Dorner-ing all for the Tookie

Dorner vs. Tookie showcases the many unique artists that Hellfyre Club records has on its payroll. Some such as Open Mike Eagle and the company founder Nocando might not be the most famous of names, but as you dig deeper into the company’s manifesto you will see that they are the home of the one and only Busdriver. Dorner vs Tookie is a candy sampler box: you might have to look at the top to differentiate and navigate between the flavors but once you sink your teeth in, new favorites are bound to emerge.

The majority of the album has a rather dark tone to it. Hardly any of the songs would be categorized as happy, but they aren’t exactly depressing either. The opener “Bounce in the Trap” is a bass-laden instrumental that kicks things off right. The beat sets the tone for the remaining 16 tracks. “The beats sick like we looped leukemia” starts out the chorus for “DVT,” demonstrating the clever lyrics that each artist here is capable of. This song features Open Mike Eagle, VerBS, Nocando, Kail and Busdriver, all five of whom will take turns throughout this album. Either paired in groups or solo, these artists prove that no matter the situation, they can handle it.

One of the stand out tracks is “Degrassi Picture Day,” which is built around a sample of “Never Tear us Apart” by INXS. The song is based on the notorious school picture days and fully shows Open Mike Eagle and Busdriver’s abilities on the mic.

This mixtape is a great introduction to a group of artists who are surely going to be making a lot of noise in the next few years, and each one has the talent to stand on his own, but they also play well with others. Dorner vs. Tookie is like a trailer for a movie that you had never heard of, but by the time the screen fades to black you’re marking your calendars for the release date.