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Gully local crew Dirty Hartz delivers the goods on its new It Is What It Is mix tape, with guests appearances by Young Jeezy, Joe Budden, and Skinny Suge from the infamous Stop Fuckin’ Snitchin’ DVD the big eye/ear catchers. The freestyles over already popular beats are what initially grab you, but it’s the independently produced tracks keep you listening. Gifted MC Verb—recently a contestant on BET’s 106th and Park’s “Freestyle Friday”—and partner Q hold it down on the lyrical tip.

The catchy underground hit “Welcome to B-more City” is the group’s homage to Bodymore streets. (Doesn’t every B-more MC “welcome” you here only to warn what might happen to you?) The humorous “100 Bars Fuckin’ Wit Ya” features Skinny Suge spitting over the instrumental from Tony Yayo’s “So Seductive.” The Hartz impressively rip the Southern, tongue-twisting rhyme style on their group’s own freestyle. The melodic “Dear Summer From D.C.” is reminiscent of a Ghostface cut, with rapid thoughts on life in the ’hood over a soulful beat. With It Is What It Is, Dirty Hartz has made a soundtrack for clapping your hands—in between clapping your guns, of course.