Customer Reviews

Various Artists - and 1 Mixtape Volume 8: Back on the Block [DVD]

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This mixtape basically gets a lower rating due to the high standard of the previous 7 productions. As much as I hate to admit it, it seems that the And 1 shine is finally beginning to taint (see the disappointing Streetball Season 4 for proof).

Mixtape 8 still has several positive sections though. The And 1 team still keep up there usual high standard of (cue cliches) ankle breakin, no-look passing, high-flying manoeuvres. For NBA fans unfamilar with And 1, imagine the Phoenix Suns on Red Bull versus a team that plays bad defence like, well the Phoenix Suns. High school and college footage of NBA players Willie Green and Marquis Daniels also showcases their impressive athleticism.

The main problem with this DVD is that it lacks any kind of cohesion. It seems that a formulaic aproach has been taken to the production here (old player footage - new player footage - show token And 1 sponsored NBA pro to show how big time And 1 is - now show clips of urban court games to show 'street realness'). Admittedly, this has been done previously, but seems all the more noticeable and inorganic in this edition.

Also included is footage of games sponsored by D+D Studios. This section seems to consist almost totally of hard fouls, near fights and angry players bitching at referees. Again, this smells of a strained attempt to show And 1's 'street connections'.

Extra's on the DVD are, as usual, short. Some footage of NBA'ers Jeff McGinnis and Kyle Korver, allows a showcase for Korver's wide range of skills (shooting 3-pointers while simultaneously looking like Ashton Kutcher with a broken nose). Also included is 'the man with no shoes' (not a bad Bond villian), and 'ghetto workout' as usual starring And 1's own 'Mr Motivator' Alimoe.

All in all, an entertaining if slightly flawed and disappointing DVD. If you're new to And 1 Mixtapes, buy 5,6,7 (in that order), and try to hunt down 1-4, then Streetball 1 and 2. Then cop this. And go work on them handles.