Travis Scott – Astroworld

★★★☆☆ = 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

Spotify


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Travis Scott – Astroworld

Description: Album Review of Travis Scott – Astroworld


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Future, Juice WRLD – WRLD On Drugs

★★☆☆☆ = 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

 

Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?
Rap with an alt pop lean

Moods
Headphones on and taking in nu-NYC

Thoughts
I don’t know why, call it a natural curiosity, but growing-up I loved the radio and would spend hours taking in anything I could hear. I find pleasure discovering sounds and appreciate art that maintains this same dynamism. It’s reflected in a broader cultural awareness with my generation, whose been raised with the internet and the power of having humanity’s entire cultural output instantly available. So what do you do with it? You take your favorite parts and begin creating something new, sampling in other words.

I find this to be a representative album for today’s sample based culture as Banks, a versatile MC, floats effortlessly between pop and rap on this impressive set of alt-electro productions (think sampling today rather than the past). I appreciate rappers who are able to carve distinct sounds for themselves and feel this is a classic in the marriage of rap and electro.

Listening notes on specific time:
* 212 – immediately and undeniably great
* Idlest delilah / soda is glitchy greatness and a personal favorite
* ‘Gimme a chance’ succeeds as an OK pop song before switching into a gripping latin bit (maybe corny but I genuinely like it).
* BBD, ice princess, Yung Rapunxel take a turn into harder boomy beats that sound a little dated after the edm boom.
* Things drift off towards the end, but she soars on miss camaraderie. Not sure I’ve heard someone flow over edm so well.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Azealia-Banks-Broke-With-Expensive-Taste/release/6728221

Listen!
Spotify

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Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste

Description: Album Review of Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Smokepurpp – Deadstar

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Trademark SoundCloud rap: distorted beats with repetitive mumble raps

Moods
Young and obnoxious

Thoughts
Smokepurpp isn’t a very strong mc which is where the genre falls short as it lyrically lacks talent. However I think the production from SoundCloud rap is going to be big and a natural progression from Kanye’s industrial use on yeezus. For that reason I think albums like this, while bloated and too long, are worth a listen for those curious about raps future direction..

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Smokepurpp-Deadstar/release/11762725

Listen!
Spotify

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Smokepurpp – Deadstar

Description: Album Review of Smokepurpp – Deadstar


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Playboi Carti – Die Lit

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?
Repetitive mumble raps ( I guess this is trap) over youthful production. It’s got that emo teen vibe uzi has – I really like the sound.

Thoughts
This is great. I don’t see the album having any lasting replayability but in 2018 it works. Feels like it’s a continued progression of the ‘not really saying anything’ lyricism but proves that content isn’t needed if it’s catchy. With that in mind this is a true reflection of the times and communication: the message doesn’t matter as long as it looks or sounds a certain way. He’s also got some impressive guest spots who adapt to his style and flow. I find this telling about his relevance as he’s pulling big names into his orbit.

I think the mistake someone could make is approaching this as a traditional rap album. His style is so drastically different than say illmatic that we need to see it as a purely aesthetic piece and consider it differently. In that way it succeeds massively. Creating something original that’s just throwing constant rhythmic hooks at you. It’s almost as if you’re listening to a warm-up session where they’re just feeling out the beat trying to flow, not working on the perfect verse. I see a lot of followers from this. He’s actually at his worse in the middle of the album when he’s speaking clearly.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Playboi-Carti-Die-Lit/release/12102645

Listen!
Spotify

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Playboi Carti – Die Lit

Description: Album Review of Playboi Carti – Die Lit


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Valee,Chase The Money – VTM

★☆☆☆☆ = Bad

What’s it sound like?
Disinterested generic rapping over amateur boomy beats.

Thoughts
If you’re not paying attention this sounds OK, I like the ‘removed’ vibe, but if you listen too close it falls apart.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Valee-CHASETHEMONEY-VTM/release/10661808

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

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Valee,Chase The Money – VTM

Description: Album Review of Valee,Chase The Money – VTM


Rating: 1 out of 5

 

Young Thug – Beautiful Thugger Girls

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?

Pop-rap, the cover art presents an accurate view of the vibe.

Thoughts

Reminds me when Wayne was doing pop-rock a few years ago. The hooks and lyrics fall short and Young Thugs schtick gets a bit repetitive.

I appreciate his attempt at a different style but this isn’t his best work.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Young-Thug-Beautiful-Thugger-Girls/release/10445431

Listen!

Spotify

Bryson Tiller – Trapsoul

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?

Radio friendly trap / hip hop / r&b

Thoughts

Can skip this one, nothing interesting happening here.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Bryson-Tiller-Trapsoul/release/7567149

Listen!

Youtube


Spotify

Sam Gellaitry – Escapism III

⭐⭐

This in regards to Escapism II and III, I like the sound as far as fancy new big drop electro goes but it felt formulaic and boring; seemed forced. Has it moments and might be a good listen for some.

More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Gellaitry-Escapism-III/release/10100775

Listen!

Spotify:

Youtube: