The sophomore album, traditionally has been the prove you can do it again album, especially for artist that were successful right out the gate. The sophomore jinx has plagued many of your favorite artist and legends, said to be extremely hard because its the first time you have time away from music with your new found busyness and fame, great distractions for focus. And, its said that the sophomore album is extremely hard because your first album contains all of the best work you had over the years, and what ever you have left is your second best set and new stuff and you basically have to relive life all over again. The sophomore album can be a huge test, especially when you’re highly anticipated, and people have been waiting on the follow up since you dropped the initial offering. Next to take on the challenge of a career, Drake, YMCM’s own that exploded on the scene in a way not seen before and rapidly shot to the top of everybody’s radar, hate or love it.
After a successful first run out and a number of features, Drake finally releases Take Care.
Multi talented, different and creative are what made Drake a phenomenon to start with, so as expected the album is very alternative as opposed to what usually can be found in the mainstream, as expected Drake shows his rap and crooning skills and as expected his flow is his greatest strength. His flow is strength of his arsenal, his delivery f nothing else will pull you in and that hasn’t changed a bit.
Production wise its ok, but it could be a little more diverse, its different but sonically its the same sound consistently from track to track. Sonically its a real jazzy , real musical sound,no real big heavy drums or kicks, very smooth very mellow. So when that sound changes even if for a little bit it ver noticeable. Check “Headlines” for nod factor and “Underground Kings” for Ride Out music and Just Blaze laces him with one of those take’m to church beats with “ Lord Knows” which all serve as nice changes of pace.
The song making, as far as taking everything into account, is very good, but some of the hooks could be better. A few of the hooks are very simple and pop feeling, more care could have went into them
Lyrically solid from beginning to end as expected, but no monsters that stand way out, a few quotables here and there. Most of the quotables come form guest who blow up the verses in comparison to Drake who takes a backseat to his guest rather than challeneges them and be pushed by them. “Check Make me Proud” f/ Nicki Minaj “Lord Knows” f/ Rick Ross and “The Real Her” f/ Lil Wayne & Andre 3000.
He has a vast subject range and its greatly appreciated , but there doesn’t seem to be a great emphasis on focusing in on one particular subject and at times it appreciated, but considering the album has a concept album feel almost, you’d like to see him zone in on something and make it memorable. The albums versatility as far as delivery and style wise, doesn’t deliver much, its pretty stereotypical Drake
As far as originality, its different, its original . The album has some entertaining moments and it depends on how big of a Drake fan you are rather it will have a high replay value. Just as a person listening to an album its good but its not high replay for the entire album.
Overall, I think the album will do well sales wise, but its gone have mixed reviews. Its not a pop album but it seems to have some very pop elements about it. Its different but it seems like contrived different, as if they went in the studio like how can we make this different rather than just letting it come naturally. It sometimes seems forced and overdone. The flows are tight but lyrically it seems like there were creative problems, or some forcing. WSometimes he doesn’t sound inspired on this album, it doesn’t sound like he had fun writing and recording this album, like the pressure was on and it was all work. Seems as he was to busy focusing on the sound and trying to live up to being different and living up to last album to have fun. There are a few songs that probably should have been reworked or not on the album, most notably “ Practice”. Depending on which edition you have you may get a few extra songs but none that absolutely make or break the album. The album falls below expectation, I don’t expect it to change the culture, it doesn’t show any great risk or development, it picks up where Thank Me Later left off. I think a weakness is his trying to do both sing and rap, he's good at both but not a master at either. He doesnt write supremely or have masterful technique as a singer. As an Mc he doesnt always bring it and his hooks are off . So its difficult for him to do a rap sing recording on one track. He should focus on mastering one completely or he'll be a jack of all trades and master of none. No big surprises, or unexpected events, techniques or styles. Ill give the album a rating of 3 out of 6 stars.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Pusha T - Fear of God II album review
Every Pusha T signed with Good Music people have been wondering how its was going to work out. Good Music is a good look from a creative control aspect, and people instantly expected major beats , ill collaboration, and a much needed push.
But questions would circle , how would Pusha do on a solo effort without Malice ? And after the Good Music cypher on the BET Awards, slew of radio verses , a well received mix tape, the answers would come back wait and see.
Pusha - T finally delivers Fear of God II to answer the questions.
There is no denying that Pusha can rap, and has flow, lyrically its good, but its not very very creative, its average for him, knowing he could do better. He could have dug a lil deeper for for some of the lines or tightened up in between the punch lines. He doesn’t really show a variety of techniques for the album, its usually the same type of flow, and delivery that we’re accustomed to from him and the same goes for versatility and subject range, its a lot of braggadocios and street talk as usual, not a really a problem but we could do to hear a little something different. But he does show a little difference in approach on “Alone in Vegas” and “What Dreams are Made of” is bragging on a new level, using a sample of Ric Flair in the background ranting, its major league cool.
Production wise, the beats work, but was expecting bigger beats, considering its a Good Music release. Sonically there isn’t a real over all sound, its not a very musical album, there basic good street beats, a few head nodders, but nothing that really really stands out. Honestly I think he would benefit from working predominantly with one producer to craft a solo sound.
On the song making side of things, as stated earlier, lyrically its straight, but the hooks need work, some of the songs don’t seem fully developed. So sometimes it seems more like a mix tape than an album.
The album is pretty good, it suffers because there are good songs but no one song stands far out and beyond. Pusha doesn’t seem comfortable yet creating by himself, it seems as if something is missing, he does much better on the tracks with features, so the album is feature heavy. He doesn't seem as if he can yet carry an album by himself. The good things about the album are the consistency, there is not really much fall off song to song, line to line, lyric for lyric. The collabs work, Check “Amen” the best song on the album, featuring Kanye and Jeezy. “Trouble” f/ Tyler the Creator, “Raid” f/ 50 Cent and Pharell and “I still Wanna” f/ Rick Ross who delivers a stellar verse and Ab Liva. and “Body Work” f/ Juicy J, Meek Mill and French Montana. As far as collabo go he’s definitely getting the push.
I don't know how it will sale, I can see “Amen” possibly getting some radio play hopefully. Pusha’s calm cool delivery almost hold him back a little, because there is not much change up and very little enthusiasm in his voice and its hard to pull off the monotone on every track. Its very consistent, he stays in his lane and does what he is comfortable with and thats a little bit of a fault. I wish he would have taken a few risk, tried something new, given a surprise or two, because the album doesn’t show any growth as an artist, depth or development. The Album is not bad however, its a better second listen than first, it may grow on you, maybe a cult favorite. I expect it to be a very polarizing album among critic and fans. I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 6
But questions would circle , how would Pusha do on a solo effort without Malice ? And after the Good Music cypher on the BET Awards, slew of radio verses , a well received mix tape, the answers would come back wait and see.
Pusha - T finally delivers Fear of God II to answer the questions.
There is no denying that Pusha can rap, and has flow, lyrically its good, but its not very very creative, its average for him, knowing he could do better. He could have dug a lil deeper for for some of the lines or tightened up in between the punch lines. He doesn’t really show a variety of techniques for the album, its usually the same type of flow, and delivery that we’re accustomed to from him and the same goes for versatility and subject range, its a lot of braggadocios and street talk as usual, not a really a problem but we could do to hear a little something different. But he does show a little difference in approach on “Alone in Vegas” and “What Dreams are Made of” is bragging on a new level, using a sample of Ric Flair in the background ranting, its major league cool.
Production wise, the beats work, but was expecting bigger beats, considering its a Good Music release. Sonically there isn’t a real over all sound, its not a very musical album, there basic good street beats, a few head nodders, but nothing that really really stands out. Honestly I think he would benefit from working predominantly with one producer to craft a solo sound.
On the song making side of things, as stated earlier, lyrically its straight, but the hooks need work, some of the songs don’t seem fully developed. So sometimes it seems more like a mix tape than an album.
The album is pretty good, it suffers because there are good songs but no one song stands far out and beyond. Pusha doesn’t seem comfortable yet creating by himself, it seems as if something is missing, he does much better on the tracks with features, so the album is feature heavy. He doesn't seem as if he can yet carry an album by himself. The good things about the album are the consistency, there is not really much fall off song to song, line to line, lyric for lyric. The collabs work, Check “Amen” the best song on the album, featuring Kanye and Jeezy. “Trouble” f/ Tyler the Creator, “Raid” f/ 50 Cent and Pharell and “I still Wanna” f/ Rick Ross who delivers a stellar verse and Ab Liva. and “Body Work” f/ Juicy J, Meek Mill and French Montana. As far as collabo go he’s definitely getting the push.
I don't know how it will sale, I can see “Amen” possibly getting some radio play hopefully. Pusha’s calm cool delivery almost hold him back a little, because there is not much change up and very little enthusiasm in his voice and its hard to pull off the monotone on every track. Its very consistent, he stays in his lane and does what he is comfortable with and thats a little bit of a fault. I wish he would have taken a few risk, tried something new, given a surprise or two, because the album doesn’t show any growth as an artist, depth or development. The Album is not bad however, its a better second listen than first, it may grow on you, maybe a cult favorite. I expect it to be a very polarizing album among critic and fans. I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 6
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Why a classic album is not always a good thing
Alright I been catching a lot of heat about my ranking of Wales album and I read this morning he was like lobbying for 5 Mics in the Source. Now I don't think my personal reviews are as influential as the Source or anything, but The Source is where I learned how to evaluate an album in the first place. They were extremely tough and would rather underrate and album than overrate one, and I do the same
Lets review what 5 Mics is supposed to be, its not an album that can be played from song to son without skipping, its not just good or lyrical, its not just popular, or expected to sell crazy, its not just new or different, etc. Its a classic, it changes the rules of hip hop as we know them, we automatically know that everyone will adjust and be influenced and try to do something like it for a while to come.
The copy and change formats are most important, because honestly a 4 1/2 mic is harder and really a true barometer of how good an album is. 4 1/2 mics tells you its damn near flawless, people just aren't going to try and copy it or the industry is not going to push that style, and honestly thats better, its more hip hop, its more original.
Classic doesn’t mean good, an album can be classically good or classically horrible, and both change the direction of hip hop. So be careful when you ask for classic ratings , and make sure it qualifies to be classic. But I think it should be told what type of classic it is , because honestly a few albums should have been considered classic even though they were wack as hell, but they changed music for years to come, some form which Hip Hp is still trying to recover from, Im just saying think about it because I’ve never seen a one mic rating.
Now I stand by my Wale rating full force, it was a good rating, I like him he's lyrical, but I needed to get that off my chest about what classic is and what it isn’t. If you disagree that seriously, do your own ranking and tell why your perspective and opinion. My perspective at least whats yours ? Sound off
Lets review what 5 Mics is supposed to be, its not an album that can be played from song to son without skipping, its not just good or lyrical, its not just popular, or expected to sell crazy, its not just new or different, etc. Its a classic, it changes the rules of hip hop as we know them, we automatically know that everyone will adjust and be influenced and try to do something like it for a while to come.
The copy and change formats are most important, because honestly a 4 1/2 mic is harder and really a true barometer of how good an album is. 4 1/2 mics tells you its damn near flawless, people just aren't going to try and copy it or the industry is not going to push that style, and honestly thats better, its more hip hop, its more original.
Classic doesn’t mean good, an album can be classically good or classically horrible, and both change the direction of hip hop. So be careful when you ask for classic ratings , and make sure it qualifies to be classic. But I think it should be told what type of classic it is , because honestly a few albums should have been considered classic even though they were wack as hell, but they changed music for years to come, some form which Hip Hp is still trying to recover from, Im just saying think about it because I’ve never seen a one mic rating.
Now I stand by my Wale rating full force, it was a good rating, I like him he's lyrical, but I needed to get that off my chest about what classic is and what it isn’t. If you disagree that seriously, do your own ranking and tell why your perspective and opinion. My perspective at least whats yours ? Sound off
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