The third (and final, according to the album's subtitle) chapter of New York DJ Funkmaster Flex's mix albums is the best of the bunch, a gritty combination of old- (A Tribe Called Quest, House of Pain, Naughty By Nature) and new-school rappers (Missy Elliott, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes). Flex's deft skill at remixing some familiar tunes -- he often takes a minute or two of a cut and works brand new beats, as well as some exclusive freestyling courtesy of top-name artists themselves, into the grooves -- makes The Mix Tape more than just a lazy compilation of radio hits. Still, when you get down to it, it really doesn't amount to much more than 75 minutes (despite the title's claim of only 60) of a guy spinning some of his favorite records, albeit with style.
© Michael Gallucci /TiVo