Hip Hop Discussion/Album Review Thread.

[MikeHunt]

I haven't had a chance to listen to either, but the first album/mixtape, whatever it was, really impressed me. Keep missing him live though; missed him at the Jazz Cafe and then again I was too late getting into Lovebox this year to see him.

He's playing The Garage on the 1st December for anyone who is interested; http://mamacolive.com/thegarage/listings/date/2013/12/1/

Rustie is such a great producer. Remember meeting him at the Glass Swords EP launch and he was such a sound bloke too.

Rustie is a fucking genius and should be where hudmo is right now if not for being a bit weird. Rustie is a proper nice lad we've been to see him play for the last few years from when he used to play numbers nights. His last DJ set was the best I've seen in fucking years.

[Clive Plasma]

Did you make it down for that Numbers festival in April? Pleasure Principle?

[MikeHunt]

Nah I Cornwall is too far for me to bother for a few acts. Plus their glasgow crew of cunts are well.....cunts. Jasper, jackmaster et al are all massive fannys and they would have been there in their droves with their followers. Couldn't think of anything worse. Rustie is probably my favourite producer of the last 4/5 years. The guys developed a sound that's so unique and could lend its self any genre and create gold.

eagerly awaiting hearing who he works with next. I hope it's more hip hop acts.

[Clive Plasma]

Nah I Cornwall is too far for me to bother for a few acts. Plus their glasgow crew of cunts are well.....cunts. Jasper, jackmaster et al are all massive fannys and they would have been there in their droves with their followers. Couldn't think of anything worse. Rustie is probably my favourite producer of the last 4/5 years. The guys developed a sound that's so unique and could lend its self any genre and create gold.

eagerly awaiting hearing who he works with next. I hope it's more hip hop acts.

Ah, fair enough. It was completely undersold, dirt cheap and very messy. But it was like a timewarp; they were spinning disco tracks and everyone looked like they had stepped off a Top of the Pops set from the 1990s.

I'll probably go again next year just because for what it was, it was good fun.

Is Numbers huge up in Glasgow then? Why'd you say they're cunts? Whenever they come to London I've been to their Warehouse Parties to see guys like Deadboy, Spencer, Rustie, Redinho, Jackmaster, Sophie etc and they've been alright...

[Bert]

http://i.imgur.com/xTujcTV.png

So hyped. I really hope for a release date before 2014.

[Nash Diesel]

This is for my underground people;

Cage. What is the story with the resurrection of EC and his involvement with a label he kind of went above and beyond to shit on? And for good reason. I'm loving the 3 tracks he's dropped off the upcoming album that drops in a couple weeks, I was just blown away that he was releasing it on Eastern Conference, which to my knowledge hasn't dropped anything in 7-8 years. Trying to get any info out of the dude himself is like pulling teeth from a unicorn's mouth.

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O3gq-yIno0

Fuck yes, this just made my week.

So, late December release, looks like.

[Nash Diesel]

http://pigeonsandplanes.com/2013/10/premiere-cage-precipiss/

Brand new Cage tracked that dropped today. I've yet to be let down by my boy Cage, and this is another great track. This new record might be the best release he's put out of all time.

[G-Fresh]

I aint listened to Cage in a while. I'll peep it out.

[Nash Diesel]

I aint listened to Cage in a while. I'll peep it out.

That link has a couple other tracks he's dropped from the new album, idk if they have "The Hunt" but that's my favorite so far. Definitely different than anything he's done, sounds like everything he's done combined into one album and he's back with Mighty Mi producing his shit so that's always a good thing.

[G-Fresh]

I really want to go to Hallowicked this year but I ain't got no ride. Jumpsteady is performing and I ain't seen him since 2005 cause I missed him & Delusional at the 2006 GotJ. Fright Fest is gonna be in Indiana on the 27th and Tech on the 29th and I ain't got a fuckin ride to that shit either. I reckon I'm gonna go to the Big Ballas Christmas Party this year though.

[Nash Diesel]

That's funny you brought up Jumpsteady, I was just listening to his Master of the Flying Guillitine album. I've known Delusional since like 1999, back when he was doing ICP news updates on RealJuggalos website, used to date a girl I was really good friends with and worked with a dude here in Des Moines named Heavy that created a shit ton of ICP computer games you could play on sites like Rj, Rydas, and ICP's official site.. They had a pretty decent track on that album, Spur of the Moment. It didn't surprise me they did a track together but dude used to kiss Jumpsteady's ass so much and always talk about him like they were dating lol.

True story, we did a lot of stuff for ICP back in the day on Rydas, and Jumpsteady actually offered me a spot at the first Gathering to play Michael Meyers in full gear for some "haunted house" thing they had going on. I was like, dude, I'm 5'9" and have no desire to sit in a cage all weekend so I ended up passing the task to a rapper friend of mine who was already going to be there.

Ah, memories.

[Bert]

http://i.imgur.com/yBejg6I.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/f0NHIoB.jpg

KENDRICK.

Rap God, humble track or indulgent track?

[G-Fresh]

That's funny you brought up Jumpsteady, I was just listening to his Master of the Flying Guillitine album. I've known Delusional since like 1999, back when he was doing ICP news updates on RealJuggalos website, used to date a girl I was really good friends with and worked with a dude here in Des Moines named Heavy that created a shit ton of ICP computer games you could play on sites like Rj, Rydas, and ICP's official site.. They had a pretty decent track on that album, Spur of the Moment. It didn't surprise me they did a track together but dude used to kiss Jumpsteady's ass so much and always talk about him like they were dating lol.

True story, we did a lot of stuff for ICP back in the day on Rydas, and Jumpsteady actually offered me a spot at the first Gathering to play Michael Meyers in full gear for some "haunted house" thing they had going on. I was like, dude, I'm 5'9" and have no desire to sit in a cage all weekend so I ended up passing the task to a rapper friend of mine who was already going to be there.

Ah, memories.

Jumpsteady also did a song with him on The Preparation.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P69YLjQ0Pvo

[MikeHunt]

I went to see jay-z this week. he was bloody amazing.

[Nash Diesel]

http://i.imgur.com/yBejg6I.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/f0NHIoB.jpg

KENDRICK.

Rap God, humble track or indulgent track?

I'm really hoping the rest of the album is better than the single that is out now. Em at 40+ is still one of the best emcees but he really hasn't impressed me from start to finish in years. I'm not saying "oh he should do what he did on the Slim Shady LP" but it wouldn't hurt to have some of that flavor once in a while. Everything he's done for about 10 years has felt very overproduced and commercial, original, but very commercial and dumbed down. The collabo stuff with Royce was cool though.

[Simon]

Has there ever been a run of songs as strong as the last few on SSLP?

14. "Rock Bottom"
15. "Just Don't Give a Fuck"
17. "As the World Turns"
18. "I'm Shady"
19. "Bad Meets Evil"
20. "Still Don't Give a Fuck"

Ignoring track 16, the final crappy skit, that is a fucking incredible run of tracks. Bad Meets Evil and Just Don't Give A Fuck are both stone-cold classic, Still Don't Give A Fuck and As The World Turns are bangers too. I'm Shady is low-key by comparison but lyrically is fucking sick.

Anyone think of a better run of tracks than that? I suppose you could probably pick any run of tracks off Illmatic and it would be amazing (Halftime/Memory Lane/One Love/One Time 4 Your Mind/Represent/It Ain't Hard To Tell maybe?) but that's a fucking ridiculous list. The rest of the album is the shit as well but what a way to close. Any one of those tracks bar I'm Shady would be the standout track on everything he's done since IMO.

[Nash Diesel]

It's definitely one of the best examples.

[G-Fresh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8f07Pg7j84

[Fro]

As The World Turns is possibly my favorite song off SSLP. It's the quintessential Slim Shady song, just crazy over the top hilarious storytelling.

People were expecting Survival to be a bonus track on MMLP2 and are disappointed it's an album cut. I personally like it, the third verse is especially nice, but I would agree it sounds nothing like MMLP style. It's Recovery style, so it has people worried about whether or not he'll really be able to pull off this sequel or if it'll be in title only. I'm psyched either way and plan to buy it in stroes without listening to the leak first.

[RuneEdge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S7cQ3b0iqLo
New one.

[Fro]

I like that a lot.

[Bert]

I like this way one way more than Bezerk.

[Stringer Bell]

I didn't like that the first time I listened to it because the beat was so fucking weird, but on second listen that might be the best Eminem song in almost 10 years.

Old is still my favorite album of the year. So goddamn good, I almost thought I was getting sick of it cause I've played it to death, but nope, it just gets better.

If you guys like instrumental stuff at all, you have to check out Shigeto and also that Oddisee album previously mentioned, The Beauty In All. Beautiful stuff.


This is for my underground people;

Cage. What is the story with the resurrection of EC and his involvement with a label he kind of went above and beyond to shit on? And for good reason. I'm loving the 3 tracks he's dropped off the upcoming album that drops in a couple weeks, I was just blown away that he was releasing it on Eastern Conference, which to my knowledge hasn't dropped anything in 7-8 years. Trying to get any info out of the dude himself is like pulling teeth from a unicorn's mouth.

I don't think there's too much of a story behind it (at least not that anyone has talked about in detail), I think it's more so that he and Mighty Mi just resolved whatever problems they had in the past and decided to move forward. But I don't really know. I also don't know if it's a full on Eastern Conference revival or if it's just for this project.

The song's so far have been cool, but I've tried not to listen to them too much because I'm waiting on the album. There was a period last year where he had talked about releasing another project too (some Cutting Room Floor leftovers deal) and was also using the alias Sam Hill for some songs. He put out a decent amount of stuff last year, like 10 songs or something, and they marketed "The Void" as a single, but it remains to be seen if any of it will end up anywhere. There was some good shit in there too.

[Nash Diesel]

I actually just heard "The Void" this morning for the first time. I'm with you, trying not to listen too early that way I can listen to the whole thing front to back. But yeah I didn't know if there was anything out there about their collab and Eastern Conference. I

[Fro]

Giving the Pusha T album my first listen. Pretty underwhelming, but the song with Kendrick is dope

[Fro]

Oh and the song with Pharrell is great too, makes me wish the whole thing was Neptunes produced

[G-Fresh]

Subnoize has went to total shit over the past couple years.

Johnny Richter left KMK


Those at the show tonight are gonna notice that I'm not there.A couple weeks ago I made the decision to make a huge change in my life an ...leave KMK.Im not gonna get into all the details as I choose not to perpetuate any more negativity-

D-Loc posted this


Real friends stay true when times are tough-Real friends offer rehab to those who need it-Nothing cool about drunk junkies-thieves and liars

On the positive side of things moving forward with this Kmk dream our’s -we will continue making good music #enjoylife#respect one love D-

and Daddy X posted this


I refuse to Let any negative people that lack integrity or respect Bring me down-I choose positive,honest loving people to surround my life..

True colors and character reveal themselves during times of struggle-Quiters and addicts get exploited by the bottom feeders-onwards and upwards

[Bert]

So, Cyphers tonight finally. I'm excited.

[Bert]

Wax, Rittz and Jon Connor were great in Cypher 1.

JC said now my Doctor is Dre, Aftermath. Guess he signed. :dunno:

[Bert]

Slaughterhouse had the lamest basic beat in the history of forever. Fucking lazy ass Premier.

I couldn't even focus on their verses.

[Psycho666Soldier]

How were the rest of the Cyphers?

[Bert]

A$APs was terrible.

TDE was great. Kendrick killed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKDSS7kGzvw

Travis Scott did terrible. Worse than A$AP.

I think the Astro one might have been web only, I didn't see it.

Real Husbands of Hollywood was meh.

[son_of_foley]

STOP STOP HE'S ALREADY DEAD.

At some point Kendrick is going to have to stop murdering everyone else.

[Bert]

http://i.imgur.com/gGyPGyR.jpg

[Bert]

Cypher videos.

Joell lost a bunch of weight by the way. Crazy.

http://www.heavy.com/entertainment/2013/10/bet-hiphop-awards-2013-cypher-videos/

[G-Fresh]

Kendrick's voice is wack.

[Ringo]

Kendrick is just ridiculous. Almost embarrassing how consistently he's killing every single thing he's involved with.

New Black Milk leaked by the way. Good so far.

[Bert]

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25824/title.jon-connor-credits-chemistry-with-dr-dre-for-aftermath-signing


According to Connor, his decision to include his new status as an Aftermath signee in his cypher was welcomed by Dre, who he says referred to the idea as “dope.”

“I was thinking, I’m like, ‘How can I end this? How can I make this a moment?’" Connor said. "This is my first time doing a cypher and I wanted to make it a moment. I’m like, ‘You know what? Let me just announce it at the BET Hip Hop Awards.’ And I ran it by Dre and he was like ‘Yo, that’s dope’…The big homie, he gave me the okay, so it was off to the races.”

Well. I guess it's official. I just hope his next album doesn't get shelved.

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rfgm3lSxvQ

[MikeHunt]

Take the world by jon Conor is a fcking tune.

[Ringo]

Slaughterhouse had the lamest basic beat in the history of forever. Fucking lazy ass Premier.

I couldn't even focus on their verses.

:squint:

"Fix Up Look Sharp" is NOT a lame beat.

Anyway Crooked was great. Budden and Ortiz too.

[Psycho666Soldier]

:squint:

"Fix Up Look Sharp" is NOT a lame beat.

Anyway Crooked was great. Budden and Ortiz too.

Yeah, Crooked pretty much killed it and he went first. I thought the others did great, but Crooked I really took the ball and held onto it.

Only other Cypher I've watched so far was the TDE one, which, as expected, was top notch. Kendrick pushing himself even more with the rest of the guys heating it up well before the main event. Never cared much for Schoolboy Q, but I dug what he did there. Him and that Isiah(?) Rashad guy came strong from what I remember.

I plan on watching most of the rest for the sake of it. Not looking forward to the A$AP Mob one at all because...well, I never really liked Rocky, haven't paid attention to the rest.


On another note, I bought Old yesterday, and goddamn, Danny Brown has done it again. :yes: Not sure how I feel about the division of the album, as ending on the obnoxious Danny stuff seems like a weaker note than his heavier stuff can be, but it doesn't take away from the album one bit, I just think I like the more mixed approach that was on XXX.

[Bert]

You need to watch the Jon Connor, Wax, Rittz cypher.

I love normal voice Danny Brown. I could take or leave the screeching Danny Brown depending on the song.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I love the screeching Danny Brown most of the time, it's just the lyrical content that comes with it isn't always up my alley. A song like Monopoly is a great example of what I love when using that voice, but something like Handstand is closer to the material I'm always kind of questioning whether it flies with my taste. That said, I love the song because of the beat and that even if I don't like the subject matter quite as much, I can't deny he's ALWAYS on point with the lyrics and flow. That pretty much goes for any of the more obnoxious songs, especially when most of the time they tie into the whole theme of his albums.

I think talking about fucking chicks so gratuitously just comes natural to him to ever truly abandon it, though.

[Psycho666Soldier]

By the way, random bit of info, Kassius Ohno is wearing a TxDxE shirt during a backstage segment on NXT a couple week's ago.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BVD2k5wCMAA1Q4z.jpg:large

[JRSlim21]

I saw that. Wondered who else would catch the reference.

[MikeHunt]

Pusha T's album is pretty shit but nostalgia feat kendrick is dynamite. The beat is fresh sounding as fuck. Love the balls off that tune.

[MikeHunt]

Pretty shit is a bit harsh. It's actually pretty decent. The track with Kelly Rowland is pretty class as well. Love Hudson mowhawkes beats as well.

[Ringo]

Feel like one of the problems with the Pusha T album was that we'd heard most of the good tracks well in advance of the record coming out. Felt a little underwhelming as a result. Do love King Push, Numbers On The Boards, Hold On, Nosetalgia and Pain though (so yes all the Kanye tracks).

Btw "Rap God" is the definitely the best Eminem has sounded in ages. Not really keen on the beat but yeah, fair enough I guess.

[Fro]

Feel like one of the problems with the Pusha T album was that we'd heard most of the good tracks well in advance of the record coming out. Felt a little underwhelming as a result. Do love King Push, Numbers On The Boards, Hold On, Nosetalgia and Pain though (so yes all the Kanye tracks).

Btw "Rap God" is the definitely the best Eminem has sounded in ages. Not really keen on the beat but yeah, fair enough I guess.

Bro how could you not mention S.N.I.T.C.H.? That's the my favorite song on it at the moment. Also just an amazing acronym, practically CREAM status.

The album has too many auto-tune style guest hooks. None of them are particularly bad but they're very forgettable.

[Bert]

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25861/title.drake-tired-of-being-labeled-lonely-and-emotional-


“'I'm so sick of people saying that I'm lonely and emotional, and associating me with this longing for a woman," said Drizzy, according to HotNewHipHop.com. "I hate that. It bothers me so much…cause I do make music that makes you feel something but I'm actually not that guy in real life. I'm a happy person."

:lol:

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25866/title.danny-brown-says-old-is-way-more-lyrical-than-kanye-west-s-yeezus-


“People’s albums was coming out…and I was like, ‘My album is better than that,’” Danny Brown says during an interview with Fuse. “I feel like the only [Rap] album I can honestly say I feel like is better than mine this year is [Kanye West’s] Yeezus, but I feel like maybe just productionwise. As far as rapwise, I feel like I’ve got a way more lyrical album than that.”

Danny's popped one too many mollies if he thinks Yeezus is anywhere near album of the year.

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25860/title.ab-soul-criticizes-publications-mislabeling-black-hippy

http://i.imgur.com/bT10vuI.png

It's Eminem & D12 all over again. Good luck with that.

[Fro]

Yeezus might still be my AOTY. Very few albums are fucking with it.

[Bert]

Yeezus might still be my AOTY. Very few albums are fucking with it.

No trolling, I honestly don't know how anyone whos heard any other album this year can say that.

I'm giving this Black Milk album a listen since it's on Spotify. I think the only song I really know by him is Losing Out with Royce. I played that track to death.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I have yet to even give Yeezus a listen. I'm always so iffy on Kanye. I can usually dig most of his production, but I just can't fuck with him lyrically most of the time.

[Ringo]

Yeezus is my clear hip-hop AOTY. Listened to it relentlessly and it's still phenomenal. Old and RTJ would complete the top three. Then probably Czarface or Long Live A$AP - I've gone back to that album so much throughout the year.

Shame that Oxymoron, Pilot Talk III and Cocaine Piñata probably won't see release this year after all. Got those three to look forward to in 2014 though! The Future record too. :)

PS. Check out the new MadGibbs EP "Deeper". It's lovely.

[Psycho666Soldier]

No love for Summer Knights?

Czarface is fucking fresh. I was finally able to get a copy to put in my CD Player so I can listen to it while I'm delivering at work. Raw ass beats.

Run The Jewels is definitely in my Top 10 somewhere.

[Stringer Bell]

New Cage leaked :panic:

[son_of_foley]

Run the Jewels is without doubt my aoty

[Stringer Bell]

No trolling, I honestly don't know how anyone whos heard any other album this year can say that.


Yeezus has outstanding production, is super unique in today's rap world, and will be talked about for years to come. It's just on another level of artistry, As much as I like someone like a Jon Connor, you can't say that about any full project he's released, and you probably won't ever be able to. Impressive lyrics are great, but they'll only take you so far. Lyrically, Yeezus is without a doubt Kanye's worst work. But that's not what this project was about.

Right now, I'll say Old, Yeezus, and Run the Jewels are my top 3 of the year. Pretty similar to Ringo :dunno: Also loved the Freddie Gibbs ESGN project.

[Bert]

Yeah, a lower level. :lol:

Personally I just don't see having people yell, having a jamaican guy mumble, and ripping off the intro to Personal Jesus as another level of artistry.

Yeezus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mni3cMyX2b4

Right now my Top 5 are Something Else, Life and Times of Johnny Valiant, Born Sinner, Old, Summer Knights.

But after Em drops his album and hopefully Gambino drops his in December I fully expect this to change.

[MikeHunt]

I know it's subjective but how on earth can anyone say Yeezus isn't on a a complete other level with regards to pushing hip hop into different genres via unbelievable production.

I love the album and can't comprehend that any one would question its brilliance.

[Bert]

:lol:

Kanye could sample Cow's mooing and you guys would call it an artistic masterpiece.

[MikeHunt]

Gambino. I shall say no more.

[Bert]

Yeah, Yaphet Kotto is really good.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gc2kBC7WL0

[MikeHunt]

Average.

every single track of Yeezus shits all over that from the top of Everest.

[MikeHunt]

He should stick to acting and seeking attention on social media.

he isn't very good at either of those things either.

[Bert]

:troll:

[MikeHunt]

Negative.

[Stringer Bell]

I like Gambino more, but it's kind of crazy how quickly Chance The Rapper surpassed him in buzz/popularity.

[Bert]

Chance's new songs are good and maybe taking LSD helped him be himself more or something but his early stuff, like the songs he did when he opened for Gambino when I went to the show in STL were not very good.

And he's calmed down on the squawking thing which helps.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I did a light skim through Yeezus yesterday and while I can see the production pushing the boundaries, I don't know how much I can say I would enjoy it on a listen-through. I'm still going to give it a fair shot, I just don't expect to come out loving it.

[Nash Diesel]

:lol:

Kanye could sample Cow's mooing and you guys would call it an artistic masterpiece.

I agree with this. Kanye's gimmick is that he does something weird and it's automatically supposed to be heard as the future. A lot of mainstream artists are like that, they throw some random sounds and boom, it's a masterpiece. I blame the Beatles. lol. "Oh snap, Kanye auto-tune'd on an 808 beat wtih a finger snap layed with a flange effect=the future". He's a good producer, ok rapper, but I don't get on his nuts like others. If he was a little more humble I might be able to listen to his music more openly but nowadays I just hear it and I'm like "You call yourself a genius and this is what you give us?"

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NQmrWad_Po

Love it.

[Fro]

"Oh snap, Kanye auto-tune'd on an 808 beat wtih a finger snap layed with a flange effect=the future".

808s and Heartbreak changed the game. That really can't be disputed. Whether it was for the better or worse is another question entirely, but I would peg it as by far the most influential album in hip hop since its release, and among the most impactful ever. So it's not for no reason that when Kanye releases a very unique and experimental album people think it'll end up being copied by other producers. Whether the industrial sounds of Yeezus catch on or not is yet to be seen.

[Stringer Bell]

Two more projects that definitely deserve to be included in AOTY discussions. I highly recommend these if you haven't heard them, the first one is free on sites like Datpiff. Bert, your boy Jon Connor is on Aquamarine.

http://edge-img.datpiff.com/md46b516/Willie_The_Kid_Aquamarine-front-large.jpg

http://theshadycitycom.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/20130723-154526.jpg

[Bert]

I heard Marina last year when it dropped. I haven't listened to the whole mixtape though.

[Stringer Bell]

How did you like Unconscious State? I want to get into him more (pause).

[Nash Diesel]

808s and Heartbreak changed the game. That really can't be disputed. Whether it was for the better or worse is another question entirely, but I would peg it as by far the most influential album in hip hop since its release, and among the most impactful ever. So it's not for no reason that when Kanye releases a very unique and experimental album people think it'll end up being copied by other producers. Whether the industrial sounds of Yeezus catch on or not is yet to be seen.

I just don't find anything he does as original as people think. He just tends to do it better than those before him.

[Fro]

I just don't find anything he does as original as people think. He just tends to do it better than those before him.

So who would you say did the 808s sound before Kanye, and the Yeezus sound before Kanye?

[MikeHunt]

Nothing is original any more.

[Nash Diesel]

Nothing is original any more.

Oh I understand that kind of generalization, but when someone takes what is being done currently, tweaks it, and then is hailed as a genius, there's something wrong with that. Big reason the mainstream is an even bigger joke now, you can't even turn on the radio without hearing the same beats, same lyrics, and all of these people are somehow brilliant.........

[MikeHunt]

Kanye cannot be generalised with "the stuff on the radio"

he is spectacular. Huge character, big sounds and constantly switching his production styles to stay ahead of what everyone else is doing. Kanye is by far and away the most talented person in hip hop today.

[Nash Diesel]

Kanye cannot be generalised with "the stuff on the radio"

he is spectacular. Huge character, big sounds and constantly switching his production styles to stay ahead of what everyone else is doing. Kanye is by far and away the most talented person in hip hop today.

See, I don't agree with any of that. What Kanye does is listens to what's getting popular, and then his next record is that sound only better. Kanye keeps his ears to the streets and the underground, I've been hearing beats like his for years in the Midwest and West coast underground. T-Pain, Will.I.Am, those guys were making auto tune famous again and Kanye took that and stepped it up a little. Kanye's thing is take what's making noise and adding his own little spin to it. Going back to albums like Jay-Z's Blueprint or Eminem's "Stan", and nowadays he just seems to take some weird sounds, put an 808 pattern over it, auto tune his crappy voice, and millions act like it's never been done or that it's this massively creative album.

My brain might very well be fried and unable to accept the majority of mainstream artists out there because they are so fabricated and unoriginal, or they try to be different but it just comes out sounding like shit. But if you're built up enough a certain way, fans will do what they expect and give us opinions like the one you just gave about Kanye being spectacular. We all have different tastes, Kanye is one that I will never acquire, he just hasn't lived up to the hype he builds for himself in my eyes.

[Fro]

I disagree with you, but someone who takes the current sound and makes it better sounds like a pretty great artist too, so if that's what you think of him then surely you're a fan.

[Fro]

Also still interested to hear who was doing Yeezus style before Yeezus

[Simon]

Original or not, 808s and Heartbreak was mincing fuckboy bullshit. He hasn't released a great album since his debut.

[Fro]

That sir, is a ridiculous opinion. Have you not heard MBDTF?

[Simon]

Yeah it's ok. The singles were crack. The rest was crap. Only 808s and Heartbreaks is a total write-off but the rest of his albums are just alright, whereas his debut was fire. The beats were incredible, and Never Let Me Down is probably my favourite hip-hop track of the 21st century alongside Rite Where U Stand so I'm far from a hater, he just doesn't impress me very often.

His ambition gets the better of him which leads to inconsistent albums or weird and stupid side-projects like 808s and Heartbreak. But that same ambition keeps him interesting and probably means he's still capable of making a truly great album where the other top-tier vets like Nas, Jay-Z and Eminem are happy to get fat off the land without doing anything new or interesting. I respect him for that, I just don't think his output is very good for the most part.

[Nash Diesel]

I disagree with you, but someone who takes the current sound and makes it better sounds like a pretty great artist too, so if that's what you think of him then surely you're a fan.

I'm not a fan of his at all, but I won't deny that he does what he's doing better than most, that still doesn't make me a fan. That shows I can be unbiased to a point where I can listen to someone who's terrible, and admit that someone isn't as terrible at doing something as other people.

If I even know what "yeezus style" was, I would have a better grasp. Again like I said, he's either taking something already popular or on the rise and tweaking it or he's throwing some shit together that doesn't sound good at all and creating this "yeezus style" you speak of. You can be "original" but that doesn't mean it's always going to be good. The Beatles and Outkast are a perfect example of this. Some people love the White album and fucking loathe Sgt Pepper, or they love Outkast ATLiens but hate the double solo album. If you're just throwing shit together in an attempt to create something new, it's not always going to be a pleasurable sound to everyone.

If Kanye wasn't so damn arrogant about his subpar music, my opinion of him would be better, but he acts like everything he does is genuine magic when it's nothing really that special. At all. To me it just feels like the mainstream wants you to believe what he says, like when they Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus are so creative, fuck that, they're just marketed that way and the sheep do a good job at keeping these turds afloat.

[Simon]

That Outkast double album was alright to be fair, although Big Boi got stiffed as his album was easily the better of the two but people went for Andre's stupid fashion shit in a big way. To be fair Hey Ya was a quality pop song, but then I thought I Like The Way You Move was just as good.

[MikeHunt]

I'm not a fan of his at all, but I won't deny that he does what he's doing better than most, that still doesn't make me a fan. That shows I can be unbiased to a point where I can listen to someone who's terrible, and admit that someone isn't as terrible at doing something as other people.

If I even know what "yeezus style" was, I would have a better grasp. Again like I said, he's either taking something already popular or on the rise and tweaking it or he's throwing some shit together that doesn't sound good at all and creating this "yeezus style" you speak of. You can be "original" but that doesn't mean it's always going to be good. The Beatles and Outkast are a perfect example of this. Some people love the White album and fucking loathe Sgt Pepper, or they love Outkast ATLiens but hate the double solo album. If you're just throwing shit together in an attempt to create something new, it's not always going to be a pleasurable sound to everyone.

If Kanye wasn't so damn arrogant about his subpar music, my opinion of him would be better, but he acts like everything he does is genuine magic when it's nothing really that special. At all. To me it just feels like the mainstream wants you to believe what he says, like when they Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus are so creative, fuck that, they're just marketed that way and the sheep do a good job at keeping these turds afloat.

Shockingly daft opinions!!!

[Simon]

Nash Diesel is chatting pie, one thing you can't deny is that Kanye is an original and that he pushes the boundaries. Two things. Unfortunately 90% of the time he pushes the boundaries in stupid directions and comes up with original concepts that no one else is dumb enough to think of.

[Fro]

Since I haven't seen you post much I'm not sure if you are a hip hop fan in general or not, and if so who you are into. But your take on Kanye is very very far off the mark in my opinion and you seem to be contradicting yourself as well in terms of hown good Kanye's music is and the point that everything he does is derivative of what's already hot. To each his own though.

[Psycho666Soldier]

I get this strange feeling that Nash Diesel is a bit...Uncanny

:chin:

[Nash Diesel]

Fro, I'm a huge fan of rap music. Early Outkast (southernplayalistic, ATLiens), Cage, Esham, GZA, Earl Sweatshirt, older DMX and Eminem records, Blueprint, Lost Boyz, Dr. Dre and Snoop, Ice-T, Random Axe, Twiztid, Jay-Z, we could keep goign but it'd be pointless in the grand scheme of things lol. I'm not really into very much of the new shit that is on the radio, cats like Kanye, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, that pop rap, just not feeling most of it, sounds too much like house music with shitty raps.

Again, we all have our own reasons for liking certain artists, Kanye is just one that while I can for sure admit he's got some fire beats, his songs in general just haven't convinced me to buy a single record. I could probably put on an album of his that was just the instrumentals and appreciate that way more than hearing his voice over them.


I get this strange feeling that Nash Diesel is a bit...Uncanny

:chin:

Jesus Christ that is getting old lol. It's like people still chanting Goldberg when they see Ryback, only I'm actually Goldberg, if that makes any sense.

[G-Fresh]

Two more projects that definitely deserve to be included in AOTY discussions. I highly recommend these if you haven't heard them, the first one is free on sites like Datpiff. Bert, your boy Jon Connor is on Aquamarine.

http://edge-img.datpiff.com/md46b516/Willie_The_Kid_Aquamarine-front-large.jpg

http://theshadycitycom.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/20130723-154526.jpg

Willie is dope. I'd be about him doin an album with his cuz La the Darkman with some Wu production. He has the dopest commercial song I've heard in the past 5+ years.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65GAh-LXVw8

[Psycho666Soldier]

Sorry, you just remind me of him too much. It's almost...Uncanny.


On a more serious note, I just spent the last 20 minutes listening to the first half of Yeezus, and saying it's not creative or different is erroneous. It's original, that's for sure, but so far I still wouldn't even put it in the top albums of the year. MAYBE Top 10 for the production alone and the decent lyrics. I'm really not that into it, though. Something that's always been a problem with Kanye for me. He always has top-notch production, I never care for the lyrics, and the beats can range from extremely awesome to different but boring. Altogether, I just don't think Kanye will ever be up my alley.

[Simon]

The last track is a fucking banger, think it's called Bound 2...I was going to say "the one with the high pitched soul sample" but remembered it's a Kanye album, so it's a waste of time.

[Fro]

Yeah it's ok. The singles were crack. The rest was crap. Only 808s and Heartbreaks is a total write-off but the rest of his albums are just alright, whereas his debut was fire. The beats were incredible, and Never Let Me Down is probably my favourite hip-hop track of the 21st century alongside Rite Where U Stand so I'm far from a hater, he just doesn't impress me very often.

His ambition gets the better of him which leads to inconsistent albums or weird and stupid side-projects like 808s and Heartbreak. But that same ambition keeps him interesting and probably means he's still capable of making a truly great album where the other top-tier vets like Nas, Jay-Z and Eminem are happy to get fat off the land without doing anything new or interesting. I respect him for that, I just don't think his output is very good for the most part.

You think Dark Fantasy and Devil in a New Dress were crap? I suggest you give them another listen.

[Simon]

I gave them plenty of listens. Wanky pants, sorry.

[Fro]

Ah man, Devil in a New Dress sounds like its right off College Dropout so I figured it'd be right up your alley. 11 out of 10, that track.

[Nash Diesel]

Cage's new record "Kill The Architect" is out today. Definitely a darker record than anything prior, from lyrics to beats. I streamed it twice last night, it's incredible. Best work since Movies, and that's not putting down his other 2 albums, I just find this new record to be better.

[Bert]

Me and Simon agree on MBDTF. I never saw that coming.

[Ringo]

Love Devil In A New Dress. I tend to pick tracks from Dark Fantasy when I go back to it (which is admittedly really quite often) and that tends to be the first I go for. Kanye's best verse perhaps.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Any of you guys dig Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire? I've been really digging him over the last year. His most recent mixtape Kismet is tight as fuck. Killer beats, and eXquire has a very unique style and flow. He can go from deep, serious tracks to something on the goofier side, though on this album he definitely takes a more prominently serious approach. His last album Lost in Translation is a good listen, too.

[Stringer Bell]

Cage's new record "Kill The Architect" is out today. Definitely a darker record than anything prior, from lyrics to beats. I streamed it twice last night, it's incredible. Best work since Movies, and that's not putting down his other 2 albums, I just find this new record to be better.

I like the new album, but no fucking way. Hell's Winter is the best thing Cage has ever made, and likely will ever make. It's so far beyond all the other projects.

[Fro]

I bought Cage's tape, opened it and dubbed over it

[Stringer Bell]

I wish that beef had materialized more than it did. At the time, Cage was probably one of the few guys who could actually hang with Eminem, and the root of the issue actually made sense with Cage being upset Em had exploded off of a very similar style that Cage used first. In the end obviously their careers went two completely different directions but I still find Cage to be far more interesting and enjoyable than Eminem, especially these days. Recovery had some good moments, but the overall theme of personal triumph/inspirational rap was pretty fucking corny coming from Marshall, in my opinion. I'M NOOOOOOOT AFRAIIIIIIIIIIIID! :dead:

[Nash Diesel]

Hell's Winter is awesome, but Movies spoke to me on a different level. Here's a link to an interview where Necro talks about the Cage-Eminem beef and it's negative effect it had on the white rapper community;

http://forums.ughh.com/readpost.asp?Forum=Common&Whichpage=1&QuestionID=2315387

Necro basically "blames" Cage for Eminem never reaching out to other white rappers and how he enouraged Cage not to diss Eminem fearing the backlash would only hurt Cage and other white rappers on the rise like Necro himself. I don't really agree with Necro but I guess I could see it if he's saying for example, High N Mighty might've suffered because they had the same manager as Eminem at one point and maybe their relationship with Cage was viewed as a negative but idk, not really believing Cage not dissing Eminem would have meant Eminem would've put on artists like High N Mighty, Cage, Necro, etc. That wasn't Em's place to make that decision, that was the record companies pulling the strings.

The mainstream apparently can only handle 1 new white rapper every 10 years. The 90's had Vanilla Ice, the 00's had Em, and now we have Macklemore.

[Simon]

Necro was never going to be big. His name's NECRO for fuck sake. I loved his early stuff (the album with The Most Sadistic and Get On Your Knees, forget the name...it was great) but the chances of him ever becoming big were literally nil. His content was too dark, his beats too anti-commercial. And his name was Necro.

[Fro]

I Need Drugs is my jam

[Nash Diesel]

Necro was never going to be big. His name's NECRO for fuck sake. I loved his early stuff (the album with The Most Sadistic and Get On Your Knees, forget the name...it was great) but the chances of him ever becoming big were literally nil. His content was too dark, his beats too anti-commercial. And his name was Necro.

Exactly. He would have had to tone down his style so much and it would've affected his legacy hardcore. I mean, would he be doing The Godfathers album with Kool G Rap? Doubtful. I mean look at Non-Phixion, lyrically right up there with anyone on the underground and they couldn't gain the big mainstream success. The mainstream would never truly accept artists like Necro, ICP, Non-Phixion, Cage, Twiztid, their content is just too hardcore. But thanks to artists like them, they showed how to make money on the underground and that you didn't need radio play, MTV, BET, big corporations telling you what you can and can't say, to be profitable AND have legions of fans more dedicated than any Lil Wayne fan will be.

I won't lie though, I wish Cage had stuck with Necro, Daydreams and Agent Orange are brutal bad ass songs.

[G-Fresh]

G Rap is a fuckin legend in the game.

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoIpx1ZxFeM

Bino better be hittin that.

[G-Fresh]

I got a ride to Fright Fest yesterday. R.O.C. was already performing when we got there. ABK, Blaze, & Twiztid all did like 20-30 minute sets. The crowd could have been a lot more rowdy, but these young kids are soft. Chronic weed everywhere though. I'm tryin to hit up Tech N9ne tomorrow if I can get a ride. I already know I ain't got a ride to Devils Night or Hallowicked in The D. I'm gonna hit up R.A. the Rugged Man, Potluck, Whitney Peyton, & Black Pegasus on November 12th though.

[Stringer Bell]

QuietStorm is the man! That is all.

[Bert]

That guy died man.

[Stringer Bell]

:lol: Nah, I have him on Facebook and he helped me big time with something work-related today. I know he'll probably never see this in here, but I just wanted to show my appreciation again.

[Bert]

Tell him to start posting in here again.

Even if it's just staning canibus we need more people posting in the thread. I won't even argue with him this time.

[Fro]

Bert I'm surprised you haven't posted the Hopsin single yet. It's much better than Hop Madness.

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeQWPRtxn-s

I saw on twitter he put one out but I forgot to look it up and yeah it's good. Agree 100% with what he said about Yeezus.

[Fro]

You were ecstatic to buy Yeezus? That doesn't sound like you

[G-Fresh]

QuietStorm is cool. He should come back most def.

[Bert]

You were ecstatic to buy Yeezus? That doesn't sound like you

Ok, I agree with him 85%.

[Fro]

So MMLP2 has leaked. I however will be abstaining until Tuesday when I get it in stores

[Bert]

Downloading on 3g while I'm on my lunch break. KTT is saying good things about it.

[Fro]

True, which must mean it's great since they hate on Em super hard. Bert do you post on KTT? What's your username? Mine is Prez

[Bert]

True, which must mean it's great since they hate on Em super hard. Bert do you post on KTT? What's your username? Mine is Prez

I just registered like a month ago and don't post much but my username there is Icey.

[Bert]

Kendrick on his Em flow.

:panic:

[Stringer Bell]

MMLP2 is pretty disappointing in my opinion. It has its moments, but I just don't think I'm into what Em is selling anymore. The rapping on songs like Rap God and Brainless is awesome, and some of the samples are really cool, but overall, meh. I actually think my favorite song might be "So Far...," which is probably the least traditional hip-hop of them all. It's just really fun and unique.. Love Game is in the same vein.

The new Action Bronson, Blue Chips 2, is a lot more enjoyable in my opinion. Just banger after banger, no weak tracks at all.

[Bert]

I love it. The deluxe track Beautiful Pain should have been on the actual album though. And probably even a single because it's that good.

Also, Bad Guy is song of the year to me right now.

[G-Fresh]

I don't like many female rappers, but I dig me some Whitney Peyton.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrfM8jpYzyQ

[Simon]

Early impressions on MMLP2 are that this is dope as FUCK. Far better than anything else he's done since TES - the high points are higher, and the consistency is there as well. It's not a classic like his first two albums, but it's a really, really good CD. He sounds RIGHT again, after years of always sounding a bit off-key. Desperation is fucking incredible.

[G-Fresh]

R.A. droppin some wisdom.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMkZnIeo1jk

[Bert]

I've never heard of Frankie Ocean, is he italian?

I see why he would think that but I don't agree.

As soon as he said rapper caring more about fashion than lyrics I immediately thought of Travis Scott.

I hate that guy more than Lil B, 2 Chainz, Wacka Flocka or Gucci Mane.

At least those guys know what they are.

[Chris Scott]

Yeah had a chance to listen to MMLP2, first thoughts quite good with some nice songs. First track Bad Guy is excellent. Like its been pointed out not as good as his first 2 but he's kinda back to his best.

[Bert]

Get the deluxe and listen to beautiful pain.

[Chris Scott]

Yeah I will get on that thanks Bert.

[Fro]

Haven't heard the album yet but I did download the bonus tracks. They are quality. Groundhog Day is probably the best, and I really like Baby too. Beautiful Pain is good Bert but probably my 4th favorite of the 5.

[G-Fresh]

Tech N9ne - Therapy


01. The Ghost (Therapy) (Skit)
02. Public School (feat. Krizz Kaliko)
03. Head Now (feat. Bernz & Wrekonize)
04. Hiccup (3:19)
05. Therapy (Skit)
06. Shame On Me (feat. Caroline Dupuy Heerwagen)
07. Jacob Wells Message (Skit)
08. When Demons Come (feat. Tyler Lyon)
09. Therapy Skit Three (Skit)
10. I.L.L.
11. Stop The Sailor

http://www12.zippyshare.com/v/46287885/file.html

[Stringer Bell]

Read today that there's a MMLP2 bonus track that comes with Call of Duty Ghosts called "Don't Front" that samples the beat and uses the hook from Black Moon "I Got Cha Opin." Apparently Em didn't sample Buckshot, but actually flew him out to re-record the vocals for the hook. Pretty cool, and from the snippet, this might be the best track of the entire bunch. Just great, I wish more of the album was like this.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3H2N5nUqsk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd7H83OFdz4

[Fro]

I Gotcha Open is probably my favorite bass line from a rap song ever

[Atty]

Beautiful Pain is good Bert but probably my 4th favorite of the 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNKFKpO_Ye0


;)

Absolutely love Beautiful Pain. One of my favorite Em songs period. That and Bad Guy get better every time I listen to them. Have a ton over the past few days. Like, constantly. The bit post crash in Bad Guy is so amazing with headphones on.

Not sure how I'd rank the album against his others. A lot of it is better and shows his growth, but it doesn't quite have the same flow as his other albums.

[QuietStorm]

That guy died man.
You lie.

[Bert]

:panic:

[Ringo]

Definitely better than the last three (yes that's not hard but given his recent track record I wouldn't have been surprised if it was even worse). "Bad Guy" is great. Probably shouldn't enjoy "Rhyme Or Reason" but I do. Kendrick's feature is miles away from what I was expecting. Some terrific bonus tracks as well. Still some duds, so-so production, cringeworthy lines and cut-paste choruses but he sounds more like he used to and clearly this record is a little more hip-hop-fan-friendly.

[Atty]

I really find Em interesting in recent years. Relapse was fairly shit and his stuff is either brilliant or shit with little in between, but he's put out a lot of my favorite stuff of his fairly recently. I Need A Doctor, while a Dr. Dre credit is probably my favorite song he's been anywhere near. There are a number on the new album I absolutely love and I really like that his style has branched out musically (Skylar Grey has massively elevated him.)

The deluxe version of TMMLP2 is the superior version, but it's kind of odd that I find myself liking some of the extra tracks so much more than those on the regular album. There's a phenomenal album in here and I only wish it was structured a bit better.

[G-Fresh]

What the fuck is up with him saying he's a combo of Tyler the Creator & Violent J? I tried listening to some and didn't get far. Dude is completely wack to me and there is nothing he could do to make me like him.

[Bert]

He's said before he'll use whatever names work for the rhyme and people read too much into it. You should listen to Bad Guy.

[Nash Diesel]

What the fuck is up with him saying he's a combo of Tyler the Creator & Violent J? I tried listening to some and didn't get far. Dude is completely wack to me and there is nothing he could do to make me like him.

"I'm a cross between Manson, Esham, and Ozzy"

[G-Fresh]

You should listen to Bad Guy.

That ain't gonna happen.

[Simon]

The bit post crash in Bad Guy is so amazing with headphones on.


Yes.

Seriously this album is fucking insane. I don't know whether it's the low expectations or what but I've been completely blown away by it.

I think my favourite tracks so far are Bad Guy, Desperation and Love Game. I suspect the novelty of Love Game will wear off after a while and it might not be among my favourites, but right now I'm loving it. Kendrick's impression of Em is great. So far the only tracks on the entire CD that haven't gripped me are Asshole and Baby.

Also, although it was completely understandable that people were suspicious of the title of the album (something Em acknowledges himself on one of the tracks, possibly Love Game?), as it turns out it's completely legitimate but in a different way to what I was expecting...stylistically it's not that similar to the original, but thematically it completely makes sense as a sequel. That seems obvious now I know, but I wasn't expecting it at all. There are tons of connections, some transparent and some implied. It was a dangerous move raising expectations by giving it that title, but I think he's pulled it off superbly.

[Fro]

Only about 1.5 listens in, but I'm definitely liking MMLP2. Not exactly a shocker considering I'm a big fan of Relapse and Recovery. I think this is superior to those, though probably not by as much as most people would have you believe.

[Fro]

The 3 track sequence of So Far, Love Game and Headlights is my favorite part of the album. Great tracks

[Chris Scott]

Yes.

Seriously this album is fucking insane. I don't know whether it's the low expectations or what but I've been completely blown away by it. .

My thoughts exactly.

[Brady]

Eminem did Rap God live for the YTMA, that shit was insane.

I feel that Eminem's rhyme schemes have improved since MMLP.. so I'm impressed by this album. My favorite song is So Much Better and it's only because it reminds me of Puke haha!

[Fro]

Puke is definitely an underrated song, I like it too (although I hate the puking sound at the beginning)

[Stringer Bell]

Don't Front is amazing. One of Eminem's best songs ever in my opinion.

Groundhog Day is pretty awesome too.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Checking out MMLP 2 right now, and I'm not really sure how I feel about it. Lyrically, it's excellent. I like most of the beats...but I'm really not digging a lot of the hooks. The radio-friendly female-led hooks are just weak and take me out of the listening experience. Rihanna's chorus in "Monster" is an excellent example. I can be really digging a track, like that one, and then the chorus hits and I just want to shake my head.

It's definitely a great attempt, and the lyrics are pretty much Em at his best. I'll be listening to it a couple times more, but those choruses really kill it for me.

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjsrhdcLhTo

[Fro]

Don't Front is amazing. One of Eminem's best songs ever in my opinion.

I love it, but it's not touching my top 30 Em songs. It's more like a mixtape cut, the way he raps over a classic beat and interpolates some of the lines. It's cool that he got Buckshot to re-record the vocals though. BTW he said he would have included it on the deluxe cd but they didn't clear the sample in time so that's why it's Call of Duty only.

All in all he just released 1 hour 47 minutes of new music, and it's definitely his best run since the year The Eminem Show and 8 Mile Soundtrack both came out. Not bad for a 41 year old. There isn't a song on there that doesn't have at least some merit. You could certainly trim the main album, exchange some of the bonus tracks for Brainless or Survival or whatever your least favorite track is and turn it into a potential classic instead of what it is which is probably somewhere between good and very good. I do agree that there are too many female singer hooks. MMLP1 only had 1 song with singing (Stan), and on the sequel it's like every other track. They're not bad though... Bad Guy's hook fits perfectly and The Monster is actually a big grower for me, it's very catchy... but Survival and Monster are not BOTH needed. I think Marshall maxed himself out for hook writing (some of his own aren't stellar), but if replaced a singer or two with some sample-laden hooks, or even a guest rapper like Dre or Royce on a hook, that would have been better. I love Headlights, even the cheesy hook vibes well with the verses, but you could have shortened it by about a minute at the end there.

Speaking of Eminem this is a good interview with Jess Bass about the old days:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/91782/qa-producer-jeff-bass-on-discovering-young-eminem-he-was-sitting-on-the-toilet-and-he-came-up-with-the-alter-ego

And this is kinda cool too, Kweli on Em:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St0670cSFe4

[Psycho666Soldier]

I love it, but it's not touching my top 30 Em songs. It's more like a mixtape cut, the way he raps over a classic beat and interpolates some of the lines. It's cool that he got Buckshot to re-record the vocals though. BTW he said he would have included it on the deluxe cd but they didn't clear the sample in time so that's why it's Call of Duty only.

All in all he just released 1 hour 47 minutes of new music, and it's definitely his best run since the year The Eminem Show and 8 Mile Soundtrack both came out. Not bad for a 41 year old. There isn't a song on there that doesn't have at least some merit. You could certainly trim the main album, exchange some of the bonus tracks for Brainless or Survival or whatever your least favorite track is and turn it into a potential classic instead of what it is which is probably somewhere between good and very good. I do agree that there are too many female singer hooks. MMLP1 only had 1 song with singing (Stan), and on the sequel it's like every other track. They're not bad though... Bad Guy's hook fits perfectly and The Monster is actually a big grower for me, it's very catchy... but Survival and Monster are not BOTH needed. I think Marshall maxed himself out for hook writing (some of his own aren't stellar), but if replaced a singer or two with some sample-laden hooks, or even a guest rapper like Dre or Royce on a hook, that would have been better. I love Headlights, even the cheesy hook vibes well with the verses, but you could have shortened it by about a minute at the end there.

Speaking of Eminem this is a good interview with Jess Bass about the old days:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/91782/qa-producer-jeff-bass-on-discovering-young-eminem-he-was-sitting-on-the-toilet-and-he-came-up-with-the-alter-ego

And this is kinda cool too, Kweli on Em:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St0670cSFe4

It's not even that they're JUST female hooks, it's that they sound like typical pop hooks. The hook on Stan is something beautiful that evokes emotion. The hooks on these tracks are just distracting.

But as you said, from the one listen, every track has some merit, and with the pieces that are great, there is definitely a classic. The structure is just weak and hurts the album more than it should.

I can definitely agree it's better than Relapse and especially Recovery, and I really REALLY like the lyrics. I just wish it didn't have so much stereotypical mainstream influence.

[Chris Scott]

Yeah got to say Bad Guy is one of my best songs at the minute.

[Fro]

And in other Eminem news (yes I'm in complete Shady mode this week)...

First artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have 4 songs on the Billboard top 20 at the same time. And someone started a fire in his old house that's on the cover of MMLP2. $5,000 is being offered for information on the arson. DVDA's whereabouts at the time of the fire are currently unknown.

[Atty]

The 3 track sequence of So Far, Love Game and Headlights is my favorite part of the album. Great tracks

:yes:

That actually ties into one of my structure critiques of the album. The run is so great that it was a let down that it didn't end there. That run up to and ending with Headlights would have been the perfect close to the album.

Bad Guy really is amazing. I can't stop listening to it. If I ride my bike to work, I'm wearing my headphones and just keep looping that. I can't say enough about the post crash bit. It just takes over and is so amazing.



As for the popier female hooks, I think that's very good for Em. It generally gives a great clash with him. It's a huge part of what made I Need A Doctor so haunting and amazing a few years ago. Same for The Way You Lie. Em expanding the contrast with other types of music is great for him and only helps his style. On this album, Asshole and Brainless are the only two I'm not really liking. Survival's fine but feels like it's straight off Recovery.

[Fro]

That actually ties into one of my structure critiques of the album. The run is so great that it was a let down that it didn't end there. That run up to and ending with Headlights would have been the perfect close to the album.

Gotta disagree. I think ending the album on 80 seconds of the guy from Fun singing wouldn't have been wise. Evil Twin isn't as good as the 3 songs that precede it but it's still dope, and a better closer IMO. He generally ends on a lyrical assault type track rather than a personal one.

We are the same, BITCH.

[son_of_foley]

Any thoughts on Blue Chips 2?

Enjoying it. Getting into Action and Chance the rapper a lot this past couple weeks

[Simon]

Can't remember where I heard this originally so it might have been here, but this track is on a delicious oldschool vibe.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUYVxtW-77g

Reminds me of the old DJ Format/MC Abdominal stuff from ten years ago.

[Clive Plasma]

Reminds me of the old DJ Format/MC Abdominal stuff from ten years ago.

Real talk. That Vicious Battle Raps track was and still is, incredible. I remember the first time I heard it on some free Oxford 6 TV Channel.

[Simon]

Used to be on Channel U or whatever the fuck it was called all the time, cool video IIRC done in one take.

EDIT: Just realised I'm talking about The Hit Song, not Vicious Battle Raps. Both awesome.

EDIT2: Chatting a bag of pie, it was Vicious Battle Raps


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwZ5zUxGX6k

"With the strength of ten men...who each possess the strength of ten men"

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXrbncRB3tg

[Bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-hSHO_Lh0M

Abella Anderson, goddamn.

[Stringer Bell]

:yes: Probably my favorite porn star.

New Death Grips is out. Off the first listen it might be their best yet.

https://soundcloud.com/deathgrips/sets/government-plates

[G-Fresh]

R.A. The Rugged Man is gonna be on Red Eye on FNC tonight at 3 AM so watch that shit.

[Bert]

MMLP2 certified platinum today.

[Chris Scott]

No surprise as its class.

[MikeHunt]

No surprise as it's eminem

[Fro]

True dat.

It's actually fairly disappointing second week sales by his standards. Recovery did 741k fist week and 313k second week. MMLP2 went 793 to 210.

[Bert]

DVDA, hit me up if you find a Knock Madness leak.

[Stringer Bell]

This year has been pretty amazing for rap releases, one of the best in recent memory. While there are probably only a handful of really mind-blowing projects (Run the Jewels, Yeezus, Old, Blue Chips 2, etc.), there's piles and piles of good to awesome stuff that came out this year.

Just recently, I've got albums from Bun B, Necro and Kool G Rap, J-Zone, Marco Polo, Da Mafia 6ix, MellowHigh, Death Grips, Troy Ave, and Natue to digest.

[Psycho666Soldier]

Da Mafia 6ix is a pretty tight album if you're into the old Three 6 stuff. They kind of lose their luster when they aren't a group, and with DJ Paul getting back on top of his production, it just brings it back to a better time. Not treading any new ground, but it's a fun listen if you're into that stuff.

[G-Fresh]

This is the last segment. R.A. was on all hour though.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHo5cPdaWhc&feature=youtu.be

[Bert]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVjq0qkcGfA

I'm so hyped. That hook. 18 days (but not for the leak :hyper:)

[MikeHunt]

So bland it makes me feel ill

[Fro]

DVDA, hit me up if you find a Knock Madness leak.

Leaked

[G-Fresh]

The only links I seen were to shitty 128 rips.

[Fro]

I'm liking Knock Madness. Better than Raw, I think

[Fro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRckgn36lzY

:rofl:

[Bert]

Seth does a great Kim impression. I understand it was shot for shot but those makeout scenes were a little much.

[Bert]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy6CnyBdF94

Even better side by side. :rofl:

[Fro]

Incredible.

[Bert]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WpMY4L_iAs

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[son_of_foley]

The Charlemagne tha god interview was incredible. Is he normally like that? Thought he played kanye incredibly well and west came across as petulant and ignorant

[G-Fresh]

Kanye is a faggot bitch.

[Bert]

http://i.imgur.com/xGsQtVT.png

[Bert]

The Charlemagne tha god interview was incredible. Is he normally like that? Thought he played kanye incredibly well and west came across as petulant and ignorant

Yeah, Charlemagne is good at that. And Kanye is ignorant.

[Bert]

Because The Internet leaked. It surpassed the hype. Will be on repeat for a long time.
http://rgf.is/download/38583-childish-gambino-because-the-internet

[Fro]

I don't know how much hype there is for it to be honest, however I look forward to listening since I loved both Camp and Royalty. Also Bert you never posted your thoughts on Knock Madness. What gives?

Have people heard this track that dropped a few weeks ago? I guess Busta and Q-Tip are putting out a mixtape together or something. Anyway this song is dope, don't let Lil Wayne dissuade you:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl_s-9TbO-M

[Bert]

http://modelsandrappers.com/2013/12/03/940/

Here's Because The Internet streaming.

I was kind of underwhelmed by Knock Madness. Maybe there was just too much hype. I still like some of the songs but I couldn't even tell you the names of them right now. I'll go back to it when I stop listening to BTI which will be a while.

And there's tons of hype for Because The Internet if you're in the right place.
http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/index.php?topic=12017

[JRSlim21]

The new Busta/Q-Tip track has been on loop for my daily commute. The throwback sample is just perfect and their flows are so classic.

[son_of_foley]

TIP song is amazing. Can't fucking wait for the mixtape. Has his album been pushed AGAIN?

[Fro]

I don't recall Q-Tip's solo album ever having a release date but it is pegged for 2014

[son_of_foley]

It was originally pegged for last year before Christmas.

I think they sort of said he would have had more involvement with cruel summer except he was busy on the album.

[Fro]

Yeah gonna be called The Last Zulu or something, should be dope cuz everything Tip's been touching lately has been gold. Dude's flow is as good now as it was in 1991.

been meaning to say this for a while but I've been digging the Jhene Aiko EP a lot. Good for some smooth R&B with rap features

[Bert]

I'm calling it now, this will be the album that makes people wake the fuck up.

http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/childish-gambino-prep-school-mic-killa-quick-reaction-because-the-internet

Fro, you need to listen to this. It's streaming on iTunes radio.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/station/idra.763686899?at=10l6Xd&ct=1ouadljq4vwdb

[Simon]

I'm calling it now, this will be the album that makes people wake the fuck up.

http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/childish-gambino-prep-school-mic-killa-quick-reaction-because-the-internet:lol:

[son_of_foley]

Yeah gonna be called The Last Zulu or something, should be dope cuz everything Tip's been touching lately has been gold. Dude's flow is as good now as it was in 1991.

been meaning to say this for a while but I've been digging the Jhene Aiko EP a lot. Good for some smooth R&B with rap features

Enjoying the Jhene stuff too. Surprised she's been around as long as she has tbh

[Bert]

You should listen to Pink Toes if you like Jhene. :shifty:

[Fro]

I'm calling it now, this will be the album that makes people wake the fuck up.

http://www.complex.com/music/2013/12/childish-gambino-prep-school-mic-killa-quick-reaction-because-the-internet

Fro, you need to listen to this. It's streaming on iTunes radio.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/station/idra.763686899?at=10l6Xd&ct=1ouadljq4vwdb

been hearing enough good things that I'll probably just wait until tuesday and cop in stores

[Bert]

Screenplay is up, the album makes a lot more sense now.

http://becausetheinter.net/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cNOq4Uh1s4

[Simon]

God you're a tedious fucking fanboy gimp.

[Ringo]

Listening to "Because The Internet" now. Some good production here. Gambino has changed things up which is welcome.

Update later but so far better than anticipated.

Also let's do some lists soon! My top albums will probably be fairly obvious but I'm keen to do a songs list too.

[son_of_foley]

My list (will be a bit terrible)

1) Run the Jewels
2) Acid Rap
3) Long Live A$AP
4) Indicud (fanboy sorry)
5) Blue Chips 2
6) Born Sinner

Hated Kanyes and Jays albums this year.

Havent listened to Em. Need to give Drake and Earl another go around.

Excited about new Gambino and the Q-Tip mixtape. Think it's been a pretty good year for Hip-Hop tbh.

Kendrick is MVP again this year without doubt. Killed it.

[Bert]

God you're a tedious fucking fanboy gimp.

Here's a list of how many fucks I give.

[Bert]

Hated Kanyes and Jays albums this year.

High five.

[JRSlim21]

Hated Indicud. Was so boring to me.

I came up with a list of my top 10 albums that I'm still working on. Waiting on Childish thought...

1) Yeezus
2) MMLP2
3) Old
4) Czarface
5) My Name is My Name
6) Long Live ASAP
7) Blue Chips 2
8) BOATS II (this is where the quality drops)
9) Magna Carter
10) Saaab Stories

Honorable Mention to Born Sinner and somewhat below that is Wolf.

Is Acid Rap that good? I know Spin is the latest to spark some debate naming Chance their rapper of the year. Kendrick is my MVP.

[Fro]

Acid Rap was okay but it didn't meet the hype for me.

Kendrick can't be the MVP when all he did was a handful of features, IMO

[son_of_foley]

Acid Rap was okay but it didn't meet the hype for me.

Kendrick can't be the MVP when all he did was a handful of features, IMO

I think control verse was that impactful he can be.

Acid Rap is fun but isn't traditional rap music. Couple of cracking tunes on it though. 2nd half of pusha man is insanely good

[son_of_foley]

Hated Indicud. Was so boring to me.

I came up with a list of my top 10 albums that I'm still working on. Waiting on Childish thought...

1) Yeezus
2) MMLP2
3) Old
4) Czarface
5) My Name is My Name
6) Long Live ASAP
7) Blue Chips 2
8) BOATS II (this is where the quality drops)
9) Magna Carter
10) Saaab Stories

Honorable Mention to Born Sinner and somewhat below that is Wolf.

Is Acid Rap that good? I know Spin is the latest to spark some debate naming Chance their rapper of the year. Kendrick is my MVP.

Won't even try to defend indicud as I know I'm a fanboy.

No run the jewels love? That album is insane

[JRSlim21]

I can't rate it because I haven't heard it. Been lazy about d/l it. Have to listen to that and BTE. Any other albums not made by Wayne or Ross worth a listen this year

[son_of_foley]

http://youtu.be/PQL8oZL6koc

Fucking yes.

MOUSE TRAP

[Ringo]

here's a top 15

1. Yeezus
2. Killer Mike & El-P, Run The Jewels (mental and it's the perfect length for this sort of thing.)
3. Black Milk, No Poison No Paradise (yeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh. had this on more than any other hip-hop over the last month)
4. A$AP Rocky, Long Live A$AP ("1train" is great, "Fashion Killa" is great, "Goldie" is great, "Hell" is great, "Ghetto Symphony" is a bonus track but it's really great, also: FUCKIN PROBLEMS. I played this album so much and think it is better than most people say)
5. Danny Brown, Old (too long but still very strong. take some advice from El-P & Killer Mike though Danny)
6. Kid Cudi, Indicud (fanboy, no apologies. he's amazing.)
7. IAM, Arts Martiens (terrific comeback from legendary french hip-hop group)

from here I didn't put too much thought into the order...

8. Pusha T, My Name Is My Name
9. Action Bronson, Blue Chips 2
10. Curren$y, New Jet City (fanboy again. anything the man puts out solo is guaranteed to get me good)
11. Chance The Rapper, Acid Rap (something a bit special developing here?)
12. Earl Sweatshirt, Doris
13. 7L & Esoteric, Czarface
14. The Underachievers, Indigoism (didn't listen to this as much as I should've done but I remember it very fondly)
15. Ka, The Night’s Gambit (terrifying. could be higher but sometimes I'm just not feeling this)

pretty good
Joey Bada$$, Summer Knights
J. Cole, Born Sinner
Freddie Gibbs, ESGN
Cakes da Killa, The Eulogy
Qwel & Maker, Beautiful Raw
Eminem, MMLP2
Prodigy & Alchemist, Albert Einstein
Deltron 3030, Event 2
Big KRIT, King Remembered In Time

mixed bag
The Doppelgangaz, Hark
Curren$y & Young Roddy, Bales
Tyler, Wolf
Kaaris, Or Noir
RA The Rugged Man, Legends Never Die
Drake, Nothing Was The Same
Big Sean, Hall Of Fame (there's a couple of radio friendly bangers here - love Cudi on "First Chain")

didn’t like these on the whole
Jay-Z, Magna Carta Holy Grail
2 Chainz, BOATS II
DJ Khaled, Suffering From Success

still need to digest
Childish Gambino, Because The Internet
Roc Marciano, The Pimpire Strikes Back
Death Grips, Government Plates
Bun-B, Trill OG “the epilogue”

[son_of_foley]

Ringo we should have a fucking RAJAH LISTENING PARTY for journey to mother moon

[Bert]

Mike Hunt and Simon should read this article.

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/childish-gambinos-because-the-internet-review-donald-glover

[MikeHunt]

That's why I don't like it because of the Internet.

NO!

i don't like it cause it's shit, clichéd and completely unoriginal.

I think it's fucking mental you don't like death grip but don't feel the need to post articles (from vice btw haha! Top journalism, surprised they haven't done a "shoved vallium up my bum and listened to gambinos new record" article) that back up why I or others think thy are good. You are insecure about te music you listen to cause deep down you know he's shit.

Carry on fanboy and clean your ears.

[Bert]

Actually I don't give a shit about reviews. I know it's the album of the year. I just wish other people would form their opinions and not flock to review sites like sheep which is why I stress the good ones.

Since if people insist on listening to reviews I will show them that some people actually talk about the music and not just the person behind it.

Anyone who doesn't give this album a chance is missing out on a great experience, bottom line.

Also, that is a really in-depth and well written quality article from vice and I challenge you to find a better one (and don't go to pitchfork that would just make you look dumber)

[MikeHunt]

I have listened to camp and because of the Internet several times and I can tell you I think they are both shit. Not to speak for Simon but I'm 100% certain he's listened to at least some of the drivel you post on here as well.

"I know its album of the year!"
This and the campaign of trying to get everyone to like something makes you seem very stupid. You have to accept that people like different things. You don't like Yeezus or death grips, I do and think gambino is a pile of wank. This Bert is the beauty of music. Now instead of acting like a wee prick spoilt boy that's had his scone stolen cause Simon, pitchfork and myself don't love your boyfriend go and listen to him and enjoy his music. Stop trying to convert.

ps

im right your wrong. You'll grow out of him. Regardless of how many videos, articles, snipers of comedy you post I'm ne'er going to like him. If he releases something I like I'll tell you. He's a flash in the pan pile of pish btw.

[Bert]

There's no of in the title and I highly doubt you listened to even one song on the album.

[son_of_foley]

Technically I'm going to count vicious lies and dangerous rumours in my albums of the year as it was this day last year it was released.

It's banging would easily be in my top 10

[son_of_foley]

Cant believe none of you gimps mentioned ad-rock

[MikeHunt]

There's no of in the title and I highly doubt you listened to even one song on the album.

What exactly would I gain from that you absolute cretin. Of course I've listened to it.

I couldn't recall if it had an I in it nor does it really matter.

[MikeHunt]

I'll do a top ten later.

[Ringo]

bert is mental sometimes.

[JRSlim21]

I've not been feeling 100% so I can't fully pay attention but while I loved Camp, Because the Internet I feel is just average. Maybe I hyped it up in my head too much

[son_of_foley]

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND LISTEN TO TIP

http://www.audiomack.com/album/directlyrics/the-abstract-the-dragon

[Fro]

After a couple listens of Because the Internet, it's a tough album to wrap your head around. It's much more of a concept album and I don't think any of its individual songs are as satisfying as Outside, Bonfire, Heartbeat, Backpackers or Sunrise, to name my favorites from Camp. As a whole though, BTI works well and I enjoy it. It's definitely far from a traditional rap album. Not sure how to rate it quite yet.

[MikeHunt]

It's crap

[Fro]

Your campaign of trying to get everyone to dislike something makes you seem very stupid. You have to accept that people like different things. This MikeHunt is the beauty of music.

[MikeHunt]

If you like it that's great. I think it's a pile of shit. I listened through again this morning and it's just not good

[son_of_foley]

Hip-Hop Personality of the year :- Lets hear it.

I'm voting for RUN THE JEWELS. Right I know it's two people but these guys are fucking brilliant. Best soundbytes. Best album and not scared to chat shit to anyone going.

LOVE YOU KILLER MIKE


http://youtu.be/NDQoMv4WBlc

[Bert]

http://www.albumoftheyear.org/ratings/user-highest-rated/2013/hip-hop/

Acid Rap wasn't even an album though.

I'll give run the jewels a proper look sometime. I think I've only heard one song from that album, the title track thanks to 2dopeboyz promoting it.

I'll also try to listen to the death grips album. That guillotine song did admittedly get stuck in my head.

[MikeHunt]

Your life will be better when you appreciate death grips

[G-Fresh]

Death Grips is some wild shit.

[Stringer Bell]

DVDA, you're cool people, but that sig is distasteful on all levels. Not offensive, just bad.

I haven't even listened to BTI in full yet but these reviews are pretty crazy. Most of them hardly even touch on the album, and instead waste time talking about his past and that (silent) short film, which is again, silent and more importantly has little to do with the actual music. Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound did this, and the Vice "it's because of the internet" piece was even worse. It's fucking ridiculous and that's why I like guys like Anthony Fantano. I might completely disagree with a review, but at least he spends the majority of his time talking about the album.

That said, all this new extra stuff to go along with the record is pretty overblown IMO. If your album is good enough, then drop that shit and let it speak for itself. From what I read, the screenplay itself was pretty bad, and didn't actually have a conclusion. I still look forward to spending time with the album though, I liked Camp and Royalty, I just don't think he's quite as genius as some people seem to. And that's not a shot at Bert either, there are a lot of folks who rate him just as highly.

I'll do a best of list later.

[G-Fresh]

It's been that for a while. I don't know why it's been posting my sig the past couple days when I use quick reply.

[Bert]

I haven't even listened to BTI in full yet but these reviews are pretty crazy. Most of them hardly even touch on the album, and instead waste time talking about his past and that (silent) short film, which is again, silent and more importantly has little to do with the actual music. Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound did this, and the Vice "it's because of the internet" piece was even worse. It's fucking ridiculous and that's why I like guys like Anthony Fantano. I might completely disagree with a review, but at least he spends the majority of his time talking about the album.

That said, all this new extra stuff to go along with the record is pretty overblown IMO. If your album is good enough, then drop that shit and let it speak for itself.

I agree about COS and I argued with them on twitter about it.

I said "There's a pretty obvious distinction in how in depth you went in with this review compared to your only other rap review." Because at the time the only other one I knew this guy did was Danny Brown's Old.

And then he replied: "Guess what, the Danny Brown record warrants a harder look at the text, because there is actually something to find."

And he followed up with: "But yes, I am talking about bigger things than what the song sounds like. I'm talking about the music's point. You don't need someone describing sounds. And really, it just says more about the album that I don't engage it on a "what it sounds like" level. Didn't interest me."

So, I guess music reviewers don't have to review music anymore apparently. :lol:

Pitchfork's review was funny because they said some positive things and then it seemed like they just picked a number at random (Well we can't give it above a 6 or we look dumb so how about 5.8?)

Anthony just hated the singing. I was glad that at least one person went in depth and explained their reasoning even if I don't agree with his opinion.

Anyway,

Donald has been saying in interviews he doesn't want to just make albums anymore. He wants to make worlds. Albums people rip and listen to for a week or two and then they're done with them and move on to the next one. He made the script to go along with the album to make it make more sense and he's said the live shows will also help things make sense but I'm not sure what he means by that part. But I do understand where he's coming from with wanting to make an experience that's deeper and more lasting than an album.

This albums really weird to me because when Camp and Royalty first dropped I didn't like them very much, they grew on me but first impressions were not great. But this one I loved instantly. :dunno:

Album projections are at 90k so that's pretty damn cool considering that's almost double what Camp did (the label head thanked Spotify for that but I think it's more that Donald was actually able to promote it and do live listening sessions instead of being on the Community set)

I listened to the Run The Jewels album today too. I really like it and played it through a few times but then I went back to listening to BTI on repeat. I haven't gave Death Grips a chance yet though.

[Bert]

Haha, the guy who runs the Hamburger Helper twitter likes the album I guess.
http://i.imgur.com/aL0aSvO.png

[G-Fresh]

Fuck Hamburger Helper. That nigga ain't ever helped me.

[son_of_foley]

The article pigeons and planes did on his album release stuff did sound interesting but I do worry he's dissappearing up his own arse with some of this stuff.

Camp was a solid album. I really enjoyed it and still listen to it.

This stuff about creating worlds etc isn't new. I mean Bowie was doing it forever but at the end of the day the music has the longer life right?