The Blue Album (N/A, 2012) by Jon Connor

This is a great mix tape, and Jon holds his own over beats from Hip-Hop's elite and originally rapped on by one of the greatest to ever do it.  One of my favorite tracks on this set is "Never Change" where he breaks down how someone from Def Jam flew to Flint, MI and listened to Jon's music in his basement.  Lyrically and flow-wise, Jon is absolutely incredible and I truly believe if he doesn't make it big, there is really something wrong with the current Hip-Hop industry.  And last but not least, DJ Green Lantern did his thing on this project as well and deserves props for it.

The People's Rapper LP (All Varsity Music, 2012) by Jon Connor

I heard this mix tape for the first time a few months ago and was very impressed.  Jon Connor's rhymes do the beats justice, and that is no easy feat considering who spit to them on the first go-round. "Don't be a target, or a dead artist/Cause in Flint, blood on the floor is the closest we'll ever get to a red carpet," he raps on the "Cold Wind Blows (Intro)" and Connor's version of "Lose Yourself" is just as inspiring and motivating as Eminem's original.  There are a few missteps here, such as "40 Oz" and "You Don't Know"- two posse cuts that feel interchangeable.  However, weak moments on this mix tape don't occur very often at all.  On "When I'm Gone," Connor says, "I spit my life in every line I hope I'm there for somebody/So I'm a spit this shit until there ain't no air in my body."  I hope so.  Because based on this material, Jon Connor shows that he has the potential to be one of the all-time greats.