album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
G-Eazy 'The Beautiful And Damned'
G- Eazy grinded to achieve the mainstream dominance that he now enjoys. His sophomore LP, When It’s Dark Out, was well-received and spawned hits such as “Me, Myself, and I." His latest single, “No Limit,” is already following in the footsteps of its predecessor.
By Rap Disciple7 years ago in Beat
Brockhampton - 'Saturation III'
Brockhampton is the newest collective of hip-hop innovators that will soon have the pop landscape at their feet. They don’t want to be just another “rap group”; they insist that you call them a “boy band.” The group consists of Kevin Abstract, Matt Champion, Ameer Van, Merlyn Wood, Dom McLennon, Rodney Tenor, Ciaran “Bearface” Mcdonald, and Russell Boring.
By Rap Disciple7 years ago in Beat
Captain Beefheart - Safe As Milk
Never ventured into the magical world of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band? Where do you look for the entry point? With many artists and bands, it could be anywhere, with others it is in the middle, with some it is actually at the end. While quite a few listeners are mystified and a bit hesitant with all the stories of his truly avant-garde masterpiece Trout Mask Replica and a few other albums, as well as his idiosyncratic character and studio/live/private life stories, the entry point into his music is quite simple. You start at the beginning. And the beginning, the ‘official’ one, as if the word official can be stuck in front of the good captain’s name (his real name is either Don Vliet or Don Van Vliet - he stuck to the latter) is with his album Safe As Milk.
By Ljubinko Zivkovic7 years ago in Beat
They’re Back After 4 Years
This just came out, but Apple Music, iTunes pre-orders, and others have been able to listen to this album since the night before the release. It’s got many elements from many different genres. The really cool thing about this is that they are still making heavy music for a band who has been in the metal business for almost a decade.
By Johnathon Lopez7 years ago in Beat
Review - Eminem ('Revival')
Hip Hop legend Eminem's ninth studio album has officially dropped and it's a monster. It's got 19 songs and is one hour and seventeen minutes in length and feature the likes of Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Kehlani, Pink, and more. After stories about his marketing campaign over at HipHop DX, which I think is pretty funny and smart, and it leaked two days before the actual release. Oh, let's also not forget his Trump bashing freestyle he did for the BET awards which, to me, set a base level tone for what this album is going to be about. What you actually get from this project is one of his most polished and innovative albums. It doesn't drag at all because every couple of songs he smoothly changes up the sound. I'm going to be highlighting some tracks that I think have to hit potential and also that stand out because breaking down 19 songs is deathly and frankly, I won't care by the end.
By Calder Amos-Wood7 years ago in Beat
My Yuletide Picks of 2017
Each year, I deliberately count the days as they gradually morph into weeks and months of seasonal changes. I watch with great anticipation as the calendar eventually progresses towards the beginnings of the holiday season. Like clockwork, new Christmas albums miraculously appear annually. I readily look forward to adding something novel to my holiday music collection, which has gradually, but incessantly, increased per annum. This December is no exception with the following titles earning a permanent place within my musical library.
By Eric Allen7 years ago in Beat
Big Sean & Metro Boomin - 'Double Or Nothing' Review
Social media exploded into a firestorm when Big Sean and Metro Boomin dropped Double Or Nothing. Many have been quick to dismiss this project as “trash,” and quick to label Big Sean as a sub-par rapper. Joe Budden was even quick to assert that this project shouldn’t exist at all.
By Rap Disciple7 years ago in Beat
Miguel- 'War and Leisure' Review
It’s been a long time since Miguel’s first commercial hit, “All I want is You”. His first album, Kaleidoscope Dream, left a sonic footprint on RnB and pop. Since then, he’s had a dilemma: as his artistry continues to evolve, the nostalgia invoked by his debut album continues to overshadow the steps he takes.
By Rap Disciple7 years ago in Beat
Deconstructing the House Of God
I bought the King Diamond album, House Of God, the day it was released in 2000. I was the first one in the piddly town I lived in to buy it. It had a wild story, excellent guitar work, some wild album artwork painted by Thomas Holm (who painted classic Mercyful Fate and King Diamond album covers in the 80’s) and a few new King voices that were never heard before, or ever heard since. I’ve listened to the album a lot, but never really paid attention to hidden meanings the songs might hold. It wasn’t until recently that I was listening to it on Spotify that I realized at least three of the songs reflect how I felt during certain times in my life.
By Nick Falkner7 years ago in Beat
Review: Metro Boomin & Big Sean's 'Double or Nothing'
I'll admit it, this one took me by surprise. I wasn't necessarily shocked that Metro Boomin and Bug Sean would work together, but it was more so the fact that the album seemingly dropped out of nowhere. I was excited to hear what Metro had in store for us this time. After all, just a couple of months ago, he dropped his album Without Warning with21 Savage and Offset. Unlike Metro Boomin, this is Big Sean's latest addition to his growing discography since February's I Decided which featured chart-toppers like "Moves" and "Bounce Back." Becuase of all of this, I couldn't wait to listen to what the pair had in store.
By Kaya Sabir7 years ago in Beat
Most Dangerous Records Ever Released
Most people think about record releases in terms of albums being bought off iTunes, screaming fans, and of course, celebrity frontmen talking about their next epic concert tour. It's classic, and for the most part, that's exactly what major record releases are like.
By Skunk Uzeki7 years ago in Beat