So Gone” is another joint highlighting the chemistry that Jon Quest has with guests, even though he is more than capable of carrying any track on his own, and with the blunted feel, this is definitely a joint to bring back a few times. After a brilliant skit, “Emcee University” is a solid effort that is the essence of Jon Quest’s style, conceptual yet lyrical, he knows who he is and he expresses that with confidence and consistency.  Speaking of conceptual yet lyrical, “1-900-Lyrical” is just that, and with a bangin’ beat, this is one of the best tracks on the whole tape. And for more conceptual greatness, check “She Tried to Tell Me”, which got a happy-go-lucky beat that perfectly contrasts with the harsh story and hook. And if you haven’t had enough stories about girls, “This Ain’t Captain Save A” is yet another gem, with one of the best beats on the whole tape, so beautiful, so lovely, and so brilliant in every way.

The lowlights are not even really missed steps, more just slight filler on an otherwise solid mixtape, as tracks like “Dilla Don” aren’t terrible, but just aren’t necessary.  Also a couple of the verses over the classic beats are forgettable as the beat outshines Quest, but that’s to be expected when you’re swagger-jacking tracks from Big L, Nas and Gang Starr.

“The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest” is, simply put, a solid effort. It will keep you entertained over and over and will certainly have you pulling tracks back due to slick verses and solid production. You might break your neck a few times, you’ll definitely laugh a few times, and the introspective tracks will have you saying “yup, you right” more than a few times. Jon Quest is an extremely diverse MC and this tape is more proof of that. This whole album is worth extensive listens, and ending with the true-school hypeness of “Real Grounds”, this mixtape goes hard from front to back. Don’t sleep. 3.5/5

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