Album Review: Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present Magic  Bird
Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed | Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed Present Magic & Bird
Released: August 4, 2017
Genre: Christian Hip-Hop, Rap, Trap, Sport
Listening Format: iTunes
How did I find out about this album?I have been listening to Mineo for years now! And when I heard out that he was dropping a mixtape with Wordsplayed, I was hyped. Have been looking forward to this mixtape for a little while now, and it's finally here.Opening statements | What did I think of the albumWoah. Just, woah. This mixtape was even better than I expected. Heavy hitting lyrics, Andy and John played off each other very fluently, it's just amazing. I love the bass in every track as well, very clear, and heavy bass. Something that I can't wait to play through a subwoofer at my church, even if the older members of the church will get annoyed. If you have never heard of Andy Mineo or Wordsplayed before this, definitely check out their older tracks. My favourites from Mineo include "Uno Uno Seis", "You Can't Stop Me" which was used in some NBA commercials, "Wild Things" and "Rat Race" which features Mr. Jon Bellion on the chorus. I haven't had the chance to listen to Clowntown yet, maybe a review will be in the future for that album.  Now, I play baseball, but don't follow a lot of other sports. Even though I am from Canada, I don't watch hockey every single night, I don't watch basketball, ONLY baseball. So throughout this mixtape, I counted on some of the annotations to help understand some of the references. A unique mixtape, I loved it.How many times have I listened to this album?I have lost count. It has been on repeat almost all weekend.  I took some time to transcribe the new Third Day album Revival as well as the new upcoming Hundred Suns album The Prestaliis. When I wasn't doing that, the album was playing all the time.Track One: HI-FIVE (LOADING)
Runtime: 0:53
Rating: 3/10The skits found throughout the mixtape were well done, I found them funny the first time listening to them.  However, they ruin my flow when I want to listen to all the full-length tracks, so I've removed them from my playlist. My favourite part of this skit was how Andy said "Keyster" at the end.Track Two: KIDZ
Runtime: 3:28
Rating: 9/10
Favourite line: Honeymoon in the bungalow / No shirt, it's the gun show / Man I'm flexing on my exes
Annotations: co-sign | co-sign twoAh, yes. The first "technical" single for the mixtape, KIDZ.  I love this track.  I know this song has been played many times, with the bass cranked in my car, or even through my headphones. I don't play/watch basketball, so I even had to look at the annotations on this track to understand some of the clever references.  I loved Andy's second shout out to Kobe, first one was in "You Can't Stop Me" Or like Kobe in Toronto, uh  Droppin' 81


Overall, I think that this track is very hot, heavy bass, and great references, amazing first full-length track to set the energy for the mixtape.Track Three: DUNK CONTEST (MAGIC & BIRD)
Runtime: 2:50
Rating: 8/10
Favourite line: Honeymoon in the bungalow / No shirt, it's the gun show / Man I'm flexing on my exes
Annotations: first Another great song for basketball fans, and great references all throughout. I just have to say thanks for all the other contributors and editors+ on this track for helping with some of the references to basketball. Very well done, all around. One of the best tracks for bass is found here. I love how Andy and John jump back and forth on this track as well.  The beat is very well done, I found it changing up every once and a while, rather than staying the same beat all throughout.Track Four: SAY LESS
Runtime: 2:37
Rating: 10/10
Favourite line: I'm not doing good, I'm a straight mess / But God doing way more with way less, uh
Annotations: first | second"SAY LESS" has to be one of my favourite track on the whole mixtape.  It is produced by GAWVI, which means "it’s a BANGER" as @MomoWiDaFlo commented on the track.  I love all of GAWVI's solo tracks, but there's something nostalgic about him producing tracks for Reach Records that makes me enjoy them more. He is an amazing producer. I love the message about this song as well.  As pointed out on the Chorus the term "Say Less" is a term that New Yorkers use to say they understand what you mean, no further explanation is needed. I've visited NYC once. It was for a missions trip and was an amazing opportunity.  I became friends with one of the workers at the company we stayed at, and we talk often about rap, and photography, and my radio show. I asked him if "say less" is a common term, and it's true. I think I'm going to start using it as well.  "SAY LESS" has to be one of my favourite tracks that weren't a single. If you didn't like any other tracks and haven't heard this one yet, listen to it. It is a BANGER!Track Five: DISQUS (SKIT)
Runtime: 0:34
Rating: 2/10
Annotations: firstThis track confused me a little.  I understand that sometimes rappers will spell things wrong, but typically they will explain a reason. When I was trying to research the annotation I made for this track, I kept on getting the website Disqus.  Finally, I asked a family member if it was spelt "DISQUS" or "DISCUS" and they filled me in its the second way.
Anyways, this track is another funny skit and also an inspirational skit. Telling the listener to not give up, even when you can't throw 40 yards. This track was funny first few times, now like "HI-FIVE (LOADING)" it has been removed from my playlist.Track Six: R.U.T.S.
Runtime: 3:13
Rating: 10/10
Favourite line: I don't like cussin', but this one I swear / When I start bustin' they shouldn't be near / They never been accustomed to hearin' this custom-made flow / They just copy the stuff that they hear
Annotations: first | second | song bioAs soon as I heard Andy's first line, I'm pretty sure I squealed a little. I really enjoyed Netflix's Stranger Things last year. When I first heard "The Upside Down" I instantly fell in love. I will definitely have a few things that I enjoyed about both tracks. I felt that "R.U.T.S." was kinda a half song because its verse was already used, however, it's still a beast track. I love the bass in both tracks, I feel "The Upside Down" was constant, however "R.U.T.S." was heavy in sections.

Now, talking about Wordsplayed's verse, I loved it as well. The ad-libs were on point, as well as his reference to Usain Bolt was one of my favourites on the verse. His lines were smart, quick, and clear. I loved every part of this track.Track Seven: JUDO
Runtime: 3:33
Rating: 9/10
Favourite lines: Oh, you holier than thou? / Aight, tell Jesus on me | My neck, my back, I put 'preme on that (skrt) | Behave, behave, boy, don't you know that you black? / Okay, I will, when white Jesus come back
Annotations: first | second | third | fourth | fifth with Wordsplayed "co-sign" | co-sign | co-sign two This track was hype! I believe that I have done more annotations on this track than any on Genius. Don't count me on that. Filled with so many references, including Wordsplayed's "My neck, My back" reference, Andy's reference to today's fashion statements, and even the multiple brand references on this track.  One of the heaviest hitting tracks on the song, also produced by legen-wait for it, and I hope you aren't lactose intolerant because the second half of that word is-dary! producer GAWVI, I love the references all throughout the track. Read the annotations on the page for more than what I listed above. One of the reasons I love this track is when it gets to Wordsplayed's line about white Jesus.Behave, behave, boy, don't you know that you black?
Okay, I will, when white Jesus come back


I love how when listening to this track, John slightly starts to get more hyped as the line finished. The yelling part of "when white Jesus come back" reminds me a lot of KB's "I Believe" which featured vocalist Mattie Montgomery from my favourite metal band For Today, RIP.

Another one of my favourite parts is the end sample of "Please clap" coming from Jeb Bush.  As @cornrowkenny annotates, the sample was found in a 2016 speech where Jeb asked the audience to "please clap" for him when the room was silent. I didn't understand it until I checked out his tate, and listened to it, instantly fell in love with the sample, and even laughed about it.

Overall, this track was very well done. I loved the references in this track to pop culture, as well as maintaining that sports theme while talking about Judo. Another well-produced track from GAWVI, and another well-balanced track from Andy and John.Track Eight: BREAK BREAD (feat. BEAM)
Runtime: 3:33
Rating: 10/10
Favourite lines: They only 'round you when you got that bread / I call them ducks, when they call, I duck | Smile for the pic when I'm winning, Usain
Annotations: first | secondAnother track with very nice bass.

The song sends a great message about staying with those who are strong in their faith as well. In other words, those who break bread with you. The biblical significance of this track comes from Matthew 26:26-27 where Jesus breaks bread with the Disciples on the day before He died, known as The Last Supper. In an interview with Fourth District, John explained that the track is about "that idea of “grinding” and then to spoil who you grinded with" and indulging in healthy relationships.Track Nine: METRO (Skit)
Runtime: 0:43
Rating: 5/10
Favourite lines: [Andy] Unlimited? / Unlimited / [Andy] Stop / The unlimited one
Annotations: first | second | thirdThis had to be my favourite skit of the mixtape. I have visited New York City once, in 2016.  It was for a missions trip, and as a courtesy to get location to location, the company we went with gave us a 7 Day Unlimited pass.  I can only imagine how I would have felt if I lost one of those unlimited passes. This skit had me laughing, and at the same time feeling her pain, because of what I remember in New York City. I recommended this skit to one of my friends in New York named Christian, and he listened to it, felt that exact pain as she did. "Metro" had to be my favourite skit on the mixtape.Track Ten: DANCE (You See It)
Runtime: 3:42
Rating: 9/10
Favourite lines: Either way I'ma kill the game like it's premeditated
Annotations: first | second | third | fourth | fifth | song bio (co-sign)Another hype song on the mixtape, and one of my favourite beats. "DANCE (You See It)" has the heavy bass and even some amazing verses. My favourite line is "Either way I'ma kill the game like it's premeditated" as I thought that was very clever.  Referencing some older TV Shows that were very popular during Andy and John's childhood, and even showing some pop-culture references with Kane and Undertaker, the cleverly worded "Andy's coming" line, and even Andy's second reference to Jerome Bettis.Track Eleven: TEAM (feat. BEAM)
Runtime: 4:15
Rating: 7/10
Favourite lines: Bobby Boucher since the 2K | Even Jesus saw the twelve shrink
Annotations: first | second | thirdI thought that this track was okay, it had its potential with Beam on it again, heavy hitting beat, but it didn't reach that expectation.  I don't think that it was a horrible song, in fact, I loved the reference to Bobby Boucher from Wordsplayed, and it had a great melody. I think that the Jamaican vibes kinda threw me off, especially because it was a pain in the butt to transcribe at release, there were sooo many question marks left on the page. "TEAM" is not a horrible song, just isn't my favourite on the album.Track Twelve: LEGEND
Runtime: 5:19
Rating: 9/10
Favourite lines: And if we go to war with Korea, don't worry / Me and Kylie'll bring the Pepsi, ayy | Shoutout to my ex / Gotta say thanks for the stress / If not, I would never left / Then never been blessed with my next, ayy
Annotations: first | second | third | fourth | fifth | sixth | seventh | eighthThe final official track on the mixtape, LEGEND.  Another big hit track, and one of my favourites for annotations.  So many easy references to pop culture including the failed Pepsi commercial, talking about Back To The Future and even Jon Bellion winning a Grammy back in 2015. The beat was okay, wasn't the best, but it was evened out with the amazing verses. I loved the Pepsi reference, and Donald Trump reference. I even got a little salty in my annotation about ex's. The last official track on the mixtape was pretty good if I do say so myself.Track Thirteen: LAY UP
Runtime: 4:22
Rating: 9/10
Favourite lines: You ain't even pray for the dinner / How you got the prayin' hands on the 'gram for the picture?"LAY UP" is the last track on the mixtape, but was originally released for free back in 2015. I think that this track was one of my favourites after Never Land was released. It is not my favourite on this mixtape, but it is a pretty good Andy Mineo track.  "LAY UP" was the first track from Andy to be dedicated to the basketball style from this mixtape, which is why this song is fitting to be a bonus track.FINAL THOUGHTSI enjoyed this mixtape a lot. It definitely fulfilled my lack of Andy, and will be played more than once at my church with the bass cranked. I loved the references found throughout every track, ones with basketball references and even pop culture, there is something in this mixtape for everyone.Will I listen again? | Yes, more than once
Will I suggest to a friend? | I already have! 3 of my friends and all three enjoyed it.
Will I add this album to my vinyl collection? | If it is ever released on vinyl. Your move, Reach Records, your move. They currently liked my tweet asking for more of their albums to be produced on vinyl.Well, if you have read this by your own will, lucky me! If you stumbled on my account by accident, again lucky me! I look forward to writing another review next week.  I plan to write a review every weekend.
ALL THE LYRICS FOR ANDY MINEO AND WORDSPLAYED PRESENT MAGIC & BIRD ARE AVAILABLE NOW.