(Iron Fist/Shogun)

When your childhood friend gets some success he generally looks out for you. When that childhood friend is Eminem and looking after you involves forming a multi platinum group with you (D-12) you have little to prove. On this mixtape Proof elevates his game to a new level and looks to make a solo name for himself.

Everyone in Australia is aware of D-12, their gimmicky singles and the fact Eminem is a member do little to hurt their sales and notoriety world wide. However as most serious hip hop fans will tell you, sales don’t equal talent and sadly a couple of members really are average MCs (hi Bizarre, if you’re reading). Proof, however, is generally regarded as the real deal – a fact backed by him winning Unsigned Hype in The Source in 1999 before the magazine lost all credibility, his rhymes also standing above those of his counterparts on both D-12 albums.

In preparation for his upcoming second solo album Proof has unveiled a new sound, and for the first time has really impressed me. The mixtape has become a big selling tool in the US. They generally comprise short verses and shout outs over recycled beats, a way of getting your name out to fans and record execs alike. For Grown Man Shit, however, Proof has stuck with entirely new beats and given us short sharp bursts of what we can expect.

Beat wise the mood is dark, plodding deep bass complemented by eerie strings, loops and samples. Over 23 tracks there are a slew of producers including Reef, DJ Reach, Mr. Porter, DJ Extreme and of course Eminem. Now I know I am not alone in this opinion but Em really needs to re-evaluate his beat making techniques, all his beats come off sounding so similar its like he is recycling the one average idea over and over again. I’d have to say this release would actually better without his contributions.

Lyrically Proof has ditched the Rolex and Rolls Royce talk in favour of a more sombre yet gritty sound. His voice has a unique raspy drawl that is undeniably appealing and suits totally the dark mood of the mixtape. Sure he isn’t on the same level as Nas, or even Eminem, but he is nice with his delivery, punch lines and wordplay, and is far from riding on the coattails of his high profile childhood homeboy.

As mentioned earlier, this is the first release featuring Proof to really impress me, and as a mixtape it has served its purpose as I now eagerly await the long player to follow. You either like mixtapes or not, especially as they will always have limited replay value when they lack complete songs. Make your own mind up wether a mixtape is worth owning but I do suggest you keep your eyes peeled for the solo album from a new and improved Proof later this year.