Broken Ankles

Freeway & Girl Talk

Mash-up master, Girl Talk, is a real treasure for those who haven't heard. He assembles these album-length mixes entirely by sampling other artists' works in ways that either make you dance or scratch your head. I would love to give my thoughts on his excellent solo albums, but for now, I want to talk about this project. This one is significant for Girl Talk since it is the first time he is working exclusively with another MC; delivering original verses over the course of the whole album. That MC is fellow Philly native, Freeway.

Broken Ankles really feels like a cohesive project. In true Girl Talk fashion, the tracks seamlessly transition into each other which makes for a really satisfying listen from start to finish. Girl Talk keeps the sampling to a minimum, but some songs still have some really neat beat switch-ups. As for Freeway, I'm not really familiar with his career but I think he is terrific on this project. He has this gruff voice and delivery that compliments his grimy raps. My favourite track Tolerated has some cartoonishly violent lines that are quite funny, especially when it comes to Waka Flocka Flame's guest appearance. The intro track and I Can Hear Sweat are similarly confrontational in case you are having a bad day and need to blow off some steam. The final track, Lived It, sees Freeway going into more introspective territory under these dramatic string samples. It's a very cathartic ending after all the confrontation and bragging. This project features some great instrumentals from Girl Talk, as well as some impressive performances and raps from Freeway. The duo has blessed us by releasing this project for free online so if you're a fan of hip-hop or mash-up music, be sure to give this one a listen.