Cookbook, “I Love The 80′s”

Cookbook
I Love The 80′s
Self-released

Producer/rapper Cookbook, aka Jason Soto of L.A. Symphony, shows flashes of brilliance on his debut solo effort I Love The 80′s, as on “Electric Youth” where his flow is rubber cemented to the beat. Yet in other moments, he sounds unprofessional, and the practiced ear realizes Cookbook was a producer first. By the third track, “Reganomics,” this reporter decided Cookbook was mimicking Kanye West, yet during that track Cookbook started sounding like Kanye before he got big—then he called himself just that! Like Kanye, Cookbook knows what people want. His popcorn rhymes strewn with pop-culture references over melodic beats take rap back to its house party roots (check “What’s Happening Now,” a Ghostbusters remake). His understanding of song structure and fan-focused style also point to a long future in the industry. Surprisingly, Cookbook is giving this ‘80s homage away on SphereOfHipHop.com.
Bill Kelvin

Tags: "I Love The 80’s", 80s, beats, brilliance, Cookbook, debut solo effort, Ghostbusters, homage, house party, Kanye West, mimicking, pop culture references, popcorn, Rap, roots, song structure