Avg Rating: 
3.4 ( 18 total votes )
FreeSol - RocknRolla
Artist: FreeSol
Producer: Premo D'Anger
Album: Rock n Rolla Mixtape
Label: Tennman/Interscope
After hearing Weezy regurgitate heavy-metal/punk clichés for a whole damn album (Yeah, I’m bitter about Rebirth. Sue me.), I have to say that the idea of a rock-themed hip-hop mixtape doesn’t strike me as all that appealing. Be that as it may, Before You Slip ensemble FreeSol have gone a long way toward allaying my doubts with title track RocknRolla, a record which sounds like it was made by people who actually like the music to which they’re paying homage (I’m still not sure about Wayne). Here, the group flip a sample from the Smashing Pumpkins’ 1979, garnished with some impressive original keyboard work by Premo D’anger, into a driving instrumental backdrop for frontman Free‘s energetic verses, which find him waxing poetic about a girl who has him “spinnin’ like a roller coaster,” while name-dropping everyone from U2 to ZZ Top. So, Booth readers, does this track truly rock? If you think so, you can hear more on the Memphis natives’ debut street album, set to hit the ‘net sometime in June.
Listen to More: FreeSol Written by richard
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11633 |
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As a Chicagoan I grew up with friends who obsessed over the Smashing Pumpkins. Was I ever a huge fan? Kinda, but only because I couldn't go anywhere without hearing their music. So, does the sampling of "1979" work for Freesol? In my personal opinion - yes. Actually, make that a hell yes.
I'd wax poetic about why and how it relates to more of musical childhood, but I'll spare you all the boring details. Just listen. 
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 38 |
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I am all for sampling classics, but at least tweak it out some more. Premo should have incorporated his piano throughout the whole sample, not just towards the end.
Verses were ok. Could have knocked a little more. |
| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1216 |
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Whoa! FreeSol shined on every single aspect of this song. Sample in the production was fantastic. It's good to see rock being incorporated into rap, but in a good way, not the Wayne way. Verses were so sick, I had to replay this twice just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Hook was without a doubt the best part of the song. Great choice for a sample and the singing was pretty nicely worked in. Solid effort.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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I'm definitely digging this, can't wait for that album.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 394 |
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Good job with the rock rap again as the previous entry did. Really good song 1979 was and I think this was the best any rap group could do on this production. Works for them and kinda discredits what said on the other entry that no one could really fit onto a 90's rock song. These guys pull it off, but it wasn't outstanding just really good.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 73 |
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song is alright, I can't really see it blowing up anytime soon. Not feelin the production too much. The lyrics were ok, mix is pretty bad though, lyrics extremely low in the beat. just OK
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Wow. I am Impressed. Real CATCHY chorus, and the production on this is like nothing I have ever heard. They def put their own unique stamp on that sample. Real enjoyable listen [Plays Again].
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 904 |
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Wow - 2 rock samples in a row? I think this one is the better one. Once again the producer didnt overuse the sample and make it cheesy. Rather he brings it in and out as needed. Really feeling this, all MCs go in on this. Banger status.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
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(Richard, you're not along in your Rebirth bitterness.)
As far as the track goes, I was definitely a Smashing Pumpkins fan back in the day, so I was excited to hear that sample. The way they brought it back in for the verses was dope as hell. Oddly it feels like the chorus and the verses are from two slightly different songs, the transition is really abrupt. That small complaint aside, props to FreeSol for pushing boundaries. Now all they have to do a track using Bullet With Butterfly Wings and I'll really be impressed.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 432 |
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This production is really cool, but there are times when it flips and doesn't really seem to fit. The hook is alright, it it also seems out of place with this production. I prefer both the original "1979" and the "1997" version. Still cool though, love the piano production breakdown.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 42 |
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wow I hadn't yet rated OnCue, but today seems like the day for successful remix's of 90 rock music. Both mix's are solid successes.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 877 |
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Not really liking the beat. It's all over the place. Rapping was okay. Wouldn't listen again.
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 13, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 492 |
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Huh, this is different and hard to explain, but I like it.
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| Posted on May 14, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 4267 |
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Damn! Once again nostalgia (theme of the day) immediately gripped me when I pressed play. Takes a while to get going, but once it does, it's an extremely impressive effort. Drawing on sample, the track is effortlessly sublime and good vibes, especially when the vocals kick in during the chorus. A beautiful listen reminiscent of past times.
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| Posted on May 14, 2010 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2065 |
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This track is everything Wayne hoped to achieve with his Rebirth album, but EPICALLY FAILED.
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| Posted on May 14, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 452 |
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Man I wanna like this but they messed with a great rack. Can't co-sign this.
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| Posted on May 16, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 133 |
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I enjoy when a producer can switch things up within a song to avoid all potential bordeum however, the intro to the first verse to the chorus seemed somewhat uneven. Not a dramatic different just felt like I was listening to three different takes of the same song. However, the transitions for the rest of the song were executed to enjoyment.
I think Freesol really has potential to go somewhere. With the umbrella effect working it's way into Hip Hop like it has done with Rock, I think Hip-Hop is expanding to the point where traditional boundaries of Hip-Hop are breaking allowing artists such as Freesol to come in and shake things up. I'm not vouching for Freesol's longevity within Hip-Hop but I think it's a nice option for listeners of Hip-Hop. |
| Posted on May 21, 2010 |
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