Evidence Becomes the 5th Beatle

Evidence responded to an album leak by giving away a solid album for free.

Album leaks have been a recurring issue between musicians and the internet for about a decade. Coinciding with John Lennon's memorial and his own birthday, Evidence of Dilated Peoples planned to release one song off his Beatles-themed EP, "I Don't Need Love." The album was leaked, and Evidence embraced it.

The free, nine-track mixtape features bandmate Rakaa Iriscience, Oh No, Alchemist, Dirt Nasty and Fashawn. Every track samples a Beatles song with production from Twiz The Beat Pro. The Beatles concept has been done with Danger Mouse's "Grey Album" mashup of Jay-Z.

The new twist is how the samples are incorporated to turn the tracks into hip-hop beats. It also has greatly mixed interview clips from members of The Beatles. "Frame of Mind" references drugs, including John Lennon saying, "By then, we were smoking marijuana for breakfast at that period."

Evidence stays true to his roots, dropping his guard and speaking about everything from weed to writing habits. The end of "Think'n Bout Thinking" samples "Hey Jude," with Evidence rhyming about debt, stating, "I bought a crib in the shitty side of town, interest only, with no money down, it looked nice but really a facade, tried to grow some pot, burnt down the garage."



"The World" has Evidence talking about natural disasters, rapping, "Maybe what I hear is all a figure of speech, go figure, see the day Cali falls in the beach."

"I Don't Need Love" is a good mixtape and appetizer for Evidence's upcoming "Cats and Dogs."


Note: "To Be Continued" is not on this album, but it serves as a preview to "Cats and Dogs."