Review: The Gift of Discernment

The A's newest and possibly truest trap aficionado, Alley Boy is back with a follow up to his 1st quarter release Nigganati with the mixtape entitled The Gift of Discernment.  The Empire presents,The Gift of Discernment which was released on September 18, stacked with 18 tracks featuring a crop of new hungry producers and artist. While Nigganati was made for a society of people who have been cast out or discriminated against Alley Boy's The Gift of Discernment is about separating the real from the fake.

The mixtapes' intro borrows excerpts from the now classic radio interview of the late trill Chad "Pimp C" Butler. Alley Boy further pays homage to a few southern hip-hop generals in Scarface, Eight Ball & MJG who have been recognized as some of the realest of the art form. As Pimp C's rant fades out over the backbeat the projects first single "Your Favorite Rapper" featuring G.O.O.D music's Pusha T fades in. Alley Boy who has been known to speak his mind about his fellow industry counterparts doesn't miss an opportunity to remind us of his theory repeatedly in the hook "Your favorite rapper's a damn lie". Mix in Pusha T and you have a high energy song that will surely offend your favorite rapper. “I Live This Shit” produced and features the underground’s acclaimed King, Big K.R.I.T who sounds off with a cocky hook over rhythmic bass tones.

However, The Gift of Discernment has a little something for everyone the ladies of course can practice their best twerk routine to songs like “Circles”, “Tattoo”, and “Cream”. Alley Boy slows it down and elevates his content on songs like “Tongue Powerful” and “All For You’ which is a derivative of Lana Del Rey’s seductive ballad “Video Games” produced by Cool & Dre. If you beez in the trap you might identify with “Graduated” or “ All My Life” which features Duct Tape Entertainment Label mate, Trouble. In the song “Apartments” Alley Boy depicts how real it can get in the streets, “Road blocks at the top, and dogs on every block.”As he states in the first verse “only the strongest survive” and the same can be said about the music industry ironically. The music industry is similar in the fact that it is known for harboring shady individuals. Alley Boy’s cover art for The Gift of Discernment is a reminder to beware of wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. One who possesses the gift of discernment has the ability to distinguish between the spirit of truth and error and holiness and evil as referenced in the book of Corinthians. We asked Alley Boy what was one thing he wanted listeners to remember about this project he exclaimed, “Stand out by all cost, and watch with your third eye”. We will be watching out for what Alley Boy has in store for the rest of the 4th quarter.

For more information on Alley Boy visit www.alleyboy.com or follow him on Twitter @alleyboydte and download The Gift of Discernment via Live Mixtapes today! Watch Alley Boy's official video ft Pusha T " Your Favorite Rapper" below.