“Hella Trees” by DJ Nocturnal and DJ Rated R

“Hella Trees” is a mixtape that consists of alt./indie rap courtesy of DJ’s Nocturnal and Rated R. This mixtape was made to promote the re-launch of the popular “Hella Trees” clothing line. The “Hella Trees” clothing line is carried by the Sacramento based hip-hop clothing retailer Cloud Nine Clothing Company. After some research regarding this project, I found out that the owners of Cloud Nine Clothing asked Sacramento DJs Rated R and Nocturnal to come up with a mixtape to celebrate the re-launch of the “Hella Trees” clothing line. With this task at hand, DJ Nocturnal and DJ Rated R successfully put together an eclectic mix of tracks that spoke well of the brand and reflected the hip-hop feel of Cloud Nine Clothing Company.

With that being stated, this mix features a great selection of tracks by rappers such as K-os, Large Professor, a collab track with Rock Botton and Masta Ace, Black Milk and Sacramento’s very own rappers Self and Random Abiladeze. The mixing and overall production by both DJ is seamless and their turntablism techniques compliment the flow of the tape and not try to show off.

Although there is the potential to have to re-listen to this mix a few times and some who aren’t exactly familiar with the Sacramento rap scene could get confused with the overall concept of this mixtape. Aside from being a selection of indie rap, I was lost on the common thread between all of the tracks. Well, that is until I realized that the theme was staring in my face the whole time. The common theme being is that this project represents the independent nature, creativity and indie hip hop that Cloud Nine Clothing Company compliments…with just a haze of weed smoke.

I mean, Sacramento isn’t called the city of trees for nothing, folks.

Download here