I’ve always said that Fabolous has two very distinct sets of fans, the fans who want that mixtape shit filled with punchlines and hardcore beats, and the fans who want those big production hits that are perfect for radio domination. As a comparison, Mello Mac would fall into the second category, and truly is “The Ruler” when it comes to that. Mello Mac has a very distinct style and he sticks with it throughout “The Ruler” which makes it one of the better mixtapes I’ve heard in a long time.

Right off the bat, Mello Mac brings that mainstream sound with the intensity of some of the greatest MC’s out there right now on “I’m Back”. The production from Nesia Beatz is exactly what you’d expect on any “urban” radio station and it remains that way consistently throughout this entire tape. “Go Hard” has the type of hook that you’re already chanting by the third time it comes around and “I’m Hott” is more of that crunk shit with stadium status production and boastful lyrics that actually have the skills to back them. “Got It” is another example of an infectious hook and the southern influence bleeds through to the point where you’d think Mello Mac is on the verge of being blessed with a Young Jeezy collab. The quality material continues on “Imma” where Mello Mac rhymes with the intensity and swagger of T.I. while proving that he could easily hold his own on track with the King of the South. “No, No, No” is another head-nodder that would be perfect for riding around in an all white Lexus smiling at the haters and K-4 kills it with the guest spot. “Better Tell ‘Em” has one of the best hooks on the album while Vic compliments Mello Mac nicely on the track, and speaking of hooks, “It’s On” once again proves that hooks can make or break a track, and almost always on this mixtape the hooks only make dope tracks that much doper.

As far as the downpoints, “Power” got that simplistic beat that works as a decent snap rap track, but when compared to all them high energy tracks on this tape, it falls flat. “Grind on Me” is good, but the hook is rather annoying and even though Mello Mac holds it down on the verses, this one gets skipped as it just doesn’t live up to the standards of everything else on the album.

Mello Mac sounds incredibly experienced and has created an amazing mixtape with “The Ruler”. For the fans who love the type of rap that’s topped the charts for the last 5 years, this is no doubt gonna be one of your favorite mixtapes this summer, as Mac delivers a full plate of player anthems and hyped up ride-out joints, only really strayed from on “Hardcore Muzik” with its female vocal sample and smoothed out beat (and a guest appearance from Voreheez who successfully executes the Ludacris style to the point where you might actually think Christopher Bridges is the one spitting), which actually works wonderfully as a finale to this extremely solid mixtape. Don’t sleep on this one if it’s your style of rap because this is truly a gem of an album. 3.5/5

DOWNLOAD THE RULER