Sunday, August 13, 2017
Friday, August 12, 2016
SremmLife 2 - Rae Sremmurd REVIEW
The two hyped-up kids that called themselves 'Rae Sremmurd' have grown up from their 'No Flex Zone' days and are making much music that is better and gentler on your ears. Rae Sremmurd is a rap duo consisting of two young brothers, Slim Jxmmy and Swae Lee. They were brought on by producer Mike Will of Ear Drummers Entertainment. Someone who has worked with rappers like Gucci Mane and Young Thug. They turned heads when they dropped 'SremmLife' last year, which was carried by the songs 'No Type' and 'No Flex Zone' two songs that blew up on the internet. In 'No Type' the duo raps in a very high-pitched voices, which is hard on the ears, and sounds terrible if you listen to it for the first time. This is because the rap-style they have is not very lyrical and it felt worse because puberty hadn't hit their voices yet. Once you listen to it more you notice that Swae Lee's melodies are actually really nice, and feel like a breath of fresh air. Slim Jxmmy's verses weren't good yet and his voice hadn't matured so at that point he was the worst rapper of the two. Their albums sold very well and was a very fun album to people that didn't mind their squeaking voices.
After touring with all-stars like Nicki Minaj they made some new songs. In these new songs they are noticeably better in every category (Style, Lyrics, Flow).
'SremmLife 2' starts off with a banger, the appropriately named 'Start a Party'. The rappers come on with a vicious flow accompanied by a fast and trappy beat. The beat is dark and sounds like a Lamborghini engine combined with a synthesizer, and both rappers start rapping with a flow eerily similar to Zombie Juice's. The song makes you nod your head and dance, it is a great track to 'Start a Party' or start this party. 'Real Chill ft. Kodak Black' is the second track and it is not very good. The beat is great but the repetitive rap on it is claustrophobic. Kodak Black's verse is cool, but it isn't enough to make this song a song you can put on your playlist.
'By Chance' is the next song and was the first music video released to hype up the album. The beat is menacing with a piano riff sounding like a ghost mansion from Super Mario Bros. The rap is breezy with Swae Lee carrying the chorus with a forced low voice. It sounds very smooth, so smooth that it smooths out Slim Jxmmy's scratchy voiced part.
'Look Alive' was the second single released and is very smooth and well produced. The vibe is amazing, Swae Lee's chorus is beautifully sung and Slim Jxmmy's verse is witty and fits perfectly. Swae Lee's singing in his verse is also well sung and very fun. You notice there is little auto-tune in his chorus, which is impressive. Also worth noting, Swae Lee's chorus is done well live too, as shown on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (During the performance Slim Jxmmy kills a moonwalk as he raps). This is just a great song overall.
'Black Beatles ft. Gucci Mane' has a beat resembling something from the rock/pop group 'The Killers' with great piano in the background. Gucci Mane raps like his old self and has a verse that fits well with the rhythm. The hook Swae Lee sings is the best part, pulled off so smoothly, it is very impressive-
After touring with all-stars like Nicki Minaj they made some new songs. In these new songs they are noticeably better in every category (Style, Lyrics, Flow).
'SremmLife 2' starts off with a banger, the appropriately named 'Start a Party'. The rappers come on with a vicious flow accompanied by a fast and trappy beat. The beat is dark and sounds like a Lamborghini engine combined with a synthesizer, and both rappers start rapping with a flow eerily similar to Zombie Juice's. The song makes you nod your head and dance, it is a great track to 'Start a Party' or start this party. 'Real Chill ft. Kodak Black' is the second track and it is not very good. The beat is great but the repetitive rap on it is claustrophobic. Kodak Black's verse is cool, but it isn't enough to make this song a song you can put on your playlist.
'By Chance' is the next song and was the first music video released to hype up the album. The beat is menacing with a piano riff sounding like a ghost mansion from Super Mario Bros. The rap is breezy with Swae Lee carrying the chorus with a forced low voice. It sounds very smooth, so smooth that it smooths out Slim Jxmmy's scratchy voiced part.
'Look Alive' was the second single released and is very smooth and well produced. The vibe is amazing, Swae Lee's chorus is beautifully sung and Slim Jxmmy's verse is witty and fits perfectly. Swae Lee's singing in his verse is also well sung and very fun. You notice there is little auto-tune in his chorus, which is impressive. Also worth noting, Swae Lee's chorus is done well live too, as shown on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (During the performance Slim Jxmmy kills a moonwalk as he raps). This is just a great song overall.
'Black Beatles ft. Gucci Mane' has a beat resembling something from the rock/pop group 'The Killers' with great piano in the background. Gucci Mane raps like his old self and has a verse that fits well with the rhythm. The hook Swae Lee sings is the best part, pulled off so smoothly, it is very impressive-
'That girl is a real crowd pleaser
Small world, all her friends know of me
Young bull livin' like an old geezer
Release the cash, watch it fall slowly
Frat girls still tryna get even
Haters mad for whatever reason
Smoke in the air, binge drinkin' They lose it when the DJ drops the needle.'
Small world, all her friends know of me
Young bull livin' like an old geezer
Release the cash, watch it fall slowly
Frat girls still tryna get even
Haters mad for whatever reason
Smoke in the air, binge drinkin' They lose it when the DJ drops the needle.'
'Set the Roof ft. Lil Jon' is another great party track made by the duo, Swae Lee shows his versatility with great speed and timing. Slim Jxmmy also does a great job on his verse which is very catchy.
'Came a Long Way' definitely has the best production with a piano that sounds bittersweet, like the feeling of something taking all your happiness away leaving you with only shattered fragments of what once was. Maybe that's too far, but it's a great beat. Slim Jxmmy carries this song with a hook and a verse that fit the beat like a glove, then he brings in Swae Lee with another good verse. This song shows the duality of the two brothers. This might be the best track on the album, it is very good.
I take it back, 'Do Yoga' is the most fun, and the best track on the album. The hook is simple and smooth, with Swae Lee talking over the tranquil beat made by Mike Will. Slim Jxmmy pulls off a smooth verse, which is interesting because most of his verses are with his scratchy voice. Swae's verse is also as smooth as the hook, just more sexual. This song could possibly get radio play because it is smooth and catchy. Plus it would be cool to hear trap on the radio. 'Over Here ft. Bobo Swae' is a throwaway track.
Although only one of these new songs has potential to become a hit, it is a fun album to listen to, from a rap group that focuses on fun rather than lyrics or message. The duo noticeably went through many improvements, Swae Lee's great melodies, Slim Jxmmy's lyrics, and the outstanding production (mostly by Mike Will). This isn't a great album, but a good one.
GOOD TRACKS - 'Start a Party', 'Look Alive', 'Black Beatles', 'Set the Roof', 'Came a Long Way', 'Just Like us'
NOT SO GOOD TRACKS - 'By Chance', 'Real Chill', 'Over Here', 'Swang', 'Shake it Fast'
Best Track - 'Do Yoga'
6/10
--KSP--
I take it back, 'Do Yoga' is the most fun, and the best track on the album. The hook is simple and smooth, with Swae Lee talking over the tranquil beat made by Mike Will. Slim Jxmmy pulls off a smooth verse, which is interesting because most of his verses are with his scratchy voice. Swae's verse is also as smooth as the hook, just more sexual. This song could possibly get radio play because it is smooth and catchy. Plus it would be cool to hear trap on the radio. 'Over Here ft. Bobo Swae' is a throwaway track.
Although only one of these new songs has potential to become a hit, it is a fun album to listen to, from a rap group that focuses on fun rather than lyrics or message. The duo noticeably went through many improvements, Swae Lee's great melodies, Slim Jxmmy's lyrics, and the outstanding production (mostly by Mike Will). This isn't a great album, but a good one.
GOOD TRACKS - 'Start a Party', 'Look Alive', 'Black Beatles', 'Set the Roof', 'Came a Long Way', 'Just Like us'
NOT SO GOOD TRACKS - 'By Chance', 'Real Chill', 'Over Here', 'Swang', 'Shake it Fast'
Best Track - 'Do Yoga'
6/10
--KSP--
Sunday, July 24, 2016
New Music Dose 7/24
The Summer Songs 2 review will be late because I will buy it to support the artist, and with my current Wi-Fi strength it will be in a while.
GOOD TRACKS-
'Bout A Check' - Wintertime
This tranquil track with a great harp beat that sounds like something Samurai would listen to during the Edo Period (They did not battle as much then so they would like this calm vibe). His robotic rapping somehow mixes with the very down to Earth beat. His rapping about him not wanting to be friends with anyone because he is a rapper and he is only about his money. His bars are put together really well, and holy sh*t this is just a really good track overall.
'Pumpkin' - Exyle
This is an instrumental track with an interesting variety of samples. The instrumental is carried by an a cappella of different voices and a simple and quiet drum beat, which then moves to an orchestral piece with a louder drum beat. This happens and it becomes very groovy and would be fun to rap on, which is probably why a rapper like Father reposted this on SoundCloud
'Holy Key' - DJ Khaled ft. Big Sean, KENDRICK LAMAR, Betty Wright
Never thought Kendrick would do anything with Khaled but he actually did and murdered the beat. No, he murdered the beat then set fire to the body. No, not just that, but once burned he threw the ashes into another realm. He showed off his 'TPAB' flow at first then hit us with some 'Section.80' vibes with the last few bars sounding like an outtake of 'Rigamortis'. The other verse was good too but Kendrick owned this track.
'Laffy Taffy'(Remix) - Ski Mask the $lump God
A funny video game like beat with some tongue-twisting lyrics that are playful but dark. A really weird track but a pretty good one. It's also nicely short, because if it was a little longer it would be kind of annoying.
BAD TRACKS-
Every song off 21 Savage's new mixtape. All terrible.
GOOD TRACKS-
'Bout A Check' - Wintertime
This tranquil track with a great harp beat that sounds like something Samurai would listen to during the Edo Period (They did not battle as much then so they would like this calm vibe). His robotic rapping somehow mixes with the very down to Earth beat. His rapping about him not wanting to be friends with anyone because he is a rapper and he is only about his money. His bars are put together really well, and holy sh*t this is just a really good track overall.
'Pumpkin' - Exyle
This is an instrumental track with an interesting variety of samples. The instrumental is carried by an a cappella of different voices and a simple and quiet drum beat, which then moves to an orchestral piece with a louder drum beat. This happens and it becomes very groovy and would be fun to rap on, which is probably why a rapper like Father reposted this on SoundCloud
'Holy Key' - DJ Khaled ft. Big Sean, KENDRICK LAMAR, Betty Wright
Never thought Kendrick would do anything with Khaled but he actually did and murdered the beat. No, he murdered the beat then set fire to the body. No, not just that, but once burned he threw the ashes into another realm. He showed off his 'TPAB' flow at first then hit us with some 'Section.80' vibes with the last few bars sounding like an outtake of 'Rigamortis'. The other verse was good too but Kendrick owned this track.
'Laffy Taffy'(Remix) - Ski Mask the $lump God
A funny video game like beat with some tongue-twisting lyrics that are playful but dark. A really weird track but a pretty good one. It's also nicely short, because if it was a little longer it would be kind of annoying.
BAD TRACKS-
Every song off 21 Savage's new mixtape. All terrible.
Monday, July 18, 2016
´Blank Face´- ScHoolboy Q REVIEW
THis review is a bit late because I never Had an Hour and a Half to listen to tHe full tHing until yesterday, and wHen I finally did it was glorious.
ScHoolboy Q is a well-known rapper Hailing from L.A., wHo I first noticed wHen He dropped a song called ´Collard Greens´ featuring Kendrick Lamar tHat was on His last album, ´Oxymoron´. I didn´t really feel mucH for tHe song but it was tHe first time I Heard that slow rapping style, wHere tHe beat was mucH faster tHan tHe rapping, giving off a cHill and druggy vibe. THat I Had not Heard of beforeHand. Now, after releasing amazing singles like ´Groovy Tony´and ´THat Part´, Q released His LP ´Blank Face´. ScHoolboy Q grew up near Hoover Street in L.A., and joined a gang called tHe ´52 Hoover Gangster Crips´ at the age of 12, wHicH is wHy He always capitilizes tHe letter ´H´. He had a true gangster childhood, he was a drug dealer and was jailed for 3 months for another undisclosed crime. He did this mostly because of peer-pressure stating that he did it because his friends were doing it. He later began rapping on the now huge record label ´Top Dawg Entertainment´and formed the rap super-group Black Hippy (Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Q) because he thought he could become a better rapper by just writing one good verse instead of a whole song because other members rapped. This is what groups like the Flatbush Zombies do, because it is much easier to write one good verse, than one good song. After all the members of Black Hippy started to chase solo careers rather than working as a group (much like the members of Odd Future), Q then became a well-known solo rapper.
(Just to show you how real Q is, he has a chain of his daughter´s face)
This album starts off with the intro/song ´TorcH´, which I like to think of as an intro because it´s all over the place with shouts of ´blankfaceblankfaceblankfaceblankface´, but it still resembles a good song. Anderson .Paak is on it for some extra flavor, and when Q raps a great guitar solo is played behind him. The second song ´Lord Have Mercy´ is slower and the calmest song of the whole album, which describes the life of Q asking the lord for mercy due to him still ´hanging out with niggas that can´t do nothing but cause damage´, while also describing himself as a gang-affiliated, deadbeat father, and saying that his demons would rather keep him down than seeing him being successful and fly out of his bad situation. It is one of my favorite tracks off of the whole album, due to how real it is, because Q describes it so well you have aclear picture of it happening. ´THat Part´is next on the list, and features a very tranquil beat with great rapping by Q. Kanye West then hops on the track with a catchy rhyme scheme, so catchy that with 3 listens you will have memorized most of it. The best pair of lines are-
´Beggers can´t be choosers b*tch this ain´t Chipotle / Nigga with an attitude I feel like O´Shea´
Ice Cube, member of N.W.A., has a real name of O´Shea Jackson, this is an obvious reference. This song takes a few listens for it to grow on you, but I enjoy it. After ´THat Part´ comes the great song ´Groovy Tony/Eddie Kane´ which is so dark and gritty that if you are mad while listening it will make youy want to kill someone. The new ´Eddie Kane´ featuring Jadakiss is just as gritty as the original but a little longer and has great production. ´Kno Ya Wrong´ (ft. Lance Skiiiwalker) is the next song, and Q takes up a little R&B influence with some singing and a beautiful jazzy beat. The problem with this song is that it is all over the place and it´s dizzying.
´Ride Out´ (ft. Vince Staples) is the next song and I would be lying if I didn´t say that this is the most gangster song of 2016 so far. ScHoolboy Q raps with a menacing growl and kills his verse. Vince Staples who may be the best rapper in the game pulls out a great verse that fits the beat like a glove. This song is one of the best on the album, and a must-listen.
My favorite track might be ´Big Body´(ft. Tha Dogg Pound) that has a bumpy beat produced by Tyler, The Creator that I absolutely love, Q´s verse matches it well and the rappers Tha Dogg Pound lay a few good quick verses around. The problem is that this track doesn´t fit the gritty album, and is great as a solo song, but not good on the album. It´s still my favorite track. ´Neva CHange´(ft. SZA) is only goodbecause my girl SZA is on there, and I like how she sings. But Q´s verse is boring on the song. ´Str8 Ballin´is basically a trap-song, nothing new there. ´Black THougHts´is the realest song on the album, and is perfect at a time where racism and police violence are tied together and the #BlackLivesMatter movement is in full swing. How the violence turned the Crips vs Bloods gang war to #AllLivesMatter and how the perception of people in the hood are skewed because they never had a responsible parent in their lives, and that because they get into illegal activities, most of them are jailed before they could make their good thoughts a reality. ´Overtime´(ft. Miguel & Justine Skye) is slow and soulful, but the lyrics are trash and it doesn´t fit on the album. The last song ´Tookie Knows II´(ft. Traffic & TF) is good but it´s better when you watch the music video.
Overall this album is detailed and real, has great production, and a decent number of good songs. The problem is that it is random and unorganized, I do not like that. I give it a 7/10 because the good tracks are really good, without KAnye on ´THat Part´ and Vince Staples on ´Ride Out´ this album would be a 5 or a 6 out of 10.
GOOD TRACKS- Big Body, THat Part, Groovy Tony, Ride Out, Tookie Knows II, JoHn Muir.
NOT-SO-GOOD TRACKS- By Any Means, WHateva U Want, Str8 Ballin, Blank Face, Overtime.
--KSP--
ScHoolboy Q is a well-known rapper Hailing from L.A., wHo I first noticed wHen He dropped a song called ´Collard Greens´ featuring Kendrick Lamar tHat was on His last album, ´Oxymoron´. I didn´t really feel mucH for tHe song but it was tHe first time I Heard that slow rapping style, wHere tHe beat was mucH faster tHan tHe rapping, giving off a cHill and druggy vibe. THat I Had not Heard of beforeHand. Now, after releasing amazing singles like ´Groovy Tony´and ´THat Part´, Q released His LP ´Blank Face´. ScHoolboy Q grew up near Hoover Street in L.A., and joined a gang called tHe ´52 Hoover Gangster Crips´ at the age of 12, wHicH is wHy He always capitilizes tHe letter ´H´. He had a true gangster childhood, he was a drug dealer and was jailed for 3 months for another undisclosed crime. He did this mostly because of peer-pressure stating that he did it because his friends were doing it. He later began rapping on the now huge record label ´Top Dawg Entertainment´and formed the rap super-group Black Hippy (Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Q) because he thought he could become a better rapper by just writing one good verse instead of a whole song because other members rapped. This is what groups like the Flatbush Zombies do, because it is much easier to write one good verse, than one good song. After all the members of Black Hippy started to chase solo careers rather than working as a group (much like the members of Odd Future), Q then became a well-known solo rapper.
(Just to show you how real Q is, he has a chain of his daughter´s face)
This album starts off with the intro/song ´TorcH´, which I like to think of as an intro because it´s all over the place with shouts of ´blankfaceblankfaceblankfaceblankface´, but it still resembles a good song. Anderson .Paak is on it for some extra flavor, and when Q raps a great guitar solo is played behind him. The second song ´Lord Have Mercy´ is slower and the calmest song of the whole album, which describes the life of Q asking the lord for mercy due to him still ´hanging out with niggas that can´t do nothing but cause damage´, while also describing himself as a gang-affiliated, deadbeat father, and saying that his demons would rather keep him down than seeing him being successful and fly out of his bad situation. It is one of my favorite tracks off of the whole album, due to how real it is, because Q describes it so well you have aclear picture of it happening. ´THat Part´is next on the list, and features a very tranquil beat with great rapping by Q. Kanye West then hops on the track with a catchy rhyme scheme, so catchy that with 3 listens you will have memorized most of it. The best pair of lines are-
´Beggers can´t be choosers b*tch this ain´t Chipotle / Nigga with an attitude I feel like O´Shea´
Ice Cube, member of N.W.A., has a real name of O´Shea Jackson, this is an obvious reference. This song takes a few listens for it to grow on you, but I enjoy it. After ´THat Part´ comes the great song ´Groovy Tony/Eddie Kane´ which is so dark and gritty that if you are mad while listening it will make youy want to kill someone. The new ´Eddie Kane´ featuring Jadakiss is just as gritty as the original but a little longer and has great production. ´Kno Ya Wrong´ (ft. Lance Skiiiwalker) is the next song, and Q takes up a little R&B influence with some singing and a beautiful jazzy beat. The problem with this song is that it is all over the place and it´s dizzying.
´Ride Out´ (ft. Vince Staples) is the next song and I would be lying if I didn´t say that this is the most gangster song of 2016 so far. ScHoolboy Q raps with a menacing growl and kills his verse. Vince Staples who may be the best rapper in the game pulls out a great verse that fits the beat like a glove. This song is one of the best on the album, and a must-listen.
My favorite track might be ´Big Body´(ft. Tha Dogg Pound) that has a bumpy beat produced by Tyler, The Creator that I absolutely love, Q´s verse matches it well and the rappers Tha Dogg Pound lay a few good quick verses around. The problem is that this track doesn´t fit the gritty album, and is great as a solo song, but not good on the album. It´s still my favorite track. ´Neva CHange´(ft. SZA) is only goodbecause my girl SZA is on there, and I like how she sings. But Q´s verse is boring on the song. ´Str8 Ballin´is basically a trap-song, nothing new there. ´Black THougHts´is the realest song on the album, and is perfect at a time where racism and police violence are tied together and the #BlackLivesMatter movement is in full swing. How the violence turned the Crips vs Bloods gang war to #AllLivesMatter and how the perception of people in the hood are skewed because they never had a responsible parent in their lives, and that because they get into illegal activities, most of them are jailed before they could make their good thoughts a reality. ´Overtime´(ft. Miguel & Justine Skye) is slow and soulful, but the lyrics are trash and it doesn´t fit on the album. The last song ´Tookie Knows II´(ft. Traffic & TF) is good but it´s better when you watch the music video.
Overall this album is detailed and real, has great production, and a decent number of good songs. The problem is that it is random and unorganized, I do not like that. I give it a 7/10 because the good tracks are really good, without KAnye on ´THat Part´ and Vince Staples on ´Ride Out´ this album would be a 5 or a 6 out of 10.
GOOD TRACKS- Big Body, THat Part, Groovy Tony, Ride Out, Tookie Knows II, JoHn Muir.
NOT-SO-GOOD TRACKS- By Any Means, WHateva U Want, Str8 Ballin, Blank Face, Overtime.
--KSP--
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