Here we have the debut mixtape from Los Angeles, California up-&-comer Tanna Leone. Emerging under the original moniker Noviiimber & later Baby Santana ahead of settling down with his current name, he first made his footing in the late 2010s by releasing a total of 5 EPs until Kendrick Lamar signed him to a joint deal with pgLang & Def Jam Recordings. Tanna’s debut album Sleepy Soldier was released to mixed reception & his set during the Mr. Morale Tour was certainly captivating, so I was interested in hearing Mixtape ahead of upcoming sophomore effort Beware the Giant Killers.
“Role Model” is a psychedelic opener to the tape explaining that he ain’t the type of person others should be looking up to whereas “Psychosurf” takes the synth-trap route instrumentally getting on his emo alien shit. “Beloved” blends trap, a hint of rock & pop rap addressing a woman that he needs every day of his life prior to “Drop Dead Gorgeous” turning the psychedelia up addressing a woman he knows to follow his voice & block out the noises.
The woozy trap vibes on “Sound of Pain” are nice talking about the difficulty of being excited when that’s not how he feels at all thinking the world wanted a new artist that kept it real when he signed to pgLang just before the dejecting “Mr. Melancholy” discusses the incapability of feeling what he does. “Romanticize” has to be one of the weaker moments here once again rehashing the themes of love over a spacious trap beat, but then “Situationship” cloudily discusses smoking & drinking.
“Oh Shit” get on the boom bap tip coming to the realization that he’s human after all while “Bus Fare” has a slower trap flare to the instrumental dedicating this one for all the people that save money so they can hitch a bus ride. “555” nears the conclusion of the tape with a soul sample passionately going off the top for 101 seconds & “Warning Signs” officially closes the shop with an empowering ballad showing off his singing chops.
Sleepy Soldier gave Kendrick’s audience a glimpse of what Tanna can offer in the realms of west coast trap, alternative R&B & pop rap despite it‘s weak spots and Mixtape returns to every single one of those styles refining them ahead of Beware the Giant Killers other than additionally incorporating elements of boom bap as well as cloud rap & psychedelia.
Score: 3.5/5
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