Lil Wayne: Dedication 6 Reloaded. Review Sketch

year: 2018 

tones of: lil wayne (early dedication weezy)

genre: rap, trap rap, southern rap, mixtape rap

notable samples: kendrick (loyalty), lil pump (gucci gang), migos (slippery), makavelli (hail mary), jay-z (family feud), playboi carti (woke up like this)

lyrics: metaphorical, clever, graphic, egotistical, sophisticated, comical, layered, crazed, imaginative, irreverent, violent, structured, visual, disrespectful, complex, absurd

favs: bloody mary, for nothing, back from the 80's, big bad wolf, family feud, back to sleep

notes: the question and answer style responses from Weezy at the end of every track on here are priceless. this is also one of the better outings he has had in quite some time in terms of lyrical content, consistency, and delivery.

score: 7/10

6lack: Free 6lack. Review Sketch.

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

Big K.R.I.T.: 4Eva Is A Mighty Long Time. Review Sketch.

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

Young Thug: No My Name Is Jeffery. Review Sketch

year: 2016

tones of: lil wayne (the "lean" version), travis scott, rich homie quan, mystical

genre samples: trap rap, southern rap

music: ecstatic, cool, chill, smoky, bouncy

lyrics: unwieldy, disrespectful, improvised, shocking, unpredictable, cubist, irreverent

vocals: stretched, bruised, scratchy, intense, flexible, floating, uninhibited  

favs: pick up the phone, swizz beatz, riri, guwop, harambe, kanye west

notes: don't mind the dress or the mumbling, thugger is the real deal 

score: 8/10

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)

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

Kanye West: Yeezus. Review Sketch

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

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The Heist. Album Sketch

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

Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city. Album Sketch

year: 2012

tones of: easy e, school boy q, nas

genre samples: funk, electronica, west coast rap, underground hip hop

music: A++ production, moody, heavy, intense, rhythmic, swampy, smooth, stellar, plush

lyrics: serious, direct, genuine, straight up, thought-provoking, deep, authentic, moral, abstract

flow: fitted, mellow, fluid, versatile, technical, elevated, smart, unorthodox, story telling  (i dare say kendrick is the best rapper in the game right now in terms of technical talent)

favs: b*tch don't kill my vibe, money trees, swimming pools, sing about me i'm dying of thirst, art of peer pressure (last 2/3rds), sherane aka master splinter's daughter (esp the skits), backseat freestyle (vicious flow)

best guest: jay rock on money trees

score: 8.5/10 (not a 9+ b/c I can't play w/o wanting to skip a few)

Killer Mike: R.A.P. Music. Album Sketch

year: 2012

tones of: beasty boys, UGK, Run DMC, dungeon famly - cee lo + outkast, KRS one, public enemy

genre samples: gospel, electronica, real hip hop, funk, soul

music: atmospheric, rhythmic, soulful, moody, bass & drum heavy, sonic

lyrics: serious, honest, political, street, educated, truth, real, story telling

flow: fluid, on point, adaptable, southern, underground, greater or equal to the music, solid

favs: big beast, southern fried, reagan, anywhere but here, willie burke sherwood, R.A.P. music

fav bar: "put a pause on your life, just like a comma b*tch" on go!

best guest: T.I. on big beast

score: 9/10 (not an instant, but a time release rap classic)