Mixtape Review: Que & Mike Fresh – Que Fresco!

Mixtape Review: Que & Mike Fresh – Que Fresco!, Courtesy of Skinny Friedman

As it stands, Que is teetering dangerously on the edge of one-hit-wonderdom and that’s a shame. While “OG Bobby Johnson” deserves every spin it gets, it’s worth remembering he first made waves on “Young Nigga”, which got more attention as Migos’s impact song. And while he didn’t exactly cash in on “Bobby”, he’s been consistently good in its wake. The combination of his swaggy delivery and his mastery of overdubs create a unique and catchy sound, especially on tracks like the underrated “Jungle Fever”. It doesn’t hurt that he’s had Sonny Digital in his corner, a murderer’s row of Atlanta producers behind him and a deal with Atlantic.



So it’s no surprise that Que and Mike Fresh’s Que Fresco tape is as fun as it is. I don’t know who Mike Fresh is, but he has no problem holding his own in the booth. The project is neither groundbreaking or innovative, but it is rowdy and kind of silly, full of big dumb hooks and over-the-top production. First and foremost, it’s the catchy-as-hell hooks that drive the tape. Continuing the straightforward tradition of naming songs after their oft-repeated hooks, we have “By The Way”, “Oh My God” and “Gas Station”. The first two work way better than they have any right to, with both rappers tacking “by the way” on the end of every line in the first case, and flipping the caucazoidal “ohmigod” in the second. And then there’s “Gas Station” whose hook is “I GOT GAS LIKE A GAS STATION”. Not only do you have the dudes yelling “I got gas!” in the chorus, you also get the added stupid points of well-worn “Indian gas station employee” jokes. I’m not even mad, but this shit is best appreciated when really really high.



That said, Que Fresco is not all jokes. Knowledge gets dropped on “Yes Men” and “Taxin”, about the importance of honesty in your inner circle and the volatility of prices in a free market. “Yes Men” is mostly just catchy but “Taxin” is an important lesson: there are no fixed costs! Relationships are important! The “homies and friends” hook-up is crucial to the modern hustler! Also credit is due for the duo’s remake of the Run-DMC classic “Tricky”. But for the most part, what you see is what you get. On “I’m Tired”, Fresh feigns exhaustion because he’s hustlin so hard. “Soul Food” is yet another food-as-drugs track with a scorching guest verse from Quavo.



The quality of beats in Atlanta is so high right now that there’s rarely any reason to complain or note who’s doing what. As always, 808 Mafia are near the top and their magic distorted kicks make “Yes Men” one of the tape’s best. Zaytoven keeps it simple on “Taxin” although the ominous talking buried behind the hook is a really nice touch. And while big names like Sonny Digital and Metro Boomin show up elsewhere, it’s Phenom Da Don’s “Dope Boy Dress Code” that stands out as the most original in a crowded field.



In most cases, something as one-note as Que Fresco would get old fast, but the tape is 12 brief songs and every single one hits. In a precarious climate where Migos, Young Thug and Gucci Mane are spiraling off into uncertainty (both creatively and professionally), Que and Mike Fresh provide a solid reminder of how good no-frills Atlanta hip-hop can be in 2014.



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