Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Like Me by Lil Durk
Monday, March 23, 2015
Dessert EP by Gucci Mane
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Friday, March 20, 2015
Let Me Be Great by Wave Chappelle
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Kilo Champ by Mayalino
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Album Review: To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick has dropped his highly anticipated LP early, and it's really something special. K Dot's first album, "Good Kid M.A.A.D. City", is considered by some a certified classic. A follow up to an album like that is very difficult, which is why they call it a "sophomore curse", but Kendrick didn't hold back with his newest album. In fact, "To Pimp A Butterfly" might be another classic. It's a album with a theme of black empowerment and jazz intrumentals, but also alludes to humanity in general, ending with a fake interview with 2Pac that will give you shivers with how realistic it sounds.
The first track, "Wesley's Theory", starts with a ingenious intro from funk legend, George Clinton, which sets the tone for the whole album. "To Pimp A Butterfly", in this context, is when a black man gets out of the hood, and is "pimped" by the music industry with materialistic objects. Kendrick's first verse explains it brilliantly talking about "When I get signed, homie Ima act a fool/Hit the dance floor, strobe lights in the room". The title of the track itself is a reference to Wesley Snipes and his tax problems, which again was the "pimping" of the "butterfly", but instead of the music industry it's the government. The second verse is taken from the perspective of the music industry or Uncle Sam. The verse states, "I know your kind (That's why I'm kind)", which deals with the benefits of having all these riches but it's to the label/government that't using the artist to gain money.
This next interlude is one of my favorite tracks because of its old school jazz vibes mixed with spoken word. The uptempo jazz percussion, layered with sax and piano and fluctuations in Kendrick's flow gives this song such a cool vibe. It's song about how blacks are treated in American society, which is told through the conversation between this woman and Kendrick.
"King Kunta" gives off a very James Brown atmosphere, especially with the groovy Sounwave production. This song is about the wealthy black men of America, and how it's a paradox of sorts. How America empowers them and oppresses them at the same time, which Kendrick uses Kunta Kinte throughout the song to describe this paradox. The ending of the song has the first line of a poem, which Kendrick wrote, and we gradually see more and more of the poem as the album progresses.
The 4th track on TPAB, "Institutionalized", talks about the ghetto mindset, and how it has been corrupted by money and power in the industries. It also features, in my mind, what sounds like some vintage Snoop on the bridge. The songs laid back feel is almost contrasted with the dark issues of greed and envy, which is explained throughout the song.
"These Walls" is song that deals with many thoughts with the human mind like sex, Kendrick's own sins, abuse of power, and allusions to religion. K Dot's third verse might be the best in the whole album, because it's almost like a stream of conscious, and it explains Kendrick's thought process in many situations. This song sets up the next song perfectly, especially in relating to what goes on in the human psyche.
This next song is Kendrick at his worst, or in severe depression. In sharp contrast to TPAB first single, "i", this song delves into his most negative thoughts dealing with insecurities and alcoholism. He exclaims, "The world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness". Probably one of the realest songs Kendrick has written.
Following up from the depressing "u", Kendrick puts the banger of the LP. "Alright" is choir led beat with an emphasis on "we gon be alright". With Pharrell producing, you know the beat gon knock. Kendrick is fighting his depression on this track.
Many artists have made songs from the perspective of the devil. All the way from the Rolling Stones to Lupe Fiasco. Kendrick does the same with this song by having a woman named "Lucy"(short for Lucifer), which represents Kendrick's desires.
"Momma" is an ode to Kendrick's roots. Through all the fame, he still comes home to see that problems still exist with his people. There is even a verse that from the perspective of any mother, "I know everything, I know myself/I know morality, spirituality, good and bad health". It's the cliche "mama knows everything", but it fits the track perfectly.
"Hood Politics" is a journey into the hood, the situations involved in the hood, and how America views it. One of the greatest lines in the whole album is in this track: "From Compton to Congress/Set trippin all around/Ain't nothin new but a flow of new DemoCrips and ReBloodlicans". This line shows that the political parties are no different than gangs like the Bloods and Crips. Also respect for the Killer Mike S/O.
This next track showcases K Dot's storytelling with a excellent dialogue between himself and a homeless man. The beat really sets up the mood with a simple piano rhythm that crescendos with horns and strings. It keeps the pace up until the very end, when all the religious imagery and wordplay climaxes with the homeless man revealing himself as God. The production, lyricism, and mood all comes together perfectly. Probably my favorite track on the whole LP.
Kendrick links up with NC native and Jamla signee, Rapsody for a anthem on the human race, not black and white, there is only the human race. Rapsody drops a verse to remember.
"Blacker The Berry" is the wake up call to racism in America. Whether it's how blacks are treated by the police, themselves, and the stereotypes they are faced with everyday. Kendrick takes the negative and uses it as an empowering mechanism. Every verse begins with, "I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015...", and goes on to explain stereotypes of black men, and what is happening in their communities. This definitely is the most aggressive track up to date for Kendrick.
The next song is about basically staying real to yourself. Don't let fame, your friends, and society influence what you do or what to say. "You ain't gotta lie to kick it".
"i" is the song screams out victory. It is all about positivity and love. It's the antithesis of "u", which was all about depression.
The last song of TPAB is one the most original track I have ever heard in hiphop period. "When shit hit the fan, is you still a fan?" This question is asked throughout the song, and he constantly shows that he just human. He name drops many influential leaders like Mandela and MLK Jr, which shows that he is the next leader of this generation. The song is amazing, but the second half of the song is what greatness is. We finally hear the full poem, which we heard snippets of throughout the album. We find out he was performing for a fake interview of 2Pac. The interview sounds so real, and it's like 2Pac has been resurrected. The 2Pac answers are taken from an interview he did back in 1994. When I first heard the interview, it brought shivers to my back. It's truly a great monologue to great book that TPAB was.
"To Pimp A Butterfly" shows that Kendrick is a great lyricist and storyteller for this generation. This album had so much depth and passion. It's an album that people will talk for years to come, and it's a worthy sequel to "Good Kid M.A.A.D. City". K Dot maybe got another classic here. (5 out of 5 stars)
Monday, March 16, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
K.R.I.T. 4eva by Big K.R.I.T.
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Thursday, March 12, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Monday, March 9, 2015
AirMax97 by Money Makin Nique
Friday, March 6, 2015
Road To Perdition by Jay Electronica
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Call Ya Bluff by Ludacris
Monday, March 2, 2015
Survival by DJ EFN
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