year: 2013
tones of: outkast, el-p (his solo productions), fat joe (tell me he and el-p don't sound alike), goodie mob
genre samples: hip hop, trap rap, southern rap, electronica
music: dark, bouncy, menacing, alarming, fast, distorted, hard, mean, heavy, furious, rattling
lyrics: disrespectful, playful, random, improvisational, cartoonish, stylized, crazy, aggressive, bizarre, violent, braggadocious
favs: run the jewels, 36 chains, DDFH, sea legs, job well done, a christmas fucking miracle
nb: these dudes don't get the respect they deserve. Killer Mike is a supreme lyricist (see R.A.P. Music) and El-P has been pushing monstrous electro beats long before Yeezus (see Cancer 4 Cure).
score: 8/10
year: 2013
tones of: lil wayne, anthony hamilton, kanye west, eminem, wyclef jean, the streets, musiq soulchild, john legend, madlib, kid cudi
genre samples: hip hop, jazz, soul, electronica, r&b, gospel
music: warm, chill, smooth, light, relaxed, bouncy, joyous, summerish
lyrics: humorous, fun, light, thoughtful, quirky, therapeutic, playful, witty, real, drug infused
flow: sporadic, versatile, unmetered, spoken word poet, stream of consciousness, scraggly
favs: good ass intro, pusha man, cocoa butter kisses, juice, lost, interlude, acid rap
best guest: noname gypsy (on "lost")
nb: this is one of the most refreshingly varied and non-stereotypical rap offerings of the year (hence the many artists he reminds me of). simply a great mixtape. you can find it on soundcloud here.
score: 8/10
year: 2013
tones of: kanye west, clipse, cruel summer, ma$e (on let me love you)
genre samples: hip hop, trap rap, electronica, boom bap, gangsta rap
music: minimalist, bare bones, direct, maniacal, driving, dark, sparse
lyrics: intricate, street, multilayered, hard, focused, gritty, real, dense, druggy
flow: consistent, menacing, wordsmith, versatile, smooth, new god flow
favs: king push, numbers on the board, sweet serenade (whoo!), suicide (that beat), 40 acres (poetry), nosetalgia (real talk), pain
nb: this is essentially an "anti-Drake" album full of hard beats and hard talk. get your duffle bag boy on.
score: 8/10 (in pusha's own words #mydopedontspoil)
