B.o.B. - No Genre 2
The No genre mixtape is exactly what I like about B.o.B.,
it’s a clinic in creativity and versatility, proving that he can make dope
music rather it be street, party or pop and that he can’t be put into any kind
of box, and that he can hold his own with anyone, by himself, with young hungry
cats or top notch headliners. It’s a
free album in my opinion and one of the best releases of the year, I like every
song on the project and could listen to it multiple time on repeat, it’s dope
music. I’m a huge fan of the songs Lambo ft. Kevin Gates and Jake Lambo, Chosen ft. T.I. and Spodee. I can’t say
I truly dislike any of the songs, but I’ll say the lower points of the album
for me are Get Right ft Mike Fresh
and So What ft. Milla J, I just didn’t
feel like they were the same quality, but they served a purpose in adding to
the versatility of the project so no biggie.
The B.o.B. - No Genre 2 is a free album essentially. I highly recommend it . You may want to down load that ASAP from www.datpiff.com/BoB-No-Genre-2-mixtape
Leela James - Fall
For You
Fall for You is a dose of good, soulful, traditional R&B;
no hip hop features, the artist isn’t trying to rap, no dance cuts, no attempts
at crossover, just pure R&B. It’s a vocal performance album, made for the
stage; no gimmicks, tricks, auto tune, production that overpowers or over
shadows the vocals/lyrics. The production is complimentary and will be perfect
with a live band for a live performance. It won’t be confused for anything
else. The production is strong, warm and upbeat. There’s various subjects that
every one can relate to and something for everybody and any mood. Honestly I
like all of the songs on the album, but I really dig Say What ft Anthony Hamilton, Who’s
Gonna Love, Set Me Free, and Do Me Right. I’m not a huge fan of Leela doing sensual
songs, I feel she doesn’t have the voice for it and that she holds back on
those types of songs so that she doesn’t become to explicit, erotic or overly
sexual; sadly its what we’ve come to expect from theses types of songs, but she
doesn’t even deliver by slyly/ creative talking about it either. She has a
strong, aggressive, weighty, husky voice; I haven’t heard her with the
intonation to pull off and make a sensual sultry song work. That being said Im
not much a fan of Give It.
I give the Leela James Fall For You album, 4
1/2out of 6 stars, I think it will be one of the best R&B
albums of the year, and will stand the test of time, you’ll be able to jam to
it years from now
Buckshot &
P-Money - Back Pack Travels
Back Pack Travels is a throwback album from a fargone era. Its
full of simple, grimy gritty, beats street and cypher beats like you heard from
the late 80’s to the middle 90’s Its borderline a complaint album, full of this
how we use to do it, here’s what wrong with the game, things done changed for
the worst, the old school / under ground emcees will still rap circles around
some of you young cat narratives Its throwback and restores the feeling, but
Buckshot is past his prime and below his average on this one. The flow is still
he same, the style and intensity of his delivery are still he same, but the
impact is drastically different, it’s not mind blowing or even really rewind
worthy. I liked Crown, which is the intro
and We In Here ft. David Dallas. I can’t really say I disliked any of the
songs, but more so was unmoved by the other songs, indifferent and mostly not
entertained or intrigued, it was a hard listen for me, but I gave it a
respectful listen due to it being Buckshot. Even the features didn’t impress.
Because I was mostly unmoved, I suppose I’d have to Give the
album a rating of 3 out of 6 stars.
Just because I don’ really have a desire to listen to it again and I wouldn’t
have been upset if I hadn’t heard it. I’m not sure if I would recommend it to
anyone. Its not garbage, just bland.
Trey
Songz - Trigga
Trey Songz album is better than
expected and better than the last few pieces of crap he dropped, but It's still
missing something. That something is the soul of Bryan Michael Cox. The two are
made for each other. The album is missing the deeply emotional, hard to write,
hard to sing ballad that makes women swoon and dudes dig deep to imitate the
words. I appreciate his wishes to get laid, but he’s no longer making music
that sets the mood. It’s more right on front street like a rapper, “ this is
what’s up, you down or what. If not ill replace you.” Instead of the deep
romantic and erotic metaphors, he’s a lot more vulgar. He’s no longer charming
the pants off women and helping you do it too, no longer a gentleman, now he’s
more of playa and concerned with stealing your girl and cheating on his. The
majority of the album is made for the club; partying, wild scenarios, spending
money, sex, drinking, lavish lifestyles and travels and the beats match that
scene. The songs I’m most fond of are Cake,
I know, Na NA, and Smartphones; they
are each a combination of his new direction and the type of music that
initially drew most people into him, its as close as you can get to his old
stuff without being stagnant. I don’t have too many songs I don’t like but I
feel like the subject matter is repetitive and are too much like the song Foreign. Decent album tho. I don’t hate
or love it, but I’ll give it a strong 3 1/2 out of 6 stars, because there are
only a few songs I’d like to hear again, and none that I have to hear or would
listen to on repeat, possibly one that I’d put on a slow jam tape, and I’d only
recommend the album to a true Trey Songz fanatic.
Slin-K
@slin_K_polymath on Twitter