International Blow - The Lost Files

Joe Blow\'s *The Lost Files* is a follow-up to *International Blow—The Fix Tape* and features Joe\'s laid-back, street-savvy verbals over an assortment of intriguingly funky, \'80s-influenced production from various Cali beatmakers. The emerging Bay Area artist\'s world-weary vocals are the perfect complement to his mellow-yet-fresh, sample-saturated joints. Lyrically, he mourns the loss of several homies, waxes poetic about everyday struggles, big-ups his Oakland neighborhood, and breaks down the pros and cons of life as a hustler. He rocks the usual Bay Area steez of a million features, including familiar names like Philthy Rich, J. Stalin, Lee Majors, Stevie Joe, The Jacka, Kaz, Young Lox, and Lil Rue, among others. But far from being outshined by the bulky guest list, Blow holds his own alongside the better-known local talent, delivering an album that\'s surprisingly introspective, intelligent, and just plain dope. Don\'t miss \"Lost My Lil Cuddy,\" \"Ain\'t Change Sh\*t,\" \"Real Nigga,\" and \"Since You Been Away.\"