Tag Archives: Hip Hop

Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Electro rap

Moods

Vince Staples best? Rap that incorporates the interesting parts of electro

Thoughts

I admire hybrids where artists take sounds from a genre's fringes and incorporate them into a popular format. Kanye gets a lot of credit for that with Yeezus but I like this better. Production is what makes Big Fish such a worthwhile record with Staples leveraging a variety of electro producers to create a quilt that is intense, booming and always engaging. His rhymes are direct in delivery, creating a steady presence and interesting juxtaposition against the variety.

The result is a great modern Rap record with a youthful but wise energy. It's uneven but one that's bursting with provoking ideas on what makes effective music. I prefer that to the world of over polished pop without soul and have rewarded it with reslistens.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Vince-Staples-Big-Fish-Theory/release/11271320

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l9kzS_B7gg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLpH78k5A9A

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6iAzyhm0p0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa4vBlzMaeQ

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Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory

Description: Album Review of Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Koushik – Be With

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

60s psychedelica with a hip hop bend

Moods

hauntology psychedelica

Thoughts

There's an effort here to make this sound old with vinyl record crackle and surface noise as well as low fidelity mics. It's effective and compliments the scattered instrumentation to create a spectral hazy psychedelica that's interesting and true to original influences (not the watered down modern 'chill' stuff).

Works well, rivals caribous early catalog who does a very similar thing ( honestly you could've told me Dan snaith made this as it's a dead ringer to some of his work).

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Koushik-Be-With/release/484910

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs1inZNRlKw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqZCiW5pGlM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikemItj6tI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsVy6a7dl7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxfz8TmJ8gs

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Koushik – Be With

Description: Album Review of Koushik – Be With


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Various – Brainfeeder X

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Modern alternative electro with a strong influence of hip hop and jazz.

Moods

An exploratory dive into the wonderful brainfeeder

Thoughts

It's incredible to hear what brainfeeder has become. In my mind I continue to associate  the label (incorrectly) as a 1 trick pony built around flying lotus' wompy LA g-funk. The label is so much more and the brainfeeder roster has expanded on this in directions I wasn't aware of: alt hip hop, chilled out funk, ambient, glitchy house, live jazz.. it's all there and more.

I won't spend too much time getting into the album as sound vary but it's all quality. The first half is devoted to the past, whereas the second half is forward looking with unreleased tracks. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with an exceptional label.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Brainfeeder-X/release/12899152

Listen!

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Various – Brainfeeder X

Description: Album Review of Various – Brainfeeder X


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Shawty Pimp, Reddog – Comin’ Real Wit It

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

90s graphic southern rap

Moods

A hipster gangster rap reissue and classic soundtrack for riding dirty.

Thoughts

This is the stuff of hipster dreams: a tape reissue from an obscure southern rapper. The result has this pleasing lofi quality, you get the sense that part of the production is missing from the version you're hearing; as if you've been ripped a tape of a tape that's lost part of the fidelity.

Songs are really just flows, not much pop structure but it's fun and loose, noones swinging for the fences with over production and songwriters. Gives it a refreshing personal intimacy. Graphic for sure but if you're OK with that its appealing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Shawty-Pimp-Feat-Reddog-Comin-Real-Wit-It/release/6341713

Listen!

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Shawty Pimp, Reddog – Comin’ Real Wit It

Description: Album Review of Shawty Pimp, Reddog – Comin’ Real Wit It


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Blood Orange – Negro Swan

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Modern day emo synth pop with flourishes of hip hop

Moods

Comfortable with who you really are

Thoughts

Dev hynes feels fully exposed on negro swan and I'm not sure I like it. I love his songwriting (see my other reviews of his records) but the quiet style he portrays here lacks his great pop songwriting I've come to expect. I feel like a jerk writing this, he's getting more personal and yet I like it less? The production is great. His basic synth thing has just the right amount of modern dark hip hop production to it. I like the overall message (be yourself) and his inclusion of the recurring narrator works well. Just won't be the album of his that I come back to

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Blood-Orange-Negro-Swan/release/12647360

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVH_wxk9ZtE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSgsvJC9Nw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5uvKrDbmQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIlauccaH88

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Blood Orange – Negro Swan

Description: Album Review of Blood Orange – Negro Swan


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Kids These Days – Traphouse Rock

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Rap with a rock band

Moods

The energy of a live show with the polish of the studio

Thoughts

I really like some of these productions, distinct in their use of instrumentation. The album didn't really resonate with me. Almost felt like canned aggression, too polished as a studio album.  

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kids-These-Days-Traphouse-Rock/release/4536212

Listen!

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Kids These Days – Traphouse Rock

Description: Album Review of Kids These Days – Traphouse Rock


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Modern pop rap

Moods

Gospel rap

Thoughts

I like tracks and parts but overall too churchy for me. Production is good and Chance has a good verse on one track but not enough.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/BJ-The-Chicago-Kid-In-My-Mind/release/8813748

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEh7dnVxV84

Spotify


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BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind

Description: Album Review of BJ The Chicago Kid – In My Mind


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Travis Scott – Astroworld

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Travis Scott's distinct brand of trap featuring a cast of guest appearances

Moods

Bumped up loud and riding around

Thoughts

Enjoyable but the immediate appeal I found in initial listens is starting to wane (though that's not a comment on Travis Scott, trap rap like this feels very flavor of the moment). I've liked Travis Scott's singles in the past and I'm impressed by the coherent vision he's executing here.

Lyrically he portrays a disconnected drug dude, thing a poppy portrayal of the southern chopped and screwed vibe. It's partnered well with the dark boomy sound of his production.

I like the psychedelic moments, including a production credit from Tame Impala. It's a distinct approach in hip hop production and I hope others try to do more in that vein as I've seen the nu-psychedelic world converging with rap for a few years. Sicko Mode was a great banger in the winter but it's played out now.

Worth a listen for trap fans.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Travis-Scott-Astroworld/release/12358971

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ONRf7h3Mdk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLkQA7iLNUk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LegcNVM_nM

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SLD1ZQZ_4Y

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Travis Scott – Astroworld

Description: Album Review of Travis Scott – Astroworld


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Drake – More Life: A Playlist By October Firm

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Drake's signature pop-rap and r&b with production that incorporates uk grime and dancehall

Moods

Mature and well traveled

Thoughts

I'm not a Drake fan. He does his thing, and I respect it, but it's too smooth and that drawl is tiring; I've never been able to make it through one of his albums in the past.

His production.. that's something else. Noah Shebib's dark, ambient production has been a major factor in Drake's success and fits his  'sad’ vibe perfectly.

On More Life we're treated to a great selection of tracks that show how he's pushed the incorporation of global dancehall into pop music. This sound had been straddling the breakout point for years but I credit Drake for pushing it over. He does so with a plethora of guests and features that works well in as an overall collection.

Best of all he's not always front and center so that drawl doesn't wear and you can appreciate his honest quality in appropriate doses.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Drake-More-Life-A-Playlist-By-October-Firm/release/9999158

Listen!

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Drake – More Life: A Playlist By October Firm

Description: Album Review of Drake – More Life: A Playlist By October Firm


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Future, Juice WRLD – WRLD On Drugs

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

poppy trap rap

Moods

Big ballin at the mall

Thoughts

This is my introduction to juice wrld. A nu-school rapper with a style that makes use of autotuned melodies. Lil Uzi was my first exposure to that kind of thing and I prefer him overall, as he is naturally more distinct. Future serves as a welcome juxtaposition to juice wrld with his more aggressive dark 'street' stutter.

The poppy production is fun and makes for an overall easy album(actually really like the production on 'no issue’). Unfortunately the whole thing feels.half-assed: a couple of pretty good singles at the start and then a bunch of filler.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Future-4-Juice-WRLD-WRLD-On-Drugs/release/12679811

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQgjRsr1W1k

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXiGiAsYAR8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql8VcSMmlkI

Spotify


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Future, Juice WRLD – WRLD On Drugs

Description: Album Review of Future, Juice WRLD – WRLD On Drugs


Rating: 2 out of 5