CyHi The Prynce – Black Hystori Project (Mixtape)

    Over the last few years, Kanye West’s promising G.O.O.D. Music roster has began to hit its stride with rappers like Big Sean and Pusha T dropping respectable projects that highlighted their growth within the crew. Though CyHi The Prynce has been just as active within that same time frame, the Stone Mountain, Georgia native has gotten lost in the shuffle, unable to distinguish where he fits in the lineup. His 2012 mixtape, Ivy League Club and its follow up, Ivy League: Kick Back were both casual misfires, leading listeners to believe that while the Southern rapper could provide moments of brilliance, he was better off playing a position in the background as one of West’s best kept secrets. It’s a fair assessment, considering CyHi is credited for contributing to nearly all of Kanye’s songs on his critically acclaimed album Yeezus.

    That’s fittingly where his new mixtape Black Hystori Project begins. As CyHi tells it, his nephew had plans to do a black history report on him, before his teacher explained the 29-year-old rapper wasn’t important enough for this particular school project. Smirk at the predicament if you must, but this news lit a fire in CyHi’s belly, who approaches Black Hystori Project with a laser focus that is undeniable. There’s no better example of this than on “Napoleon,” where razor sharp rhymes slide off his tongue with vicious intent over M16’s bruising production. His blistering bars here are aimed at those that ever doubted him, school teachers included, and over the course of five verses CyHi delivers what is arguably his best lyrical performance since Kanye West’s star-studded 2010 cut “So Appalled.”

    Conceptually, CyHi keeps Black Hystori Project interesting by celebrating the legacies of individuals who were instrumental in the political and cultural advancement of African Americans. Names like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Huey P. Newton, and Nelson Mandela are held up in honor, and CyHi does a remarkable job sharing their rich history while also piecing together his own personal narrative in the process. His record “Cydel Young” (which is incidentally CyHi’s government name) touches on his early experiences in the streets selling drugs, as well as his dreams of becoming someone who was worth mentioning before he traveled six feet under. “I really wanted to be an athlete / So, it’s the Olympics every time me and the track meet / I’m so ahead of my time I’m fin’ to lap me / I know the lord is thy shepherd, though I’m the black sheep,” he raps with self-assurance.

    In between his clever take on Reaganomics (“Bury White”) and his response to issues within urban communities today (“Is It Me”), CyHi The Prynce displays a lighter side to his personality on tracks like “February 29th” and “Guitar Melody.” It’s something he similarly did on both installments of Ivy League to mixed results, and his execution here isn’t all that convincing either. However, it’s clear that CyHi is making an effort to balance out his rugged demeanor with records that are fit for the radio, a commercial space that both Big Sean and Pusha T now occupy. The closest he gets is “Coretta,” which serves as a passionate ode to the love in his life. He trips up a few times with unnecessary metaphors (“For you I’ll go to church and get baptized / Girl your body drive me crazy like a cab ride in Manhattan”), but overall it’s a commendable performance that comes straight from the heart.

    At a lengthy 18 tracks (interludes included), Black Hystori Project is a well thought-out piece of work that marks a distinctive change in CyHi The Prynce’s creative outlook. The flaws that previously hindered his progress have been addressed on this new mixtape, and if CyHi continues on this path, fans can raise their expectations for his debut album Hardway Musical.

    75 thoughts on “CyHi The Prynce – Black Hystori Project (Mixtape)

    1. Always felt like CyHi had the potential as a writer to be important to hip hop, but I always saw him as a Chip the Rip or Rockie Fresh, an artist who could write their ass off but never took on the challenge of grappling with serious content. This review has me pumped to see where he’s gone with this one since he really hasn’t been on my radar in like 4 years…

      1. Couldn’t have said it any better. This review has gotten my attention because CyHi’s most recent projects were disappointing for such a dope emcee!

    2. For all of you who were previously disappointed with CyHis projects, go and check it out. I was also disappointed with the Ivy League instalments, but this is on another level…

      Shotout to Kanye West for ex. prod. this project. Seems like it made an impact.

    3. haven’t heard this yet, but glad to he’s finding his groove. also good to focus on dude, cause when he does hit, he hits hard.

    4. yeah i picked this project up yesterday and listened front to back on my commute home from work. solid solid solid cannot praise it enough

    5. Always thought of cyhi as a dope writer who couldnt make or full tape that is interesting but this project is a great piece of work

    6. This is CyHi at his best. I already thought highly of him but this I believe put him over the top. He NEEDS to put out an album after this.

    7. If ya’ll thought his last 2 projects were a disappointment, then u obviously wasn’t listening. Both of those projects are good bodies of work. I understand everyone has there own opinion, but to say they were dissappointments, boy stop! Don’t get me wrong, they wasn’t great, but they are good.The man is finally getting recognized at his label, he has been grinding trying to keep up and is finally getting his just due and this project clearly reflects that. Open ya’ll ears, cause u clearly ain’t listening.

    8. Excellent review and I’d give this [MixTape] a 4 1/2. It was THAT good. Definitely his best piece of work since “Royal Flush”. CyHi is big time, he’s no slouch.

    9. You know hip hop is dead and the separation happens automatically, when the mixtapes are better than the top albums

    10. Cyhi is an awesome rapper. I would love to see him and T.I. do a collabo. I can’t think of 2 better artists I’d rather see in the studio together at this point in rap. A Drake hook with Cyhi verses would be pretty tight too.

    11. This is a great mixtape!!! I like the Napoleon track. He reminds me of a old school Kanye… before He went crazy.

    12. Southern emcee dope shit told yall we had emcees also just like every other part of the world its emcees and rappers all over.

    13. This mixtape is insanely amazing, Napoleon might be the best song I’ve heard in a while. I would easily pay for this tape!

    14. black histori cool, but why have gay ass cupid (nimrod) on the cover?? heathen rappers get the noose.

    15. This mixtape was absolutely incredible. I’m really starting to think that his promotion and marketing is being done strategically in a negative way by G.O.O.D music and Kanye, because it makes absolutely no sense. This guy lyricism and theories on this mixtape was impeccable. There is a difference beteween a rapper who just uses punchlines, but don’t connect with is listeners, Cyhi actually pulls it all together. I hope he makes it.

    16. Wow, this mix tape is really good. I’ve liked CyHi since I heard him on Kanye’s MBDTF, but I never really expected anything great to come out of this dude. But this mix tape proves CyHi is no joke at all and can make an incredible album. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for putting out such a quality piece of work. Definitely check it out, one of the best mix tapes I’ve heard in years.

    17. Mixtape of the year. Easy. I never thought dude was that dope either. But this shit….off the chain.

    18. This mix-tape would sell better than most LPs. The creativity is profound. His growth is noticeable.

    19. Cyhi stays spittin and hating my city not showing him no love. They rather listen to fags like Young Thug. smh

    20. AMAZING… Best mixtape/album out of the year. CyHi is the baddest out. All them next mans need to sit down.

    21. Exactly What I’ve been looking for. consciousness without lacking musicianship. Lyrics and production on point.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *