This is the 2nd mixtape from Michigan rapper Big Bye. Originally known as byetimo, he released his first couple EPs Bye & Big Bye in the late 2010s/early 2020s until changing his moniker after the Bye’s successor at some point between 2022 & 2023. Coming off his debut tape The Big Lebyeski couple months ago, Detroit music executive Lando Bando has officially signed Timo to his own imprint The Hip Hop Lab Records & is letting him make his debut for the label with Paper Plates.

The title track is a creatively soulful jazz rap/Detroit trap hybrid talking about having bitches everywhere that only know him by his looks & only asking for grace whereas “Sparkle” boasts of him breaking weed down to particles as well his chain glistening. “Ballin’ Hard” featuring BandGang Javar finds the 2 talking about the za being so good that it’s like they’re smoking cigars while “No Tattoos” finds himself deciding not to get freshened up for the day.

“Waterboy” works in some pianos & 808s to suggest one should come to his suburbs if you wanna get a cup of lean while “Fat Packets” featuring Babytron cloudy trades the mic back-&-forth with each other for a couple minutes. “Big Yuck” featuring BYEVIXEN finds the 2 over a Jakesand instrumental talking about having gold in their teeth like popcorn kernels just before “Girl Next Door” works in some shimmering pianos from Danny G selling sunshine & happiness.

As for “Dick Dastardly”, we have Big Bye referencing the titular antagonist of the Warner Bros.-owned Wacky Races franchise over a sample & 808s meshing with one another leading into “Payday” featuring Certified Trapper dabbling with lowend a bit talking about lining their opps out in chalk as well as receiving the wages they’re owed within 24 hours & a reference to one of my favorite WRs of all-time Randy Moss.

“My 1st Rodeo” starts the final leg of Paper Plates with a bell-inflicted beat responding to weirdos calling him a rookie who won’t amount up to anything solely because they’ve done more than him musically while “Counting on Us” talks about going from rags to riches. “Rainman” wraps up the mixtape with Bye riding in the same Buick convertible as depicted in the 1988 road comedy-drama of the same name.

Straying further away from the pop rap influences of his earlier output, Big Bye’s inaugural release under The Hip Hop Lab Records further capitalizes on the Detroit sound of The Big Lebyeski only 9 weeks after it’s predecessor & cements Timo as a welcoming addition to Lando’s roster. 75% of the features are underwhelming, but Bye’s growth both artistically & personally within nearly a decade remains easy to hear.

Score: 3.5/5

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