10.Death Grips- The Money
Store/No Love Deep Web
When I first heard Death
Grips music I laughed it. I laughed not because it was funny but I
think I laughed because it was so different than anything I heard.
Their first mixtape Exmilitary was my first. When I heard Guillotine,
I sort of laughed because of the vocalist. He came off as this really
crazy dude yelling, and I said “This is not hip hop”. Even though
the vocalist has a sort of primitive sort of flow.
Cut to when The Money Store
came out. I decided to check out the album. The first song was an assault on my ears and I think at that moment I realized what Death
Grips was trying to do and what hip hop is missing. Death Grips is
really aggressive, angry, loud, and experimental. They are like a
punk rap group. When I put the idea in my head of “Okay these guys
are doing something new” It all clicked.
I think I liked it more
because I'm more exposed to more aggressive music than hip hop heads
who just listen to hip hop. I love aggressive, angry, loud bands like
Black Flag, Converge, and Swans. That is not to say they have any
similarity to Death Grips or each other but they all are aggressive
and angry to the point that you believe it it (especially Swans).
The Money Store sort of
tones down the aggressiveness they established on Exmilitary. The
Money Store is actually extremely catchy with its experimental
electronic based beats and crazy drumming by Zach Hill. The music may
not be hip hop but it definitely makes your head nod and has the
basics of a hip hop beat. The MC shouts and sounds ridiculous almost
cartoony or he is just angry, but this is basically just a sort of
character for the music. The lyrics express anger and the MC comes
off as a really violent crazy character.
Lots of songs like I've Seen
Footage and Hacker seemed like really fun songs once you look past
the sound. Both of those songs feature really catchy choruses, like
Hacker “IM IN YOUR AREA!”, while other songs can be more
aggressive.
By the time I heard No Love
Deep Web is when I become a real fan. I think No Love Deep Web is a
lot better than The Money Store. NLDW sounds more like a hip hop
album and is probably a lot more accessible. The production on this
one is amazing, its crazy and chaotic as if the beats are being play
by a math core band or something. The vocalist is singing/rapping
more on songs rather than yelling. The bass on this album make it
awesome. I love NLDW on first listen while TMS it took me a little
while to just like the album, but with NLDW I love it. I included TMS
because its amazing that they released a good album and then a
greater album in one year which is a pretty good achievement.
While I'm not a huge fan of
Death Grips I add them in the top 10 because they proved to be
different and be successful with it. Also they seem to mix all
style in a great way that can't be done. I've Seen Footage as an
instrumental could be played at the club and everyone would dance
their ass off. I respect Death Grips because I didn't take their music
as serious the first time and learned to adapt to what they are
trying to pull off, which is very rewarding.
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9.Freddie Gibbs-Baby Face
Killa
I was first introduced to
Freddie Gibbs with Str8 Killa, specifically the song National Anthem
(Fuck the World). I was hooked. Last year he release the mixtape Cold
Day In Hell which was another solid mixtape and one of the best of
2011.
This year he came out with
Baby Face Killa. From what I recall this was going to be his debut
album but he decided to just release it as a mixtape. At first glance
I was sorta scared of it being a disappointment due to having lots of
features (I hate when half the album is features). But then I read
the names of the guest artist: Jay Rock,Jadakiss, Dom Kennedy, Young
Jeezy, Z-RO, SpaceGhostPurrp, and Krayzie Bone. Wow.
Once I hit play I was
pleased. The album featured everything Freddie Gibbs is known for
great gangster rap like lyrics and great production. Freddie Gibbs is
one of my favorite because he reminds me of the old school gangster
rap yet he is a lot more lyrical and can rap way better than most in
the game right now.
There is not much to say
about the mixtape other than it is your typical solid Freddie Gibbs
tape. No one does what he does better. The mixtape itself is jam
packed with 20 songs and some are better than other. The features
actually are a great add one, especially veterans like Krayie Bone
and Young Jeezy. Overall lots of bangers, prime time Gibbs, and solid
production.
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8.Big K.R.I.T-4 eva N a
day
I feel Big K.R.I.T is very
underrated and he flies under peoples hip hop radars because of more
artist. No one does southern hip hop like Big K.R.I.T at the moment.
Many look at ASAP Rocky and admire his southern like flow and talk
like he is a savior but Big K.R.IT is what southern hip hop is all
about.
On this mixtape he sort of
takes the concept album route. The album is a sort of day in the life
of Big KRIT. Big KRIT once again comes with the great production
throughout the album. The sound of the album is chill, smooth, laid
back, soulful,mellow, and just southern filled. His production sort
of reminds me at times of UGK but what southern hip hop doesn't. The
lyrics are great yet because of his lyrics he is kind of different
than your regular southern rapper. Big KRIT is a lot more
introspective and personal, especially on this album. His lyrics are
personal and honest on this album and really gives you the feel of
being in his shoes for a day. On other mixtapes he was a little
different because the other mixtapes gave you a sort of more varied
mix of sounds. Listening to this mixtape all the way through is a
very rewarding and just joyful experience.
On the mixtape he really
takes you through his life and the lyrics really show that. The
production reflect the mood of the lyrics as well. This is an album I
can put on to just chill out to yet the thing I love about Big KRIT
is that he can also make a hard sounding southern hip hop that could
be played on the radio or a club. He changes yet is always the same.
This is something lots of rappers can't do without their fans
complaining that they “sold out” or just changed for the worst.
Lots of these songs give you
really varied moods and I love how his flow,lyrics, and production
reflect that perfectly. This mixtape sort of reminded me of Kendrick
Lamar's Good Kid Mad City that came out way later than this one but
both were sort of concept albums in which the artist perfectly
capture the concept with the lyrics and production. This being a
concept album the mixtape had a great flow throughout.
I think the reason he is so
underrated is because he is not your flashy southern hip hop artist.
He has his own sort of style without being to different. He is paying
homage but not living in the past, sort of like how Kendrick Lamar is taking the sound of west coast yet he has his own style to it. Big KRIT is
intelligent, soulful, and just overall a great artist that need to be
more well known but since he is not your typical southern hip hop
artist that raps about strip clubs, money, drugs, and other over the
top topics he dont get much attention.
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7.Action Bronson- Blue
Chips/Rare Chandeliers
Action Bronson was dropped
not one but two great mixtape this year. The first one Blue Chips
produced entirely by Party Supplies and the second Rare Chandeliers
produced entirely by The Alchemist.
I was first introduced to
Bronson with his first album Dr.Lector. At first I had the same
complaint every people had about Bronson, “He sounds to similar to
Ghostface Killah”. While it is true, I slowly grew to ignore it and
now I don't even realize it. The reason I don't realize it anymore is
because Action Bronson is so different than Ghostface and also
Bronson is one of the few extremely charismatic rappers in the game
right now. His charisma comes from his flow which is so fun to listen
to even though he don't change it that much and his lyrics are
strong. His lyrical content is not very varied it's mainly about
girls, weed, New York, being awesome, mafioso raps, and food. Yes
food. Bronson is a chef and is very knowledgeable about food.
Even though his lyrical
content is not that varied and sometime it sounds like he is just
rapping nonsense his charisma is what has me listening. Action
Bronson is hilarious and very clever. I really can't describe why
Action Bronson is so good, really its just because he is a cool ass
dude. Lots of his lines make me laugh because of how clever he is and
the production on his album make my head nod. Action Bronson is plain
and simply a rapper who never disappoints and makes enjoyable
mixtapes.
On Rare Chandeliers, he
teamed up with The Alchemist. I love The Alchemist production on this
and Action Bronson on mic. Lots of the beats on this album change up
in between songs in a really cool way and Action Bronson rapping
about him being a badass on The Symbol. The whole mixtape has a very
jazzy soulful feel to the whole thing. The mixtape album art
basically tells what the album is about.
I really don't have much
other to say about Action Bronson. You either like him or not. If you
do then you probably listen to his music while chillin and lighting
one up or you either hate him. I will say one thing I love about him
other than his charisma and flow is how he teams up a produce to
produce the whole tape. I feel more rappers need to do this. It's
nice to hear that Bronson already has two more projects lined up for
us in 2013.
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6.Sean Price-Mic Tyson
This was an album I have
been waiting since 2009 when the mixtape Kimbo
Price: A Prelude to Mic Tyson came out. Sean Price has always
been a favorite and always brings it. His collab album with Black
Milk and Guilty Simpson, Random Axe, last year proved he was still a
beast on the mic. This album was everything I wanted in a Sean Price
album.
The album starts off with
one of the most head nodding songs on the album, Genesis of the
Omega. Seriously though I had to repeat that song over and the over
the first time before I listened to the rest of the album. When I
found out The Alchemist produced that track I knew why I loved it so
much. The rest of the album does not disappoint. Lots of hard,
gritty, New York beats that Boot Camp Clik veteran Sean Price is
known for rapping over. The lyrics on this album are great as well.
Sean Price is a beast on the mic, no question about it, although many
complain he raps about the same things. That does not bother me since
there is no one else right now who can rap like Sean Price. Sean
Price can rap about being the best of all time without being corny
and he can rap about kicking your ass and you'll believe it. His
flow is great and his cadence is great on these type of beats.
One of the main reasons I
love listening to Sean Price is because he comes up with really great
lines that make me smile because of how clever he is.
“This your man Sean,The
opposite of a fucking Duran Duran song”
”My raps slap the Earth
off its axis”
”I spit prison imam
bars,That'll put you in a ER, pa ”
”The first verse uno,
second verse dos,First verse is bueno, the next one is boss”
Those 4 lines are not even scratching the surface on all the awesome lines on this album. I mean
those 4 lines are just 4 out of the track STFU Part 2, there was
plenty more to choose from. Sean Price may rap about really being the
best and being hard but all this comes off as great since, Sean Price
is a legend in my opinion. He has been in this game since the 1990s
and has always brought it when dropping projects. It also helps that
he seems like a really nice and really funny in his interviews. I'm
so glad that Sean Price is back and can't wait to what else he brings
us.
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5.Roc Marciano-Reloaded
Roc Marciano finally dropped
his long anticipated follow up album this year and it was fantastic.
The album featured the typical unique gritty boom bap minimalist
production with his stream of consciousness lyrics.
With those two things Roc creates an image in your head about gritty
New York and the many tales set in the city.
If there is one
word for the production that is this. Slick. The album comes off as
very slick and old school. Each song is like a black exploitation
movie from the 70s set in the 1990s, sort of like New Jack City. His
lyrics are complex enough to make you catch new lines each time you
listen. His lyrics are much more mafiso in the likes of Kool G Rap
rather than just gangster rap. He comes off as calm, vivid, and
captivating but not as hardcore as most mafiso rappers. He simply is
telling a story without being over the top.
On this album he
seems to set up his already incredible rapping and his flow sound
confidence and raw. I seriously have listened to this so many times
and catch new things on each listen. It makes my head nod while
painting that perfect picture of New York mafiso rap. The album seems
like a sort of sequel from Macberg. On Macberg you get the feel of an
up and coming rapper or gangster in a movie and with Reloaded he is
Scarface, he has reached the top and is ready to tell all the crazy
stuff that happen between the gap.
The album is kinda
long for this sort of hip hop. Ka is very similar to Roc Marciano and
he is featured here on two songs. What Ka got right on his album was
is that it was not very long thus making you finish the album and
wanting more at the end. While I still love this album I some times
can not finish it all the way through. This is not to say that the
album has a ton of filler, I find most songs to amazing considering
the type of hip hop this is. Lots of song come off as really hard and
the production really does help me finish the album.
Roc Marciano made
me very happy this year by making me know that he is back and he is
still the same great Roc that I loved when Macberg came out, I feel
he even become better at points in both lyrics and production. What
made me love him even more is when he stated that he has FIVE new
projects to drop during 2013. One of them being a collab album with
Ka that is about 80% done at this moment. Roc and Ka on one album
with all Roc production sounds like a dream come true.
Basically if you
want slick as hell production with raw gritty lyrics about tales set
in New York, Roc Marciano is the man to pay attention next year.
__________________________________________________________________________________
4.Killer Mike- R.A.P Music
When I heard Killer Mike and
El-P were making an album my initially reaction was “What a weird
combination”. But then I realized what an amazingly perfect
combination.
Reviewing this album I first
I have to talk why it seemed like a strange combination. First off
Killer Mike is a really good southern rapper and mixing his with
El-P's production with futuristic, noisey beats seems out there. But
on the album El-P's production works really well, it's not typical
El-P but it's still El-P. You can tell El-P got to experiment more on
his beats by trying to fit into the style of Killer Mike. The beats
are very much El-P's but they seem to have a more gangster and
southern feel to them.
Lets not forgot about the
start of the album, Killer Mike. Killer Mike brings the southern
raps, gangster raps, and even political raps on this album. Killer
Mike lyrical content on this album is what makes this album so great.
The album is very varied due to his lyrics. Killer Mike can tell a
story and that is very important in hip hop. Many of these songs
paint an image in your head due to his lyrical skill and El-P's
production gives it that unique feel to it which in all makes the
album and songs extremely memorable.
The album seems to have a
loose concept of rap music (given the title), each of the songs have
a different style of rap to them. The amazing first track Big Beast
gives you a full assault of southernness with Killer Mike, Bun B,
TI, and Trouble on the mic along with El-P's head nodding beat.
Killer Mike's line in that song “I dont make dance music I make
R.A.P” sort of gives you the feel that the whole album is gonna be
a true rap album and what a ride it is. The album gives you the old
school feel with Go!, great story telling songs like JoJo's
Chillin,Anywhere But Here, and Willie Burke Sherwood, gangster Ice
Cube type songs like Don't Die, and highly political songs like
Reagan.
I really want to say that I
LOVE the story telling type songs on this album, especially Anywhere
But Here and Willie Burke Sherwood. Those two songs seems really
emotionally and Killer Mike lyrics make you feel what he is trying to
say.
The standout track has to be
Reagan. The album is all fun but once Reagan hits, Killer Mike and
El-P's amazing production make you stop and pay attention to what is
about to be said. The song does not come off as preachy, it comes off
as REAL. You can hear the frustration in Killer Mike's voice and the
seriousness in the lyrics.
Overall the album seems to
be everything rap music is about and what it can do. Killer Mike
reminds me why this music is important to me and why I love it. Sure
it can be fun but it can also be used to tell an amazing story or
express emotions or political views. Although I feel lots of rappers
could not pull off so many different type of styles. Killer Mike
proves he is one of the best and he shows it on this album.
___________________________________________________________________________________
3.Ka-Greif Pedigree
This project may have flown
over lots of peoples heads. I'm exciting writing this review because
it might make someone to check this album out and perhaps have the
same feeling I had when I first listened to it.
Ka may seem like an up and
coming rapper since his name is not known but Ka has been around for
a long time. His debut album, Iron Works, came out in 2009,he was
featured on GZA's album Power Tools, Ka has album been featured on
Roc Marciano's debut album Macberg. And even before all the Ka has
been in the rap game for a long time. He is a rapper who loves rap as
a form of expression.
His music seems different at
first but that's only because Ka is pure hip hop. Ka has everything I
love in a rapper. He is real, raw, gritty, honest,intelligent,
lyrical, and loves what he does. He loves it not for money or flash
but love to just rap.
So what is Ka all about?
When putting on this album you will realized that the production is
very minimum. The beats are sparse and gritty but this album does not
rely on the beats, which is a point Ka has made in interviews. The
lyrics are what makes the album. What Ka tries to make you do is to
pay attention to the lyrics, his voice is simple as if its just a guy
talking but after a while you realize that its just real,honest, and
gritty. The lyrics themselves are straightforward while having double
meaning and being complex. Ka demands you listen to him by replacing
flashy production for minimalistic production and rapping in a way that
you feel he is telling you something. This is the kind of album that
takes multiple listen to fully get all the lyrics and the feel of the
album.
Ka is an artist in general.
Not only did he come up with incredible lyrics but he produce the
whole album himself. When I say its minimalistic and that the
production is not what the album relies on that's not to mean the
production itself is lacking. The production on this album is fresh,
chill out, and gritty. It is very similar to the production Roc
Marciano does. It gives you the feel of a late night in the hoods of
New York. It's gritty enough to remind you of an episode of The Wire.
I kinda wish he would put out an instrumental version of this album.
Ka also made a video for
each of the songs on the album. He directed them himself. The videos
are great add on to the album. The videos fit the style of the album,
each video is simple shots of New York at night yet feature really
great photography from Ka. Seriously Ka could make a really good
cinematographer, lots of the videos are mesmerizing and beautiful in
an urban way.
Hopefully out of all these
reviews you check out this album because I feel its masterpiece and
very unique. I could even see Ka release an edition of the album with
the album, instrumentals, and a dvd with the videos. I'm very excited
to see what else Ka comes out with but even more so excited to be
letting other music lovers check out Ka's music.
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2.El-P Cancer For Cure
El-P is one the rappers and
producer that changed my views on hip hop growing up. When I was
about 17 I listened to Cannibal Ox-The Cold Vien and the production on
it amazed me, when I found it was El-P I decided to check out
everything he has done. That led me to listen to Company Flow and
then his first solo album Fantastic Damage. His music introduced me
to a lot of the underground artist of the late 90s and 2000s plus his
sound was always so unique and just overall incredible to me. He made
me realize that hip hop production could be almost futuristic,
spacey, noisy, and electronic based. His beats almost make you think
of a bleak post apocalyptic future ahead of us in which robots
control us, yet its fun as hell.
Lets not forgot that El-P is
also an amazing lyricist. His lyrics are sometimes complex and his
voice is distinctive, at least to me. Even though he is a white
rapper he does not rap about anything most white rappers would rap
about. El-P has explored a lot of themes on his past albums, he comes
off as angry on his earlier stuff but not like Eminem angry more
aggressive than angry. His lyrics included a lot of metaphor that
make you think, sci fi and fantasy themes on some songs, sometimes
profound lyrics, great storytelling but most importantly word play.
El-P's word play and metaphors on some songs are amazing. It usually
takes me a couple of listens to understand most of the songs meanings
by listening to his lyrics. His second album, Ill Sleep When You're
Dead, took me a couple of listens to understand its concept, which is
an incredible album by the way check that one out if you aren't
familiar with El-P.
On to the album itself. El-P
never disappoints. He has come back with his head spinning lyrics,
amazing production, and some new and old friends. The album starts
off with an amazing intro, Request Denied, the song starts with an
almost 2 minute instrumental beat that builds and builds until El-P
gets on the mic and totally sets fire to the beat. I loved that first
song and the rest off the album just build up to be as amazing. The
Full Retard is a great fun aggressive like song, Oh Hail No features
Mr.Motherfucking eXquire (yes thats his real rap name) and the great
Danny Brown was the first song with features and its a great one but
the next one Tougher Colder Killer was one the best songs on the
album. The song had amazing verses by El-P and Killer Mike but what I
loved most was when Despot got on the mic. Seriously Despot NEEDS to
come out with a first full project soon and not just be featured on
songs. Anytime Despot is featured he steals the show and I can't wait
when he drops his first mixtape, ep, album, whatever JUST COME OUT
WITH SOMETHING DESPOT PLEASE!
Anyways. El-P Cancer For
Cure. The album really hits a cool turn when The Jig Is Up. The song
is in part a trilogy along with the next two, Sign Here and For My
Upstairs Neighbor. The three songs all connect with each other by the
story it follows. I wont even mention what it is since it so much
funner when El-P is explaining it to you.
The last track $4 Vic is a
great outro to the album. The song is a 8 minute song that features a
much more personal like El-P and just an overall amazing production
job by him.
You can see that I really
loved this album and El-P in general. I am really happy for him this
year, not only did he release this but he also produced Killer Mike's
RAP Music which was also great. Hopefully the next project he comes
out with is Despot album! I mean seriously go check out his verse on
The Last Huzzah by Mr.Motherfucking eXquire, while you'll there
listen to El-P's as well.
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1.Kendrick
Lamar-Good Kid MAAD City
Its been such a
treat to see Kendrick Lamar become the rapper he is today. It put a
smile on my face that his song Swimming Pools got lots of radio play
because Ive been following this dude since his mixtape O(verly)
D(edicated) and Section 80.
Kendrick Lamar is
probably the most mature out of his peers. Kendrick understands what
good music is and shows it on this album. He also understands how
important it is to actually tell a story. Section 80 had a sort of
concept to it but with Good Kid MAAD City he takes the idea of a
concept album and creates a masterpiece.
The concept:
growing up in Compton and just growing up in general. Each song deals
with a sort of topic or theme that made Kendrick the man he is today.
The lyrics as always are amazing and on this album very important to
understand. The whole album relies on what Kendrick is saying, and it
helps that Kendrick is a great storyteller. The moment I feel in
complete love with this album is the song The Art of Peer Pressure.
Reason being is this, the song before that one Backseat Freestyle. At
first the song seemed really strange because it seemed so unlike
Kendrick. In the song he is talking about bitches, money, and about
his dick being big as the Effiel Tower. While he does go pretty hard
in the song, it still seemed strange and it kinda dissapointed me.
But then The Art of Peer Pressure came in and totally blew me away
with his tale of peer pressure. But when I got done with that song I re-listened to the song before Backseat Freestyle, Bitch Dont Kill My
Vibe, and I realized that in the last seconds of the song there is
his friend asking to get in the back of the car and it cuts to
Backseat Freestyle in which he is freestlying about typical topics a
teen would rap about women, weed, and money. Then the song cuts back
to The Art of Peer Pressure in which his friends in the car peer
pressure him to a life of crime. That's when I realized that the whole
album is concept album in full form. The story is a kid (Kendrick
Lamar) growing up in the city of LA. In the album he is telling the
story of his life and its very captivating to listen to it when you
have that in your head.
The most amazing
song on this has to be the 12 minute emotional roller coaster Sing
About Me, Im Dying of Thirst. In that song that song he fits lots of
mini story of people telling him about their lives, the first was
someone telling him that he appreciated Kendrick helping his brother
out even though he was beyond help and died in Kendricks arms, the
second one is when I thought Kendrick was a genius. In the second
verse he raps about a girl telling him that the character on Keisha
Song on his last album was her sister and that it was not right that
he judged her the way he did. He goes on to tell her story and it
ends brilliantly by her saying Ill never fade away and the song fades
away as she starts cursing at Kendrick for walking away as the song
fades.
Another personal
favorite moment in Kendrick's voice on M.A.A.D City, at first he
sounded really strange but then I realized how he is taking the
concept album in full form. In the second verse of the song, the beat
changes and he starts it by saying “Fresh out of school, cause I
was a high school grad”. The song does a 180 and goes back in time
in a way to a much younger Kendrick which explains his voice change.
Look. The whole
album is filled with brilliant storytelling and brilliant moments in
the album. The whole album is full form concept album, its a hip hop
movie, its a masterpiece and the best of 2012, and even probably one
of the best hip hop albums of this decade. Kendrick Lamar has reached
a level of greatness I haven't seen in a very long time. Kendrick
Lamar understands what it means to be an artist and he showing that
in everything he has gone.
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