Top.15.Of.14

Happy New Year to you all,

On this list below my special ops team and I concocted a Top 15, comprehensive list of albums from 2014. Through extensive vetting, listening, and inter-webs research... We present this. My only goal was to do better than Complex. (No shade though,)

15. Broke With Expensive Taste - Azealia Banks (Nov. 7 2014)

This enigmatic hip-hop/rap album has been the start of the beginning of the rest of Banks' career. The production value of the project has been praised and Azealia thanks her very own creative vision as well as the hip hop blogs of the world for helping her find her sound.

14. 1989 - Taylor Swift (Oct. 27 2014)

This is the 5th studio album by the country star turned Pop-princess herself, Tay-Tay Swift! Swift tells her tale of blooming from a young song-writer into a star vocalist. The hit Shake It Off helped propel this album to the best selling spot.

13. X - Ed Sheeran (Jun. 20 2014)

This sonic beauty witholds the bold single Don't. Is the song about Ellie Goulding? I don't care because the producers on this range from Rick Rubin, Pharell, to Benny Blanco! Sheeran puts out, yet another dope project.

12. Beyoncé: Platnium Edition - Beyoncé (Nov. 24 2014)

Okay so the album Beyoncé was so awesome... A box set was re-released with all types of Bey goodies. All of the singles from this album re climbed the charts with 7/11 leading the pack. Only Queen B could release (literally) same thing and we still lose our minds.

11. 2014 Forest Hills Drive - J. Cole (Dec. 9 2014)

Jermaine Cole- you wrote us a story. And laid it on some dope tracks. According to media outlets this album saved a suicidal man's life. Cole continues to keep it 100 and reach his fans through relatable songs like Wet Dreamz. Not that the author of this blog has any about him, ahem.

10. Oxymoron - Schoolboy Q (Feb. 25 2014)

Ex-Gangbanger turned rapper extraordinaire Schoolboy Q dropped his third studio album on the world... And we loved it. The singles Man of The Year and Studio became summer bangers, fueling many a frat party and getting ridiculous air play. For this, and your daughter's dope adlibs, we thank you, Schoolboy Q.

9. LP1 - FKA Twigs (Aug. 6 2014)

How many Trip Hop albums do you listen to? I'd wager one, this one. FKA Twigs kept her audience learning and interested through her contemporary approach at hip-hop and R&B. Her soulful vocals over trippy beats solidified her spot in all of our sonical-hipster hearts. Her face is a bonus too.

8. Ghost Stories - Coldplay (May 16 2014)

The 6th studio album, yes I said 6th, from British rock band Coldplay did the deed. The diversity of production from the likes of Paul Epworth and Rik Simpson are astounding. The content is still relevant and relatable 6 projects later... It was hard not to rank this album higher.

7. My Krazy Life - YG (Mar. 18 2014)

Regardless of how you personally feel about YG as a lyricist, this studio album garnered ridiculous air play, club play, and digital downloads. YG's debut album is certified Platnium by the RIAA and rightfully so- this album doesn't need any skips playing through.

6. You're Dead! - Flying Lotus (Oct. 6 2014)

Some websites label this album as electronic hip-hop, others:Jazz fusion. Here at A.Tico.Take.... We call this pure gold. The musicality, production dexterity, and sheer diversity of sound on this album is genius. Fly Lo does what he does best: give us musical sustenance.

 

5. Cheek To Cheek - Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett (Sept. 19 2014)

All my music aficionados understand why this album broke the top 5. The vocal powerhouse of Lady Gaga and musical wisdom of Tony Bennett is a match made in production heaven. Much of the album has this authentic noire sound, as if we were sotting in a 1940's club. The emotion behind the songs such as Anything Goes. This album created milestones for Gaga (first female artist to have 3 no.1 albums in 2010 decade) and Bennett (oldest person to achieve no. 1 album).

4. Black Metal - Dean Blunt (Nov. 4 2014)

This album is another mature piece of music in terms of content. I'm still actually processing what I heard. This album is critically acclaimed by all musical outlets... I actually give props to Clash Music (http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/dean-blunt-black-metal) Please allow them to explain. 

3. Morning Phase - Beck (Feb. 21 2014)

All of Beck's albums are good for the soul. Tell your mom I said so because their most recent album is no exception. This album is the companion piece to Sea Change (2002) and is up for several Grammys. The big chords and slow melodic build ups are something straight out of movies. Pop some earbuds in, go for a walk after a rain, and you'll go on a spiritual journey.

2. My Everything - Ariana Grande (Aug. 22 2014)

Scooter Braun, Lido, Peter Svensson, Rodney "Darkchild" Jenkins, and Zedd.... put in phenomenonal work on this studio album. This young power vocalist, Grande, has belted out sounds the world hasn't heard since Aguilera in her hey-day. This sophomore album expanded upon her debut and offered her fans more mature R&B themes over pop beats. With My Everything debuting at no. 1 on several charts in several countries, we know that there is nothing cookie cutter about Grande.

1. Salad Days - Mac DeMarco (Apr. 1 2014)

"Salad Days" in literature refers to what Shakespeare ordained as a youthful and inexperienced time [for a character]. On the flip-side, this album focuses on DeMarco's growth as a person. The content of the album is transparent: this man's long- term, short-term, and present realities are put on display with easy listening acoustics on the side. The growth from his past two albums is insane. The viability (or replay-ability) of the album is insane. The critical acclaim is there. Not to mention this project sounds beautiful live. Mac, you were number one in 2014.

Honorable Mentions:

The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale - Eric Clapton

G I R L - Pharell Williams

Sound of A Woman - Kiesza

Sonic Highways - Foo Fighters

The Pinkprint - Nicki Minaj

Personal Favorite:

Sweet Talker - Jessie J

Have a great year peeps; Follow the awesome blogs of my special ops team on tumblr

@4dventuretime

@strawberryshrimp

2014.Closing

Twenty Fourteen...

Is coming to a wintry close but all the music still being released (and highly anticipated) is keeping all music aficionados warm! Everything from drum 'n' bass to rap, to pop, to gospel got a revitalization this year. It's around this time that we see coveted "Number One" spots on annual lists- don't forget about Grammy nominations, either.

So where is it that you'll look for your favorite album or mixtape to be ranked? What makes an ideal list? Here on A.Tico.Take, I'll try until the actual years end to create a comprehensive (but not foolproof, mind you) list of all the greatest albums of 2014. Feel free to throw some dialogue on my blog or twitter about the picks I make (and don't make!)

@iGetSalty

Comment Below!

Locality.Statements Pt. 5

Hold On, I Need To Crank

Hailing from our nation's capital is an artist that goes by the name Mak 11 AKA Makonnen Kush. This young dude has been into music since the young age of 5. His first concert, interestingly enough, was a Fugees show-featuring Busta Rhymes and the Wu-Tang Clan. Mak's musical inspirations can be attributed ti Kid Cudi, Kanye West, MF Doom, The Fugees, and Bob Marley.

Oh this kid is well-versed in some content-based music

Mak 11 is some unsigned-hype at the moment, however, is supported by his counterpart Fluiidity in their group FI. Even cooler is that FI is associated with a larger group: Portal Boys. If this dude didn't sound interesting enough, get this, he started off playing guitar and taking music theory. After acquiring some musicality and know-how he composed his own rock song at 10 years old!

Tico, when I was 10 I was still watching Blue's Clues yo...

Mak 11's OG project, #LOVE, debuted on Sept. 11th of this year. Word on the street is that we can expect more music from young Mak by the end of this month. Before you can anticipate #LOVE2- you have to properly peep #LOVE homies.

Content

Mak 11 is a young dude trying to make it. Not to take away from his personal journey but there is nothing intrinsically special about his story. His bars are filled with hometown adventure references and socially conscious jibs (for example, give PEEP a listen). This artist also struggles with anything of deep instrumental value being mentioned. While there doesn't have to be any socially-conscious verse added, it would help the complex of some songs. On a positive note- Mak's verses are authentic and not as misogynistic as most. Most young artist struggle with the big three topics of 'Making it', 'Drugs', and 'Sexual Endeavors'. Even on the song ON YAH, where it is clear Mak is speaking to or of a girl- he doesn't go extremely lewd or offensive. Kudos.

Production

On first play through, this music is confusing. If one is not familiar with the 'sadboi' aesthetic or the 'soft trap' sound then this project will come as a shocker, for sure. I can split my response between the two facets of production:

Beats

The beats on #LOVE, are wild. It is clear that Mak 11 has a grasp on several genres of music, as they sort of intermarry on his project. There is a texture on his beats that is unique to his music only. No beat ripping going on for this artist.

Overall Production Value

Not his best- can't be.

Whoa Tico, what's wrong?

It is in my opinion (and my opinion is worth like two Chuck E Cheese coins) that Mak 11's voice does not mesh properly with his tracks. He sounds extremely overshadowed and guttural on most tracks; halfway through the 38 minute mixtape, I began to believe this was on purpose. The problem is in the first half I just thought it was mixed poorly. I can appreciate the texture and sound of this project, however, its a safe bet to say that most will be confused as to why Mak's vocals are not the most prevalent audio sound on a track.

Flow

This one half of #FI has a dope flow for sure. He reminds me of a darker Denzel Curry mixed with a more intellectual Chief Keef. All his vocals sound effortless and lazy. Seldom do I praise lazy lyricism, however, I have also had the exclusive chance to listen to Mak 11 live. His flow is easy-listening for sure, you don't have to strain to understand his diction. You don't have to play back songs to catch what he said- none of that. Again, for being so young it would appear that Mak 11 has the edge on his peers in the flow department. As previously mentioned, his vocals could be better mixed with his beats but even that detriment doesn't take away from his drawl. On the track KRISHNA, you can't help but bop your head along.

Overall

All in all, I give the #LOVE tape one thumb up. The potential to expand is immense with this young artist. His work ethic is on par with industry greats, he loves music, and his collective appears to be beneficial to his sound. I personally liked the project, with my favorite track being KRISHNA. I feel as though the biggest detriment to this project is honestly how obscure it is. This isn't a universal or diverse project in the least bit. There isn't a song on here that doesn't belong and that is something that could be a marketing benefit or no-no. Depends on the audience.

P.S. Homies

Mak 11 is releasing #LOVE2 at the end of the month! I have graciously been given an early listen and I have to say I'm pretty amped for some new music. Still true to his sound and authentic to his city: he brings more enigmatic beats and honest verses. From what I've heard, in this short time span its clear to see that Mak as an artist is maturing. It is also clear to see that he is a risk-taker; his flow this time is almost condescending. Its cool though- it's like a confident condescending tone that doesn't leave a listener questioning how they should feel. You just know he's hot.

Makonnen Kush                                         Mak 11's IG

#LOVE2 Coming Soon

Locality.Statements Pt. 4

We Hear Tribe 95

Ty The Dude of Woodbridge, VA is making waves with his music and crew. If you haven't heard, the project Retrospect released yesterday, August 21st. 

Who is this Ty The Dude?

I was able to get some one-on-one with Tyler Hawkins, best known as Ty The Dude. He hails from Northern VA and works within the group Tribe 95. This conglomeration of musical, visual artists, and engineers inspire his music. Ty's own life situations also inspire his music and he draws from the spiritual growth he's currently going through to keep his music relevant. He hopes that his fans and listeners take his music and learn to know themselves and think for themselves.

These are lofty aspirations Tico,

Indeed they are, so lets jump into this review.

Content

Words. Words are important in music, especially hip-hop and rap. The content introduced in Retrospect is classic "I Smoke Marijuana, I Rap About Reality". While there is nothing new under the sun, there are definitely more enigmatic ways to relay relatable, sometimes tired stories. Ty The Dude introduces themes of thinking past social constructions which is dope, but this highlight is marred by the fact that every other-other bar he also brings up how much he smokes marijuana and raps. Of course you rap dude, I'm listening to your tape.

There are also the usual masochistic/party themes bought up in the mixtape. For instance on Corrupted Conscience, the song goes into this trippy hook where Ty says he just wants to get completely trashed.

Flow

The entire flow of the mixtape is easy-going. This tape was definitely an easy listen. Ty is just going bar for bar, no rest, no breath. Ty's vocals are textured for sure but his voice is not overbearing at all. I appreciate how while the overall flow is easy-going, Ty's flow is actually hard-hitting. He does not let up on any part of the tape; he rips into each and every song.

The flip side to this rain of words is that Ty's voice has no diversity. There is no difference in his voice at any point in most of the songs and it gets monotonous in one play through.

Production

The beats are fire. I can't really comment further.

Why not?

At first I questioned the beat choice, I don't think all the beats used should've been rapped over. These tracks are reminiscent of something Selah Sue or Lana Del Rey sings over. Maybe even some RL Grime or Flacons remixed- sounding beats. But I like that Ty The Dude is pushing the boundaries of Hip Hop. So many other artists are growing past 808s and its paying off. Thanks to pioneers like Cudi, Chance, Pharell, and now Ty The Dude: Rap is so much more diverse.

I think the entire tape could've been mastered a little better, but I like how all the vocals sit on top of the tracks and have a texture to them. Like that old 90s rap texture. The features were also chosen perfectly, each feature matching the song to a tee. For a young artist, it is refreshing and evident that Ty The Dude has a proficient understanding about musicality and production value. I commend the dude.

Overall

This debut mixtape gets 2/5 stars from me. There are some things that went very well on this tape, however the list of things that could've went better, is longer. 

edit: To Relieve ; Relevations

There were too many 'mary-jane' shout outs that weren't creatively done. Not enough word play for me, and the diversity of sound on the tape could've been better since Ty The Dude clearly has the edge on production value. I commend this artist though. Coming from an area thats not on the map, being young, and this being the first real project put out are some real obstacles; the potential is there for this dude and I personally wish him and his music the best.

Bandcamp                                              Soundcloud                                                Datpiff

Lil.Tidbit

Yo, readers and such..

I last left you all with my vivid thoughts and sentiments on #MinimumWage. If you noticed, however, I didn't really delve into the people behind the music... How daft of me.

Yeah Tico, we don't know these dudes... uh Con and ZanK?

Yes, the duo that is behind the urban flagship of a mixtape, #MinimumWage are Charisma Con and ZanK the Cyclops. These witty emcees collided at a video shoot for a song called Stellar Party; it was indeed a stellar party with an unnamed half of the group getting inebriated as anything, stripping down to his underwear, and diving into an above-ground pool. But don't worry- Con and ZanK  are 22 and 21, respectively, hail from "the Catalina wine mixer," that is Stafford, VA, and they represent the area pretty well I might add.

Really? These guys are the ambassadors of choice?

Most definitely; most people write Stafford off as a wealthy suburb, maybe a bit militaristic and hokey poke if anything else. After a listen to #MinimumWage, it is clear that there is more to the people and area than meets the eye.

How did #MinimumWage come to be?

Recording for the project took place over 2013 with their group, 5enses. This group includes all of the producers and features on the tape. The whole project was not only done in-house but in solidarity: each person growing and honing their skill. Con and ZanK looked to artists like Schoolboy Q, Gorrillaz, Vic Mensa, and Timberlake to affirm their (pretty dope if you ask me) view on music. Moving forward, you can catch these guys dropping the music video for Nose Candy and making more music.

I wish them the best in their musical endeavors and you can follow them on twitter to stay up-to-date on everything #MinimumWage.

You can follow me on twitter for to stay-up-to-date on everything nonsensical.

@iGetSalty

@zankthecyclops                             @condontvote

P.S.- It was ZanK.. ZanK dove in the above-ground pool, man.

Locality.Statements Pt. 3

That Soundcloud Update

It's alright. Sort of a difficult interface to understand at first but definitely an upgrade in my eyes. I was surfing through Soundcloud with a homie and found some interesting work.

#Minimum Wage

Charisma Con and ZanK the Cyclops have released a collaborative project titled #MinimumWage. I wanted to personally ask them some questions before I released my review but I got anxious from not writing for so long.

Break down this project Tico,

Content

ZanK says it about himself, and I'm going to say it too. You put some young rappers together and you get the same thing usually. The misogynistic lyrics, the drug references, the partying and repeat. The biggest example of these themes are on the song NastyRatchet, which spells it out how these two view certain women. The hook is catchy sure, just don't bump this around the sensitives types. To be fair, a more positive twist is taken on how Con and ZanK view women in the song Nose Candy. The lyrics are hype and, in my opinion, praise girls who can hang, be 'one of the guys', but still maintain her sex appeal to their counterparts.

From some of the promotion surrounding the project coupled with the Intro- it appears that there is a latent theme of antiestablishment. This is hard to delineate from pure anarchy though because the mixtape is submerged in so much gritty verses. I want to say that these two young emcees are socially aware but this project was clearly not their way of sending out a building a better future message. #MinimumWage is more of conglomeration of anthems for young men enjoying their selfish youth.

Flow

The overall flow of the mixtape reminds me of The Vestibule or Living Out Loud, by OCD: Moosh and Twist. This is sort of a comical comparison being that both these duos at face value look like each other and take up similar roles in their respective groups.

You have ZanK who has an appreciation for alliteration, rhyming, and overall sounds of words. His sound is solid and sure. There is nothing more annoying than listening to a young artist and hearing their age immediately. Not so here, he utilizes word play, puns, the whole nine. I appreciate ZanK on every song; his vocal range and overall flow is versatile and can mesh with most beats. Interestingly enough- him and Twist sound similar.

Next you have Con who can hold his own, no problem. This dude goes bar for bar- hard. No waste of words, no waste of breath, no waste of beat. There is never a hesitation on his part and this leads me, the listener, to believe he writes extensively. Con's voice sounds authentic and gritty, you can bump any of #MinimumWage in an urban setting and it'll fit other projects in its genre. Simply put- if Con and ZanK were mixed in a playlist with say, Isaiah Rashad, Bronson, Talib Kweli, and Wiz, you wouldn't really question it.

Production

I have mixed feelings on the production value of #MinimumWage. 

What do you mean 'mixed feelings'?

There are some extreme positives and extreme negatives. I'll start with negatives so I can end on a good note.

For starters, the entire project does not sound like it was mastered together. The audio levels are all different. A rookie listener could spot how amateur the mastering seems to be. Even worse, on some tracks the vocals don't lay on the beat smoothly at all. Master Billy Quizboy sounds unfinished and underdeveloped. Most of my production qualms lie in post editing which technically is a good thing. These songs can be remastered, remixed, or even nixed to improve the quality of the project.

One big production positive: the diversity in producers and the recognition given. As of recent, I use that term loosely, there have been more light shone on producers in music especially hip-hop and rap. The role of a producer is major in a project as they can have a hand in anything from writing to beats, to overall sound, to direction. I am impressed- most impressed. The track Clever, prod. by Quantum Musik has this authentic A Tribe Called Quest texture on it. This sound is not easily emulated or translated- most people believe the days of textured hip hop are over and thanks to these producers, it doesn't have to be.

All in all..

This project is 3 out of 5 stars. Its the first mixtape from these two artists who are young and have the tools, space, and time to grow. This start is extremely strong on their ends as rappers and I would want to hear more from them. I would chalk this mixtape up as a learning experience, but a good listen of a learning experience. Starting this strong though, I hope to see stronger playability of songs, diversity of content, and that same consistent flow from both dudes. 

@zankthecyclops                                         #MinimumWage                                        @condontvote

Heat.In.The.Street

It's Already Summer in Chi-raq

I had to take a mini-vactaion from writing; I'm still listening to music, though. Shout-outs to Chicago, Illinois for all the work being done for music in that city. Shall we take a review of how hot Chicago, infamously dubbed "Chiraq", has gotten?

XXL Freshman List

There are 3 south-side Chi-Town rappers, and a lone east side artist that made the XXL List in 2014: Chance The Rapper, Lil Durk, Vic Mensa, and Lil Bibby. These dudes have put in extraordinary work within their own city as well as everywhere else. Each of their projects, each locally grown and mussed over, has gotten bigger and seeped into the mainstream. Lucky for us listeners, they all still retain the Chicago grit and musicality in their sounds.

Chance The Rapper

We've all heard Acid Rap at this point, if not- check my review on the critically acclaimed mixtape that I wrote a while back. This dude has toured extensively, performed at Coachella, and even worked alongside other lyrically-inclined artist such as Gambino and SZA.

Lil Durk

He'll tell you himself.. "This Ain't What You Want". This former Glory Boys Entertainment affiliate has propelled himself to "drill music" presidency with his Signed To The Streets mixtape. Rolling Stone had named this project the 8th best mixtape of 2013. As of recent, he is working on his debut album with under French Montana's label, Coke Boys.

Vic Mensa

This young artist has been through his share of ridiculousness, seriously. If falling off a bridge and maiming yourself isn't a day ruiner... well it is. This incident and more is referenced on his critically acclaimed solo project, Innanetape. Formerly part of the band, Kids These Days, this rapper has collaborated with some hip-hop heavyweights such as Ab-Soul and Hit-Boy. His EP Street Lights is scheduled to come out sometime this year.

Lil Bibby

Hailing from East-Side Chicago, the Free Crack rapper has also made a name for himself.  Lil Bibby is praised as a mature and focused artist that knows how to pay homage to his idols. He's been interviewed by several major Hip-Hop radio stations, magazines, and media outlets. Drake has even reached out to the young artist and its rumored that the next step for Lil Bibby is an EP. Vibe did say Lil Bibby was the dude to watch in 2014.

All in all,

So once again, shout out to the city of Chiraq. On a socially conscious note, 2013 was statically a safer year for the city: lower murder rate than years previous. Through the rappers mentioned above the true colors of Chicago can shine through past the violence. Juke music, Jazz, Blues influences, and mixtures of several of these genres are sampled and played on in all these artists' music. The list doesn't just stop with these 4 either; some other notable underground Chicago artists whose music is pretty hot include: Dreezy, Noname Gypsy, Lil Herb, and Lil Reese.

Music is heating up this year already. 2013 left me speechless and good thing- I have more listening to do in 2014. This was but a small glimpse into what the entire XXL Freshmen List of 2014 has to offer. Sure these list are always debated, however it can be said that the 2014 class rivals the 2012 list when it comes to people that are on the cusp of breaking out. These artist that are breaking out, that are hungry, and are prolific with the hard hitting bars: music lives for them and their fans.

P.S.- Check Out All The Chiraq remixes... Who Did The Beat The Most Justice?

Innanetape                     Acid Rap                     Signed To The Streets                           Free Crack