Rating: 9/10

Nas protégé Dave East dropped his fifteenth mixtape “Karma 3” on August 14, marking the third installment of the Karma mixtape trilogy, with 15 tracks. Released just a few months after his debut album, “Karma 3” is a heavy hitter that features strong collaborations with artists such as Mary J Blige, Popcaan, and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie. Despite being a mixtape, the quality and longevity of the project have elements of an album. It is clear that East was able to make a project that was sentimental to him and a true display of his rapping abilities. There is obvious inspiration from legendary rappers such as Nas, Styles P, Jadakiss, and Jay-Z that, despite carrying an old school feel, can cater to both young and older audiences. His music is very reminiscent of the 90’s New York rap with a gritty, dark sound. Karma 3 is very personal, with songs such as “Believe It Or Not” and “Know How I Feel” where he shares his life experiences before fame, with lyrics such as “I was tryna make it out a hellhole, now I’m spending hundreds out on Melrose. Walked a thousand miles in my shelltoes, now when I take pictures, I still got my jail pose.” Tracks such as “F*** Dat” featuring Young Dolph and “Mission” featuring Jozzy are more upbeat, fun songs that aren’t as serious as the rest. Overall, “Karma 3” is a solid mixtape and a great introduction to Dave East if you haven’t listened to his music before.