Album Review: Tim "Freezy" Cox - Always Elevate 2
On “Say I Tried (Intro),” the first track on Tim “Freezy” Cox’s Always Elevate 2, Freezy declares, “I’m going to be your host for the evening, so enjoy the ride,” over a sampled piano melody. While this statement may seem to be slight or somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it really stands as a testament to Freezy’s control as a rapper, and his strong presence throughout Always Elevate 2.
This opening track shows Freezy’s attention to detail, as well as his clever use of phrasing and sample placement. He chooses his words wisely, and builds his sampled backing track to fit his rhymes perfectly. After the line “so I gotta’ drop it,” hits, Freezy’s samples cut out entirely, putting the focus solely on the rapper’s vocal inflection and delivery. In a similar display of showmanship, Freezy positions the line, “With no intention to stop,” over a rapidly repeating sampled beat that resembles a skipping record. By creating a trend in which the rhymes and the music of Always Elevate 2 interact with each other in a meaningful way, Freezy shows his abilities not only as a wordsmith, but as a thoughtful producer as well.
One of Always Elevate 2’s strongest qualities is its diversity. Throughout the mixtape, Freezy shows himself to be a diverse and talented artist who is capable of crafting heavy songs with big hooks as well as tender, socially conscious songs. The one, two punch of “Back 2 School Shopping,” and “Let Me Know” is a perfect example of Freezy’s ability to transform himself from track to track. “Back 2 School Shopping” is filled with big synthesized hooks and verses that build to the perfect party track. “Let Me Know,” on the other hand, is a moving track about young love, and Freezy lays it down with honesty and heart. Both songs embody a totally different mood, but each shows an impressive degree of mastery and artistry.
Always Elevate 2’s eleventh track “Best of Me,” tackles some of Freezy’s heaviest themes. The track addresses loneliness, racial tension, and self-doubt in a moving way, outlining the difficulties that a struggling rapper is faced with. While these themes are present throughout the mixtape, Freezy does a good job of bringing them all to the forefront on this track.
While Tim “Freezy” Cox isn’t yet a household name, there’s no doubt that he’s bound to turn some heads in the hip-hop community with Always Elevate 2. This mixtape is an incredibly strong showing from an up and coming artist.
Check out Freezy on Twitter and Facebook. Listen to Always Elevate 2 here.
