This has to be one most anticipated mixtapes of 2012 so far. I know we are only in February but I have been waiting for this Mixtape since first seeing English Frank perform at last years OMAs. 'Listen To Frank' is available as a free download exclusively via ukrapmusic.com and is going to be the most talked about mixtape for the next few weeks. Just check out the track listing and you will understand why.

Download English Frank - Listen To Frank

01. The Shape Up (Feat. Big Cakes) (Prod. By Preston Play)
02. Envy (Feat. Mic Righteous, Jaja Soze, Durrty Goods, Squeeks, Logic, Malik, TK & Exo) (Prod. By Red Skull)
03. Cant See Me (Prod. By Dego Brown)
04. Forced To Ride (Feat. Cashtastic & Don Jaga) (Prod. By Zee)
05. In A Minute (Prod. By Zee)
06. Big Man Thing (Prod. By Dego Brown)
07. Southside Connection (Feat. Dot Rotten, Mic Righteous, Jaja Soze, G Frsh, Youngs Tef, Dru Blu, Timbar, Nolay, Pak-Man, Shaun White, Trips & Naja Soze) (Prod. By Preston Play)
08. Music's My Sister (Prod. By Alex Breadman)
09. The Warm Up (Prod. By Alex Breadman)
10. Live My Life (Prod. By Hitman)
11. 100 Bars Of Truth 2 (Prod. By Preston Play)
12. F64 (Prod. By Alex Breadman)
13. A Message
14. 100 Bars Of Truth 1

Review By Sam Moore

Well ever since I heard a Youtube video of this guy doing ‘The Warm Up’ I been waiting for a full mixtape to drop to listen to and now that wait is over. The leach has definitely been let off this pit bull and now he is out there I doubt there will be many cat’s out there who will want to put this particular dog back on a lead…cuz I’m sure this guy will literally snap off your arm if you try.

Within his vernacular and that which is the UK music scene he is something of pariah but this ain’t no disrespect, what I mean to imply his no one is touching this guy at the moment. He is unique in the sense that this guy doesn’t rap himself around the beat, the beat seems to rap around him. Frank provides the melody for most of his tunes and can often provide musical input when an instrument is not needed, little effort is put in trying to create a music format as very often he will just stream together beats or rhythms based on the feeling he is trying to create…effortless in perception but trust it’s a hard thing to do.

The guy sounds an obvious pissed off guy but he medz it through his music and talks real talk about social politics and life on road. The ‘100 Bars of Truth 1 and 2’ showcase this guy’s talent and seamlessly highlights problems certain elements of youth go through in the UK (It ain’t all cups of tea people!!!) and this can also be seen effectively through the ‘F64’ spit.

There are also poignant moments of pure emotion that have been laid down as well such as in ‘Live My Life’ and ‘A Message’ (Nice sample of Letter To My Unborn Child by 2Pac) and it’s shed a different light on Frank as an artist, the guy is obviously thugged out and been through shit but he seems to have a good sense of perspective on life. In comparison to many UK artists Frank clearly uses the influence of early hip hop and fuses this with the ruggedness of being on UK roads.

Several features from established UK artists such as Durrty Goodz and Malik also indicate how Frank is thought of on the scene as people are obviously itching to get a feature. ‘Envy’ and ‘Southside Connection’ are certainly tracks which will catch the eye of many people looking at this tape but dig a little deeper and let this shit ride a couple of times and you will find it a hard mixtape to put down…I should know as I ain’t really been able to get many other reviews done because of this ha.

With all this being said and done a logical question would be does the content live up to the approach…hell mother fuckin yeah! Stand out mixtape of 2012 so far. As the old saying goes turn on, tune in and drop out…or something like that?!?!