Freedom Of Speech (Mixtape By Ghetto)

Infobox Album |
Name = Freedom Of Speech
Type = Mixtape
Artist = Ghetto


Released = March 10th 2008
Recorded =
Genre = Grime, Rap
Length =
Label = J. Clarke Enterprise, Beyond Da Booth
Producer = Lewi White, Smasher
Reviews =
* Stewart-T Reviews rating-5|5 [http://www.stewart-t.com/2008/03/08/ghetto-freedom-of-speech-review/ link]
Last album = "Ghetto Gospel"
(2007), |
This album = "Freedom Of Speech"
(2008)
Next album = "2000 & Life Vol. 2" |

Freedom Of Speech

Freedom of Speech is a 2008 mixtape by London based grime artist Ghetto. The entire project is produced by Lewi White and Smasher, with some other producers credited as co-producers on certain tracks. The mixtape features some other up and coming grime artists from the UK including Devlin, Griminal, Brutal, Wretch 32 and Lightning.

It was debated at first whether Freedom Of Speech was actually a mixtape, or was Ghetto's first album, because like the previous release, Ghetto Gospel, it featured all original produced instrumentals, professional style artwork and did not have the "typical" mixtape DJ talking over and in between songs.

ounds and Music

The release includes aspects of both of Ghetto's previous mixtapes, 2000 & Life and Ghetto Gospel. Songs in Freedom of Speech include the aggressive lyrics and delivery that Ghetto introduced to the scene with his first release 2000 & Life, and also there are more conscious tracks at different tempos which focus more on lyricism and the message being sent out.

Songs like "Buss 1", "Threats" and "Mountain" are examples of the more aggressive grime anthems Ghetto is known for with fast paced beats set around 140 beats per minute with verses full of multi-syllabic rhyming patterns and Ghetto's signature flows and delivery. The hard hitting opening song "Commandments" has Ghetto talking about the rules of the streets and what to do and not do if you are arrested. The song utilizes the same sample used by DJ Premier for the Notorious B.I.G song "Ten Crack Commandments" but the instrumental is more grime sounding, rather than hip hop as it is much faster and uses a lower bassline.

Other tracks such as "How It Is" and "Brothers In Arms" show a different style with slower beats and Ghetto showing more advanced lyricism, song concepts and different flows which makes Ghetto stand out from other UK artists. He also sends out a positive message in tracks like "Brothers In Arms" which uses elements of Martin Luthur King's " A Dream" speech."How It Is" features Yazmin, an up and coming female singer from the UK who adds a more soulful touch to the song over Lewi White's instrumental which samples the theme from Terra, a character in the Final Fantasy video game.

Ghetto also shows his story telling ability in the haunting song "Convo With A Cabbie" which tells of his enconuter with a troubled cab driver who has broken away from his family, but witnesses them being killed in a tragic car accident.

Diss Tracks

Ghetto continues an ongoing feud between himself and grime artist Wiley on the song "Who's Got?" The beat samples the song "Stars" from Wiley's Playtime Is Over album. "Who's Got?" includes a vocal of Wiley saying,

"Who's got lyrics?" "Whos got bars?" "Who can stay up in the sky like stars?""Who keeps spittin' the bars and don't run out?" "We're the last of the old school stars"

After each of these lines Ghetto shouts out "Ghetts" answering Wiley's question and then the chours goes onto a chopped sample of these lines with Ghetto implying that he is better than most people in the Boy Better Know group by mentioning their names. It continues with the sample and Ghetto replying after saying,

"Who's got lyrics?" - Me not Wiley, "Who's got bars?" - Me not Skepta, "Who's got lyrics?" - Me not Jamie, "Who's got bars?" - Me not Frisc"

The names refer to London based emcees Wiley, Skepta, JME and Frisco respectively.

Also on the track "Mountain", Ghetto insults Tinchy Stryder who is also affiliated with the Boy Better Know group in the line,

"Little Man says that he's on cloud 9, reality check let me ground him again"

This is because Tinchy Stryder often refers to himself as "Cloud 9 Strydes" on many of his songs and Ghetto calls him "Little Man" referring to his height.

On 26th July 2008, Ghetto, Tinchy Stryder and Skepta were together in Malia on Tim Westwood's show and talked about their differences. Ghetto explained that it was nothing personal, but he commented on other peoples music in his songs, and not about the people themselves.

Tracklist

{| class="wikitable"
-! Number! Title! Featuring! Producer! Track Length
-
1
Commandments

Lewi White & Big Bliss
3.26
-
2
The Ghetto

Lewi White & Bubz
2.33
-
3
Darkside Freestyle|
Lewi White
4.44
-
4
Threats
Griminal & Brutal
Lewi White & Smasher
4.04
-
5
Buss 1
Devlin
Lewi White
3.19
-
6
Ghost Town
Smasher
Smasher
3.22
-
7
Fake MC's

Lewi White
4.54
-
8
Who's Got?

Lewi White & Smasher
3.41
-
9
Mountain |
Lewi White & Smasher
7.23
-
10
What It Takes|
Smasher
3.09
-
11
I'm Ghetts Remix
Chipmunk
Lewi White & Dread
3.46
-
12
Real Talk|
Smasher
4.23
-
13
Convo With A Cabbie

Lewi White
2.28
-
14
How It Is
Wretch 32 & Yazmin
Lewi White
4.53
-
15
Brothers In Arms

Lewi White & Bubz
3.31
-
16
Unsigned Hype (Bonus Track)
Lightning
Lewi White
3.51