Originally we thought of adding the usual guest reviewer to the Levelheaded section but instead we’d like to try something a little different. Every so often we will feature a guest artist and their themed tape for the section. Now keep in mind, it’s not a real tape but more of a dream list they’ve created before putting a tape together. If you've been following us since early on, you know we love Cex and featured an interview with him a while back. When the idea for this section came about, the first person that came to mind was Cex and he seemed to think that he was perfect for it as well. His last album featured some freaky skittish beats, guitars, skits but sadly little Cex on the mic. Fans of the twenty year old artist from Baltimore (who is already releasing his fifth album) have been checking out Cex live and sometimes in his boxers. Instead of taking the secret-laptop-idm-whatamidoingupthere persona like some cohorts, Cex shows to hit go on his laptop, grab a mic and jump to the front of the stage for some M.C. freestyle action. Now on, 'Tall, Dark & Handcuffed' Cex creates the hip-hop record he's been wanting to do without any of the cliches and plenty of rhymes about a life that the rest of us can relate with. Elementary school, girls, talkin' shit, 7-11, and daily observations are all given the Cex treatment and you'll be amazed how different it is from the last record. Rjyan Cexwell is going to be freaking us out for many many years ...now his mixtape.

HOW TO GET THROUGH ANYTHING HARD :
the definitive mixtape of summer/fall 2002
by rjyan cexwell

stage 1: Intense Guilt>Self-Loathing>Anger
I) "In Doubt" by Peter Gabriel
II) "The Rhythm Of The Heat" by Peter Gabriel
III) "No Self Control" by Peter Gabriel
IV) "Troubled" by Peter Gabriel
V) "Digging in the Dirt" by Peter Gabriel
stage 2: Exhaustion>Desperation
VI) "Darkness" by Peter Gabriel
VII) "Mother of Violence" by Peter Gabriel
VIII) "Don't Give Up" by Peter Gabriel
IX) "Love To Be Loved" by Peter Gabriel
stage 3: Rebirth
X) "At Night" by Peter Gabriel
XI) "I Grieve" by Peter Gabriel
XII) "A Different Drum" by Peter Gabriel
XIII) "Close Up" by Peter Gabriel

(note: if at any point during the program you feel jaded and angry at Music itself for its reductionist and romanticized approach to The Hard Thing which you are attempting to overcome, apply an emergency dose of "Lanterns" by The Microphones and repeat until faith in music's admittedly elusive but definitely real ability to heal is restored, then continue with the above program.)