Jehst The Mengi Bus Mixtape (mixtape) What does everyone really want from a mixtape? What you don’t want is a load of throwaway B-sides that some DJ decided he could flog to an unsuspecting crowd for enough to get a 200-box of Silk Cut, thereby applying the ‘Stop >> Play’ mixing technique (especially useful if said tunes happen to be in succession on equally crappy demo CD). What you do want is to catch “The Mengi Bus”. What, indeed is the Mengi Bus? Judging by the general confusion of all to have contributed to this mixtape, and there’s a whole host of household names, nobody has the faintest clue. I Googled Mengi and came up with a Tanzanian media tycoon, so that’d be somewhat of a tenuous link. Lyric library Jehst may not even have that one sussed but he certainly presents us with a mixtape that has very much less of a cryptic message. With the help of UK hip-hop stalwarts DJ IQ and Sir Smurf Lil comes a mix of straight-up, no frills, solid hip-hop, the stuff of greats and greatness. None of the artists lending their considerable talents to Jehst’s conception need an introduction, with the likes of Kashmere, Micall Parkinson, Foreign Beggars, Jack Flash, and ukhh.com regular Stig Of The Dump with US legend R.A. The Rugged Man all delivering standout and outstanding tracks. Other familiar names include Asaviour, Dubbledge, Konny Kon, and Funky Fresh Few. This showcase of what the UK can offer hardly ever falters, keeping the mix smooth throughout and the attention with little deficit. Jehst follows his impressive discography and track record with a medly of his own work, some will be familiar and some not, alongside more than a fair share of masterclass. There’s some remixes and there’s some exclusives, but don’t expect the unexpected, this really is just what you want. a mix of straight-up, no frills, solid hip-hop, the stuff of greats and greatness - J~Bright © ukhh.com 1999 - 2006