Let’s be real here: it’s been a mediocre 2016 for hip-hop music. Three big name artists, Kanye West and 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, dropped mediocre projects in the first quarter of the year. Other than that, listeners have really had to dig deep to find some decent albums.

Enter Nyck Caution.

Nyck Caution is a 22-year old from the Bronx signed to Pro Era, home of Joey Bad, Kirk Knight, and the late Capital STEEZ. Joey impressed many with his major debut Before the Money. Kirk Knight garnered buzz with his Late Knight Special album. Now, it’s Caution’s turn with Disguise the Limit.

The title of this mixtape is an ode to a Capital STEEZ lyric from one of his first songs. Caution tears through beats, surpassing any limit that should hold him back. When he’s not forming full conceptual songs like “Crucifix” and “Baptize”, Caution’s lyrical wordplay is fantastic with aggressive brags and cleverness. The 55 minute run-time of this album feels like a breeze, making the replay value incredibly high. Every track is well-crafted with a purpose. While the production is atmospheric, it does stick to boom-bap roots and adds to the overall cohesiveness of the project.

“Out of Reach” details the night STEEZ took his life from Caution’s perspective. The emotions are certainly felt on this track, but they are felt tangibly with reality and no corniness. Caution puts the listener in his shoes. TheMIND also sings beautifully and adds to the somber track.

The features on this freebie do not disappoint. Joey Bad crushes through “Crucifix”, a 6 minute whirlwind with three beat changes and some clever lines (never thought I would hear formaldehyde in a song, but somehow the Pro Era leader finds a way to do it).

One of the hidden MVPs not only of this mixtape, but of 2016, is Metro Boomin. The Producer who Trusts Few has had a handful of beats that are creative and stray from his typical trap style, including his contribution on the closer “What’s Understood” that also features Joey. The instrumental is moody, simplistic, but still has some trap influence that Nyck sounds comfortable over.

As an introduction to Nyck Caution, I am very excited to hear what a debut album sounds like. This mixtape is easily the most cohesive and best project of 2016 to date. Here’s to hoping more unknown goes come out of the woodwork.

FAVORITE TRACKS: “Crucifix”, “Basin”, “Wordsmith”, “Out of Reach”, “What’s Understood”

LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS: None

WORTH YOUR $$? Free, but if available to purchase in the future, please buy. This is well worth it.

RATING: 9/10