★★★★☆

Jaden Smith is anything but average. Having recently made headlines after a bizarre New York Times interview, the 16-year-old has become known for his eccentric behavior. It seems that he skyrocketed to fame working alongside his star-studded family, making Smith’s future as a celebrity independent of his father’s and sister’s reputations uncertain. However, his new mixtape, “Cool Tape Vol. 2,” could be the thing that garners him a very different type of attention.

CTV2 is a spectacular mix of electronic and traditional rap beats. Each track is rich in metaphor as Smith touches on topics ranging from puppy love to his parents’ tumultuous relationship. His sister, Willow, is featured on a number of songs; her soft and subtle vocals only help to solidify the overall mellow feel of the album.

The opening track, “Fire”, features Christian Rich, an LA-based DJ duo consisting of twin brothers Taiwo Hassan and Kehinde Hassan. Together, they create a fantastic party song with an addictive trap beat and audacious lyrics as Smith declares “if the party on fire then [he] probably lit the match.”

“Keep Ya Love” follows “Fire” and somehow manages to maintain its contemporary sound while being reminiscent of a ’90s hip-hop track.

The following tracks — “Zoned” and “Let it Breathe”— are the perfect chill-out tunes: the kinds of songs you listen to while hanging out in your friend’s basement or when taking a long evening drive. These songs produce an easy air of comfort that connects audiences with Smith in a shared, relaxed experience.

“Electric” produces a multitude of sensations so much so that the sound is difficult to put in words. It’s futuristic, sultry and haunting. While it is also lyrically clever, this promising complexity falls short with the rather trite subject matter of pursuing a love interest.

Smith adds “Young and Reckless,” yet another great party song. It’s fun, but definitely doesn’t stand out among the other tracks, perhaps because it is so topically similar to “Fire”.

The album’s best Jaden-Willow collaboration may be “PCH.” The hook is especially attractive as Willow hypnotically sings in her signature deep vocals that “[they’re] the crazy kids, rebel kids, saddened kids, wild kids, lonely kids.” Although it is the ultimate teenage angst anthem, it still maintains a certain amount of maturity.

“Symba,” the eighth and final track, is the perfect ending because it best demonstrates Jaden’s ability as a rapper. Smith exudes confidence as he easily moves over each bar with great tempo and rhythm, setting his charismatic style far apart from his father’s all-too-familiar “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” rap.

“Cool Tape Vol. 2” is mature yet experimental, and proves that Smith truly is talented, a fact often overshadowed by his superstar kin. His cool lyricism and cadenced flow produce tracks that blend seamlessly into the next without ever sounding repetitive or boring, creating an impressive mix tape that will perhaps set the standard for the rest of Smith’s promising career.

The mixtape is available free for download on datpiff.com.