year: 2016
tones of: drake (esp noah "40" shebib's production style), kid cudi, chris brown, childish gambino (on the kauai mixtape)
genre samples: r&b, rap, hip hop
music: chill, dark, trippy, mature, spacious, sexy, moody, hazy, ominous
favs: prblms, never know, alone/ea6, ex callin (cover of Future's "perkys callin"), gettin' old, worst luck
notes: 6lack is pronounced: "black". this was one of my favorite low key artists back in 2016 (this is a long over due sketch!). looking forward to his next project.
score: 7.5/10
year: 2017
tones of: big boi, scarface, bone thugs-n-harmony (on "layup"), UGK, outkast, nappy roots
genre samples: jazz, indie rap, gospel, hip hop, big brass brand, southern rap, blues
music: soulful, banging, joyous, big, rattling, bass filled, majestic, swaying, horn heavy, chill
lyrics: humble, political, realistic, conscientious, authentic, serious, personal, boisterous, intelligent, confessional, introspective
vocals: crisp, drawling, precise, athletic, rhythmic, dexterous, smooth
favs: big k.r.i.t., drinking sessions, confetti, bury me in gold, 1999, price of fame, get away, miss keep the devil off (production), georgia fornia, mixed messages (lyrics)
best guest: lloyd (on "1999")
notes: the split personality that is Big King Remembered In Time offers up a rare double disc rap album that delivers nearly its full record length in musical gold.
score: 8.5/10
year: 2016
tones of: old kanye, new kanye, derivative kanyes - you get the point
genre samples: hip hop, gospel, electronica, trap rap
music: industrial, warm, transcendent, jarring, demanding, haunting, comforting, spiritual, cascading
lyrics: honest, vulnerable, egotistical, frank, misogynistic, bombastic, meta, intelligent, hilarious
favs: fml, ultralight beam, real friends, i love kanye (insane brilliance on so many levels), feedback, famous, highlights, 30 hours
guest stars: chance raps out of his mind on "ultralight beam". frank ocean both softens and haunts "wolves". the weeknd is perfectly cast on "fml". ty dolla $ign is weird like always on "real friends". it's almost like kanye made these songs for them.
score: 8.5/10
note: meticulous production per usual. brilliant cubist in song change ups. stellar guest features. multilevel lyricism (back to pre yeezus levels). somewhat scattered but excellent, like a great playlist or shuffle session. kanye has still never made a bad album. impressive.
year: 2013
tones of: the weeknd, colbie caillat (esp. on bed peace), miguel, drake
genre samples: r&b, hip hop, pop, dub
music: smooth, relaxing, dark, brooding, chill, nostalgic, intimate, peaceful, creeping, moody
lyrics: honest, vulnerable, angst, real, love and loss, painful, therapeutic, naked, raw, exposed, smart
favs: bed peace, the worst, comfort inn ending (freestyle)
nb: her name is pronounced [Juh-nay Ai-eeko], and this is just an EP. her LP is due out sometime next year.
score: 8/10
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)
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)
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
year: 2013
tones of: crystal castles, death grips, kid cudi
genre samples: glitch hop, minimal techno, indie electronica, gary glitter (on black skinhead), hip hop
music: jarring, spacious, moody, stark, minimalist, ominous, forward, pounding, dark, soulful, rhythmic
lyrics: scattered, unfiltered, careless, frustrated, honest, disrespectful, defiant, poignant, nostalgic, self centered, weak, blunt, flippant, exhausted
favs: i am a god (minus the croissants), new slaves, hold my liquor, blood on the leaves, bound 2
note: yeezy had another classic on his hands here. RIDICULOUS production, but the overall lyrical content is underwhelming. still a very solid album though.
score: 8/10
year: 2012
tones of: big boi, eminem, the streets, mac miller (i.e. cleaner version of)
genre samples: brass, southern rap, alternative hip hop, british rap, electronic
music: smooth, light, energetic, melodic, rhythmic, exciting, upbeat
lyrics: straight forward, sober (no pun intended), unabashed, unashamed, earnest, thoughtful, middle america, refreshing
flow: matter of fact, beatnik, just is, adaptable, straight, simple
favs: ten thousand hours, make the money, same love, neon cathedral, white walls, starting over (lyrically rawest song)
best guest: allen stone on neon cathedral (so much soul)
note: the production on this album is just atmospheric
score: 7.5/10
