DJ IQ The Unheard (mixtape) I'd actually written this review about a month or so ago, so the tape has been in the shops for a good month now. So this is for all the people that don't know! I gather that sales have been going well also from my various sources, hardly a suprise when you listen to this offering from the DJ called IQ. Having just become 17, the skills demonstrated on the tape make you think IQ has been in the DJ'ing game longer than his years of age. I could go on about the age factor but i won't, simple fact is this tape is a great headphone filler in it's own right. And if you're going to put out a tape, you shouldn't be expected to get people saying, "well for a youngsta, it's ok!". From the intro to the final track there's enough variation and content to keep the listener contented. You have tunes from the likes of Jehst, Non Phixion, Mr Lif and EL-P along with tunes and freestyles from up and coming artists such as Esely, Pride Vekz and Kaspa. As well as smooth blending between all of the featured tracks, the scratch routines are deft and tidy, my favourite being the juggle with of El Da Sensai's track right at the end of the tape. Mixtapes can be like jigsaw's, if you find all the right pieces and arrange them properly, you'll have a finished article, and IQ found all of his pieces here, and arranged them all perfectly. It can be said that at times some mixtape's are full of too many tricks, well this one has the tricks, but it has them in the right proportion, so the tape moves along nicely. It was a brave move to include freestyles and exclusive tracks from some of the up and coming artists alongside the more known artists on the tape. But, they have been blended well, and hold their own as well. My favourite being the pride verse, i think the featured guests all have much to learn but, considering that none of them were over the age of 17, that's to be expected. And as i said, they held their own and consequently the tape is well balanced and is a must if you were looking for that christmas stocking filler! Hopefully the first of many tapes from my fellow Itch FM Radio jock, and believe me if the tape was shit, i would've said so! Expect to see IQ with his new residency at Dekefex in south London as of now. - Ghost © ukhh.com 1999 - 2002