Album and Mixtape reviews, tale of the tapes

I know its been a lil while since I posted, I figured since I listen to and review so many albums/ mix tapes, it’s a waste of knowledge to only give you  reviews for major releases and stuff I have to write a review for for the collective, so Ill start giving you everything  I listen too,  a rating and short description. You may find some new music you into and worth checking out.

Albums

Obie Trice –  Bottoms Up – 3 out of 6 stars – consistent for Obie Trice, has strong and weak points but worth checking for.

Planet Asia – Black Belt theatre – 3 out f 6 stars –

Immortal Technique –strong 3 ½  out of 6 stars -  Very good concept, a lot of dept and knowledge. Serious album, people need to listen, definitely worth checking for.

Kid Cuddi – WZRD – 2 out of 6 stars – I just  wasn’t feeling it , but judge for your self

Tech n9ne – Klusterfuk EP – 4 out of 6 mics – Stays on top of his game and picks up right where he left off from the last albums

Ja Rule – Pain is Love 2 –  A weak 3 out of 6 - He still has flow, lyrics, delivery and song making ability, but the chemistry  between producers and magic between the crew  of collabosthat made for success is noticeably missing. Can hear songs and figure out who is missing from it.

Diggy Simmons – 3 ½ out of 6 – was so not what I expected. An adult worthy listen , not kiddy or pop. Shows great potential.

Mixtapes

Teyana Taylor -  The Miseducation of Teyana Taylor – 4 ½ out of 6  - Was good enough to be an album, if she keeps it up the future is very bright for her.

The Game – California Republic – 4 out of 6 stars Another solid release form game, lots of features, it’s a good set up for an album, does a lil experimenting with Rick Ross style, but overall good mixtape and worth checking for.

Torch of Triple C’s – UFO vol 2 – 3out of 6 stars – was better than expected, some classic hip hop samples, pretty decent.

Plies - Plies on Trial – 1 out of 6.  needs improvement, work and focus. But fans of Plies should check for it.

Paul Wall – No sleep Till Houston – 3 ½  out of 6 – Stereotypically Paul Wall and Houston, but in a good way, no surprises, hope he goes a lil more in dept and chooses differnet types of beats for the album.  Good collaborations.

Obie Trice -Watch the Chrome – 3 out of 6 stars – Consistent Obie Trice, good set up for the album

Nipsey Hustle- The Marathon Continues  : X-Tra  Laps – 3 ½ out of 6 stars  Nipsey continues to do hs thing, building his brand and fan base. Stays consistent and well rounded, worth checking .

Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire – Lost in Translation – 3 out of 6  I got put on to this and told to check it out – Dudes creative and has concepts and vision, look forward to his growth.

Mac miller – Macadelic – 3 out of 6 – was alright, picks up where his album left off, look forward to his growth.

Gorilla Zoe – Gorilla Zoe world – 2out of 6 – expected more, doesn’t live up to his potential

Gillie da Kid – King of Philly – strong 2 ½  out of 6 – Hit or miss on a lot of  tracks, very like it or love it.

Fiend – Life behind limo glass – 3 out of 6. Worth checking for

Big K.R.I.T – 4Eva N A Day – 4 out of 6 – setting up major expectations for his album release, staying very consistent, delivered to expectations and anticipation.

8 Ball – Premro  - 3 ½ out of 6 – consistent and expect 8 Ball, good return for him. 

Just my perspective of whats out, check or not for your self and make your own determinations

slin_k

@slin_k_polymath

Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

Nicki Minaj , hate her or love her, but you have an opinion on her, good or bad and very seldom indifferent. After a breakout and explosive debut to stardom, a number of criticism, and a few beefs, she has definitely stayed in the headlines becoming a household name, and definitely lives up to the as long as people are talking about you mantra.

Enter the second album, usually the album that defines which road your career is headed down, usually comes at a time when all eyes are on you for either having major success as is the case or for not quite living up to the hype the first time out. Either way people want to see can you do it again, can you intrigue us into sticking with you for the long haul or build on what initially made fans. With words like sellout, pop star( used as a diss and a compliment, depending on perspective), and biter, or as the new generations calls them swagger jackers, words that in Hip-hop can be death sentences, all eyes are definitely on Nicki and her sophomore album Roman Reloaded.  

A lot of hope and trust has been placed in Nicki Minaj as a representative of female Mc’s everywhere, because for years there has been no recognizable face really holding it down for the ladies, proving that they can no only sell, but exhibit skills also. Nicki once showed promise and skill as a lyricist , but as of late has taken a very pop music route, and not hip-hop’s version of pop. POP music’s version of pop. The first controversial single “Stupid Hoe” gave many a peak into what to expect, but you could never be sure and could still hope.  For those hoping to hear the hip hop lyricist many fell in love with, after the first two songs on the album “Roman Holiday“ a bonafide pop song, and “Come on a Cone” my only thoughts WTF, its clear that the pop version of Nicki is going to be around a lot longer than some may want.

The best track on the album is “I am Your Leader” ft/ Rick Ross and Camron, who not only save the song but also really make it.  Another notable track is “Champion” ft/ Drake, Young Jeezy and Nas. Drake delivers a petty good verse, and decent verses from Nas and Jeezy help make the song listenable.  But, other than those two the album is pretty much a pop and dance music album, not party, but dance as in that techno house music vibe that’s taking everyone is playing with these days.  If that’s what you’re into check “Starship” and “Pound the Alarm”

Lyrically , its very simple, watered down, bubble gum. A track like  “Beez in the Trap” couldn’t even be saved by 2 Chainz. Most of the lyrics require no intricacy at all, it’s dumb down and borderline stupid, for people who don’t take music serious, don’t really know about music or hip-hop. Purely dumb down and watered down for any and everybody to understand, it aint for music purist or people with advanced taste or older people. If you’re in the club bouncing around and not listening to lyrics its perfect.

Sonically it’s a pop dance music album, the production is tailored to that sound. Song making wise its very catchy, radio friendly, stuff you’ll hear in certain types of clubs and some fashion shows etc.  Entertainment wise, its not something that most will listen to religiously, its not something your going to keep getting something new from every time you listen to it, its not timeless. Most people wont be riding around with it on repeat in their car, but you’ll hear it because in the state of radio today , you can expect to not be able to avoid hearing this album against your will. Originality, I don’t think any new ground is being broken hip-hop wise, but considering I’m not an expert in pop, house or dance, I’m unsure if it’s groundbreaking in those areas.  From a versatility stand point, its that because it shows she can make music in various genres, she covers all her bases,  pop, dance, house, the sing songy R&B hybrid joint, check “Right by my Side” and even island flavor with “Gun Shot” ft/ Beenie Man. Even a seasonal track, a song like Starships  a dance track, made for the house crowd, it’ll be played on pop radio especially around spring break and summer time for years to come.

Most of the subject range is very light hearted stuff, if there is depth on the album most will miss it because the song structure and production doesn’t allow you to focus in on what’s being said, the beats and hooks are what’s being sold here If all you care about is money and sales, then cool. But creativity and artistry, soulful, inspiring and credibility none.  I expect the album to play large with the pop audience and at the Kids Choice awards, but with adults,  it depends on what they’re buying into these days.

For the most part Roman Reloaded is not a hip-hop album, a pop for sure. Just because you use hip hop slang, inspired by hip hop and call yourself an MC don’t make you one. We currently need the female MCS to step up because Nicki is not holding it down for them, at all.  This album proves nothing. A very hard to listen to and take serious album, waste of cd's and studio time in my opinion, I wouldn’t buy it.

 I don’t want to see her on any list for MCing, unless people like Madonna,  J-Lo, Jordan sparks, Chris brown, etc. are gone be on the list also, because they rap just as much and sometimes better than Nicki. 

Make money however you want, just don’t false advertise to the people and undercut the culture.

I give the album as a hip hop album 1 and half stars  out of 6 or if you want 6 stars out of 6, a classic rating, but not classically good, classically bad as an example of what not to do and label it hip hop. Nicki fans, worshiper and fanatics will disagree and they are entitled to. I know hip-hop has evolved and can’t be put in a box, but you know it when you hear it and you know what it isn’t, and this isn’t. I still expect phenomenal album sales and it to rack up at award shows and set records, but in the state of the music business today, how many of those actually have much credibility anyway.

slin_k
@slin_k_polymath