Vado made a name for himself with a colossal run of punchline-heavy mixtapes and riding shotgun with Harlem’s champ, Cam’ron. The buzz was so heavy that he declined XXL’s offer to be a freshman in 2011, and he went on to sign with arguably the biggest label in rap—Interscope. So where is the happy ending? And more importantly, where was the music?
No matter, the Harlemite is finally back with the third installment of his Slime Flu series. The real question is, with an ADD generation of Rap fans and a revolving door of new artists, can Vado pick up where he left off?
Vado addresses his absence right from the jump and several times after. From “Awards” to “No Turning Back,” the spitter starts re-marking his territory with a barrage of punchlines, proclamations of his return (or disdain for his competition) in hook-form, and that signature shout-flow that sits comfortably over loud production (araabMUZIK, Stoopid on da Beat). It’s a formula that’s been working for Vado and a good way to let fans know, nothing’s changed.
But things can get repetitive.
For example, “Get Mine” is verse that’s meant to be conversational but it gets stale pretty quickly, especially over a snoozer beat. Then there’s “Bad Bitches,” a song that features the seemingly never-ending hook, “Bad bitches everywhere, bad bitches everywhere, bad bitches everywhere, bad bitches everywhere.” You get it. We’ve heard Vado in his club banger mode (“Speaking In Tungs”), so this just feels lazy. And what’s with all the Roc-a-fella-themed punchlines?
As far as features, Vado keeps things Harlem for the most part and the chemistry is there. On “Full Clip,” Vado links with Dipset-alum JR Writer and they both attack a piano-driven track cold as NYC winters. JR also spits one of the hardest lines on the mixtape with, “You couldn’t move me with a Martin Luther King speech.” Woo! Another notable collaboration is “You Ain’t Good” with Chinx Drugs providing an easy-going contrast to Vado’s intensity that may convince you that these two need to do a whole album.
Slime Flu 3 is a solid mixtape. But at a time when most mixtapes feel like albums, Vado should step it up. If he were to craft more gems like the mixtape closer “When I Die,” a mixture of vivid storytelling and simplistic, yet deeply engaging hook-writing, there’s no reason Vado can’t get his spot back, and then some.
DX Consensus: “Just a Mixtape”
File under: who gives a fuck?
fuck what anybody say Vado mixtape is serious and its what this game really needs.. this tape was way better than that juelz mixtape!! everybody wanna listen to this dumb down rap and arent clever enough to understand wtf lyricist have to say
shits tough i fuck with it
Hhdx is a joke. This reviewer is probably 17 getting paid 9 bucks an hour to give lil wayne and french montana good reviews
Hahahaha…
dope shit
Slime Flu this shit is impressive. Been stopped fucking with Dip Set but i could fuck with this Vado shit. This nigga definitely one of the nicest new niggas out.
To me, this mixtape was Vado’s true introduction. That Boss of all Bosses shit and the 2 previous Slime Flu mixtapes were unimpressive honestly. I’m a fan of this joint here and hope Khaled’s fat ass doesn’t ruin Vado’s potential with his wack ass guest appearances and shit.
I mean one of nicest young niggas. He aint a new tho.
Overall i can’t believe this gets just a mixtape rate and Juelz Santana gets an EP worthy rate. Juelz shit sounds like he copying everyone else shit. Plus Juelz and go in on his shit like he normally does.(after 7 years of nothing) Vado is goin in on this mixtape. It could be a bit repetitive but no like this shit states. To each its own tho.
Dam mad typos
The best mixtape out right now! shouldn’t even be free! Mos Def LP quality! #SlimeFlu3 #NYC
its all about a fucking popularity contest in music now! Vado can have the best mixtape out ( slime flu 3 should be an album) and these pricks call it just a mixtape! no disrespect, but it was better than God’Willn #DipSetAllday
I’m a fan of Vado, but this tape is just average. The review is on point. Some of the production was lazy. Vado did the best he could with the beats he was given. If you go back and listen to the production on slime flu 1 & 2 you will hear the benefits of Vado being on an actual label.
SO let me get this, on the mixtape cover he got mucus on his face cuz he has slime flu? idk man
vado’s sick just look at the green spoog on his face. ‘full clip’ is the track…sick.
I thought this was a dope mixtape, not album worthy, but i think this is solid work. 4/5
20 times better than Juelz shit
Best out of New York Right Now if you ask me……..The Kid is a Beast aint nobody keeping it on sum New York shit like Vado and the kid is consistent…………….
Crack