Head Chef is a rapper out of Orlando who, with the help of his Family Gang band of musicians, has gained a good amount of notoriety. I’ve finally gotten to disect the full Opportunity Is Now Here Mixtape he officially released a few months ago. I’m going to go track by track but if you’d like to download a full copy and follow along go here. To lead into the review, though, here’s an interview I had with Chef a few weeks back. Marvel at my branding.

1. Hello haters! I can’t tell whether this is fake or not. Either way, it’s funny.

#1 Fan Voicemail

 

2. Coming in over a Chester French instrumental, Head Chef and Trebor Snika set the tone for the mixtape with some storytelling and enough punchlines to knock Tyson out.

As I Em Feat. Trebor Snika

 

3. Chef’s 1st verse is one of the strongest on the album and one he likes to perform. The feature, Shad Reign, comes in to kill the the 2nd verse and definitely proves that Head Chef has some talented friends. Favorite Line: My boys cold hearted in the heart of the summer.

Get Busy Feat. Shad Reign

 

4. The logo joint. I’ll have to ask chef what that means. Short but triumphant.

Crazy In Love

 

5. The quintessential conspiracy track. There’s another great feature here, this time by Phraydoe Peans. I really enjoyed Chef’s segue, too. And if bands want to sound “indie” rappers want “underground”. Funky Child does a good job of that. Favorite Line: You haters love to hate but if you heard that then your listenin’.

Funky Child Feat. Phraydoe Peans

 

6. One of a few Mark Ronson produced tracks on the mixtape, I can’t say I’m not a fan. Chef’s flow over the horns, accompanied by the timeless Winehouse hook, do wonders here. We can also confirm that Head Chef is a lady killer.

You Know I'm No Good

 

7. The Cypher features a faster flow and a cool number of punchlines, as the title would imply. Trebor Snika’s verse is yet another testament to the talent he surrounds himself with. Favorite Line: You can’t look in my iris and say you don’t want an alliance, ’cause I’m off to the races with my words and my phrases.

The Cypher Feat. Trebor Snika

 

8. Chef’s spoken word piece is easily my favorite track on the tape and it’s not because he mentions Baltimore. Take away the beat, the chorus, the singers and it’s easy to hear what sets him apart from the rest. Talent. Favorite Line: I put my heart and soul in music and I’m losing to half asses, yet I know my vernacular could leave ‘em ass backwards.

Stereotypical Rapper

 

9. I got to see this one at the Family Gang show a few weeks back and it’s just as good on stage as it is here. And the chorus on “Nonstop” is probably everyone’s favorite. Favorite Line: You’re a bitch tryin’ to be a man like Mulan.

Nonstop

 

10. Accompanied by the amazing Lilly Allen, Chef goes in on everyone that’s ever done him wrong – especially the ex-girlfriends.

Fuck You

 

11. I’d heard of Daniel Merriweather before but Chef’s mixes of his songs on OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE really put me on to the Australian R&B artist. Chef doesn’t rap too much on this one at all but it works.

I Think I'm In Love

 

12. The single! This was the first Head Chef song I’d ever heard and has already been on WHT. He’s a pro here.

I Need A Dollar

 

13. Another mildly political song, pertaining more to the the rap game than Washington. Favorite line: You like mainstream, if you say so, sorry Cuba Gooding, I ain’t listening to radio.

Change

 

14. Chef and I are quite obviously both big fans of Mark Ronson. Stop Me is a decent mix with quick verses sprinkled in between Merriweather’s vocals.

Stop Me

 

15. Rise is probably one of the more raw songs. Chef sounds mad. He sounds like he’s trying to get a point across. The point is he’s #winning. Favorite Line: Someday I’ll treat everyday like Sunday.

Rise

 

16. Yet another classic (Ronson) instrumental. He makes a good point at the end of the verse – whether you’re a fan or not, you’re still talking about him.

Ooh Wee Feat. T.Klassiq

 

17. I appreciate how he’s able to stretch R&B and Pop songs to fit his style and it’d be nice to see what he’d do with some proper original instrumentals. Just a couple short verses here but it’s supposed to be a remix so, once again, he makes it work.

Supernova

 

18. And to close the album out, Chef reflects on his dope boy days and illustrates how he’s parlayed those experiences into a successful career as a local artist.

Hip Hop Saved My Life

 

Yeah, I said career. And that’s what I’m trying to get at here – Head Chef is a young guy who’s only been rapping in Orlando for a little over a year but he looks at this whole thing as his career; as his life. It’s refreshing and I’d imagine this is the same fervor that’s brought a lot of people to the top. Independent artists can feel at home here on We Heard That, providing one thing – that they are actual artists. Congrats to Chef on all of the success he’s seen locally here in Orlando, Fl. and look out for the Hard Rock show coming up on Friday, April 1st.