You might not expect a guy named after the fact that he makes beats to be that great of a rapper, but Wizard Sleeve's Mike Beatz hold his own. Need proof? Check his newest video, "You Know," a cinematic action thriller of a track complete with a vicious percussion attack and Godzilla horns. Mike weighs in with one of Detroit's dirtiest -- J Dilla affiliate and Stone Throw recording artist Guilty Simpson -- and keeps the scales balanced, matching Guilty's rough 'n' tough heaviness with his personal brand of smooth but grimy.
Need more proof? Mike's got ten newly collected pieces of evidence ready for examination in the form of his debut solo album, Boom Bap. Produced entirely by Norwegian beatmaker Adonis, the project finds Mike holding mics with heavy hitters like Royce Da 5'9, AZ, Skyzoo, Termanology, REKS, and Sha Stimuli. Download it for free on boombapthealbum.com.
Another directorial notch in the belt for busy Miami cameraman Uncle Luc, the video for "You Know" keeps it gangster in B&W. Nothing mind-blowing per se but crisp, tightly edited, and effective overall.
Follow County Grind on Facebook and Twitter: @CountyGrind.
