Sophisticated and Joey Tacinelli – D.O.P.E. (Drive. Opportunity. Passion. Excellence.) [7.5]

Sophisticated and Joey Tacinelli

D.O.P.E. (Drive. Opportunity. Passion. Excellence.)

7.5

As the days of school dwindle down no one is working harder on their craft than freshmen rappers Sophisticated and Joey Tacinelli of St. Johns University. D.O.P.E (Drive. Opportunity. Passion. Excellence) their debut mixtape is a surprising masterpiece draped with impressive lyricism and smooth flows, bringing the talent of both artists to the forefront. Joey Tacinelli, hailing from Connecticut, and Sophisticated, from D.C, have turned their hobby into a serious project worth recognition. Sophisticated’s An Invisable Vison is set to release this coming May and Tacinelli is working on a solo mixtape entitled Freedom Writer.

The 22-track collaboration recorded entirely in an on-campus dorm room is playful yet shows no unawareness of the realities of the modern day struggle. “Freshman Frenzy” is a jazz-like track that pledges to “start a revolution that the rebels envy” and as the horns invade your ears, Sophisticated and Tacinelli take turns with the chorus, “My Mind’s A Weapon And No One Else Will Ever Equip Me/Try To Make An Impression So They’ll Never Forget Me/Yo What Kind of Steez Is This When No One Ever Forgets We? /Timeless Shit, The Type They Recite For Eleven Centuries” solidifying their presence as innovative thinkers.

“Ben Stein” asks you to “open your eyes to an invisible vision” and invites listeners to fall under the spell of these rappers smooth delivery. The beat almost takes you to another world but don’t worry about getting too lost, Tacinelli reassures fans that “he’s been around the galaxy twice” as the chorus comes in and bring us all back down to earth. Tracks like “The Intellectual Crackhouse,” “Invite Only” and “Natural High” start off with audio from movie scenes adding a unique theatrical feel to the mixtape as well as providing a canvas for the lyrics that follow to color.

This rap duo is undeniably gifted in presence and presentation and promises to bless our ears with more collaborations in the near future, which we can assure will be “D.O.P.E.”

-Words by Gyasi Kirtley