Is Novel’s “Legato Blues Summer” the Mixtape of the Year? (Listen & Download)

Sorry, I know the whole "ask a provocative question in the headline to get people to see more" thing is an old journalism trick ("Are Your Baby's Socks Killing Her?"), but in this case I'm serious. We've discussed the difference between an album and a mixtape at length on RefinedHype before, and I don't want to get sidetracked here by revisiting the topic, but let's be clear: Novel's new "Legato Blues Summer" mixtape is not only album quality, if it were an album, it'd be one of the more quality albums I've heard in a minute.

Did that make any sense? Let's simplify. Novel, the L.A. based producer/singer/rapper hip-hop heads may know best for his work with Joell Ortiz ("Defying the Predictable") dropped a new mixtape today, "Legato Blues Summer", and if you like good music, there's no way you won't like this. (Shout out to me for the double negative.) In addition to the man himself, 'Legato Blues" features work from Iron Solomon, Jazze Pha, Smokey Robinson (yep, that Smokey Robinson), Robin Thicke, Chrisette Michele and many more.

To return to our original question, is this the mixtape of the year? Frankly I don't know (yet), but after only a couple hours of listening to it I'm sure it should be in the running, and that's got to count for something.

Download link and mixtape preview are under the tracklist:

Download "Full Stream & Direct Download" via DJBooth

Close out your summer in style with standout tracks "State of Loneliness" and "Money, Drugs & Women" ft. Ako & Tamir Taron.