That White Dude Rap Reviews

U.F.O Vol. 2

2012-02-28T15:26:00.001-08:00

Torch

U.F.O Vol. 2

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8/10
Beats: 8.3/10
Replayability: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.9/10

The Dude's Picks: Go Get It (feat. Teedra Moses); Slowdown (feat. Meek Mill, Gunplay, Wale, Young Breed & Stalley); Grind-24 (feat. Rick Ross)

Though some may know rapper Torch from the Maybach Music Group trio Triple C's, he has recently been making a name for himself with a ton of solo releases that have been flooding the internet and radio. To go along with this new stream of music Torch also has released the mixtape U.F.O Vol. 2, the sequel to his similarly titled 2011 mixtape. Torch brings most of the Maybach Empire with him, including fellow Triple C's members Gunplay and Young Breed and head honcho Rick Ross. The beats are classic Maybach style with the agressive and uptempo styles that have become synonymous with Rozay releases. Tracks like Uptown and Grind-24 have instrumentals that are not to be messed with, while both increasing the power of Torch's rhymes and the replayability of the tracks. Sometimes though I wished that Torch would go in a different direction with his instrumentals. While the style of music that Ross and MMG made famous is popular for a reason, sometimes it feels like Torch could use more originality in his beats. R.I.P. and Lemme See Something could be easily confused for a Rick Ross track with the kind of instrumental that could have been one of any from Ross and his associates' repertoires. Despite having solid rhymes, they don't really help Torch stand out as an individual. Beats that vary from the proven formula end up being far bigger successes. One of the clear examples of this is the ensamble track Slowdown, which features five fellow MMG artists. Though no one artist really stands out over the other it just goes to show the amount of talent that Ross has assembled. Torch's rhymes do stand out on a few tracks, with the content of his flows having a little more substance than I expected from the Bronx rapper. The opening track Go Get It is a lyrically fantastic song, and is the perfect lead in to the rest of the tape. Along with a soulful instrumental and the first of two great hooks by singer Teedra Moses, the song easily ends up being one of the stand outs of U.F.O Vol. 2. The next couple of years are going to be bright ones for MMG with rising stars like Meek Mill and Wale, as well as hidden talents such as Torch and his fellow Triple C's, should be providing good music for a long time.
Overall Rating: 7.9/10
With features by Meek Mill, Gunplay, Wale, Young Breed, Stalley, Rick Ross & more

Breakfast

2012-02-23T14:14:00.004-08:00

Chiddy Bang

Breakfast

2012

Parlophone, EMI, Capitol, Virgin

Lyrics: 7.5/10
Beats: 8.4/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 7.9/10

The Dude's Picks: Handclaps & Guitars; Ray Charles; Talking To Myself

The alternative hip-hop duo Chiddy Bang, made up of rapper Chiddy and producer Xaphoon Jones, has steadily built a solid following off their 2009 mixtape The Swelly Express, which featured MGMT-sampling hit Opposite of Adults. The Philadelphia-based pair has carved out a niche in the rap community alongside Kid Cudi and Childish Gambino of appealing to a previously untapped hipster and high-school age fan base. Rapper Chiddy also made history when he broke the Guinness World Record for Longest Rap, clocking out at nine hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. Now, after months of delays remedied by a slew of EPs and mixtapes, Chiddy Bang has finally released their long-awaited debut studio album Breakfast. For those who have long been fans of Team Swell, expect the same type of music that has become a staple of Chiddy Bang's repertoire. This means high energy music that fills up your favorite pop radio station. At times it seems as if the lazy rhymes of Chiddy bring Breakfast down. It feels like most of the time the rapper has nothing to say and falls back on clever-ish wordplay, corny jokes and braggadocio to fill up track time, especially on the album's two singles Ray Charles and Mind Your Manners. With the exception of Talking To Myself, an excellent track that shows the true potential of the duo, Breakfast is basically an album about nothing. Though you'll never hear Chiddy pretending to be a pimp or a thug, two staple stereotypes of rap, he often fulfills a newer rap staple: the punchline-heavy jokester. Chiddy's rhymes are effortless; not because he rhymes easily and without effort but because there seems to be barely any effort put into his lyrics. Luckily, Chiddy is only one half of the Breakfast experience. The beats of Xaphoon Jones consistently continue to be the most under appreciated talent of the two artists that make up Chiddy Bang. Though his beats can occasionally get hectic at times, and focuses on using electronic elements more often than necessary, it is obvious that Chiddy's rhymes would be completely different if played to another type of music. This is especially clear on the bonus track Rescue Me which features the music and hook from British rock band You Me At Six. Chiddy seems attempt at making his rhymes meaningful when not backed by Xaphoon Jones' beats. It could be that Chiddy is putting in less effort due to the catchiness of the beats he raps on, but if he rapped on the electronic sounds of Xaphoon Jones the way he did on the rock sound of You Me At Six, Chiddy Bang could be a force to be reckoned with. In my opinion, this is thoroughly proven on my favorite song from this release, Talking To Myself. One of the album's hidden gems, this track is possibly the deepest songs I've heard from Chiddy Bang as a pair. I enjoyed how Chiddy's rhymes actually told a story instead of simply filling up time, and Xaphoon Jones' beats and hook satisfied as always. Chiddy gives a candid look at the problems of relationships, with lines like "We always arguing, we always fight a lot/You always think I'm wrong, I think I'm right a lot." The result is one of the few thoroughly enjoyable tracks on the album. Unfortunately listeners are more likely to remember the Icona Pop sample used in Mind Your Manners than tracks like Talking To Myself, which is a shame when most of the lyrics are lines like "I never thought that I would deliver no classics/Then I hooked up with them and I delivered mo classics." Breakfast is an album saved by its pop-heavy vibe and the skill of Xaphoon Jones. For Chiddy Bang to get on another level as a group, they most work to improve the lyrical work at their core.
Overall Rating: 7.9/10
With features by Icona Pop, Shirazi & Gordon VoidwellFollow @realwhitedude

Careless World: Rise of the Last King

2012-02-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

Tyga

Careless World: Rise of the Last King

2012

Young Money

Lyrics: 7.8/10
Beats: 8.8/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.4/10

The Dude's Picks: Careless World; Muthafucka Up (Nicki Minaj); Far Away (feat. Chris Richardson); Love Game

Lil Wayne must know something we don't. For many, a Canadian actor-turned-rapper, a wig-wearing femcee with multiple personalities, and a then-16-year-old cousin of Travis McCoy would not be the artists to build a label off of. Now Drake's two albums Thank Me Later and Take Care have become instant classics, and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday has redefined how to make it as a female rapper. Finally there's Tyga. The Compton-born MC has finally released his first album with Young Money Entertainment, titled Careless World: Rise of the Last King and now its time to see if the winning streak by Lil Wayne proteges will continue with the epic 90-minute release. Careless World is the type of album that lives off of its producing. The release's ten beatmakers make this album what it is, with most its exceptional cohesiveness and fantastic beats due to three of those ten. The trio of Jess Jackson, Arthur McArthur and David "D.A." Dorman take credit for producing or co-producing 15 of the albums 21 tracks, a huge number for three relatively unknown producers. McArthur is responsible for Careless World's three Interludes as well as the Nas and Wale assisted Kings & Queens. Jackson has a huge role in a total of nine tracks, producing seven and co-producing two, and is the musical presence behind some of the bigger songs on the album such as the single Far Away and the title track Careless World. While Tyga's rap is undoubtedly second to the production of Careless World, he still has plenty of moments that make listeners truly realize how much potential the 22 year old rapper has. There are also a few moments that make you cringe, for example when he spits "Two wrongs don't make a right/And I was wrong and now it ain't right" on the song Far Away and the annoying use of autotune in Celebration, but these missteps are far fewer than expected for the same rapper that was content with spitting witty one-liners in the Young Money collab We Are Young Money. Love Game is one of the most interesting tracks on the album, both musically and lyrically, but mostly due to the large presence of dubstep at the end of the track. The bass-heavy electronic music usually associated with dance music lasts for the last two minutes of the seven minute track, and though comes as a surprise also feels completely natural in the course of the song. The lyrical side of Love Game is surprising as well. Tyga's rhymes are surprisingly mature and reflective for the rapper behind Rack City, as he speaks on love and comforting hurt women, and perfectly slows down the pace of Careless World as it slowly reaches the final few tracks of the album. While there are a couple superficial moments on Careless World (though it was popular, did Rack City really need to make the cut?), the album comes off as a more adult and powerful album than most expected. As someone who came into Careless World expecting a boring collection of songs about bitches, money and cars, I was happily proven wrong from the first song. I also am no longer a doubter of Young Money founder Lil Wayne's eye for talent, as he has duly proven himself in finding the next generation of stars with Drake, Nicki Minaj, and now Tyga.
Overall Rating: 8.4/10
With features by Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Busta Rhymes & moreFollow @realwhitedude

Follow Me Home

2012-02-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

Jay Rock

Follow Me Home

2011

Top Dawg Entertainment

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 7.9/10
Replayability: 7.7/10

Overall: 8/10

The Dude's Picks: All I Know; Kill Or Be Killed (feat. Tech N9ne & Krizz Kaliko); M.O.N.E.Y. (feat. J Black)

Though he may not be the biggest name from Los Angeles, California, rapper Jay Rock has a long career to go. The 25 year old rapper may be young, but has been in the game for over six years, and has already gained comparisons to such street legends as Immortal Technique. Part of the new breed of California rapper, along with friend Kendrick Lamar and others, he gained a significant amount of attention for remaking a song that sparked the career of a similar young rapper: 50 Cent's 1999 single How To Rob. Now that TWD has reviewed Kendrick Lamar's debut album Section.80, we thought it would be appropriate to take a look at his friend Jay Rock's own debut, last July's Follow Me Home. Jay Rock's debut studio album is a sprawling 18 tracks, but though it lasts a little more than an hour, Follow Me Home feels like the perfect length. With the exception of the Intro and a few other songs, most tracks fits perfectly into the album larger theme of the struggle living in the ghetto. After the Intro, a stereotypical faux news report about a gang shooting, Follow Me Home truly begins. Jay Rock seems most comfortable spitting crack tales and hood stories and while not exactly the most original content, these types of songs end up being the most memorable on the album. Many moments on the album are reminiscent of a younger 50 Cent, with songs like Bout That and Elbows showcasing the same aggressive rhymes and catchy hooks that populated Fif's breakthrough Get Rich or Die Trying and his subsequent albums. Instead of G-Unit backing Jay up however, the Cali native has fellow members of rap group Black Hippy along with Top Dawg Entertainment to help him out. The quartet of Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q and Ab-Soul make one appearance together on Follow Me Home, trading verses on the track Say Wassup. Say Wassup is slightly disappointing for the quality of the rappers that it features. Average production added to an unoriginal hook contributes to the underwhelming joint. When hearing these same rappers killing the instrumentals on works like Section.80 and Habits & Contradictions, it is clear that beats better suited to their talents must be provided. Not all features disappoint however. Kill Or Be Killed is a grizzly testament to the hard life of many young African-Americans, with Tech N9ne adding a slight level of insanity to Jay's lyrics with his own furious verse, as well as Krizz Kaliko's powerful hook to complete the track. Tech N9ne isn't the only big name on Follow Me Home, with Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and will.i.am all contributing verses as well as Chris Brown contributing a hook to the the album. Jay holds his own with his better known collaborators, with hard-nosed rhymes that you don't need to grow up on the streets to appreciate. The future is bright for Jay Rock and his crew from Cali, as intelligent and mature rhymes combined with the youth to appeal to a newer rap audience creates a potent mix.
Overall Rating: 8/10
With features by Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, Tech N9ne & more

The Bite Marked Heart

2012-02-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

Brother Ali

The Bite Marked Heart

2012

Rhymesayers

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability: 7.75/10

Overall: 8/10

The Dude's Picks: Shine On (feat. Nikki Jean); Years; The Bite Marked Heart

Brother Ali is a type of rapper that is becoming fewer and fewer today. The Minnesotta MC has a distinct style that favors substance over flash, originality over popularity, and quality over quantity. After more than a decade in the game Ali has come to realize one of music's basic laws: just because an artist releases a large amount of music in a short amount of time, doesn't mean that the music is any good. With this in mind, and as he preps for his upcoming album Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, Brother Ali released his seven-track EP The Bite Marked Heart the day before Valentine's Day. There is a clear theme of the struggles of love throughout The Bite Marked Heart, and listeners should expect tales of romance gained and lost through the lens of Ali's own experiences. Brother Ali's abilities as a storyteller are nothing to take lightly, as the rapper spins tales that are way to easy to become engrossed in. Ali's raps sometimes seem more like pure poetry set to a beat than rap, which is hard to imagine sometimes in an age where many rappers get fame off of a repetitive hit single. Shine On is a clear example of this as Ali tell a one-sided love story of a man who dresses up as a waiter to get closer to a beautiful woman. The story is mostly told through the thoughts of the man as he continues his ruse, with such poignent lines as "Couture all up against you, oh lord/How could I convince you, I just met you/And I'm instantly listening to your instrumental." The story ends in a tragic way, that you are left with such a sense of heartbreak that it is almost like you are that man who is so enraptured with a nameless stranger. The sleepy instrumentals in The Bite Marked Heart are much more suitable for a quiet night at home with your loved one than a crazy night partying. This does not detract from the EP's value, but it does make it difficult at times to give your full attention to the seven-track release. Though there a multiple features on The Bite Marked Heart for such a small offering of music, Brother Ali remains the strongest voice throughout the EP. Though he is not the only big-name rapper on the release, with Little Brother member Phonte joining him on the track I'll Be Around, he finishes as the best of the two with Phonte verse disappointing slightly after his fantastic work on Charity Starts At Home. Singers Aby Wolf and Nikki Jean provide respectable hooks, but they really end up being just background noise in their respective tracks. Though perfect for a one time listen, The Bite Marked Heart is clearly a precursor to the larger album that will be released in early March. For now, as a special gift for Valentine's Day, Brother Ali drops off a nice gift to share with your loved one.
Overall Rating: 8/10
With features by Phonte, Aby Wold, Nikki Jean & Stokey Williams

The Blue Album

2012-02-15T13:09:00.000-08:00

Jon Connor

The Blue Album

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.75/10
Beats: 8.5/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.41/10

The Dude's Picks: Run This Town (feat. Lia Mack & Brandon Bars); Never Change; Hova Mojo; Renegade (feat. Mickey Wallace)

While Nas's classic debut Illmatic has been given a number of tributes, most recently by rapper Elzhi's miztape Elmatic, the other king of NYC has been noticeably underrepresented in terms of homages to his work. Now, sixteen years after legend Jay-Z released his debut Reasonable Doubt, that has changed. Michigan rapper Jon Connor pays an ambitious homage to Jay-Z's The Blueprint trilogy with his own release appropriately titled The Blue Album. The tape is the first in a new series for Connor, titled Best In The World, in which the rapper takes beats from some of hip-hop's greatest MCs and makes them his own. DJ Green Lantern assists Connor with the joint, in which the rapper rhymes over some of the greatest hits from all three Blueprints. While the majority of the tape's beats are taken from the original album, with 2001's The Blueprint making up half of The Blue Album's 14 tracks, the other two installments have representation as well with five instrumentals from 2002's The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse and two from 2009's The Blueprint 3 being used as well. Though Connor is clearly the star of the tape Jay-Z's colossal presence is also felt throughout The Blue Album, whether through snippets of his original lyrics and hooks from a song's first incarnation, or just because of the fact the Jon Connor is rapping over beats that Hov made famous. For any tribute to be a success, a rapper must be careful in which songs they choose to rap over. Certain instrumentals, like the soulful croon of Song Cry or restrained anger of Renegade, must be handled with care lyrically to provide a worthy-enough remake. DJ Green Lantern does an excellant job of choosing his instrumentals, with a perfect mix of hits that will be familiar to casual fans and hidden gems that only hardcore Jay-Z fans will know. Run This Town might be the most familiar to those who are new to Hov, and Connor enlists help from Lia Mack (who replaces Rihanna on the identical hook) and Brandon Bars (who replaces Kanye West on the track's final verse) to recreate the magic of the original. Though almost anything that used Run This Town's riot-inducing beat probably would sound good, Jon Connor and Brandon Bars take it to another level with their rhymes. While they obviously can't compare to the track's original rappers, legends Jay and West, they come as close as possible with agressive rhymes and clever one-liners. On Hova Mojo, Jon Connor takes over the fantastic beat from Jay-Z and makes it his own. "We living in an era where it ain't about dope rhymes/When beef is online and how big is your cosign," raps Connor, referencing a current trend of rappers using popular social networking sites like Twitter to attack enemies instead of using their music. Connor goes on to vow that those who looked down on him past will regret it, and almost makes you feel sorry for those who have ever wronged him by how venomously he goes off on them. If The Blue Album has one flaw it's that Connor limits his scope to only The Blueprint trilogy. To see "the people's rapper" go off on other Jay-Z classics such as The Black Album's 99 Problems or Dirt Off Your Shoulder would be a fantastic thing. For now we'll have to enjoy The Blue Album as we wait for the next installment off Best In The World, as Connor takes on fellow Michigan native and hip-hop legend Eminem.
Overall Rating: 8.41/10
With features by Lia Mack, Brandon Bars, Mickey Wallace, D Wayne & more

Earl

2012-02-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

Earl Sweatshirt

Earl

2010

Self-Released

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.08

The Dude's Picks: Earl; Luper; epaR (feat. Vince Staples)

Though Earl Sweatshirt has not rapped for over two years, he may be one of the most well known members of Odd Future besides group leader Tyler, The Creator. The reason behind his fame is also the reason behind his two year silence, and is something that can be summarized in two powerful words, Free Earl. Though the details behind his two year stay in a Samoan boarding school are confusing and conflicting, at this point it may not matter because, for those who haven't heard, Earl Sweatshirt is now free. The eighteen year old rapper recently announced his return to America, accompanied by the release of a new song appropriately titled "Home". In honor of Earl's return, we at TWD will take a look back at the album that made the then-16 year old a face to watch. Due to exclusive production for most of the album by fellow Odd Future members Tyler, The Creator and Left Brain, Earl has the kind of drum-heavy, bass banging beats that have become synonymous with Odd Future productions. It takes a while to get used to the beats, especially if you are used to more polished instrumentals, but after listening through the album a few times they eventually have almost an addictive effect. Tyler, The Creator productions are an acquired taste, but once acquired they can take over your mind. Songs tend to have a droning effect occasionally, which causes the listener to have to make an effort to hear Earl Sweatshirt's rhymes. This is unfortunate, because unless they pay attention and listen many will miss out on what makes Earl so special: the verses from Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, The Creator, and Hodgy Beats. Like any Odd Future release, the things coming from these rappers' mouths are unlike anything else in the game right now. They are unafraid to say anything that comes to mind, no matter who it may offend, and the result is some of the most original and creative rhyming to be heard in a long time. "Go on, suck it up/But hurry I got nuts to bust/And butts to fuck and ups to shut and sluts to fucking uppercut," Sweatshirt rapps on the title track Earl, just one of the many examples of Odd Future going over the line and making you love it. The content of Earl is simply unbelievable, but in the best way possible. In the track epaR, Earl Sweatshirt raps in detail of a time where he killed his girlfriend in his car and then got pulled over for being an underage driver. Though this may seem like something that no sane person would listen to, Earl makes you bob your head to his rhymes as if you were listening to a club banger. Hopefully two years away have not diminished Earl Sweatshirt's ability to combine crude and incredible, and soon we will find out as the rapper continues to release new music.
Overall Rating: 8.08/10
With features by Tyler, The Creator, Taco, Vince Staples & Hodgy Beats

The Epidemic

2012-02-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

Pill

The Epidemic

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.75/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.3/10

The Dude's Picks: Movin' Out; Dreamin'; 4Life; Why It Gotta Be Like Dis (Mama); Head To Da Sky

Don't worry Pill fans, things are going to be all right for your favorite rapper. Just over a month after his recent divorce with Maybach Music Group, Atlanta rapper Pill has showed fans that he won't let it slow him down. The Epidemic, Pill's fifth mixtape and first of release of 2012, is a fun and furious ride that shows off the rapper's many lyrical skills. The tape is hosted by DJ Holiday and clear shows that Pill is back on his grind. The Epidemic is a tour de force from the fun and defiant hello on the Billy Joel-sampling Movin' Out to the slow and moving goodbye on the tape's finale Head To Da Sky. Production is not perfect on The Epidemic, but for the most part that goes unnoticed as Pill spits tight rhymes about a variety of topics. One of the few successes production-wise is the previously mentioned opening track Movin' Out. A unconventional sample for hip-hop, the similarly titled Billy Joel hit, is used perfectly to create an enjoyable song. This kind of producing goes well with Pill's style of rapping, while other times the production is completely outclassed by its lyrical content such as on the track Down For My Niggaz. With so many good producers in hip-hop today there is almost no excuse to not have better producing. As mentioned earlier, the lyrical content from Pill is what makes The Epidemic. The most powerful moment lyrically from the album is a song from late in the tape. Pill goes deep inside emotionally in the heart-breaking Gotta Be Like Dis (Mama). The track is, unsurprisingly, about the MC's mother, who died from colon cancer a few years ago. Though she long suffered from drug-addiction, Pill still has strong love for the woman that raised him and protected him in the rough Atlanta housing projects where he was raised. The song makes Pill feel like more of a human being instead of a distant celebrity, and is a touching break from songs about women and material things. Twista provides a veteran touch to a release that is devoid of any other feature. Though Pill has great rhymes on Parkin' Lot, Twista truly impresses with his verse. The Chicago-born MC goes all out with his support for Pill using the fast wordplay he is known for, and it ends up providing a highlight to an otherwise average song. With the success of Twista's feature it is surprising that Pill does not have more artists accompanying him on The Epidemic. There are a number of talented MCs from the ATL area, such as Andre 3000 and B.o.B, that could provide a fresh rap perspective to the record. The Epidemic is a success for Pill, but clearly shows room for improvement. Lyrically Pill has all the skills to be on par with some of the greatest, but to get there he needs to get a stronger effort from his producers.
Overall Rating: 8.3/10
With features by Twista

Kush & Orange Juice

2012-02-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

Wiz Khalifa

Kush & Orange Juice

2010

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8/10
Beats: 8.75/10
Replayability: 8.75/10

Overall: 8.5/10

The Dude's Picks: We're Done; Never Been; Pedal To The Medal (feat. Johnny Juliano)

In today's world it's hard to believe that just a few years ago, Wiz Khalifa was an unknown outside of his native Pittsburgh. Though today he is making movies with Snoop Dogg, featuring on some of the hottest tracks, and working on his second major label studio album, it wasn't always so. This is what started it all. Though not the first mixtape by the 24-year-old MC, Kush & Orange Juice provided Wiz Khalifa with a national spotlight and instigated his signing with Atlantic Records only a few weeks later. With the recent announcement of the title of his upcoming second album, O.N.I.F.C. (Only Nigga In First Class), we at TWD decided to take a look back at what made Kush & Orange Juice such an musical success. Though each song is good, there are a few tracks that stand out far beyond the rest. It is these tracks that have a perfect mix of lyrical ability and a hot beat to create a hit. We're Done is one the kind of tracks that make an artist. The song is the perfect mix of a hook and beat that appeals to radio stations and casual listeners, while also contains fantastic lyrics by Wiz that appeals to pure rap fans. The song's positive and inspirational message of coming up from being a nobody to becoming a star is one that has been told before, but Wiz expertly makes it fresh and original. "Started from nothing, ended up with everything/ From the house to the whips, taking trips anyplace that you care to name," Khalifa raps, clearly showing that he intends to be a part of rap for a long time. While We're Done has more of an uptempo and fast-paced feel, Never Been slows things down and is much more relaxed. With lyrics that have a mix of marijuana references and celebrations of the good life, the song is a stoner's dream. "Saying that you still high from last night/You try to pass, trying to beware of the fast life" Wiz raps, making clear the life he has chosen may be good but it's not for everyone. The production of Kush & Orange Juice is excellent, with every beat catchier than the last. Pedal To The Medal and The Statement have some of the better beats of the tape, with unconventional yet effective instrumentals that perfectly compliment Wiz's rhymes. Though not perfect, Kush & Orange Juice shows many indications of what was to come from Wiz Khalifa's career. The weed loving, high-flying raps that Khalifa spits today are clearly present in the tape, which became the big break for the young rapper. Hopefully O.N.I.F.C. will contain many of the elements that made Kush & Orange Juice such a success, such as amazing instrumentals and clever rhymes by Wiz. Whether it will remains to be seen.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

With features by Killa Kyleon, Johnny Juliano, Curren$y, Big K.R.I.T & Nesby Phips

I Am Who I Am

2012-02-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

Maino

I Am Who I Am

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.25/10

The Dude's Picks: Criminal; Pac And Big; See Ya Later (feat. Scarzeo); Soldier; Call Me Hood (feat. Roc City)

In 2012 being a New York City rapper doesn't mean what it used to. New artists like A$AP Rocky and his crew are remaking the East Coast gangster stereotype and turning New York into a place where originality and uniqueness get you far. No longer are the tales of drugs and thugs that made MCs such as 50 Cent and Jay-Z household names running the Big Apple. But there is still hope for the old guard. Maino, hailed by some as the last true New York rapper, has made a name for himself with the same kind of street rhymes that made NYC the capital of East Coast hip-hop. With his twelfth mixtape, I Am Who I Am, Maino continues to spit hard lyrics and show listeners the harder side of New York. Labeled as "the album before the album," the 22-track epic shows off the rapper's lyrical skills and leaves fans with something to listen to as they wait for his upcoming third studio album. Maino embraces his role as New York's last "real" rapper, with songs like Last Of The Mohicans celebrating his position as one of the few young rappers that continue the traditional style of street rap. There seems to be some disdain for young MCs who are taking things in a new direction, with Maino spitting on Last Of The Mohicans, "I'm the last of a dying kind/Stand up man, not the crying kind." The malice towards those who a remaking the game is apparent in his features, as street-certified rappers such as Meek Mill, Jim Jones and T.I. important appearances throughout the album, and in some cases on multiple tracks. The Let It Fly remix is one of those tracks. The remix is huge, with five big artists joining Maino on the track. DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Wale, Ace Hood, and Jim Jones each add fantastic verses to this new version of the already popular track. Another impressive song, Pac And Big, is a track that largely represents what Maino views is wrong with the industry. In the song, Maino imagines a world where rap's legendary martyrs were still alive. According to the rapper hip hop would be a vastly different game, with "fake" rappers being almost nonexistent and the quality of music being vastly improved. Maino laments on how in his view hip-hop music has changed, asking "What happened to the game, 'cuz this ain't what I wanted." The industry that Maino envisioned himself being a part of has changed since the days of Tupac and Biggie Smalls, and those who don't adapt usually fade into obscurity. Maino is trying to take the one thing that might hurt him, his past living in the projects, and turn it into his greatest strength. Maino has proved himself relevent for now, but with uniqueness and originality making many new artists famous, whether he can remain relevant will only be shown through time.
Overall Rating: 8.25/10
With features by Meek Mill, Wale, Lloyd Banks, Yo Gotti, T.I. and more

Ambitions AZ A Writer

2012-02-02T13:49:00.000-08:00

Horseshoe G.A.N.G

Ambitions AZ A Writer

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 9/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.25/10

The Dude's Picks: Damn Nuff; I'm A Soldier; I Need To Take Off; Outro

With rapper Crooked I getting national attention as a member of Shady Records supergroup Slaughterhouse, his own label is getting some attention as well. The four member rap group Horseshoe G.A.N.G is one that should be getting a lot of attention in upcoming years. Crooked I's brother and four other West Coast MCs make up the G.A.N.G, and they have recently got some buzz after a feature on Crook's EP In None We Trust. The group now released their own mixtape, the hour and a half long Ambitions AZ A Writer. The tape contains few original beats, with Horseshoe G.A.N.G preferring instead to go off on some of the hottest instrumentals of 2011. These are more than just remixes however, with entire songs being completely made over including the chorus and verses. Though sometimes the rhymes don't feel in sync with the beats they are rapped over, other times they can be as good as the originals. Songs like Beat Jacking 2011 and COB Cypher cannot be considered individual songs as they incorporate about four or five recognizable beats into six and nine minute tracks restrictively. Though some may turned off by the length of these tracks they have the vibe of a bunch of intense one minute tracks instead a long individual song. The beats used vary widely, from Wiz Khalifa's On My Level to Game's Red Nation, and show the variety of styles and flavors that Horseshoe G.A.N.G can use to their advantage. Another hit is the remix of Kanye West and Jay-Z's hit Murder To Excellence, appropriately titled I'm A Soldier. The original track is done justice as Horseshoe G.A.N.G continuously spits fast and powerful rhymes to the amazing and well-known Watch The Throne beat. Horseshoe G.A.N.G's lyrics do contain the usual boasts and threats of a modern rapper, with the track My Dick's A Superhero having the sole purpose of showing off the rappers' genitalia, but throughout the mixtape the quartet of rappers continually showcase a strong message of survival and making your own way past life's obstacles. It is a nice theme that differentiates them from many other young artists in the game today. While these four rappers aren't getting the attention they deserve at the moment, hopefully they will come to be a more well-known group. Their style is undeniably raw and fun, and with some good original production on their next mixtape a lot can be achieved by Horseshoe G.A.N.G.
Overall Rating: 8.25/10

Live Loyal Die Rich

2012-02-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Young Buck

Live Loyal Die Rich

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8/10
Beats: 7.5/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 7.8/10

The Dude's Picks: Drug Related; They Think They Know; No Smiles

Young Buck has been out of the spotlight for a few years now, and ever since his highly publicized dismissal from 50 Cent's group G-Unit the Nashville rapper has biding his time. Now, back on his grind, Buck has returned with his first release in two years: the DJ Crisis and Drumma Boy hosted Live Loyal Die Rich. It is clear that this mixtape is a step in a new direction for the rapper, with hardly a mention of his former label besides the rumored 50 Cent diss track Shit Head. With the exception of that one track, Buck chooses to focus on future loyalties than past beef. Though some fans may have been looking toward to a continuation of the verbal attacks that have populated much of Young Buck's previous tapes and albums, the only thing here is reflection and starting over. Live Loyal Die Rich has one glaring fault, and that would be its instrumentals. Most of the tape's focus is on Buck's lyrical skills, and unfortunately this results in a subpar effort from Live Loyal Die Rich's 14 producers. Some songs would be just as effective if they contained no beat at all, and just contained Buck rapping acapella on the track. While not bad in all cases, the majority of the time they simply add nothing valuable to the song. There are little to no breaks between tracks, making it very hard sometimes to distinguish individual songs from one another. Though this does create a sense of consistency within the mixtape, the consistency makes many tracks sound unoriginal and similar to those preceding and following them. Though much of the mixtape is forgettable, there are a few redeemable moments. Drug Related and No Smiles are examples of Young Buck changing up the production with positive results. Drug Related is a dark tale of the issues that come with being a drug-dealer and the consequences of killing the wrong person. Buck is at his best lyrically with a quick and hopeless flow with lines like "Young nigga hungry/Grabbed his money/Told him that he was coming/Dropped off his kids and told them daddy had to handle something." No Smiles slows down the beats of past tracks and creates a more relaxed beat in one of the few successes in the tape's production. The lyrical content is mostly about how Buck is still going to survive and make it in the game, even without the help of his former acquaintances. The song makes you emphasize with the rapper in way that is hard to on many of the mixtape's tracks. These two songs are really the hits of the tape, which is unfortunate considering that though they are nice tracks, they aren't anything that you haven't heard before. Though not amazing musically, Young Buck creates an solid mixtape in one of his first releases since his split from G-Unit. Live Loyal Die Rich's main issue isn't that it's a bad tape, it's just that there's nothing that sets it apart from anything else out there today. For Buck to evolve as an artist, he has to learn how to create a hit track and the first step to doing that is finding a better producer for his music.
Overall Rating: 7.8/10
With features by City Paper, The Outlawz, Starlito & moreFollow @realwhitedude

Murs For President

2012-01-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

Murs

Murs For President

2008

Warner Bros.

Lyrics: 8.25/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability:8/10

Overall: 8/10

The Dude's Picks: Can It Be (Half a Million Dollars and 18 Months Later); Everything; Road Is My Religion; A Part Of Me

For California rapper Murs the road from the underground to widespread recognition began two years ago with the release of Murs For President. Despite the album being Murs' sixth, Murs For President is the first major studio label release by the rapper. As one of his first to reach a larger audience, Murs For President consists of a more pop sound than the albums that made him an underground presence. Also changed is his usual group of contributors. Murs For President contains no rappers from rap group Living Legends, of which Murs is apart of. Despite all these changes, Murs seems to stay true to his message of peace and positive improvement. Can It Be feels like the true opening to Murs For President, with the previous three tracks coming off as both disappointing and confusing. Along with a great sample of Michael Jackson's I Wanna Be Where You Are, Murs is fantastic lyrically and consistently spits fantastic lyrics. The most notable track of the album is clearly Everything. The best beat added to some of Murs' best lyricism creates a powerful and beautiful song, especially compared to the mediocrity of most of the album. The mix of drums and piano creates the perfect setting for an inspirational song that covers a number of issues. The hook is a sample of James Blunt's 2007 song I'll Take Everything, and it is the perfect addition to the song. Murs mentions how he hopes the world will change, spitting, "For the day when it's ok to love/When black men won't pretend that they are thugs/When teachers and doctors are treated like celebrities/You could get a job even if you got a felony." A Part Of Me shows Murs at his most raw in a dark and emotional song about a woman that the rapper has loved and lost. The rapper even screams his lyrics more than rapping them at times to convey the pure emotion he is feeling. It's a powerful experience that slowly draws the listener in. Along with Can It Be and Everything, A Part Of Me is a perfect example of how, when under the right circumstances, Murs knows how to create incredible music.Besides the three tracks mentioned above, there is little to mention about Murs For President. The intro is very stereotypical, and also imparts a very confusing message for the album. Despite it making it seem like Murs For President will actually be about a fictional run for president by the rapper, after the intro the concept is barely mentioned again. It's almost like Murs started off wanting to make it a theme of the album, recorded the intro, then completely forgot about it. Though there is a mockumentary about the fictional run, the album rarely mentions it. The beats are slightly above average, while the major features consist of two barely noticed appearances by Snoop Dogg and will.i.am. Like any other album that is different or from the artist's style, Murs For President contain its hits and misses. When it hits the tracks are excellent but when it misses the album is brought down tremendously. As Murs improves his craft, I think we will definitely be seeing more of the hits and less of misses.
Overall Rating: 8/10
With features by will.i.am, Snoop Dogg & Tyler Woods

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More Beautiful Than Silence

2012-01-25T13:35:00.000-08:00

K'naan

More Beautiful Than Silence

2012

A&M, Octone Records

Lyrics: 8/10
Beats: 8.2/10
Replayability: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.9/10

The Dude's Picks: Is Anybody Out There? (feat. Nelly Furtado); Nothing To Lose (feat. Nas); Better

While hip-hop is almost certainly dominated by American artists, it certainly is not just American music anymore. Hip-hop is now a global music, with native-born rappers and producers sharing radio space with the hottest American MCs. No more so is this true than in Canada. While some may scoff at a strong hip-hop presence, which is usually associated with the urban street life, in Canada, which usually isn't. But this isn't the '90s anymore. New artists are flooding out every day from our neighbor to the north and almost none have gained as large an American following as K'naan. The Somalian-borne, but Toronto raised, MC has become world recognized over the past decade with a message of non-violence and peace that has appealed to many. The rapper's latest and first release of the new year, the extended play More Beautiful Than Silence, hopefully will serve to continue his presence in America. One of the first things noticed about the extended play's five tracks are the instrumentals. The beats of More Beautiful Than Silence are very polished, with a unique sound that is unlike anything I've heard in a while. There is definitely a heavy African influence on some of the tracks, with the hook and hand-drum filled beat of Coming To America giving it a tribal feel. Nothing To Lose is clearly the standout of the EP. The instrumental is uptempo and fun, and Nas' feature on the track, one of the highlights of the album, is impressive. Listening to him go off on a beat that he usually wouldn't mess with is an interesting experience, one that could show possibilities for the Queens rapper in his future. The verse takes up nearly half of the track time, with K'naan taking up the other half spitting a solid verse about listening to Nas as a child and drops clever one-liners referencing his Somalian heritage ("Nope, no I don't know pilots/ Nigga I know pirates.") The song clearly belongs to Nas, with K'naan willing to take a back seat to the legend. Better is also an excellent track where unlike the other two notable songs, K'naan is the only artist on the beat. Taking a sample from Coldplay song Lost!, K'naan promises his fans though his rhymes that he will continue to improve his music throughout his career. He drops thoughtful lines like "I would say that I've always been a winner but/ I probably always been a sinner" and also is helped by a positive and light-hearted instrumental. Better is the best song lyrically out of the five by K'naan, and shows that he can make a beat work for him. More Beautiful Than Silence is meant to be a short taste of things to come for K'naan, and so far they look good. For anybody who wants something new that isn't anything like mainstream hip-hop, check out the Canadian MC.
Overall Rating: 7.9/10
With features by Nelly Furtado & NasFollow @realwhitedude

The Crown Ain't Safe

2012-01-24T13:38:00.001-08:00

Los

The Crown Ain't Safe

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 9/10

Beats: 8.25/10

Replayability: 8.75/10

Overall: 8.66/10

The Dude's Picks: King Los (feat. Lola Monroe); Make You Proud (feat. Sean Hayz & DMX); Finally Here (feat. Twista); Vintage Rolls Royce Interior

It is fair to say that Los is one of the most slept-on MCs in the game. The Baltimore, Maryland product is in my opinion one of the best newcomers this year, with the kind of lyrical ability to one day match the greats. With penchant for killing others beats, such as Drake's Lord Knows and Lil Wayne's Six Foot Seven Foot, Los has released over 10 mixtapes since 2008. The most recent and well known of these, the Lil Wayne inspired Worth The Wait and this December's The Crown Ain't Safe, have created a huge buzz for the 29 year old rapper. The Crown Ain't Safe, co-hosted by DJ Drama and DJ Ill Will, is a mix of street anthem music and stylish new-age rap that contains some of the best lyrics that isn't coming from Kanye West or Jay-Z. There are a variety of styles that Los has mastered, and many are presented in The Crown Ain't Safe. There is a clear adrenaline-pumping, electronic heavy vibe on King Los that is focused more on hyping you up than making you think, while other tracks such as the Twista assisted Finally Here are more fast-paced, metaphor-filled tracks that shows off Los' rhyming talents. The production is very surprising considering the lack of big-name producers, with Jahil Beats possibly being the only recognizable name, but that doesn't take anything away from the music's quality. For the most part the music isn't anything you haven't heard before, but Los consistently takes over each track and turns into a quality joint. While there are some disappointing tracks, such as the repetitive and unoriginal Wait For It, they are the minority in the mixtape and are heavily outnumbered by impressive flows and intelligent rhymes. The features on The Crown Ain't Safe are numerous, with nine featured artists on eleven of the tape's nineteen tracks. Sean Hayz handles singing duties on much of the album, appearing on four songs, while the rappers featured are headlined by such veterans as DMX and Twista, each of whom bring their own distinct style to their beats. Twista is the fast rhymes-per-minute rapper that he always been, but Los matches him often in terms of speed and rhyming. RZA, who appears on Make You Proud, has the familiar guttural rhymes that has made him a part of the game for decades. Los should definitely look forward to a successful future. His lyrics are impressive, and provide that kind of thought and power that many other rappers seem to lack these days. Though the crown may be secure for now, it definitely will be up for grabs soon.

Overall Rating: 8.66/10

With features by DMX, Twista, Lola Monroe, Sean Hayz, Phil Ade & more

Section.80

2012-01-23T15:26:00.000-08:00

Kendrick Lamar

Section.80

2011

Top Dawg Entertainment

Lyrics: 8.75/10
Beats: 8.75/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.5/10

The Dude's Picks: Hol' Up; No Make-Up (Her Vice) [feat. Colin Munroe]; Ronald Reagan Era (His Evil); HiiiPower

In the past two years rapper Kendrick Lamar has gone from an industry secret to a widely recognized rap star due to his critically acclaimed mixtape O(verly) D(edicated) and a stream of over thirty features with well-known rappers such as Game, Drake and ScHoolboy Q. Now with his first studio album, the iTunes exclusive Section.80, Lamar takes his weird yet undeniably impressive style to new heights as he tackles the many problems with his own young generation. Lamar's issues with his fellow '80s babies is clear throughout the album, but no more so than in the song Ronald Reagan Era (His Evil). The song starts with an almost country intro but soon leads into Lamar's incredible rhymes. Ronald Reagan Era is really about Lamar's life growing up in Compton, California, but instead of taking the approach of most Compton-born rapper he is philosophical about his childhood. The lines are incredibly hard hitting, and take views that aren't the most mainstream. Lamar spits lines like "The children of Ronald Reagan raked the leaves off/ Your front porch with a blowtorch" and "Welcome to vigilante/ '80s so don't you ask me/ I'm hungry, my bodies antsy/ I rip through your fucking pantry" to show where he blames the poverty of his childhood and of those around him: Ronald Reagan and the government of the 1980s. There is an extreme lack of the hardcore gangsta rap that Compton is known for in Lamar's music, and instead the rapper's specialty is more like the new age rap of Drake and J. Cole. This helps shatter the stereotype that all Compton rappers have to be ghetto and gangster, and instead can be metaphorical and intelligent in their music. While there are some less impressive moments, such the repetitive chants of "Suck my dick!" on The Spiteful Chant, there are enough parts of Section.80 that completely blow you away so that those moments don't detract from the rest of the album. Most of the album's best moments come from the music side. Despite the only big-name producer on the album being J. Cole, Section.80 contains some of the most unique instrumentals currently in hip-hop. Cole's production of HiiiPower might be the best on the album with both its use of flutes and barely-perceptible drums to create a woodsy and tribal feel for the albums first single, but others such as longtime collaborator Sounwave and THC also create the kind of beats that can redefine a generation's music. The two big-name features on Section.80, rappers ScHoolboy Q and GLC, each provide impressive verses. ScHoolboy Q's verse on The Spiteful Chant saves it from disappointment, coming on so suddenly that it almost shocks you out of your seat. GLC's feature perfectly finishes the song Poe Man's Dreams (His Vice) as he expresses his own opinion of Kendrick Lamar through rhyme. Lamar is going to have a busy year, with his sophmore album Good Kid In A Bad City set for a 2012 release and untitled collaborations with artists like J. Cole and Black Hippy rumored. For now he definitely has made his presence felt with his solo debut. Look for a lot more of Lamar in the upcoming year, but for now sit back and enjoy Section.80.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
With features by ScHoolboy Q, GLC, Colin Munroe, Ashtro Bot, Ab-Soul & BJ The Chicago Kid

Doggumentary

2012-01-20T14:14:00.000-08:00

Snoop Dogg

Doggumentary

2011

Doggy Style Records, Priority Records

Lyrics: 8.3/10
Beats: 8.7/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.3/10

The Dude's Picks: Wonder What It Do (feat. Uncle Chucc); Boom (feat. T-Pain); Eyez Closed (feat. Kanye West & John Legend)

The Snoop Dogg of today is not what he once was. Rap's Doggfather is no longer known as the West's G-funk gangster of the '90s, nor the laid-back pimp of the early 2000's. He has become more of a pop sensation, something that nobody could have imagined when he first came up on Dr. Dre's classic debut The Chronic. Instead of the man who once was on trial for murder, we have a man who makes songs with pop singer Katy Perry and animated rock band Gorillaz. And yet, as a testament to the industry powerhouse he has become, nobody would dare accuse Snoop of selling out. Snoop Dogg's 2011 album Doggumentary, his latest since the critically well-received but low-charting Malice N' Wonderland (2009), shows the Long Beach rapper taking a reflective view on his current role in rap's hierarchy, and goes back on themes that have been present in music since the beginning. Snoop doesn't actually take part in the actual album until two minutes and 40 seconds in, due to his lack of an appearance in the silly and unnecessary opening track Toyz In Da Hood. Once he finally makes an appearance, its clear where Snoop is taking Doggumentary. "Ey cuz," he says in the opening to The Way Life Used To Be, a recap from the beginning of Snoop Dogg's career to the present day, "We needa take it back to the way it used to be. You feel me?" The album is incredibly fun, though not especially original, and it is easy to imagine the good time Snoop had making songs with those who feature on the album. The featured artists of Doggumentary are an unusual mix of hip-hop and other music, from a variety of genres and styles. Each brings their own presence to the album, from the intense and agressive rhymes of Young Jeezy and E-40 on My Fucn House to the heavily electronic beat and autotuned hook by T-Pain on the single Boom. Even Gorillaz feature on the album in the strange and spacey Sumthing Like This Night. Snoop Dogg adds his trademark style to each song, with rhymes that never surprise but always entertain. Though he is no lyrical genius, Snoop is incredible at spitting effective verses that always accomplish the goal of getting people out of their seats. It is a role that Snoop has taken throughout his career, preferring not to be the rapper that revolutionizes the game but rather doing what he is known for better than anyone else. Another role that Snoop has taken a vested interest in recently is as a mentor to rapper Wiz Khalifa, who features on the track The Weed Iz Mine. The comparisons between rappers are numerous. Both are famed for their love of marijuana, as well as a shared love for the Pittsburgh Steelers (which happened to be the subject of Black And Yellow, the track that catapulted Wiz to national attention.) The both share the same tall, lanky frame and a laid-back and casual style in their music. This mentorship role has been expanded to the upcoming film Mac and Devin go to Highschool, as well as the similarly titled movie soundtrack. On the other side of the spectrum is the guitar-and-harmonica-only Superman, with country singer Willie Nelson. Like Snoop, Nelson is also a weed aficionado that is beginning to enter the twilight of his career and both artists trade singing duties on the out-of-place but surprisingly fun track. Doggumentary is meant to be a flashback to the classic rap that shot Snoop to fame in the first place, while also embracing the rapper's role as a mentor and legend in the game, and though it is not especially original or revolutionary, anything else would be disrespectful to both that era of hip-hop and those that made it special. Snoop represents a mix classic 90's rap and modern music perfectly.
Overall Rating: 8.3/10
With features by Willie Nelson, Gorillaz, Wiz Khalifa, Kanye West, John Legend & more

Mac and Devin Go To High School

2012-01-19T20:25:00.001-08:00

Wiz Khalifa & Snoop Dogg

Mac and Devin Go to High School

2011

Atlantic, Rostrum, Doggy Style Records

Beats: 8/10

Lyrics: 7/10

Replayability:8.5/10

Overall: 7.83/10

The Girl’sPicks: Young, Wild, & Free (feat. BrunoMars); 6:30; French Inhale (feat. Mike Posner)

In allfairness, to collaborate on an album with another artist is difficult. It isn’tjust adding great to great, it’s ambition conflicting with ambition. Not allcollaborations are going to come out like Watchthe Throne. ThoughMac and Devin Go To High School, by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa is nothing special, it shouldn’t be considered a disappointment.As the soundtrack to upcomingfilm Mac & Devin go to High School, which stars both rappers, the album should be considered,and really is, sheer entertainment and a means to sell a product. The movie tells the story of a 15-yearsenior named Mac (Snoop) and astraight-A goody-goody named Devin (Wiz)as their lives intertwine. It is to be a funny film about and for stoners and the albumfits it perfectly. The beats are fun and contain the traditional lightheadedfeel that comes with Wiz’s stoner-aimedmusic. It talks about smoking constantly, from the chorus in That Good, “Smoking everywhere we go, Ialways gotta keep one rolled, I’m rolling every gram I own,” to the smoking-happy name and lyrics of Smokin On,which features Juicy J. In it Wiz spits, “Cause if it’s in my joint,believe that it’s the best smoke. I’m talking OG Kush from the West Coast.”There really is no thoughtful or deep point to the music; it mainly justreasserts the ideas in a lot of Wiz and Snoop’s music such as that smoking is great and that everyoneshould party while they are young. Occasionally you get a piece of the storyfrom the movie, but the album is basically an ode to marijuana. The album isnot un-enjoyable, and has produced a hit in the Bruno Mars assisted Young,Wild, & Free. Another strength of the album is the beats, which are verycatchy and most listeners will quickly find themselves head bopping. Thechoruses are easy to remember and are instantly stuck in your brain for thenight. Wiz brings his usual charm to the music, with his lyrics, laugh, andsignature voice and Snoop Dogg acknowledges his seniority but rolls with it andhas fun. As said, it is for entertainment and it does entertain. As long as noone expected it to be a rap treasure or a Watchthe Throne two, they should be happy enough. Mac & Devin delivered all that was expected.

Overall Rating: 8/10

With features by JuicyJ, Mike Posner, Bruno Mars, and Currensy

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Hell's Kitchen

2012-01-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

Red Cafe

Hell's Kitchen

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 7.8/10
Beats: 8.6/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.1/10

The Dude's Picks: Hell's Kitchen (Intro); Fly Together (feat. Trey Songz, Wale & J. Cole); Unfuckwitable (feat. Fabolous); Cool Boyz (feat. A-Game); Keep Winning (feat. Ray Lavender)

Though some say that Red Cafe is finally getting the attention he deserves, with his Rick Ross assisted Fly Together hitting high on the charts and signing to Diddy's Bad Boy label, those new to the Brooklyn born MC might not be convinced. To add to the growing amount of new releases in January, Red Cafe drops off the mixtape Hell's Kitchen. Get ready to feel the heat. The tape opens with the duel title track and intro, Hell's Kitchen (Intro), an explosion filled joint that gives you a basic idea of what to expect from the rest of the mixtape. Giving those who are not familiar with a him a crash test in the style of hip-hop Red Cafe is known for, the 32 year old rapper spits about his youth and gives the classic young drug-dealer tale a stylish remake. Besides the opening track, the beginning of Hell's Kitchen contains a few average tracks but nothing special. The Let It Go remix is memorable for excellent verses from French Montana and 2 Chainz, but overall the beat used and lackluster verses from Red and Diddy bring the track down. Hell's Kitchen begins to turn into something worthwhile beginning with the Fly Together remix. Trey Songz replaces Ryan Leslie on the hook while Red Cafe, Wale and J. Cole each kill their respective verses. Though some may miss the grunts of Rick Ross, who does not appear on the remix, his two replacements each make Fly Together their own and almost an entirely new song from the original. After Fly Together, Hell's Kitchen suddenly improves steadily. Unfuckwitable is an easy-going track that might be the best track on the mixtape lyrically. Fabolous kills his respective verse, quoting the likes of John Hamm from the movie The Town ("Unfuckwitable, we be in the town too/That's why them boys call us the not fucking around crew.") Red does work on his own verse as well, calling out those who use subliminal disses in their rhymes and showing that though he's gone far in the game he's still striving for more. Cool Boyz is an uptempo track with an electronic beat that Red Cafe and Toronto duo A-Game all go off on. A-Game definitely steals the track and end up being the surprise of the album. Out of the many features on Hell's Kitchen, the two rappers might have the best ones, and are definitely a group that should receive more buzz in the states. The album closes off with the song Keep Winning. One of the more emotional tracks on the tape, Red finishes with a powerful and inspiring track. Though sometimes overshadowed by those who share the track with him, Red Cafe proves on Hell's Kitchen that he has impressive lyrical skills that should be watched out for, and is a reason to look forward to whatever he cooks up next.
Overall Rating: 8.1/10
With features by Diddy, 2 Chainz, French Montana, Trey Songz, Wale, J. Cole, Fabolous & moreFollow @realwhitedude

The Big Bang

2012-01-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

Busta Rhymes

The Big Bang

2006

Flipmode, Aftermath, Interscope

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 8.75/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.41/10

The Dude's Picks: Been Through The Storm (feat. Stevie Wonder); Goldmine (feat. Raekwon); Don't Get Carried Away (feat. Nas)

In my own opinion Busta Rhymes is one of the most entertaining rappers in hip-hop. He may not be the most clever, have the best metaphors or spit the deepest rhymes, but whenever a Busta verse is heard you know you will be entertained. The familiar deep-voiced style that has become synonymous Busta Rhymes is on full display in his 2006 album The Big Bang, his only for Dr. Dre's Aftermath label. One of his most successful albums, and the first to hit number one on the chart, The Big Bang is an entertaining release that features beats from some of the best in the industry, including Timbaland, Swizz Beats and Dre himself. Unlike the infamous hundred-mile-an-hour features that have graced current hits like Chris Brown's Look At Me Now, The Big Bang contains a slower, younger Busta Rhymes whose rhymes with more substance and intelligence than his 2012 counterpart. Busta wants his rhymes to actually be processed and understood, as opposed to today where his rhymes become more well-known the faster they are. There is a large variety of subject matter in Big Bang, but the production and Busta's familiar rhymes are what turn the album into a compact, fluid release. There are a number of excellent songs on the album, that show a number of different sides to Busta's personality. Been Through The Storm is a reflective track as Busta remembers his childhood in Brooklyn and how he left a life of trouble after . With a melodic hook from Stevie Wonder, and let's be honest you can't go wrong with Stevie Wonder, Busta crafts visual tale that takes you to the hard streets he raised in. The Dr. Dre produced Don't Get Carried Away is an adrenaline-pumping track with an instrumental that will be familiar to any who are a fan of the good doctor's work. Along with an intense verse from rap legend Nas, the pair of New York City MCs create a powerful warning to any even contemplating messing with them: don't bother. As stated earlier, the production is always impressive on The Big Bang. The mood of the track is instantly made by whomever produces it, whether the techno/electronic mix that Swizz Beats brings to Touch It or the handdrum heavy, boom-bap flow provided by Timbaland to Get Down. The choice of featured artists is commendable with a variety of talented rappers and singers to add unique styles and viewpoints to keep The Big Bang interesting and exciting. Despite only being from about five years ago, The Big Bang shows a much different Busta Rhymes than we see today. Despite a slower pace, the MC shows that he had the intelligence to create deep and smart rhymes as well as popular club bangers that can bring a party to life. Hopefully on Busta's next studio album we will see enough of the smart rapper to create an album that is more than just mindless dance music.
Overall Rating: 8.41/10
With features by Raekwon, Rick James, Nas, will.i.am, Missy Elliot, Swizz Beats & more
Follow @realwhitedude

Live From The Kitchen

2012-01-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

Yo Gotti

Live From The Kitchen

2012

Polo Grounds Music, RCA Records

Lyrics: 8.25/10
Beats: 7.75/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.17/10

The Dude's Picks: Testimony; Killa; Red White And Blue (feat. Jadakiss); Letter

After years of releasing underground and independent albums, Memphis rapper Yo Gotti has finally hit the big time with his first studio album Live From The Kitchen. The eleven track joint has Gotti showing off his new status as a rapper to watch with collaborations with some of hip-hop's biggest stars. Live From The Kitchen, a reference to the drug game that Gotti was a part of before he joined the rap game, is an agressive and impressive offering from the 30 year old rapper. The album begins with the gritty and dark Testimony, which immediately establishes the overall theme of Live From The Kitchen. The album relies on the same basic formula production for much of the album, the kind of drum and bass-heavy beats that were popularized by Rick Ross and company. There are occasions where Yo Gotti leaves this formula but with mixed results. One of the better instances of this is on the track Killa. The longest song on the album at about six minutes, Killa starts out like of much of the rest of the album, but soon turns into one of the better songs on the album with some background harmonizing and a powerful instrumental. Yo Gotti's rhymes are intelligent are effective as he describes his dark past dealing with the drug life and his journey from an unknown rapper to one of the most in Memphis. A less attractive example of leaving the formula is on the track Go Girl. The track has Gotti teaming up with four of rap's brightest young stars in Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Big Sean and Wiz Khalifa in a collaboration that spans across styles, labels and star power. To accommodate the MCs on the track, none of whom are known for the more hardcore hip-hop that Yo Gotti raps, producer Mike Will switches up the tempo of the album to a slower and more upbeat instrumental. While fine as an individual song, the result is something that feels unnatural and extremely out of place compared to the other tracks on LFTK, especially the song that precedes it. Letter is the exact opposite of Go Girl in that it is a deeply personal track that explodes with emotion as Gotti talks directly to the important people in his life such his mother, daughter, and older brother. The song is about repentance and sorrow, but also anger and moving on. It is the perfect door to view Yo Gotti's thoughts and emotions. Now that Gotti has found a home in Polo Grounds that can make him a household name outside of Tennessee, expect more of the hard and intense content that can be found on Live From The Kitchen.
Overall Rating: 8.17/10
With features by Wale, Big K.R.I.T., Jadakiss, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa & more

Follow @realwhitedude

Young Sinatra

2012-01-11T14:00:00.000-08:00

Logic

Young Sinatra

2011

MIXTAPE

Beats: 9/10

Lyrics: 9.5/10

Replayability:8.5/10

Overall: 9/10

The Girl’sPicks: As I Am; Mixed Feelings; ShineOn, Let Me Go (feat. Lykke Li); Live On the Air

For a sophomore mixtape, and even for rap music, Young Sinatra by Washington, DC rapper Logic (aka Robert Hall) is something toyou’ll want to hear. Many have never heard of Logic, but if you haven’t, you will want to. In the follow upmixtape to his debut, Young, Broke &Infamous, Logic kills it. Fromthe brutal vocal skills demonstrated in LiveOn The Air to the emotion and intellectual grace felt in Mixed Feelings, there is more than justpromise emitting from this mix-tape. Logiccaptures a side of rap that isn’t captured by even some of our talentedfavorites, such as Big Sean or even Lil Wayne. Though it is not equivalentto such works as Kanye West’s Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Logic shows the promise of creatingsomething of equal caliber. He has all the skills including such clever rhymesas, “Used to hate me, and now I can’t stand it, cause now you love me, You’reso damn manic, said I’d never make it, said I’d fail. My ship was sank butMother fucker I sail.” He also has thought provoking lines like, “It’s hardbeing a saint inside a sinner’s body, you know it’s hard living as Logic afterliving as Bobby,” or, “I am not a poet, I am just a designer of words.” But thebest part is how you can get in with the music. He tells his story, such as hispain in both Mixed Feelings and Growing Pains II, he touched on hisrelationship with his mother and a painful childhood into his adulthood. Youcan visualize his story; you feel the aches and pains. In Beggin’, whichfeatures C Dot Castro, he basicallycalls out to the listener to see him, Logic,and his music for the heart and work within. Some songs are better than others,but overall, Young Sinatra is afabulous mixtape that everyone could get into. It has the fun of the mainstream at moments but also the intelligence of poetry and literature. Logic is the rapper to watch and Young Sinatra is the tape to hear.

Overall Rating: 9/10

With featuresfrom Lykke Li, C Dot Castro, Camilla Michelle Gray & more

Follow @realwhitedude

F*ck Da City Up

2012-01-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

T.I.

F*ck Da City Up

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8/10
Beats: 7.8/10
Replayability: 7.7/10

Overall: 7.8/10

The Dude's Picks: This Time Of Night (feat. Nelly); In A Nutshell (feat. Lady G & Spodee); Oh Yeah (feat. Tre Songz); Popped Up (feat. Dr. Dre)

T.I. is back from prison, and he's already making up for lost time. The southern legend has been releasing material with a vengeance ever since the end to his 11-month sentence, whether releasing a remix to the Watch The Throne hit Niggas In Paris, contributing over a dozen features to hit songs, or dropping two promotional singles to his as-yet-untitled eighth album. To add to this growing list is T.I.'s first solo release of 2012, F*ck Da City Up. The 19-track mixtape is an average offering from T.I., and will tide many fans over as they wait for more news about his next studio album. The mixtape starts out slow, with few standout tracks that are worth mentioning. As it progresses however, F*ck Da City Up becomes more memorable. This Time Of Night and Pimp are two of those memorable tracks that share the same theme, namely the act of getting women, but they are done in two completely different ways. The way the track is done contributes directly to why the track is memorable, and not necessarily for a good reason. This Time Of Night is a slow banger with a hook by Nelly that prefers to use innuendo, rather that straight up explaining the acts going on. Pimp on the other hand is more of an uptempo boom bap track that prefers to go into deep detail of the act of oral sex. The verses, one from T.I., one from Too $hort, and one by the ghost of Pimp C, are all especially sexual and can come across as very gross to the casual listener. While This Time Of Night gets the message across, it does so without the unnecessary details and the strong instrumental also contribute to it being the better song. If T.I. had stuck with the formula of This Time Of Night the mixtape might end up being a more entertaining release. Overall, T.I.'s rhyming-style has not changed during his prison sentence. The same casual rap is present throughout the tape, and only a few moments truly impress lyrically. This is not to say that T.I. isn't good, just that nothing new or incredible results from his lyrics. In actuality, those that share the track with T.I. tend to the provide more powerful moments. F*ck Da City Up's main strength is definitely in its features. Young artists like Spodee, Meek Mill, and B.o.B dominate on their respective tracks, and often T.I. lets his features take over songs. Dr. Dre even has a surprise feature after a short absence from new content. The final song on the tape, called Popped Up, contains a verse, a hook, and also production from the Compton legend. Along with the previous track Oh Yeah, with Trey Songz, F*ck Da City Up ends on a strong note.
Overall Rating: 7.8/10
With features by Young Jeezy, Dr. Dre, Tre Songz, Pusha T, B.o.B & moreFollow @realwhitedude

Rich Forever

2012-01-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Rick Ross

Rich Forever

2012

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 8.75/10
Replayability: 8.75/10

Overall: 8.66/10

The Dude's Picks: Rich Forever (feat. John Legend); Mine Games (feat. Kelly Rowland); Ring Ring (feat. Future); Stay Schemin' (feat. Drake & French Montana)

It seems that Rick Ross is the only rapper able to stay one of the most relevant and talked about rappers in the game for an entire year, without releasing one solo album or mixtape. With the exception of the Maybach Music Group collab Self Made Vol. 1, 2011 failed to bring any solo work from Ross, with his upcoming album God Forgives, I Don't being pushed back to 2012. Despite this, 2011 was anything from quiet for the oversized superstar. From the signing of three of raps brightest stars (Wale, Pill and Meek Mill) to impressive features on music by artists like Lil Wayne and Red Cafe, Rick Ross has actually become an even bigger star. Taking account on these successes, Ross released Rich Forever for free as a thank you to his fans for putting up with the delays of his next project. Through the popular social network Twitter, Ross and his affiliates created a huge buzz for the tape to create one of the first major releases of the year. Fans will not be disappointed. Both showing off the skills of Ross and also providing a stage for younger stars, Rich Forever is an excellent way to start the new year off for both Rick Ross and the rap community as a whole. As soon as listeners hear the first familiar "M-M-M-M-Maybach Music" it is obvious that this is more than the average mixtape. Even those that are skeptical of Ross' abilities have to admit that he can put together an impressive release. Everything, the rap, the producing, the features, comes together perfectly. The production is excellent on Rich Forever, more so than the normal mixtape. Some of the game's hottest beat-makers have done work on the mixtape including Boi-1da, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Lex Luger. Though there is a distinct sound to the type of beats Ross raps over, some of the mixtape's most impressive and memorable tracks are ones that switch up that formula. Ring Ring is a prime example of this. The upbeat and fun instrumental provided by producer DJ Spinz accompanied by an unusual yet entertaining hook sung by rapper Future make this one of the most enjoyable, if not the deepest, track on the tape. Another thing that helps Rich Forever out is who preforms alongside the Bawse. Ross is an expert at choosing his features, from Diddy reliving the '90s as an expert hype man on the opening track Holy Ghost to John Legend adding an amazing hook to the title track Rich Forever. One would think with the large amount of featured artists (fifteen overall, twelve of which rap alongside the Bawse) that Ross might lose control of his own tape, but this is not the case. Rick Ross is an expert at taking over a song even with one verse, with his deep voice instantly standing out from any that share track time with him. The subject matter of Ross' raps aren't anything new or groundbreaking, but they are undeniably effective. It's not so much as what Ross is saying but the way that he says it that makes him such a good rapper. Rich Forever ends with a poignent moment with an interview of Ross by Shaheem Reid of MTV News. One of the best moments of the interview is a comment by Ross that captures what his goal is in rap: "What's living forever, if you're going to struggle forever?" The new year looks to be great for Rick Ross, from promises of a collab mixtape with Drake, to the upcoming God Forgives, I Don't. And the rest of us will be there with him.
Overall Rating: 8.66/10
With features by Wale, Diddy, Meek Mill, Birdman, Drake & moreFollow @realwhitedude

O.E.MO

2012-01-05T15:41:00.000-08:00

Nelly

O.E.MO

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 6.8/10
Beats: 8.5/10
Replayability: 7.6/10

Overall: 7.6/10

The Dude's Picks: Bang Bang Pow Pow; Pyro (Remix); Country Ass Nigga (feat. T.I. & 2 Chainz); You Gone Learn Today

It's been eleven and a half years since Country Grammer dropped in 2000 with rapper Nelly becoming the pride of the midwest and a household name in rap. Since then, with five more albums released, the St. Louis native has lost some traction. His latest studio album, 5.0, was released to mixed reviews with many complaining about its pop direction and lack of new concepts. With O.E.MO (On Everything MO), Nelly's first and only release of 2011, the artist tries to take things back to the start. O.E.MO has many Southern influenced beats, as well as remixes of many hot instrumentals, to bring together an interesting result. The mixtape is a Christmas present to Nelly's fans as the artist continues to work on his as-of-yet unnamed seventh album. Despite not being an album, O.E.MO is album size, containing sixteen tracks of entertaining Southern rap. One of O.E.MO's main strengths is in its production. There is definitely an upbeat, triumphant theme throughout the tape that creates a positive vibe to Nelly's music. Definitely something that can be blasted through a car stereo, many tracks such as Pyro (Remix) and You Gone Learn Today are fun and entertaining that, if not read into too deeply, become the highlights of the tape. Unfortunately, Nelly does not take advantage of his instrumentals in most cases, with one of the tape's largest weaknesses in its lyrical content. Nelly's rhymes are acceptable, but there is really nothing to be gained from listening to his music. There are the typical stories of getting girls, getting money, getting famous, but Nelly never seems to take the music seriously. It almost is like he is coasting through the album instead of providing truly thought out rhymes. As mindless riding music O.E.MO succeeds, but for those seeking depth and originality to their music this is not the tape to check out. If O.E.MO was by any lesser rapper the tape might be considered a success, but because of Nelly's big-time status it is somewhat of a disappointment. Despite quality features by Southern legend T.I. and relative newcomer 2 Chainz on the track Country Ass Nigga, which aims to be another Southern anthem along the likes of the song Country Grammer, Nelly never really dominates any one track, even the ones where he is the only artist featured. The mixtape still is undeniably fun if you listen to tracks as a whole, instead of just a sum of its lyrical content, and hopefully will carry that vibe to whatever projects Nelly releases next. However, more of an effect lyrically would be much appreciated.
Overall Rating: 7.6/10
With features by T.I., 2 Chainz, St. Lunatics & moreFollow @realwhitedude

1140: The Overdose

2012-01-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

Pill

1140: The Overdose

2010

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 8.75/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.58/10

The Dude's Picks: On Da Korner; Surroundings; Shottas; Sober; No Time For Sleep (feat. Colin Monroe)

After Atlanta rapper Pill's recent split from Maybach Music Group and Warner Bros., we at TWD decided to review one of the mixtapes that helped the new free agent get noticed by Rozay in the first place. 1140: The Overdose is the third mixtape by Pill, and the third in the series that was started by The Prescription and The Refill, both in 2009. Famed underground disc jockey DJ Drama hosts the joint, which aims to pay tribute to two famed rappers, much like its The Prescription. Unlike Prescription, which shows dues to 2Pac and Biggie Smalls, Overdose gives respect to Eazy-E and Big Pun on two individual tribute tracks. The tape has Pill rapping over some of the hottest beats of '10, such as Drake's Over (Sober) and Waka Flocka's Hard In Da Paint (Hard In Da Trap). In some cases, the Pill version of these songs actually sound better than the original, such as the remix of Rude Boy, called Shottas. Adding his own style to Rihanna's popular beat, Pill creates a song that is easy to vibe to that unfortunately is shorter than the listener might want. Many of the other tracks on the tape are very short, with 15 of the 26 songs timing out at less than three minutes long. Some of these tracks are the best on the tape with the excellent track Surroundings, the tribute to Big Pun, totaling at 1:33. One of the longer tracks that stands out is the single On Da Korner, the first track after The Overdose's intro. Producer Needlz provides an intense instrumental that creates an instant adrenaline rush. Added to Pill's crisp verses, the song is an excellant way to start out the tape. Needlz isn't the only big-name producer on The Overdose. A huge amount of respected producers contributed to tape, such as Rhythum D and Lex Luger. This adds a bit of polish to the mixtape, and sets it apart from other street releases. Killer Mike and Colin Monroe are the highlights of The Overdose's featured artists. Monroe provides an excellent hook to the the track No Time For Sleep, on which he handles production duties. The combination of hook and instrumental go together very well, along with a great verse from Pill. Killer Mike is the one relatively well known rapper to appear on the mixtape, and provides a boast-filled verse to the track Westsiders. The Overdose, as well as other releases from Pill, prove that it won't be long before the MC is signed to another label. His skills are too good compared to other new rappers to not go unsigned for long, and hopefully Pill will find himself with a successful career where ever he ends up.
Overall Rating: 8.58/10
With features by Killer Mike, Colin Monroe, Zay Cash, Scrilla & moreFollow @realwhitedude

Return Of 4Eva

2012-01-03T12:38:00.001-08:00

Big K.R.I.T.

Return Of 4Eva

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.75/10
Beats: 8.5/10
Replayability: 8/10

Overall: 8.42

The Dude's Picks: My Sub; Player's Ballad (feat. Raheem DeVaughn); Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed and Encouraging Racism; Free My Soul; The Vent

Rap's next generation of stars is one of the brightest and most unique. Among them are a white southerner with a rock influence, a Bay Area rapper with a penchant for controversial album titles, and a self-producing Mississippi talent with deep rhymes set to a soulful sound. This last artist, as you probably have guessed, is Big K.R.I.T., one of the game's best young stars. In 2011, K.R.I.T. made his presence known with dozens of features, a selection as one of XXL Magazine's 2011 Freshman Class, and the release of a widely acclaimed mixtape. Return Of 4Eva establishes K.R.I.T. as a contemplative, philosophical rapper that also knows how to make fun tracks celebrating life, girls and money. Despite having extremely simple rhymes compared to his young contemporaries like Drake or J. Cole, K.R.I.T. is an expert at getting his point across and making songs that create a personality. Instead of relying of fast punchlines or heavy metaphors, K.R.I.T. relies on intelligence and songs with heart and feeling to make an impression. His producing ability is nothing to laugh at as well, creating the kinds of beats that positively compliment the message he spits in his raps. Return Of 4Eva is not necessarily a masterpiece however. The length, while impressive for a free mixtape, hinders the tape slightly. Return Of 4Eva is a huge mixtape, longer than many albums, with 21 songs on the tracklist including the Ludacris/Bun B remix of K.R.I.T Wuz Here hit Country Shit. Some tracks, while lyrically fine, are simply forgettable. Amtrak and King's Blues are not bad songs per se, but they do not have a strong hook or memorable beat to cause them to be listened to again. On the other hand, there are a fair amount of tracks, mostly at the end of the tape, that are extremely powerful and can cause lasting effects on the listener. Prime examples of this are two mixtape's final tracks, Free My Soul and The Vent. Free My Soul is an emotional letter to the rapper's mother that shows K.R.I.T. in a conflict over how far he has to go to achieve the good life, with the hook "Mama I made it/Got those trues and vogues/I keep some groupie hos/I got that old school/With those lambo doors." This is in complete contrast with the song's verses where K.R.I.T. raps "Damn, when will my time come?/Should I just sell dope for money, cars, clothes and hos?/Cause they say that's successful/Till a nigger run up on you and unload."The track ends with a short outro that leads into The Vent, one of the most powerful tracks on the tape. To a depressing and mournful instrumental K.R.I.T. raps about, among other things, losing control when his problems overtake him. The song is basically, as its title suggests, a vent to the listener about the issues that Big K.R.I.T. is going though and it is an emotionally powerful experience. These two tracks, rough and emotional songs that reveal a human presence behind the rapper, are the type in which K.R.I.T. excels at. Instead of stereotypical southern rap, this is the type of rap that K.R.I.T. needs to create in order to become a permanent mainstay in the rap community.
Overall Rating: 8.42
With features by Ludacris, Bun B, Chamillionaire, David Banner, Raheem DeVaughn & moreFollow @realwhitedude

Finally Famous

2012-01-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

Big Sean

Finally Famous

2011

G.O.O.D. Music, Def Jam

Beats: 8.5/10

Lyrics: 8/10
Replayability: 8.3/10

Overall : 8.3/10

The Girl's Picks: Memories Pt. 2 (feat. John Legend); Don’t Tell Me You Love Me; Get It; What Goes Around

Well Big Sean is finally famous, but the question is whether he’s deserving of it. Sean, one of the biggest rising stars of 2011, has gone from being just another rapper and a stranger to the public in January, to becoming a mainstream sensation after being signed by Kanye West and appearing in songs with the likes of Nikki Minaj, Chris Brown, as well as Kanye himself, in a mere year. You might say that this is a clear sign that the Big Sean’s first studio album Finally Famous, following the name of Sean’s three previous mix tapes, is a success. I personally enjoy it. His songs contain beats that build on themselves, and extend out as he flows until he runs out of breath. His voice is distinct and comes with his catch phrase, “I do it,” which is also the name of a song on the album. He is talented with analogies and metaphors, from “Taking shots like Kobe,” to “We were picture perfect and I tore it all apart, but if I pick up all the pieces we could still be a collage,” He has all the gifts of a talented mainstream rapper. Songs like Dance (ASS), Marvin & Chardonnay, and My Last, were most popular because of the catchy hooks and popular features, however they lacked substance and make the album seem fun but common, like it is just the product of another money hungry rapper. Still, if you go deeper into the album Big Sean shows there is a little more to his rap and that he can talk about more than drinks, partying, or a female’s derriere. In Memories Pt. 2, Sean talks about dreams and remembering how he got where he is, featuring the soulful voice of John Legend as a way to get his point across. “One time for all my niggas that dreamed it than real life’d it! I swear I’ve been through everything in life but a coffin” He says early on, pointing out that he’s been through it all and then touches on many a subject of his life that he must remember. In So Much More, he talks about how people acted throughout his life and his rise to the top, as well as the work it took in getting there. He drops such lines as, “Cause I’m 23 years, I done lived a couple lives” and “I pay bills, I work hard. And when my momma cried a river, they never gave us a bridge, they gave us a bridge card,” and you understand he didn’t just show up at the top, there was more to his journey. In Don’t Tell Me You Love Me he talks about a girl he doesn’t want to leave but he doesn’t know how the relationship is going to work. He basically says it all with, “Don’t tell me you love me, you’re gonna make it to hard to leave. I wish you were ugly; it wouldn’t be so hard to leave. Cause baby, I hate to love you,” If you listen you can get the feeling of a real relationship. Though he isn’t Jay-Z or Tupac, Big Sean is not a Roscoe Dash or Waka Flocka, and Finally Famous shows that. For a freshman album, it is exactly what any fan could want and what any one new to the game could get into. Big Sean could become a truly serious rapper if he so desires and we should all watch for more work to come.
Overall Rating: 8.3/10

With features by Kanye West, John Legend, Chris Brown & more

Elmatic

2012-01-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Elzhi

Elmatic

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.7/10
Beats: 9.2/10
Replayability: 8.4/10

Overall: 8.8/10

The Dude's Picks: Detroit State Of Mind; Memory Lane; It Ain't Hard To Tell

When a rapper says that they're going to remake Illmatic, the average hip-hop fan usually experiences a range of emotions. First, there is skeptism and maybe even anger. Illmatic? Really? One of the greatest albums of all time? By one of the greatest rappers of all time, Nas? Please, don't even try. But soon, once the listener comes to terms with the idea of the remake, curiosity comes next. How will this rapper make Illmatic his own? How will he do the original justice? Is it even possible for someone to hear songs with titles like Halftime and Life's A Bitch and not think of the original? Still, after a while, pride always comes last. Even fifteen years after the original, longer than many rapper's careers, Illmatic is still a rap classic that can inspire newer young rappers to make a tribute album to the original. The newest of this tributes, by Detroit rapper Elzhi, has become one of the most celebrated mixtapes of the year, and brought the artist to the forefront of the hip-hop mainstream. And this is only partially due to the album from which is gets its name. Appropriately called Elmatic, the release is notable for a variety of reasons with possibly the largest reason, besides obviously of what it is a tribute to, is the idea of a live band to provide Elmatic a remaking of the classic beats of original. Detroit group Will Sessions provides actual instruments to some of the most memorable instrumentals in rap, adding a kind of jazz, funk and hip-hop blend that make Elmatic a unique experience musically. The other reason is Elzhi himself. Completely taking over tracks that have been ingrained in hard-core hip-hop heads for years, it is much easier than expected to become immersed in the stories Elzhi tells without even thinking of Nas once. And there lies the fine line a rapper must cross when they try to make a tribute: paying their dues to the original while also attempting to make the project their own; adding their own style and flavor without making it completely unrecognizable from the original. Elzhi is an expert at this, with songs like Detroit State Of Mind providing a nostalgic look at the Nas classic but also containing the artist's original perspective on his hometown of Detroit. Memory Lane ends up being one of the most memorable tracks on Elmatic, as Elzhi creates a engrossing tale of teenage memories, from the first time he smoked a blunt to battling with the likes of Proof and Eminem. This is all along with the famed hook "Now let me take a trip down memory lane." At many times during the tape certain phrases or sounds are heard that instantly bring a flow of memories to those familiar with Illmatic. Whether samples from N.Y. State of Mind or the soulful harmonizing of Memory Lane, there are a lot of emotions involved with the beats Elzhi flows on. Elmatic ends up being an incredible combination of classic old beats and a fresh new perspective to create one of the most memorable mixtapes of the year. Hopefully this will mark a rise from the underground to a larger following for Elzhi, and represent the kind of creativity that hopefully will be seen in future projects.
Overall Rating: 8.8/10
With features by Royce Da 5'9'' & Stokely Williams (of R&B group Mint Condition)Follow @realwhitedude

J.U.I.C.E.

2012-01-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Roscoe Dash

J.U.I.C.E.

2011

Music Line, Geffen, Interscope

Lyrics: 6.2/10
Beats: 7.5/10
Replayability: 6.6/10

Overall: 6.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Good Good Night; Into The Morning (feat. Wale); Awesome

Roscoe Dash has his fair share of haters, whether because of his boastful style or his playful, sometimes lazy, rhymes. It may be that some of this hate is unwarranted however, as Roscoe tries to prove his talent in his debut extended play J.U.I.C.E., which stands for Just Understand I Control Anything. The EP's title is a prime example of the type of experience you will get from a Roscoe Dash verse. Confidence, or as some would say over-confidence, is the main force behind most if not all of the Roscoe's music. The EP doesn't provide much in terms of substance, but do contain the type of catchy, replayable music that has made Roscoe a radio hit. In terms of features, both Big Sean and Wale provide enjoyable, if not especially impressive, verses on the tracks Sidity and Into The Morning respectively. For the production end of the EP, the most notable composer is Kane Beatz, architect of hits such as Lupe Fiasco's The Show Goes On and Nicki Minaj's Super Bass. Kane produces two of the seven tracks including the single Good Good Night, which ends up being one of the more pleasant surprises of the J.U.I.C.E. Roscoe's rhymes might only seem better due to the more polished instrumental from Kane, but Good Good Night is a fun jam that listeners will find easy to dance to. Unfortunately Good Good Night is one of the exceptions, with most of the EP's tracks coming off as more boring and repetitive than fun and entertaining. Though not significant progress, J.U.I.C.E. is definitely a step in the right direction for Roscoe Dash and hopefully is the beginning of a good career for the Atlanta spitter.
Overall Rating: 6.7/10
With features by K'LA, Big Sean & Wale

Recovery

2012-01-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

Eminem

Recovery

2010

Shady, Aftermath, Interscope

Lyrics: 10/10
Beats: 9.3/10
Replayability: 9.8/10

Overall: 9.7/10

The Dude's Picks: No Love (feat. Lil Wayne); Space Bound; Cinderella Man; 25 To Life; You're Never Over

Forget Relapse, this is the true return of Eminem. The MC that revived Dr. Dre's career, won 13 Grammys, and introduced the world to 50 Cent has finally returned to us. Instead of the drug-recovering Slim Shady impostor that we were given on Relapse, we finally are given a glimpse of Marshall again. Recovery shows how Eminem has grown lyrically, with multilayered rhymes and metaphors that have be heard multiple times to truly understand their genius. It also shows the growth of Em as a man, still the crazy and offensive rapper than many love but also more mature and adult than on past releases. One of the largest differences between Recovery and other Eminem albums is the type of people he works with on it. Instead of the standard featured artists on a Shady album, such as 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and D12, Em takes an unconventional route on who he shares his songs with. Lil Wayne, an artist that Em has worked with sparingly on his albums in the past, is on one of the album's biggest tracks, No Love. The intense single samples the 1993 hit What Is Love, by Haddaway, and features one of the most powerful verses from Eminem in years. The track shows lyrical brilliance from both Wayne and Shady, and became one of the album's biggest hits. Besides Weezy, the only other rappers on the album are new Shady Records group Slaughterhouse on the album's deluxe edition Session One. The other well-known featured artists, pop stars Rihanna and P!nk, have never collaborated with Eminem before, and though Rihanna has appeared with many rap artists in the past P!nk almost never has. Rihanna adds some fire to Love The Way You Lie, another hit single off the album, and the matchup between her and Slim is effective, if unlikely. Though many may be confused by this choice in artists, with some arguing that Em is selling out and going pop, this lack of fellow rappers creates a more central focus on the main star for Recovery, and makes Weezy's verse more powerful and unexpected. No Love isn't the only standout track from the album. 25 To Life might be one of the deepest songs on Recovery in terms of metaphorical, which at first seems another rap about Eminem's controversial relationship with ex-wife Kim Mathers but ends with the incredible revelation that the song is not about the rapper's relationship with any specific woman, but rather an extended metaphor for the rapper's relationship with the hip-hop industry that he is a part of. The reveal makes you rethink the entire track in a way that only Eminem can make possible. Another is You're Never Over, a ode to friend of Eminem and former member of the group D12, Proof, who was murdered in 2006. It is a beautiful track that although is about a deceased friend, is not a song of mourning. It rather is a song about getting over the loss of Proof and of Em making himself a better person as a tribute to his fallen friend. The album is not perfect, with one of its main problems being fluidity between tracks. Instead of one single good album, Recovery is more like a collection of good songs. with so many different styles, themes, and personalities that Eminem presents, no singular message is especially powerful. As a sum of its parts, however, Recovery becomes an amazing album. More than anything, there is a feeling of triumph and of rededication to the game, and of making up for the time that was lost due to rehabilitation. Recovery incorporates all of these things, and shows Eminem as confident and powerful as he has been in years.
Overall Rating: 9.7/10
With features by Kobe, P!nk, Lil Wayne & Rihanna

Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition

2011-12-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

Young Jeezy

Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition

2011

Def Jam, Corperate Thugz

Lyrics: 8.4/10
Beats: 7.8/10
Replayability: 8.4/10

Overall: 8.2/10

The Dude's Picks: Leave You Alone (feat. Ne-Yo); F.AM.E. (feat. T.I.); I Do (feat. Jay-Z & Andre 3000)

For a few years now the name Young Jeezy has begun to mean less and less. Despite a few small releases, the street certified MC had lost favor with the larger hip-hop community. Then, with whispers of a third album in the popular Thug Motivation series surfacing, Jeezy began to reinsert himself into the conversation. Building off huge features on Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 and Drake's freshman album Thank Me Later, Jeezy reminded the public why they loved the husky-voiced Atlanta native in the first place. After a huge amount of buzz and media interest, Thug Motivation 103 is here, and it's out to prove that Young Jeezy is still a force to be reckoned with. Despite a huge amount of features, with thirteen artists accompanying Jeezy on fourteen tracks, TM 103 definitely belongs to Jeezy. No matter how good the artist, Jeezy's husky southern drawl is always the focal point of each track. Something about Jeezy's rhymes are undeniably effective, despite not being particularly fast or having the deepest metaphors. The overwhelming confidence Jeezy expessing through his rhymes is easy to get caught up in, and it's almost impossible not to root for him. While the beats aren't amazing, and end up being one of the album's weaker points, they are catchy and easy lose yourself in. TM 103 should be listened to as a whole album, and shouldn't be judged by its individual tracks. For the most part there are few tracks that stand out, with the tracks F.A.M.E. and I Do being two of the execptions. F.A.M.E is one of the high points of the album, and might be what TM 103 will be remembered for. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League builds up the beat quickly to provide one of the best instrumentals on the album and Jeezy spits a powerful story about the highs and lows of a rapper's fame. The newly released T.I. joins Jeezy on the track and adds his own story about recently going to prison and trying to recreate the success created off his last two albums Paper Trails and No Mercy. On I Do, Jeezy is joined by two legends in Jay-Z and Andre 3000. Young doesn't do much rapping on the track, mostly providing the hook and letting his fellow MCs spit on love at first sight and the perfect woman over a lighthearted beat from producer M16. While TM 103 isn't one of the best albums of the year, it marks a powerful return to hip-hop from one of the South's most powerful MCs.
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
With features by Jay-Z, Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg, T.I., Ne-Yo, 2 Chainz and more

The Dreamer / The Believer

2011-12-20T14:22:00.000-08:00

Common

The Dreamer / The Believer

2011

Warner Bros., Think Common Music Inc.

Lyrics: 9.6/10
Beats: 8.2/10
Replayability:8.6/10

Overall: 8.8/10

The Dude's Picks: Ghetto Dreams (feat. Nas); Blue Sky; The Believer (feat. John Legend)

To say that Common is a unique artist is an understatement. Though never having a number one hit single, only one number one album (2007's Finding Forever), and appealing to mostly a female audience, Common will forever be in the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame for his socially conscious raps and fearlessness in terms of pushing boundaries. This fearlessness was especially visible, though for perhaps the wrong reasons, in Com's last release, the futuristic Universal Mind Control, which was poorly received by critics and fans alike. Now, three years later, Common is back to prove he's still one of the best with The Dreamer/The Believer, the Chi rapper's ninth studio album. The release has its fair share of memorable tracks, but that was expected with a rapper like Common. Though it is not the masterpiece that many hoped for, The Dreamer/The Believer is a solid return to rap from someone who has recently been sidetracked by a film career and a new book. The first couple of tracks will probably be the most well known from the album, with each reinvigorating a different side of Common's rap personality. Ghetto Dreams, with rap legend Nas, is an ode to girls from the hood. Common shows appreciation for the struggles that inner-city women come from, "She knows shoes like she know survival/Well put together, she weathers the storm/ Seen her brother die so forever she strong". Nas provides some street chops to the track, and compliments Com well on this collaboration that had hip-hop lovers drooling when it was first released. Blue Sky is next, showcasing some of the sharpest rhymes on The Dreamer/The Believer ("It all started with a dream, I wanted to be Run D.M.C./ The Lord put the blessing upon the MC"), (Close my eyes to see things in front of me/ I'm gone now, imagine what I'm gonna be") to an amazing cut of Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra. Sweet might be the most controversial song on the album, as Common embraces his dark side and verbally murders his haters. Because of being known as a more knowledgable and conscious rap, many were shocked at the hard-hitting track when it was released as a single in November. Common's raps are done over many impressive beats curtesy of producer No I.D., a longtime collaborator with Com, who created the sounds for every song on the album. This sense of unity on the album is a very important part of its success along with the powerful rhymes delivered by Common. As The Dreamer/The Believer comes to a close with a poem by the rapper's father, a sense is gotten that the end is nowhere in sight for the 39 year old rapper. Instead, it might just be a new beginning.
Overall: 8.8/10
With features by Nas, Maya Angelou, Makeba Riddick and John Legend

The Eleven One Eleven Theory

2011-12-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Wale

The Eleven One Eleven Theory

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 9.2/10
Beats: 8.4/10
Replayability: 8.4/10

Overall: 8.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Fuck You; Ocean Drive (feat. Black Cobain, Magazeen & Tre); Lets Chill (feat. Llyod); Varsity Blues; Podium (feat. Black Cobain, Tre & Tone P)

The precursor mixtape to DC native Wale's sophomore release Ambition deserves as much attention as the first. The Eleven One Eleven Theory, released a few months before Ambition and also revealing the release date of the album, is 19-track whirlwind that shows the true versatility of the 2010 XXL Freshman. The first solo release with Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group is mostly intended to hype fans up for Ambition, but as a standalone release it is impressive as well. Though none of the tracks appear on Ambition, besides the song Bait which is a bonus track on the album, Wale has made music videos for a couple of songs such as Barry Sanders and ChainMusic. Fuck You is the first notable track on the tape, with Wale expressing his confusion over his perceived arrogance ("I ain't cocky I'm just proud of me/ So why these niggas acting like I ain't allowed to be") and his experiences with women ("Stunting in a pair of Tiffs, I don't mean a pair of Tims/ Two bitches named Tiffany I left them with a pair of kids"). This is all over a lighthearted a fun beat that gets the listener excited for the rest of the tape. Ocean Drive is another jam with a Caribbean vibe that features a hook by MMG artist Magazeen and verses by Tre of UCB and Black Cobain. The track is one of the most feel-good experiences of Eleven One Eleven and easily creates the image of a beautiful beach on a distant island. Varsity Blues is one of two sports-themed tracks on the tape, along with Barry Sanders, but of the two is the more memorable. The song starts off with clips of different sports failures and tragedies, such as former NFL number one draft pick Jamarcus Russell and college basketball star Len Bias, who died from a cocaine overdose two days after being drafted to the NBA. One of the more somber tracks, Wale relates the stress of moving up from a college to professional athlete to the transition of being an unsigned rap talent to being a star on a major label. There is a large variety of topics on the tracks of Eleven One Eleven, which shows Wale's ability to rap on many unrelated issues such as the swag of a good chain (ChainMusic), the attractiveness of a motivated woman (Ambitious Girl Pt. 2) and coming up from the bottom to stardom (Underdog). This kind of diversity is sure to help keep Wale from being confined to a box in the future. As long as he keeps spitting intelligent rhymes and remembers his native DC, Wale will be in the game for a long time.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
With features by Lil Duval, Tre, Black Cobain, Magazeen, Tone P, Lloyd & J. Holiday

In None We Trust

2011-12-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

Crooked I

In None We Trust

2011

Treacherous Records, C.O.B. Music Group

Lyrics: 8.4/10
Beats: 7.6/10
Replayability: 7.5/10

Overall: 7.8/10

The Dude's Picks: Sssutt x2; Drum Murder (feat. Horseshoe G.A.N.G.); Goin' Bad (feat. KeyAna)

While just a taste of the future for Shady Records artist Crooked I, In None We Trust is a solid release for the rap veteran. The seven track EP is the third released since his first album Hood Star, but the length of the EP makes it no less effective in getting out the message that Crooked I can go hard. As usual Crooked has impressive flows and shows why Eminem signed him and his Slaugherhouse group-mates, but it's clear that INWT is a hype building release. With a few exceptions the instrumentals are nothing special and really it is clearly a showcase of Crooked I's skills as a rapper. The EP opens with a C.O.B. Digital label anthem Sssutt x2 where Crooked reps the label he founded and is CEO of. The appropriately titled Roll Call will probably get the most attention out of all the tracks due to the amount of artists accompanying Crooked on the beat. Four MCs, including Cash Money's Glasses Malone and Strange Music's Jay Rock, appear on the five minute track with Crooked I. While in total the song is a decent joint no one rapper sets himself apart from the track lyrically. Drum Murder might be the highlight of the EP with a rock and roll instrumental that goes heavy on the guitar and drums. C.O.B. signees Horseshoe G.A.N.G. features on the track, and they immediately control the track. The four-member group doesn't take their time to impress, with Crooked I joining in at parts but mostly leaving it up to his signees. No Competition is one of the weakest tracks, seemingly copying parts of multiple rappers styles. At times you can hear elements of Tech N9ne and Rick Ross among others. The only redemption of the track is about two minutes forty seconds in where Crooked going on a lightning fast acapella rampage before returning to the beat. In None We Trust is an average release for a rapper on a major label, but it will satisfy his fans and to those who search a few hidden bangers can be found that are worth checking out.
Overall Rating: 7.8/10
With features by Horseshoe G.A.N.G., Glasses Malone, Jay Rock, KeyAna and more

E.P.I.C.

2011-12-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

B.o.B

E.P.I.C.

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.3/10
Beats: 8.8/10
Replayability: 9/10

Overall: 8.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Wrong (feat. Spodee); Guest List (feat. Roscoe Dash); New York New York; Strange Clouds (feat. Lil Wayne); High

For those who expect the kind of pop and rap crossover that originally made B.o.B a mainstream success, E.P.I.C. may be a disappointment. While the Georgia rapper's third mixtape since his certified-gold debut The Adventures of Bobby Ray lacks the singing of Bruno Mars and Hayley Williams, it certainly does not lack big name rap talent. From up and coming stars Big K.R.I.T. and Meek Mill to industry heavyweights T.I. and Eminem, B.o.B isn't afraid to enlist the help of his friends to prove that he is more than just a pop sensation. As someone who wasn't an original fan of B.o.B I have to admit that this mixtape changed my mind. Bobby Ray shows a lot of lyrical ability that was lost in the flash and showiness of his first album, and many songs impress lyrically while also have the re-playability that made B.o.B such a mainstream success. There are some instantly familiar beats on E.P.I.C., from french rock band Phoenix's hit 1901 on Wrong to Frank Sinatra's classic New York New York on the similarly titled track. And it wouldn't be a mixtape in 2011 without a freestyle over Kanye and Jay-Z's Watch The Throne hit Welcome to the Jungle. Despite this, each instrumental feels unique to E.P.I.C. and it is clear that B.o.B has mastered the art of making a beat his own. On New York New York this mastery is most visible, taking a song that was originally about the glamour and magic of New York and transforming it into a powerful anthem of revolution ("Let them know we run this shit/ And let them know how you fell the way your country is/ Now look how beautiful destruction is"). B.o.B has long been known for his producing talents, and continues to impress on two of the mixtape's tracks, Guest List and What Are We Doing. One of E.P.I.C.'s strengths is the power of its featured artists, each of which perfectly complements their own track. Mos Def was almost made for the beat of Boom Bap, which instantly brings back memories of his Black Star days, and Lil Wayne is truly an alien on the futuristic beat of Strange Clouds. B.o.B's selection of artists is impressive and his decision to work with hip-hop artists instead of well-known pop singers is commendable. One of the shining moments on E.P.I.C. is the previously mentioned track Strange Clouds with Lil Wayne, which serves as the first single to B.o.B's upcoming album of the same name. It begins with a moody intro but soon explodes into a dubstep-influenced classic with powerful and fun verses from Wayne and Bobby Ray like "I do my job exceptionally, on point like a decimal is/ The way I ride on a beat man I be in the street it's done so effortlessly". The tape finishes with the weed-celebrating High that provides listeners with a satisfying conclusion. If E.P.I.C. is any indication of the creativity and lyrical skill of B.o.B's upcoming album, get ready for a classic.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
With features by Lil Wayne, Meek Mill, Roscoe Dash, Bun B, T.I., Mos Def, Eminem & more

Gutter Rainbows

2011-12-08T13:17:00.001-08:00

Talib Kweli

Gutter Rainbows

2011

Blacksmith Music, Javotti Media, 3D

Lyrics: 8.3/10
Beats: 7.2/10
Replayability: 6.9/10

Overall: 7.5/10

The Dude's Picks: Cold Rain; Tator Tot; How You Love Me; Self Savior (Chace Infinite)

No rapper is more recognized and respected in the underground than Talib Kweli. With twelve mixtapes and ten studio albums over the years Kweli's name has become synonymous with political and fast-paced flows that have inspired dozens of mainstream artists today. Unfortunately with his latest release, Gutter Rainbows, something has gone wrong. For many tracks on the album the words Kweli spits don't seem to match up with the production they're spit on. There aren't many memorable songs on the 14-track album and most of them seem to leave the listener hanging, waiting for the the song to become something more remarkable. While the lyrical effort is admirable as expected for an MC such as Talib, the beats bring the album down heavily. This is likely due to the sheer number of producers on the album: 13 producers for 14 songs. Another issue with the production is the sheer elaborateness of the beats. Talib Kweli seems to shine on the more simpler beats such as the track Cold Rain which features Kweli's trademark political lyrics over piano and drum-beats. Tator Tots, a haunting tale of a war veteran turned thief, is another hit. Many of the more respectable tracks happen to be at the later half of the album, which might turn off some listeners who expect instant gratification. In terms of featured artists nothing much is added vocally, with the one exception being rapper Chace Infinite on the closing to the album, Self Savior. Besides that the main voice of Gutter Rainbows is Kweli, which isn't necessary a bad thing, but for Kweli to use his reverence in the so-called "dying" business that he is a part of to help new artists gain a spotlight would be interesting to see. For a rapper known as an underground celebrity, Gutter Rainbows is a forgettable disappointment that hopefully is not a warning sign of Talib Kweli's future as an artist.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
With features by Sean Price, Nigel Hall, Kendra Ross, Outasight, Jean Grae & Chace Infinite

Undun

2011-12-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

Undun

The Roots

2011

Def Jam

Lyrics: 10/10
Beats: 10/10
Replayability: 10/10

Overall: 10/10

The Dude's Picks: Stomp (feat. Greg Porn); Lighthouse (feat. Dice Raw); I Remember;

A concept album is a risk. If done right, such as The Who's Tommy and Green Day's American Idiot, it can tell poignent stories that satisfy deeper listeners while also providing catchy, replayable music that appeals to the casual listener. If done wrong it could hurt an artist or group's image and respect for years. For a genre that lives off the individual's past struggles and their eventual journey to success, hip-hop doesn't seem to have a genre-defining concept album, such as what Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon did for rock. To remedy this, The Roots have released their first concept album and 13th studio album Undun. In it, the eight-member group of musicians and rappers tell the story of the final moments of a dead young black man named Redford in reverse order. We begin with the final beats of a heart monitor in Dun, and move back in time from there. This is really a return to the beginning for The Roots, who started their career as a group telling stories of struggle in the ghetto and the choice between the gang-life or attempting to make something out of your life. Redford is faced with this decision in Undun, and he eventually chooses the easy money and excitement of the drug-life. MC Black Thought's contemplative rhymes are set to an moody and dark soundtrack that the musical members of The Roots, including ?uestlove and Kamal Gray, bring to the album. Featured MCs Big K.R.I.T. and Phonte each make an impression on their own tracks, Make My and One Time respectively, but the true gems are ones that have less known features or none at all, such as Stomp, featuring Greg Porn, and I Remember. Black Thought is impressive as usual, and gives a powerful voice to Redford's growing uncertainty in the choice he made. Undun's most defining moment is the last five minutes, which are split into four instrumental "movements" with no actual rap, and slowly eases the listener back to reality and the remembrance that Redford is now dead. The movements begin with Redford, a emotional piano piece by guest musician Sufjan Stevens, and then three other movements following played by The Roots. The second movement, Possibility, is marked by a mournful violin and is followed by the chaotic and drum-heavy Will To Power. The album ends with the return of the violin in Finality which is reminiscent of a funeral procession and is finished by thirty seconds of silence that let the message imparted by Undun truly sink in.
Overall Rating: 10/10
With features by Big K.R.I.T., Phonte, Bilal, Greg Porn, Dice Raw & Truck North

The Black Album

2011-11-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

The Black Album

Jay-Z

2003

Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Lyrics: 10/10
Beats: 10/10
Replayability: 10/10

Overall: 10/10

The Dude's Picks: Encore; Dirt Off Your Shoulder; 99 Problems; Public Service Announcement (Interlude); Lucifer

"The say they never really miss you till you dead or you gone/ So on that note I'm leaving after the song." And so Jay-Z's The Black Album begins, a farewell to his fans and to the industry that made him an icon and millionaire. Eight years, three solo albums and three collaborations later it is obvious that the farewell was not permanent but the album that was meant to be his last is still a timeless classic. So many of its songs have become ingrained into hip-hop consciousness, most notably 99 Problems with its infamous hook "I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one," taken from the similarly titled Ice Cube song. The sampling throughout the album, which features top-notch producers such as Kanye West, Just Blaze, The Neptunes and Eminem, is unique and incredible. From the interspersed commentary by mother Gloria Carter, to dialoge from the movie 300, The Black Album is filled with sounds that wouldn't be expected on a rap album. Some of the production creates the album's most memorable moments. The dark moody intro to Public Service Announcement perfectly sets up the triumphant beat that begins when Jay spits "Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Hov." PSA itself is a celebration of the man and figure Jay has become, with shutouts to his future wife Beyonce ("Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain") and an overall swagger. The entire first half of the song is an extended metaphor for the drug-trade, which Hova was apart of before he became a successful rapper. The thug-life past is another theme of the album, with songs like Justify My Thug and Threat showing of the darker side of Jay's personality. Despite the success and money Jay-Z was not a man to be messed with in 2003 and still isn't in 2011. Encore is the perfect song for the end of a show, and has been used countless times by Jay-Z to end his various tours and performances. It also serves as a record of Jay-Z's legacy as he ponders how much he will be missed in the industry. 99 Problems is perhaps the most well known of the albums tracks and one of Jay's most well known songs. At its base it features the story of Jay being pulled over by a racist cop, but the universality of the themes of 99 Problems has made it an anthem to hip-hop fans everywhere. The angry rock-like beat that features a guitar riff provided by producer Rick Rubin is enough to get anyone pumped and ready for action. The lack of features creates a personal mood for the album, with all the focus on Jay and a microphone and no distractions of a featured artist. Despite the near decade that has past since The Black Album's release, it has remained as current and relevant as it was when it was released, and that is something to celebrate.
Overall Rating: 10/10

Friend of the People: I Fight Evil

2011-11-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

Lupe Fiasco

Friend Of The People: I Fight Evil

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 9.5/10
Beats: 9/10
Replayability: 9.3/10

Overall: 9.3/10

The Dude's Picks: Lupe Back; Double Burger With Cheese; WWJD He'd Prolly LOL Like WTF; Lightwork; The End Of The World

Lupe's back. After the commercially successful but poorly reviewed Lasers, Lupe Fiasco is back to his old form attacking political and social problems in America with explosive rhymes and entertaining beats. A Thanksgiving gift to his fans and sequel to 2009 mixtape Enemy Of The State, Friend Of The People is sure to please as Lupe perfects the electronic assault that he first tried in Lasers. The massacre begins immediately with Lupe's Back, a sample of Nero's Doomsday, with name drops from the Chicago Bears to Proactiv facial cleanser all to a dubstep-infused soundtrack. The use of dubstep is apparent from the beginning, and shows a new direction for Fiasco. Somehow dubstep seems more fitting a soundtrack than the pop beats on Lasers. Double Burger With Cheese is an ode to cinema with a movie reference in almost every line. Even the title is a reference to a famed line from the movie Menace II Society, which is heard at the end of the track. Lupe's rhymes go well with Ellie Goulding's vocals on the track Lightwork, which features a sped up sample of her song Lights. The clever wordplay that Lupe Fiasco is known for is apparent here, "Yeah, touch more souls than a dance floor/ While the touch more floors than a hand or/ Ceiling fan or - wait, let me tell ya slower/ Lift my fans up to the ceiling and you'll never touch the floor." Known for his love of rebellion, the recent Occupy movement is mentioned on a couple tracks, including Lightwork ("While we waiting on that compromise/ Proceed with that conscious eye/ New gang alert: hashtag Occupy") and The End Of The World ("Blood sweat and tears, no place I'd rather be/ So let's occupy Wall Street, all day all week.") Life, Death & Love From San Francisco is a break from the dubstep and electronic flows to something reminiscent of early-20th century jazz. The break doesn't last long, with SNDCLSH In Las Vegas bringing the sound back to the dance music genre. Lupe's disgust with Atlantic Records is evident as he compares his feelings about the label to how he feels about former Penn. State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky. His animosity toward Atlantic has been contributed to the long-delayed release of Lasers, and Lupe soon may find himself at another label. The End of the World is a fitting finale to FOTP, sampling French indie band M83, that has the vibe of the end of an epic journey. The journey, it seems, has only begun for this next chapter of Lupe Fiasco's career. If Lupe's next project, the sequel to his debut album called Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, is anything like FOTP then fans have a lot to look forward to.
Overall Rating: 9.3/10
With features by Dosage, Lil Ronnie & Ellie Goulding

Radioactive

2011-11-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

Yelawolf

Radioactive

2011

Ghet-O-Vision, DSG, Interscope, Shady Records

Lyrics: 9.2/10
Beats: 8.6/10
Replayability: 8.3/10

Overall: 8.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Let's Roll (feat. Kid Rock); Throw It Up (feat. Gangsta Boo & Eminem); Made In The U.S.A. (feat. Priscilla Renea); Radio

Yelawolf is not your average rapper. First of all he is white, though with the recent influx of white rappers like Chris Webby and Mac Miller that isn't as strange as it would be ten years ago. Before rap he pursued a career in skateboarding, a far cry from the first careers of rappers such as 50 Cent and Jay-Z. He is 31 as of the release of his first studio album, which in an age where young rappers are gaining the most hype is a big deal. Nonetheless, Yelawolf is similar to many rappers in one way: he definitely knows how to spit. In his first major label debut, with Eminem's Shady Records, Yela shows off his unique style of fast-paced lyrics with a southern influence. Yelawolf knows how to stay true to his southern roots, enlisting the help of nine artists from below the Mason Dixon Line to help him out. One of those artists is famed rocker and fellow Alabama native Kid Rock who provides the vocals to Let's Roll, a song introducing Yela's listeners to his roots as a southern "white trash" rocker/rapper. Later Yela and Georgia's Rittz expand on Yelawolf's childhood as a lower class Alabaman with the angry and rage-filled Growing Up In The Gutter. Former Three 6 Mafia member and Memphis native Gangsta Boo and labelhead Eminem join Yela on Throw It Up, where the trio come out aggressive against their respective haters. Made In The U.S.A. is an inspirational track about the working class in America and the lesser known heroes that make up this country. Yela gives shoutouts to the America that he knows and loves, "We some gun toting, church going/ Eighteen wheel rolling/ Back slangin', flag waving/ At the dinner table praying." The story behind Mona Moua, who features on the track Write Your Name, is kind of cool. Moua is apparently a Yelawolf fanatic and she made a viral Youtube video of her singing. Yela liked what he heard and decided to feature her on the album. In this day and age anyone with skill can be a rapper, regardless of background and location. Yelawolf is one of the principal examples of this new breed of rapper and he's making it work. As Yela spits on Let's Roll, "Cause I planned it all/ Crimson Tide standing tall."
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
With features by Kid Rock, Eminem, Gangsta Boo, Lil John & more

Camp

2011-11-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

Childish Gambino

Camp

2011

Glassnote Records

Lyrics: 9.2/10
Beats: 8/10
Replayability: 7.7/10

Overall: 8.3/10

The Dude's Picks: Bonfire; Heartbeat; Backpackers; Sunrise; That Power

Whether you know him from his acting, writing, comedy, rapping or one his many other occupations Donald Glover AKA Childish Gambino is becoming a force to be reckoned with in pop culture. Known for his smart metaphors and his fetish for Asian girls, Childish has been establishing himself as a rapper with dozens of free internet releases and the huge IAMDONALD Tour, with the result being his third album and first studio album Camp. Childish starts off with Outside, an introduction to the rapper's childhood and his parents' struggle raises him in the projects of Georgia. The first major track on the album is Bonfire, where Childish spazzes on everyone that hated on him. Some of his most creative lyrics are on Bonfire, with lines like "You wanna see my girl? I ain't that dumb/ You wanna see my girl? Check Maxim" and "Told me I should just just quit/ First of all you talk white/ Second off you talk like you haven't give up yet/ Rap's step father, yeah, you hate me but you still get respect."The next noteworthy track is Heartbeat, which features an electrorock beat that could have come from a Justice song and some views on love from Gambino. The best part of the song is probably how Gambino finishes: he ends the rap with "I wish we never fucked and I mean that" but quickly adds "But not really though, you say the nastiest shit in bed and it's fucking awesome." Women are clearly one of Gambino's main inspirations, but there are other influences clear from the album. Donald Glover's rise to stardom and overcoming those who doubted him are the plotlines of many tracks, and also the struggle of being a mixed race rapper, or as he says on Backpackers "That well-spoken tocken who ain't been heard/ The only white rapper that's allowed to say the N-word." That Power has probably the most impact on the album, which is strange because more then half of it isn't an actual song; it's a story told by Glover about the bus ride home from his first summer at sleep-away camp. That description is inadequate though, because it means more then that somehow. The way that Gambino tells the story is almost entrancing and you almost feel like you're there with him on that bus as he adresses the listener, taking the role of a summer crush, how he truly feels. The way I felt after the almost disheartening result of sharing his feelings is the true power of Childish Gambino: you can connect to him in such a unique way that it becomes more then just rapping. When he falls, you fall harder; when he gets angry you feel twice that anger. When his heart is broken, yours is damaged beyond repair. As Donald says at the end of That Power, "I wish I could say this was a story about how I got on the bus a boy and got off a man more cynical, hardened, and mature and shit. But that's not true. The truth is I got on the bus a boy. And I never got off the bus. I still haven't." Hopefully he never will.
Overall Rating: 8.3/10

Take Care

2011-11-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Drake

Take Care

2011

Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic

Lyrics: 9/10
Beats: 8.4/10
Replayability: 8.7/10

Overall: 8.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Headlines; Take Care (feat. Rihanna); Marvin's Room; Lord Knows (feat. Rick Ross)

The Canadian kid is back. Ever since signing to Lil Wayne's Cash Money records and dropping mixtape-turned-EP So Far Gone in 2009, rapper Drake has been a household name from hardcore hip-hop fans to R&B lovers. The combined talents of melodic singing and creative lyrical metaphors has turned Drizzy into an in-demand featured artist, an instant concert sellout, and an automatic membership to rap's new elite. On Drake's second major release we see a more confident and cocky rapper then on his first release, 2010's Thank Me Later; most of the songs on Take Care can be categorized into four distinct topics: girls, money, fame or a mix of the previous three. Headlines, a huge hype-building single, is where Drake spits the kind of lines that first made Weezy notice him. It starts from the very beginning, where Drizzy raps, "I might be too strung out on compliments/ Overdosed on confidence/ Started not to give a fuck and stopped fearing the consequence/ Drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments."The album continues with two strong tracks, The Weeknd assisted Crew Love and the Rihanna featured title track Take Care. Take Care is an introspective track with Drake switching off between rapping and singing about a girl he's been warned about but still has feelings for.,"I've asked about you and they've told me things/ But my mind don't change/ I still feel the same."Continuing with the theme of love and lust is Marvin's Room, where Drake calls an ex-girlfriend to try and woo her back, even though she has found a new man. The repeating sound of the phone call, with his ex repeatedly saying "Are you drunk right now?" and Drake asking at the end "You not gonna come? I guess I'm about to just...kick it here then." These additions to the song embody a great sense of loneliness and sadness that can be lost in the midst of the braggadocio of Take Care's other tracks. Drizzy spits on a number of topics Lord Knows such as media fueled rap feuds (I never hear the disses they try and point out to me/ But it's whatever if somebody wan' make it a thing), and his future legacy (I'm a descendant of either Marley or Hendrix/ I haven't figured it out cause my story is far from finished). The albums finishes with the self-satisfying Practice, where Drake flirtatiously sings to the girls that have been practicing for him. Take Care is another step in the journey that began with So Far Gone. Though Drake hasn't reached his maximum potential as a rapper he is getting close, more more confidence in his abilities and the music he is making. The end is near in sight.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
With features by Lil Wayne, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Rick Ross and more

Royal Flush 2

2011-11-09T18:45:00.000-08:00

Cyhi The Prynce

Royal Flush 2

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.9/10
Beats: 8.7/10
Replayability: 8.7/10

Overall: 8.76/10

The Dude's Picks: Cold As Ice; Bulletproof (feat. Yelawolf); Thousand Poundz (feat. Pill & Pusha T); Stadium (feat. B.o.B.)

Ever since Cyhi The Prynce signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music things have been looking, well, good. Cyhi gained much mainstream attention after impressive verses on West's MBDTF single So Appalled and G.O.O.D. Friday hits Christmas In Harlem and Take One For The Team. Features aren't the only thing Cyhi's been working on in the booth with the release of his fifth mixtape Royal Flush 2. RF2 is an impressive twenty tracks split into four five-track sections, each beginning with a tribal beat infused intro track titled by one of the four suits of playing cards. The Prynce starts out strong with three impressive tracks in RF2's first section, Spadez. Cold As Ice, Bulletproof and Thousand Poundz each are impressive in their own right. Cold As Ice is a fast-paced double metaphor that calls both Cyhi's lyrical ability and the women he loves "as cold as ice". Bulletproof is La Roux sampling diss song to all of The Prynce's haters who think (wrongly) that they're bulletproof. Thousand Poundz is a slow jam where Cyhi celebrates his new fame and paper with help from MMG's Pill and fellow G.O.O.D. Music rep Pusha T. Heartz is next, with four tracks dedicated to love, lust and one night stands. On End Of The Night, Cyhi woes the ladies with lines like "I wish I knew you when I was 12 when I lost my virginity/ (why?) cause you should've been my first". Next comes Clubz where Cyhi does his take on proper club etiquette on Fightin' In The Club and stealing other men's girls on Emotional. Finally, Cyhi finishes off with Diamondz and the both inspirational and boastful Stadium, with assistance from B.o.B. Honestly, while there were few tracks that blew me away, there are no disappointing tracks on this album. If this massive mixtape is any indication of future releases for Cyhi The Prynce, it looks like new hip-hop royalty has arrived.
Overall rating: 8.76/10
With features by Yelawolf, Pill, Pusha T, Trey Songz, 2 Chainz, Big Sean & B.o.B.

Blue Slide Park

2011-11-08T14:36:00.000-08:00

Mac Miller

Blue Slide Park

2011

Rostrum Records

Lyrics: 8.2/10
Beats: 7.7/10
Replayability: 8.2/10

Overall: 8/10

The Dude's Picks: Smile Back; Up All Night; Missed Calls; Man In The Hat

Mac Miller's music can be hard to describe. It can be a trippy journey through the mind of a stoner. It can be a high-energy party rap. It can be about a pair a shoes. One thing it never is, however, is boring. On Mac's first studio album Blue Slide Park he touches on a variety of subjects yet the album doesn't seem jumpy and disconnected. Instead the album flows together nicely, perhaps due to producer I.D. Labs, who lays the beats for ten of the albums sixteen tracks. In terms of the songs themselves, the one word that comes to mind is mainstream. As in the complete opposite of mainstream. From the saxophone on Party On Fifth Ave to the organ on PA Nights, many of the sounds in Blue Slide Park are unconventional and yet are very effective. Mac addresses his past and future haters in Smile Back, with lines like, "Used to tell me I was fake, they would hate, now they on my dick", and "Slick without no lubricant, bullshit, you just full of it/ Stupid bitch, keep on hatin', I'ma keep on doin' it". Up All Night is one of the most positive and high energy tracks with Mac boasting of his drinking accomplishments and partying. Though there are many memorable tracks, Blue Slide Park is by no means Mac's best lyrical work, but the fast paced and clever lyrics that he is known for will satisfy many of his fans. There is much similarity to Miller's previous works, with the hook to single Frick Park Market sounding very similar to Best Day Ever's single Donald Trump. A lack of originality in topic matter has been one of the criticisms, which Mac needs to address soon. There is one song on the album that shows Mac's potential. Missed Calls is at its most basic message to a girl that broke Miller's heart, but it ends up being one the albums most interesting and impressive offerings with producer Ritz Reynolds mixing violin sounds into the background to create a sentimental and heartfelt break from the boast songs and party songs that make up the majority of the album. One quirk of the album is the lack of a single featured artist, but Mac Miller's lyrical ability makes you forget that detail very fast. The future is bright for Miller, and being signed to an independent label should make it easy to deliver the music that his fans love.
Overall Rating: 8/10

Charity Starts At Home

2011-11-07T13:30:00.000-08:00

Phonte

Charity Starts At Home

2011

Foreign Exchange Music

Lyrics: 8.8/10
Beats: 8.3/10
Replayability: 8.7/10

Overall: 8.6/10

The Dude's Picks: The Good Fight; Ball And Chain; We Go Off (feat. Pharoahe Monch); Sendin My Love

For a while now the two MCs and one producer that made up former rap group Little Brother had made individual names for themselves. Rapper Big Pooh has released several albums over the last decade and producer 9th Wonder has created sounds for Wale, Drake, Ludacris and many others along with releasing his own albums. Now that the group officially broke up in 2010 and after many features and work with duo The Foreign Exchange rapper Phonte has released his first solo album. The first thing you notice when you listen to Charity Starts At Home is the overall flow between tracks. Many tracks have little to no pause between them which easily draws the listener into Phonte's stories of survival and temptation. Many of Phonte's lyrics are honest and really show the life of an underground rap artists. Phonte's lyricial abilities have not faded since the brake-up of Little Brother and his rhymes continue to connect to the average man. He begins the album depressed on the second track, The Good Fight, one of the standouts on Charity, with lines such as "everybody prays for the day they see the light/ but the light at the end of the tunnel is a train" and "how the fuck you sell out when ain't nobody selling". The features on the album are very effective, and enhance the tracks they are on, such as Pharoahe Monch on We Go Off and fellow Southern spitter Big K.R.I.T. on The Life Of Kings. Charity also finds Phonte facing his inner demons on the track Sendin My Love. In a monologue at the end of the track we hear the rapper telling himself to be strong and to resist the temptation of infidelity. Its a very personal event that connects you to Phonte's struggles, and these moments are what sets Charity apart. Former Little Brother member 9th Wonder contributed production to four tracks on the album.
Overall Rating: 8.6/10
With features by Pharoahe Monch, Evidence, Big K.R.I.T. & more

Ambition

2011-11-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

Wale

Ambition

2011

Maybach Music

Lyrics: 9/10
Beats: 8.8/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Lotus Flower Bomb (feat. Miguel); Focused (feat. Kid Cudi); Ambition (feat. Meek Mill & Rick Ross); DC or Nothing

Growing up nearly half an hour from the District of Columbia, it was hard when my friends from out of town would boast about their city's favorite sons' accomplishments. My friends from New York would tell me about the latest from Jay-Z and Nas. My Chicago friends would sing praises about Kanye West and new talent Lupe Fiasco. New Orleans had Weezy. Atlanta had Outkast. Detroit had Slim. Don't even get me started when my friends from the West Coast visited. For a long time the nation's capital had no one to claim as their own. Then, in 2009, a little song called Chillin' was released and DC native Wale reached the national spotlight in a matter of months. The hype around the 2009 XXL Freshman was incredible and yet Wale's first album, Attention Deficit, undersold despite being well received by critics. A change was in order, and in early 2011 Wale switched labels, from Interscope to Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group. After one well-received hype-building mixtape, The Eleven One Eleven Theory, the result is Ambition. Wale, in a matter of two years now rapping like grizzled veteran, has the same clever rhymes and thought-provoking lyrics that made him famous, and yet Ambition has a completely different feel from Deficit. Something that separates the two albums is the lack of a mainstream single, with singles Lotus Flower Bomb and Focused not getting a lot of radio play compared to previous singles such as Chillin' and Pretty Girls. It seems like Wale is more concerned with making a lasting impact in hip-hop then creating sales and radio singles. Focused is a boast filled single with Cudi on the hook that is hidden within a deep instrumental, as Wale spits lines such as "Girls say everything that I write is smooth/ Fuck rap, I'm getting pussy off Haiku" and "Smoking Green Bay nigga I'm a cheesehead/ In a Lambo see me, where the G's at". On the title track Ambition, Wale turns introspective as he tries to explain how he wants to be remembered, with help from labelmate Meek Mill and founder Rick Ross. In my opinion DC or Nothing is the true anthem to life in the district, as Wale says in the intro "In the face of adversity, I've prepared a verse to see", and hopefully will get major play in the area. Ambition deserves the sales that Attention Deficit didn't get, not only because it is a better album, but also because of the effort and determination Wale has to make it in the game.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
With features by Kid Cudi, Lloyd, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Big Sean & more

Rage Pack

2011-10-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Machine Gun Kelly

Rage Pack

2011

MIXTAPE

Lyrics: 8.8/10
Beats: 7.4/10
Replayability: 7.6/10

Overall: 7.9/10

The Dude's Picks: Half Naked and Almost Famous; Chasing Pavements; LFTU (One More Time)

Machine Gun Kelly has been killing the Cleveland underground since '06, but his career finally started gaining traction last year with the release of his two mixtapes 100 Words and Running and Lace Up. He soon got so big that Diddy got him signed to Bad Boy Records, with which MGK will release his debut album early 2012. For now though we get Rage Pack, a 12 track mixtape that features a few memorable tracks, but leaves the listener wishing for a more suitable soundtrack to Kelly's rhymes. The rhymes themselves are fantastic, with the fast-paced lyrical dexterity that MGK has become known for. If the music starts to sound familiar though, there is probably a good reason for that: hardly an original beat can be found. Such songs as Adele's Chasing Pavements and Daft Punk's One More Time (both of which share the title of their Machine Gun counterpart) are sampled, both slightly mixed to create a more hip-hop feel. These are also the highlights of the album, which makes you hunger for a more original beat for MGK to attack. Diddy also makes an appearance in a humorous skit where he scolds his new signee over the destruction caused by Kelly to his house from raging, though eventually he is the most upset about not being invited to the party. Just like Diddy, after Rage Pack listeners will be waited to be invited to the real party: Lace Up, the album, coming in 2012.
Overall Rating: 7.9/10
With features by Waka Flocka Flame, Mike Posner & more

Nappy Dot Org

2011-10-24T12:06:00.001-07:00

Nappy Roots

Nappy Dot Org

2011

Nappy Roots Entertainment Group

Lyrics: 8/10
Beats: 7.3/10
Replayability: 6/10

Overall: 7.1/10

The Dude's Picks: Legend Lives On (feat. Big Rube); Give Me A Sign (feat. Rashan); Congratulations; Touching The Ground

Nappy Roots' fifth studio album, Nappy Dot Org, is a sad tale of what could have been. Despite a few standouts tracks, the album as a whole is mostly a forgettable addition to the southern rap group's normally impressive catalog. The album starts off well with the powerful Legend Lives On, but after the first few tracks it becomes harder to distinguish individual songs from each other. The few that can be remembered are not exactly for the best reasons. The appropriately named Y'all Party is one of these tracks as its lyrical content is dragged down by its annoying hook where a young woman repeats "Y'all party?" multiple times. After a while all you will be able to hear is the repeating "Y'all Party?" and forget anything worthwhile about the rest of the song. At other times the group's attempt at a positive message seems to fall through. Tracks such as Karma and Good and Evil seem cliched and unoriginal, which ruins the good intentions of the songs. To really appreciate Nappy Dot Org you need to wait for the end of the album in which you will find the two standout tracks, Congratulations and Touching The Ground. This is where Nappy Roots are at their best, with high tempo and upbeat music that show what Nappy Dot Org could have been as an album. A misguided effort that won't leave you completely disappointed, skip the lesser tracks in Nappy Dot Org and head straight to the few impressive offerings.
Overall: 7.1/10
With features by Rashan, Big Rube, Samuel Christian & Khujo Goodie

Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager

2011-10-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

Kid Cudi

Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager

2010

Dream On, GOOD Music, Universal Motown

Lyrics: 9.5/10
Beats: 9.2/10
Replayability: 9/10

Overall: 9.2/10

The Dude's Picks: Revofev; Mojo So Dope; Ashin' Kusher; Mr. Rager; The End (feat. GLC, Chip tha Ripper & Nikki Wray)

Those who do not listen to Kid Cudi would simply call him a stoner's rapper, one who only appeals to hipsters and softcore rap fans. I would disagree. Cudi isn't your father's sex guns and drugs rapper, but neither is he your average weed rhymer. Instead he is a new breed of rapper, completely in his own subgenre of rap. The stories he tells in his songs can inspire you, entrance you, and make you get on your feet faster than any other. Cudi has taken the average weed song to new levels, making them deep, dark, and sophisticated. One of my favorite songs on this album, Ashin' Kusher, can be seen by close minded listeners as a simple song about weed, but to those who read deep it is so much more. Not much rap can be considered beautiful, but in the case of Man on the Moon II that is the one word I would use to describe it. Some songs like Mojo So Dope you can't help but think that this is beautiful, which is strange to think when the song's hook is "My mojo so dope bitch, my mojo so dope". But sometimes the actual words Cudi says are less important then the messages and emotions you feel when listening to his music. This may be influenced by the large part by marijuana, which has its own dedication track appropriately called Marijuana, and its effect on his music will soon be known now that he has reportedly quit smoking. The Legend of Mr. Rager is an amazing album, and in my opinion will by the type of album that he is known for, as opposed to his 2009 freshman effort The End of Day.
Overall Rating: 9.2/10
With features by Kanye West, Cee-Lo, Mary J. Blige & more

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2011-10-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

Kanye West

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

2010

Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Lyrics: 10/10
Beats: 10/10
Replayability: 10/10

Overall: 10/10

The Dude's Picks: Dark Fantasy; So Appalled (feat. Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prince Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz & RZA); All Of The Lights; Lost In the World (feat. Bon Iver)

Once in an artist's career there is one album that will define how people view them for generations. Jay-Z had The Black Album. Eminem had The Eminem Show. Now Kanye West has officially joined the ranks of those legends with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The feature heavy, self-produced, instant classic has officially raised the bar for any future Kanye projects, which honestly isn't a bad thing. Kanye goes hard, attacking anybody that he believes wronged him from ex girlfriends to Saturday Night Live to South Park. And the thing is, he does it so well and so creatively that just listening will cause you to feel the hate almost as strongly as he does. Tracks like Power and All Of The Lights can change the tempo of an entire room from dull to insane in a few seconds. The sheer amount of features on this album are insane, from the obvious such as Jay-Z and Rick Ross on Monster to the less visible, such as Nicki Minaj on the intro to Dark Fantasy and the fourteen different artists (Elton John, Drake, Alicia Keys and Fergie to name a few) that sing the hook of All of the Lights. As a whole MBDTW is a message of the consequences of fame and love, but also is a celebration of success and grandeur. This has become one of my favorite albums, each track meaning something unique, and is the perfect template for a perfect score.
Overall Rating: 10/10
With features by Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi, Rick Ross, Rihanna, John Legend and more

Success Is Certain

2011-10-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

Royce Da 5'9"

Success Is Certain

2011

Gracie Productions

Lyrics: 8.5/10
Beats: 9.3/10
Replayability: 8.7/10

Overall: 8.8/10

The Dude's Picks: Legendary (feat. Travis Barker); Merry Go Round; On The Boulevard (feat. Nottz & Adonis); Security

With a career filled with controversy finally turning around, Royce Da 5'9" has had a busy year. With the rap supergroup Slaughterhouse, the Slaughterhouse EP was released early February of this year. Then, as one half of the duo Bad Meets Evil (with Eminem), Hell: The Sequel was released in mid-June. Finally Royce's moment alone in the spotlight has been realized with his fifth album Success Is Certain, and the level of consistent excellence is remarkable. Filled with fast-paced production and lyrical agility from Royce Da 5'9", Success creates an intense vibe from the start. Beginning with the Eminem-produced Legendary, the album starts with an audio explosion that, due in part to Travis Barker's drumming, has some interesting rock elements. There are many memorable songs throughout Success such as the Proof-dedicated Security, and Writer's Block, where Royce spits about his recent resurgence in the rap industry and his relationship with Eminem, who is featured on the track. Royce Da 5'9" raps with a consistant flow throughout, and creates a tale of bravado but also caution with tracks like On The Boulevard. The release is depressingly short, with only eleven tracks, but the amount of good content will make up for the lack of songs on Success Is Certain.
Overall: 8.8/10
With features by Joe Budden, Eminem, Travis Barker & more

The R.E.D. Album

2011-10-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

Game

The R.E.D. Album

2011

DGC, Interscope

Lyrics: 7.9/10
Beats: 8.8/10
Replayability: 8.7/10

Overall: 8.5/10

The Dude's Picks: Ricky; Martians Vs Goblins (feat. Tyler the Creator & Lil Wayne); Good Girls Go Bad (feat. Drake); Pot of Gold (feat. Chris Brown)

The R.E.D. Album can boast about many things. It can boast about its features, which include the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg (Drug Test), Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator (Martians Vs Goblins) and more. It can boast about its beats, which provide a variety of feelings from empowering and hopeful to dark and desperate. One thing it cannot boast, however, is Game. Though it is his name on the album cover, most will leave The R.E.D. Album amazed at Tyler's creativity, Chris Brown's voice, and Drake's rhymes then any ability of Game's. The Compton-born rapper is good as usual, but really doesn't bring anything new that hasn't been seen on his previous efforts. At times I found myself trying to distinguish Game's rhymes from the other rappers on his songs. All in all though, The R.E.D. Album is a success. The production from Cool & Dre, DJ Khalil and others is crisp and satisfying and the features provide a large replayability factor for songs like Good Girls Go Bad and Pot of Gold. Dr. Dre's four intermissions (Intro, Dr. Dre 1, Dr. Dre 2, and Outro) provide a good origin story-like companion to the album. What The R.E.D. Album does well, it does incredibly well and this is what will get people to go out and cop it.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
With features by Drake, Tyler the Creator, Dr. Dre, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg & more

Cole World: The Sideline Story

2011-10-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

J. Cole

Cole World: The Sideline Story

2011

Roc Nation, Columbia

Lyrics: 8.9/10
Beats: 8.8/10
Replayability: 8.5/10

Overall: 8.7/10

The Dude's Picks: Lights Please; Work Out; Can't Get Enough (feat. Trey Songz); In the Morning (feat. Drake)

When your name is J. Cole only the very best is expected. Since his 2009 mixtape The Warm-Up was released and being signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label, Cole has been branded as the next best in a landscape of talented young rappers. To those that seek an epiphany on every track, there will be disappointment. Cole World is a very good album and Cole's lyrics and beats are as good as they were on his previous mixtapes but its not My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. For a young rapper trying to find his niche on his major record debut Cole World should be considered a success. The 26 year old rapper's smart and clever lyrics are as good as usual for Cole, and the mostly self-produced beats compliment Cole's lyrics. Many of the albums tracks were previously released on mixtapes and its these tracks that make the album, such as Lights Please and In the Morning. The much anticipated Jay-Z feature in Mr. Nice Watch is for the most part great, with a techno, electronic beat and fast paced flows from Hov and Cole, but not the smash hit that most expected. And thats the way it goes for the album as a whole: a huge debut for J. Cole that will set up a long career in the game, but when people are expecting "amazing" sometimes even "great" is a disappointment.
Overall Rating: 8.7/10
With features by Drake, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, and Trey Songz

Watch the Throne

2011-10-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

Kanye West & Jay-Z

Watch the Throne

2011

Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, Def Jam

Lyrics: 9.8/10
Beats: 9.8/10
Replayability: 10/10

Overall: 9.8/10

The Dude's Picks: Otis (feat. Otis Redding); Murder to Excellence; Why I Love You (feat. Mr. Hudson); New Day

Damn, where to start? Watch the Throne might be creating the biggest classic-or-not debate of the still-young decade, which it should considering two of the biggest names in rap make up the titular Throne. Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z and his one time apprentice Kanye West go as hard as their special edition track H•A•M suggests. The topics on Watch the Throne vary largely, from the future children of West and Carter (New Day) to the contrast of black gang violence to the excess to the lack of blacks in power in America (Murder to Excellence). Shout outs and name drops are plenty including the Mercer Hotel, where much of the album was recorded, and a number of civil rights figures in the song Made in America such as Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. The song that appeals to me the most is Otis, the second single from WTT. With an amazing sample from Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" and production by West, Otis has the two rap superstars feeding off each other's rhymes and demonstrating the products of the good life. Rolexes, cubanos, Benzes and Maybach shout outs are to be expected in this highly re-playable track that does not contain a hook. Though there are some disappointments, such as the Beyonce feature Lift-Off, and the annoying three minutes of silence between Why I Love You and Illest Motherfucker Alive on the deluxe version, Watch the Throne should be considered both a success and celebration of success with two rappers at the top of their game.

Overall Rating: 9.8/10

With features by Beyonce, Frank Ocean (of rap collective Odd Future), Mr. Hudson and more

Handshakes and Middle Fingers

2011-10-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Classified

Handshakes and Middle Fingers

2011

Halflife Records/Sony Records

Lyrics: 8.8/10
Beats: 8.6/10
Replayability: 8.2/10

Overall: 8.5/10

The Dude's Picks: That Ain't Classy; Danger Bay; The Day Doesn't Die

Canadian rapper Classified is not new to the game, with fourteen albums under his belt. His latest release, Handshakes and Middle Fingers, is a continuance of excellency for the 33 year old Nova Scotia native. From the opening track Up's and Down's, which serves as the intro, to the album's finish fourteen tracks later the amount of potential hits are incredible. Most notable is the album's first single, That Ain't Classy, where the rapper spits about a variety of subjects such as not letting fame change him, and not letting haters get to him, all to a sick self produced beat. Speaking of self-producing, almost all of the beats on Handshakes are created by Classified himself, which has become an expectation for his albums by fans. Both Handshakes and Class's previous effort, Self Explanatory, have shown real growth in Classified's lyrical ability to match his strength in producing. This album is a hit that is already well known in Canada, and needs to be known in the States.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
With features by Joe Budden, Brother Ali & more