Meek
Mill is pretty much your classic East Coast street rapper circa 2003. When it
was cool to wear basketball and American football jersey’s of teams you didn’t
even really know of, Timberland boots, Avirex jackets etc etc. But I think the
reason he’s found success with the style in today’s age is because he’s adopted
the down south 808 drum driven trap sound, that rappers like Waka Flocka and
Rick Ross have found success with.
Now don’t get me wrong. Meek Mill can rap
very well, but he can be lazy with the songs he puts out and you can end up
feeling like your listening to the same song on repeat even though it’s 5
different songs. Nonetheless Meek’s debut album is a good quality debut and
what you’d expect from the Philly rapper. “Dreams
and Nightmares” is the opening track and it’s a good song, but the
“Nightmare” part of the song is CRAAAAZY!!! Hype isn’t the word for it.
He
seems to find making anthem/party songs and easy thing to do with bangers like;
“Young & Gettin’ It”, “Amen” &
“Young Kings”. But I really feel like he really went back to the younger gritty Meek he is loved for with his darker tracks like “Polo & Shell Tops”,“Tony
Story (Pt. 2)”, “In God We Trust”
& “Real Niggas Come First”. Especially with the track “Traumatized” which I think is a very
good track, I really like the way how the “I Know, I Know’ voice sample rings
in the track to kind of emphasis each type a new part of the beat comes in.
The
only songs I didn’t really like were “Who
You’re Around” (Mary J. Blige just doesn’t suit hip-hop hooks any more
sorry). Also “Lay-Up”, If it has
Wale on it I probably won’t like it (and I was right again) and I just think
it’s cheesy to be honest. To me “Believe
It” & “Amen” are alright
songs, but just very basic if I’m honest. “Rich
& Famous” is just a lazy song to me. “Maybach Curtains” is just sub-par for me. With the features on
this song I expected more from it…..and I’m getting sick of hearing the word
Maybach being used by every rapper and their mum if I’m honest.
Winners: In God We Trust, Young
Kings, Young & Getting’ It, Tony Story Pt 2, Traumatized, Real Niggas Come
First, Polo & Shell Tops
Fillers: Rich & Famous,
Maybach Curtains, Lay Up & Who You’re Around
With
all the TDE members (apart from Jay Rock) it took me a while to get into their
music. Schoolboy Q was someone I didn’t really have any interest in knowing
anything about when I first heard about him. But then I heard his verse on
Kendrick’s “The Spiteful Chant” track and since then I’ve been a fan. Q seems
to have a way of blurring the lines of what gangster rap exactly is.
A lot of
the productions on the album sounds like some Sci-Fi soundtrack stuff. Songs like
“Sex Drive”, “There He Go” & “How We Feeling” really sound like
some abstract futuristic tracks to me. Specially “NiggaHs.Already.Know.Davers.Flow”
and “Nightmare On Figg St.”.These tracksdescribe Schoolboy Q the best in my opinion. Sci-Fi x Gangster Rap
= Schoolboy Q. Both these tracks just contain aggressive lyrics on some eerie
production.
There are also a few New York sounding boom-bap records with songs
like “My Homie” (which sounds like
an early Mobb Deep beat) & “Gangster
In Designer (No Concept)” which is interesting as he’s from Los Angeles.
But he does have some West Coast types of production; “Grooveline Pt. 1” (which is an okay track) & “Raymond 1969”. I really like this
track because it sounds like old school west coast instrumentation with early
New York rap style drum pattern and a major distortion that just makes it sound
raw and gritty.
There were a few
songs that I found to be a bit bland, tracks like “Sacrilegious”, “Sexting”
& “Oxy Music”. Thetracks are just not interesting to the
rest of the album to me. “Blessed” is
a track I was disappointed in because Kendrick features but the beat is so poor
he might as well of not been on the song. I think it’s a waste of a verse from
both rappers to be honest. The beat is just terrible to me.
The “Tookie Knows (Interlude)” is just
something that didn’t need to be on the CD. “2 Raw” is an alright track. It could of easily fell in to the
fillers category but I’m on and off with the track, sometimes it’s cool, then
sometimes it’s just boring. He also has two party bangers tracks I really like in“Druggys Wit Hoes Again” and “Hands On The Wheel”. Both Ab-Soul and A$AP Rocky both did the deed with their respective verses. Both tracks have nice grooves to the point you can't help but nod your head or bounce to the beat.
Winners: Gangster In Designer
(Concept), NiggaHs.Already.Know.Davers.Flow, How We Feeling, Hands On The
Wheel, Druggys With Hoes Again, Nightmare On Figg St., My Homie
.....well I will be around late April.... What's up people?, I know i've been away for far too long and my excuse for my absence is the increasing amount of work i've had to do for university. I'm annoyed that I took the break at the top of the year but it had to be done. But in around 3-4 weeks I will return with up to date posts which leads to my next announcement. I had a couple posts saved as drafts saved in my blog which I will release either today or tomorrow, these will be known as my "Lost Files". Any lost files are either incomplete, out of date or both. I may also point out any major mistakes just to clarify what is wrong in the post. But I thought that I'd at least release the posts as I put a lot of work in to them. They may even not entirely make sense as they might be part of a list or two-parters. As to my posting schedule I think that I will start posting every month as it is more suitable to my schedule. In fact there may be more than one post a month if there are more topics I wish to review or speak on. So that's pretty much it I guess....
Being that it's the new year I've decided to start introducing the different aspects of the blog, and one of the items I said the blog will review and look at is battle rap. People that know me personally know I am a big fan of battle rap, I'll pretty much watch anything involving two MC's trading verses from 106 & Park's (old) Freestyle Friday videos to Grindtime's golden era to KOTD to Don't Flop, Fight Klub, Lionz Den etc.
But the battle rap sector I find myself watching the most and are most familiar with is URL. I first watched their videos in the old Smack DVD days with battles such as Loaded Lux vs Young Miles and Math Hoffa vs Dose. Since then I've been a big fan and have kept up to date with every new battle that's put out. With that being said I will be giving reviews on how I feel these battles went every so often, I'll be highlighting the best bars in each round, who won each round and obviously who won.
So without further ado here's my review on this battle between Tsu Surf and Conceited
Round 1 Overview
Right off the bat Tsu Surf got this round hands down no debating. Conceited had a good showing in this round but Tsu Surf was just too much for him. Now don't get me wrong, Tsu Surf had an unusual slow start but i feel like once he picked up he just outdid Conceited with the more drawn out/longer punches and schemes. Round 1 Surf (1-0)
Round 1 Conceited Highlights
"I'll show you I don't need a boogie board for me to body Surf"
"The only nigga that seen cox fighting is Calicoe"
"2 pistols, silencers on when i'm dumping em, I know you fear a con (Farrakhan) that's a lie if you think you can run (quaran) after I muzzle him (Muslim)"
"For u to be on real nigga u have to be a real nigga.......time"
Round 1 Tsu Surf Highlights
"I told smack book surf and con for the competition I write the perfect composition that'll put con in a calm position"
"We in this bitch I can feel that forty liquor in both legs and I ain't go chasers after the shots (fuck I need to put it in subtitles or something?) he with his bitch I let that forty lick her in both legs so I ain't got to chase her after the shots"
"What you bout to say? That jersey lost the nets? Good nigga, the best shooters still in my hood nigga!! "
"I keep a heavy trigger finger so I clap till it stop, and if I gotta let It go Imma clap till he drop, Pow!!, I felt like Kobe how word got back to the block after the shots. Pau Kobe Howard back to the block."
"Catch him coming down the stairs I tell a homie like shh shh, think its a game till you are in the middle of that ch ch. See I'm way too advanced for niggas and it hurt, like that last bar for instance u r in the middle of that ch ch that's church."
Round 2 Overview
Gonna have to give this round to Conceited, 2nd rounds are always a tricky round for battlers to write for and I feel like even though there was a slight dip from both battlers. Conceited was just consistent with the punches, Surf was good but just didn't beat Conceited's second in my opinion.But it was very, very close, this round could of actually gone to Surf if he stepped up a level from the previous round. Round 2 Conceited (1-1)
Round 2 Conceited Highlights
"I slide steel in hammers and he can catch the steel (steal) like surveillance cameras."
"I open rounds just for the cream, that's an Oreo, and that shit'll put cox through the wall like a glory hole."
"I beat the shit outta ars, then math did it, I would say I beat Joe Budden a girl...but fab did it."
Round 2 Tsu Surf Highlights
"A real man once told me once your cards pulled your hands are all your left with."
"Question? If your moneys on your outfit then what the fuck is in your pocket"
"Swear to god on your mother you wasn't battling and working at Red lobster....exactly so i don't wanna hear about how you spray and clap the mag but I just might believe you if you say you cracked a crab"
Round 3 Overview
Close but I think Surf got it, Conceited's 3rd was a bit too long for me considering it was just more (sometimes cheesy) punchlines and he didn't really get personal so it just felt like it was extension of his 2nd. Tsu Surf's round was short and sweet, possibly a bit too short which make it more debatable. But for me Tsu Surf just took his aggression up a notch and hit Con with a good few complex punches and schemes which people like to hear from the New Jersey rapper. Round 3 Tsu Surf (2-1).
Round 3 Conceited Highlights
"Go in his pockets in general, you gettin' capped in (captain) if there's major loot in it (Major Lieutenant)"
"Now isn't it ironic a crip that's got some crabs"
"I'll put dick in his bitch she got that awesome puss, i made her ca-ream (Kareem) like Abdul-jabbar so when I score it was off the hook"
Round 3 Tsu Surf Highlights
"Throwing bullets like it's my job i know the quarterbacks feeling me, these two nines start flipping shit around the room....i call these a pair of normal activities"
"Little niggas like you where i'm from get hemped up, he battled tall-t and said he'll pass the glock to fox...and then what?!" "I tell him let that fifth nickle her cage (Nicolas Cage)...but it's face off if con there" "And with all them tatts you should be used to niggas drawing on you"
Overall Battle Review If i'm honest when I first watched it I was debating whether or not Tsu Surf won all 3 rounds or won 2-1 but I honestly can't say Conceited lost 3-0 and didn't get at least one round, and I partly feel like Tsu Surf's performance didn't warrant him a 3-0 win. But shutout to both battlers, they both put on a great show and shoutout's to Smack and the whole URL movement.
Just wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas, and a happy new year when it comes around. Hope everyone's eating good, appreciating what they got for Christmas and most importantly spending time with the fam. 2013 I'm looking to step it up with my blogging. Could be the start of something big....
Since it's almost the end of the year and possibly the end of the world looool, i've compiled a list of my favourite mixtapes of 2012. Hip-Hop provided any array of new projects and new MC's in recent times and the majority of these rappers and their work have made my list with mixtapes they have put out to either stay relevant or gain attention to boost their career's. So without further adieu here's my Top 10 Mixtapes Of 2012 list......
10. Big K.R.I.T – 4evaNaDay
Big K.R.I.T released the mixtape 4evanaday as a project to hold his fans until the release of his debut album "Live from the Underground". This mixtape pretty much continues Big K.R.I.T's signature style of southern lyrical content, smooth jazzy instrumentation that sometimes includes the use of hard hitting and speaker knocking beats. An example of this is comparing the tracks "Bobbie Miles" and "4evanaday (Theme)", "Bobbie Miles" being the jazzier type of song and "4evanaday (Theme)" being the more hard hitting track.
On the mixtape K.R.I.T has made the mixtape run in a way that it provides a story, and in this story it's just a typical day in his life living in Mississipi. Like talking to one of his local elders on the end of "Me and My Old School" about his 1986 edition whip and then the next song that plays is the track "1986". But I didn't really like the whole idea of there being the theme throughout the tracks of him waking up to sleeping that much as it does really show in the project. But in the sense of just a hip-hop mixtape with some good solid tracks on it, the tape works well.
Favourite Tracks: Bobbie Miles, 4evanaday (Theme), Wake Up & Package Store
Here's the visual for "4evanaday"
9. Action Bronson – Blue Chips
Action Bronson is a rapper that I really think emulates that classic New York hip-hop sound of the 90's that only him and Joey Bada$$ seem to be able to replicate perfectly. The "Blue Chips" mixtape is a collaborative project with a producer named Party Supplies and the tape is pretty much bars on smooth MPC produced beats, which I think overall was a bit to unrestricted in the sense of it doesn't really have a format to it.
But in a sense this does make it different from other mixtapes, the theme of just rapping really works with the tracks "Steve Wynn" & "Tapas".A lot of people (me included) say that he sounds similar to Ghostface Killah. He has a way of painting pictures with the luxury/braggadocios/humorous rapping that Ghost is the king of in my opinion on this mixtape with bars like.....
"I'm like Steve Wynn At the same time / fellatio from three twins: Those are triplets / I've been wilding since the Rabbie snipped it / Then they laughed, then they brisket, fuck! / On my behalf, he had a meeting at the Neptune / Had little daddy hide the heater in the restroom" very Ghost-esq.
But even with the comparisons to Wu-Tang members, he does add his own flair when he raps about food on the Blue Chips Mixtape and other projects. This seems to be his speciality as not only is he a big guy but he is a former chef so when listening to Bronsolini expect to hear culinary bars like "Got the lamb rack roasted / Laced it with fennel / Little yoghurt that been drizzled over might be a winner". So if you like just straight bragging raps with bars, Bronson is your man. Favourite Tracks: Steve Wynn, Pouches Of Tuna & Tapas Check out this hilarious video for the track "Steve Wynn"
8. Joey Bada$$ - 1999
Joey Bada$$ is a new upcoming rapper from Brooklyn, New York who has been causing waves (pun intended) in the rap game. As I said before I feel like only Action Bronson and Joey Bada$$ have been able to reproduce that classic New York golden era of rap music made in the early 90's by artists like; Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest etc.
Those are pretty much the sounds of rap you get on this tape, a few of the beats have been used before by rappers like MF Doom who i'm convinced is also a big influence in his music. With this tape what you get is no bullshit rapping on boom-bap beats and a few soulful kind of productions that sound like there being played off of a vinyl. With songs like "Hardknock" and "Survival Tactics".
You particularly here this with the song "Waves", I really think the track sounds like it was recorded in the 1990's with the equipment of the time. The track could easily fit on any ATCQ album. Even though a lot of the tracks are of a 90's sound, I do feel like he could of been a bit more lyrical.
Even though Joey's only 17, he does have very good lyrical abilities for his age which you hear in the "Waves" track with the triple entendre."And I know the landlord fed up with our lies / So we pray to the Gods, the Jahs, and the Allahs / To keep us safe and watch our lives". As impressive as the bars were on the track, the bars kind of fizzle out in a lot of the other tracks. Nevertheless the young brooklynite provides a good mixtape to begin his career from with "1999".
Here's the visual for the track "Waves", I really like the 90's feel of the video.
7. Rick Ross - Rich Forever
Rozay has had the rap game under his thumb for the pass 2 years in my opinion. I'd say ever since Lil' Wayne fell off and Rick Ross released "B.M.F" from his "Teflon Don" album, Rozay has been the most prominent rapper in the game right now (not the best). Fast forward to 2012 and he is still one of the biggest names (if not the biggest) in rap right now.
Ross has continued his reign with this mixtape "Rich Forever". Rozay put out the mixtape a few months before the release of his album "God Forgives, I Don't". The mixtape is bascially trap central, the tape has a lot of bass heavy hip-hop beats and drug-lord raps which Rick Ross has been using a lot of in his work.
Especially in his more anthemic tracks like "Stay Schemin" and "Off The Boat". But there are also a few smoother tracks on the mixtape with songs like "MMG The World Is Yours" that i really liked. There are also quiet a few 'basic' songs on the tape that aren't particularly good, but overall it's typical Rozay but it's what the people like to hear so I guess there's nothing wrong with that.
Favourite Tracks: Stay Schemin, Yella Diamonds, King Of Diamonds & Rich Forever Check out the video for "Stay Schemin"
6. Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 2
I feel like Meek Mill is probably the biggest name out of all the new rappers that have come out in recent years. His work rate has been very high since he signed to Rick Ross' MMG label. But he really grew as a rapper when he released his "Dreamchasers" mixtape in 2011 which is a cult classic with his fans.
He continued the "Dreamchasers" series with the "Dreamchasers 2" mixtape, it's pretty much classic Meek. I wouldn't say it's better than the 1st edition but it does do what it says on the tin. With this piece of work I think what Meek Mill was basically aiming for was to give this edition a bit more of an album like polish compared to the original version of the first "Dreamchasers". You can hear this with songs like "House Party (Remix)", "Amen" and "A1 Everything", which feel like they are more thought out tracks then his previous work.
He also shows he can make more album-like quality tracks with tracks "Flexing" and "Lean Wit It". Meek does a good job of giving his usual "street bangers" more of a professional feel with the production on both tracks. With "Dreamchasers 2" even though the mixtape is a solid piece of work, I really think like you are going to get what you expect from Meek Mill if you've heard him before bust just a bit more 'put together'.
Off the back of the success of A$AP Rocky, the A$AP Mob have begun to introduce the other members of the crew to people who may not of heard of the other members with their mixtape "Lords Never Worry". The mixtape is a collection of tracks from different members in the group.
If you listen to A$AP Rocky and particularly like his sound, then this mixtape should be right up your alley. A lot of the tracks have your usual slow abstract/Houston influenced sound which the A$AP crew use frequently in songs like; "Freeze", "Choppas On Deck" and "Thuggin' Noise".
The A$AP crew also use the combination of trap beats (see the track "Work") and New York sounding beats that wouldn't go amiss on a Dipset/D-Block mixtape in the early 2000's on the mixtape. You hear this in songs like "Y.N.R.A" and "Jay Reed".
But I think the biggest tracks on the tape are the two anthem sounding crew-cuts like "Full Metal Jacket" and the collaboration with Flatbush Zombies on the track "Bath Salt", which I feel really work as song for their stage shows and to introduce fans to the other A$AP crew members.So if you like lean influenced music and trap beats this mixtape is perfect for you.
Favourite Tracks: Bath Salt, Full Metal Jacket, Thuggin' Noise, Freeze & Work Take a look at the video for "Bath Salt"
4. Big Sean - Detroit
Big Sean is a rapper that I liked at first from his track "Go Getcha Some" and his verse on an early (keyword early) Wale track called "Wonder Why", then started to dislike during his campaign for his "Finally Famous" album. I felt like he played into the whole "i'm signed to Kanye, I know Jay-Z" waaaaay too much.
But after the album release, I think Big Sean has shown a bit more independence He's been grafting by putting in loads of features and helping out with his G.O.O.D music companions. He has really come into his own with this "Detroit" mixtape.
I think the reason why people like this mixtape so much is because it wasn't really overhyped like other rappers projects, in fact it felt like it was kept under-wraps until the last month of its release. With this tape you can expect the style you usually get with Big Sean but with an updated sound to a few trap beats and some more dramatic-synth based tracks.
Big Sean's beat selection on this tape was very good, tracks like "RWT", "100", "Mula" and "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" are perfect examples of this. These tracks have a high-quality sound to them that sound like it could of been on an album. I think the main thing you take from listening to the mixtape is that Big Sean has started to come into his own as a rapper.
Favourite Tracks: Mula, RWT, Once Bitten, Twice Shy & 100
Take a look at the "RWT"
3. Hodgy Beats -
Untitled
Hodgy Beats released the "Untitled" mixtape pretty much out of the blue. The OF member decided to put out a collection of tracks and put them out on this tape. There's also quiet a big range of beats on the project considering it just came out of nowhere and the usual songs you get from OFWGKTA.
If you enjoy the chaotic, wild, hell-raising sound of OF's more famous work. Then this mixtape is not for you in anyway shape or form. Expect to hear a lot of smooth production (even one from Juicy J) on this tape. I've heard Hodgy make these type of tracks on Mellowhype's "Yellow/White" album, songs like "Polyurthane" and "Claustroflowbic", and you can hear him make these type of songs again with songs like "Lately" and "In A Dream".
I really think Hodgy Beats knows how to make hype songs one minute and then softer songs the next. I was actually surprised at the song "If Heaven Is A Ghetto" where he kind of shares philosophies on life on an extremely soulful beat, and "Lamented" where he does brag but it doesn't feel like your usual "i'm balling, i've got bitches" kind of song, its easy on the ears due to the production. So overall if you like soulful/alternative hip-hop then this is perfect for you.
Favourite Tracks: Higashi Loves You, Lately, If Heaven Is A Ghetto & Ave.
Have a listen to the track "If Heaven Is A Ghetto"
2. Childish Gambino –
R O Y A L T Y
Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino is a very talented guy. Not only does he rap, but he is a successful stand-up comedian and an actor on the hit TV-show "Community". I first discovered one of these three talents while watching one of my favourite YouTube personalties. I've always been a fan of alternative and abstract rap and thats exactly what I got when listening to his album "Camp", which has a blend of heartfelt rapping, synthesised beats and rapid rapping. I feel like his sound and persona is exactly what I like in a rapper, a humble grafter who is different to the current trend of rappers.
On "R O Y A L T Y" Gambino basically went in the same direction as his "Camp" album but with a bit more of his own production on the tape (yes, he produces as well). He also came across as being more aggressive in some of the beats and vocals he provides on the mixtape with the songs "One Up" and "Real Estate". BTW Real Estate features Tina Fey...TINA FEY....TINA freaking FAYE. Do you know who Tina Fey is?!?!, here's a pic for you.
Yeah.....gangster as hell right? Loooool. As much as she's not actually rapping. She provides...lets say a boastful narrative to the track which is hilarious. You can definitely hear Bino trying to be more aggressive and braggadocios in the song "Unnecessary" this is probably my favourite song on the mixtape and everything about this track is dope. The beat...dope. Gambino's verse...dope. Schoolboy Q's...verse dope. Ab-Soul's verse and the breakdown of the beat..........FUCKING DOPE. But he does balance out the mixtape with a load of alternative hip-hop songs like; "Make It Go Right", "Silk Pillow" and "Wonderful" which I really like and think somes up his earlier work.Overall the mixtape is a range of different genres of beats but pretty much the same Gambino just showing different parts of his personality on the contrasting beats.
Favourite Tracks: Unnecessary, One Up, Make It Go Right, Real Estate & We Ain't Them Check out the track of the tape "Unnecessary"
1. Domo Genesis &
The Alchemist – No Idols
Rounding out our list is OF member Domo Genesis. If i'm honest Domo was a rapper I didn't really pay much attention to. I felt as though he wouldn't be able to provide anything different from the other members of his crew that I had already heard of. Not to say i didn't think he was good, but again nothing different. But he started to gain a bit of his own attention with feature verses on Tyler The Creator's debut album "Goblin" and other in house collabs, specially with his verse on "Rella". As I decided to finally give Domo a chance (and cause it had a load of Alchemist beats on it) I downloaded "No Idols". And in my opinion it's one of the best mixtapes (maybe general releases) i've heard this year and in a long time. Every track is an absolute banger, he really gives you that no thrills/bullshit rapping on boom-bap MPC produced Alchemist beats on this tape.
In a way the tracks are all similar too each other (not to say they aren't extremely good), but in the sense of lyrical content you don't really notice the beats are alike. The beats are pretty much boom-bap beats that kind of a make rappers have to step it up lyrically because not a lot is going on in the beat. This mixtape is just bars/metaphors/punchlines/lyrics galore, even though there are quiet a few features Domo does provide a great deal of bars on the tape in tracks like "No Idols" and "Prophecy" which really impressed me and have now turned me into a fan.... but some of the feature verses on this are CRAAAAZZZZY!!! Take for example the track "Elimination Chamber".....WOW, Domo goes in, Vince Staples goes in, Earl Sweatshirt went in but Action Bronson just went retarded to me. They just all did their thing on the track, the same goes for the "The Daily News" track.
Then you have "Gamebreaker".........................Earl Sweatshirt is just a beast, everything from how he starts his verse; "I am the coldest speakin' / you are a ho that's decent / Lookin' to hold and squeeze, and I'm schemin' on dome and peacin' / Back to the olive garden, breaded like Paul McCartney / Beatle, and every time you see him know the armor sparkly" to how he raps in the middle to end he just raps his ass off. Basically what im trying to say is if you like hearing bars upon bars this mixtape is just what you need in you library. Favourite Tracks: Elimination Chamber, Gamebreaker, The Daily News, Me and My Bitch, No Ido.....you know what there isn't a song I don't like on this mixtape so let's just say all of them are my favourite tracks. Here's the track "Elimination Chamber" of the mixtape
Well that's been my Top 10 Mixtapes Of 2012 list. What do you think about it?, Do you agree with me?, Did I miss anything out?, and what else should I review or post about. Feel free to comment. That's me finished.
Thanks For Reading Hope You Enjoyed It I'd also like to send my condolences to the people of Connecticut. R.I.P
