Startup Standouts: Runnable

RUNNABLE

Runnable is attempting to create a one stop, searchable library of full stack code for discovering, running, editing, embedding, and sharing code blocks -  in any language, for any developer.

Location: Palo Alto

Website: http://runnable.com/

Size: < 10 people

Funding: $2M Seed

Founders: Yash Kumar (CEO/Founder) 

Why it stands out: 

- attempts to make modular / plug and play programming much more accessible and prevalent
- an organized, searchable, testable environment potentially makes programming faster for professionals, hackers, and possibly  even amateurs
- seems ideal for helping intermediate level programmers move beyond the entry level skills taught on most educational programming sites
- founder's experience in collaborative software and extensive background in all sides of web development bodes well for user experience and core product

Run The Jewels. Run The Jewels. Review Sketch

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

Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap. Review Sketch

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

Pusha T: My Name Is My Name. Review Sketch

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)

Drake: Nothing Was The Same. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: shlohmo, kanye west, kid cudi

genre samples: r&b, electronica, hip hop, jazz, pop

music: moody, dark, cloudy, ominous, smoky, serious, bass ridden, spiraling, murky, mysterious

lyrics:  intimate, honest, thoughtful, anxious, female-obsessed, longing, regretful, personal, cerebral, shallow

flow: fluid, flexible, experimental

favs: tuscan leather (so focused and technical), furthest thing, worst behaviour (bananas), from time, hold on we're going home (pure pop craftiness), too much, pound cake/paris morton music, the motion

nb: be warned. this album is heavily r&b drake. it is also strongly elevated by producer, noah shabib. in fact, if i were 40, i would have pulled what ryan lewis did to macklemore on the heist: "put my name on the cover!"

score: 7.5/10 (no classic, but solid addition to the discography)

Disclosure: Settle. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: sbtrkt, jessie ware, burial

genre samples: house, disco, electronica, dance, r&b, garage, pop

music: warm, rippling, sprightly, playful, emotive, fluid, high energy, sparkling, dance infused, charismatic, bright, bouncing, infectious, wavvy

favs: when a fire starts to burn, latch, white noise, stimulation, you & me, january, help me lose my mind

nb: this is very much a pop album (vocals, lyrics, song structure) as it is an electronic one

score: 8/10

Jay-Z: Magna Carta Holy Grail. Review Sketch

year: 2013

tones of: jay-z, kayne west, kid cudi

genre samples: hip hop, trap music, r&b, dubstep, rock n roll 

music: spacious, modern, sparse, detailed, futuristic, unpredictable, artistic, banging, up tempo

lyrics: serious, focused, ambitious, professional, measured, luxurious, all business, solid

favs: picasso baby, f*kwithmeyouknowigotit (straight up banger), f.u.t.w. (lyrical quality), somewhereinamerica, jay z blue, nickels and dimes

note: this reminds me of the black album. solid lyrics and elite, forward thinking beats. arguably not as compelling overall as kanye's yeezus, but nearly as good.

score: 7.5/10