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

 

Solid.Snippet

I'm feeling some...

Good Vibes

The Royal Warlord AKA my homie Bucky has released his long awaited project Good Vibes. The mixtape in and of itself is authentic; definitely a true attempt at conveying a message- not just somebody on some beats rapping to hear himself. The mixtape became publicly available on March 24th (you know I was sitting comfortably on my copy well before) and is already making the waves in the locality in which this artist is based. If you don't know Bucky, I have reviewed some of his music before which is all available for a free listen.

Yo I support free music,

As do I- and I also support underground artist, man. Based in the RVA but originally from the 757, Bucky has a plethora of perspectives and comments packed into 11 tracks/45 minutes. The tape is an easy listen and you know... let me drop my two-cents.

Production

The production of the mixtape is the norm. Meaning that the mixtape has satisfactory beats, an acceptable amount of features, and is close to the ideal length. 

No qualms?

Qualms, no- I'm not in sheer awe over the beats but a most of the tracks have a viability that allows the listener to keep replaying the songs. In keeping with what would be considered Bucky's musical peers (i.e.: Chance the Rapper, Logic, Shy Glizzy, Mark Battles, and Joey Bada$$) or young rappers without projects that are major-label backed, Bucky's beats fall in between Logic's and Mark Battles. The beats don't bang hard like Acid Rap's Smoke Again but they definitely have cool samples like Tic Tac Toe by Logic.

Most well done feature is on the tape is The Hustle; another collab in the future from brocK Johnson would be preferred as Bucky and him have flows that work in tandem.

In terms of growth, the production can grow even more. Whether several of the tracks were mastered is debatable. The latent vocals on each track, for example on The Hustle, are done well though. There is definitely levels in the music and composition on Good Vibes. I wager that bringing all the sounds together, digital/analog/vocals/samples, is the last step in Bucky's production team.

Content

The content is dope-always. This isn't necessarily "backpack rap" or even socially conscious rap- this here on Good Vibes is witty banter on relevant topics. Bucky to me is one of the best examples of "Speak on what you know," because he continues to appear relatable. His messages are legitimate and spun into classic hip hop tropes. There are several bars that Bucky drops that show his musical fluency. 

You can hear his "musical fluency"?

Yeah, man. I hear Bucky's influences and know-how of the hip hop culture. There is a respectable coming-of-age sound on the tape that most young people can vibe with. You have your drug use, your education, he threw in some social commentary, some existential thinking, and even some relationship views. Packed into 45 minutes... its like having a conversation with him.

Flow

Buck's flow is original. Easy going, not too over bearing, extremely articulate, and viable. His vocals on every track are not the best fit though. There is extreme playability in the tape and I could listen to his voice for a couple of hours easy, however a few of the tracks are completely skippable. Bucky's flow is so easy going that I feel his bars suffer if the meter of a song is too slow. Possibly purposefully, I could've sworn that some tracks featured a Xanny'd out Bucky.

Some people like that sleepy sound,

I've been told. As tests to my credibility, I have a vetted group of friends listen to music with me and they like the sound. There is a wave of music that has come out recently that features rappers with slower and less excited vocals. For example Schoolboy Q with Prescription/Oxymoron, Mac Miller with Erica's House, Kid Cudi with Troubled Boy, and World Ablaze by Big Sean. So again, I concede that Bucky could be on board with what is "the sound". I just point out that I personally don't dig that type of sound.

Haha, Xanny'd out...

Conclusion

All in all, 3.5 stars out of 5. I have faith in Good Vibes and Bucky's sound. As an artist he has consistently grown and consistently expanded on his talent. Some people have it and some don't. Good Vibes proves that Bucky knows he has it but he isn't just content with staying stagnant. His sound can bring him places and it is without a doubt that he is hungry to continue in his craft. If music is food for the soul; Good Vibes is a good-looking appetizer for Bucky's career.

Good Vibes                                                 The Royal Warlord                                       @buckygotbars

                                 

HAWT MUSIC PT. 3

Satellite Flight: The Journey To Mother Moon

Cudi fans know, it's fire.

Yeah, Kid Cudi, otherwise known as the other half of WZRD, has released yet another ground-breaking album. The fourth studio-album by Cudi dropped on Feb. 25, 2014. This album was primarily produced by himself like Indicud was. Satellite Flight is to be the bridge between Indicud and Man On The Moon III (2015).

Kid Cudi took to social devices such as Twitter and Soundcloud to get his fans geared up for the release. Through releases such as Going to The Ceremony and Satellite Flight, Cudi prepared listeners for a sound he states: " [will] reclaim my style others have been trying to duplicate for the past 5 years,". Cudi even goes so far to urge listeners to start from Man On The Moon I and play everything through (including WZRD) to Satellite Flight to prepare for MOTM III.

Well gee-this guy is really creating something,

Flow

Interestingly enough, Kid Cudi doesn't utilize vocals on all songs on the album. The tracks that are graced with his verses are are sang in his usual processed way. Objectively speaking, Cudi half sings and half speaks his parts o songs such as Satellite Flight and Balmain Jeans. These moans are passion filled and hard hitting, but at first listen: hard to understand. I believe this is purposeful because on any part that is murky, the alliteration in Cudi's flow is heard. I would even venture that Cudi, unlike most rappers, doesn't see his vocals as separate from the beat, but a part of whole thing. 

What are you saying Tics?

I'm saying yeah- it is difficult to decipher some of what Kid Cudi is saying, especially if you are new to what he is building. However, in no way does that facet hurt any songs- all tracks with vocals are solid.

Content

Any Cudi fan knows that the entire MOTM series is one of the most interesting stories told- being that this album is a piece of that series, it is no different. On first listen through there is sure to be a song that jumps out at a listener as relevant. One of the most likable things about Cudi is his ability to be relatable. He does "Drake" better than Drake.

You mean that Kid Cudi is efficient in reaching out to his listeners and fans,

Yes. As an example I'll use the track Balmain Jeans ft. Raphael Saadiq. This song was rich in sexual innuendoes as well as spiritual intonations.  This wasn't the average song about getting in someone's pants- it was the tale of finding one's other half. The perfect balance is struck between heavy and light where Cudi expresses his inner desires for another person but pokes fun at his frequent wearing of the designer Balmain. 

Cudi utilizes his composing skills to also effectively convey his meaning without words. I almost never sign off on self-production. I love producers too much, but on tracks such as Copernicus Landing and the aforementioned Balmain Jeans- it is blatantly obvious that Kid Cuid is multifaceted. The deep bass and borealis/wavy sounds create a contrast and in most songs the backdrop. In everyone of us there is an internal struggle; maybe I'm reaching but as judged by Cudi's cult following of fans, his beats are speaking to our souls, man.

Groovy vibes.

Production

The whole album was signed off by Kid Cudi himself. 7 of 10 tracks he produced and the other 3 he did as well, collaborating with Dot da Genius. Yeah thats right, WZRD was back at it on this album. The deep rich sounds from Indicud, the creativity of WZRD, and the spacey vibes from MOTM are all heard on this short album. All the guitar riffs, strategically placed bass, and synths are back. Again, it was originally slated to be an EP, but Cudi explains he "hit such a creative stride when he began to work on the EP, that he decided to just complete a full album instead,"

This album is only 10 tracks???

This album is about 41 minutes with 10 tracks. While short for an album, this album's viability places at about an hour. Let me explain: on first play through I didn't finish without replaying a song. Its fair to say I wasn't casually listening, but if casually listening to Cudi, it's easy to get spaced out and lose time frame. That is a fair statement: this album utilizes a stereo soundscape like no other. One ear is still in space and the other ear is on the moon already. I tested this by listening to a song with just on earbud in then the other.... crazy.

Also, while I do not condone/associate/advocate stoner culture, I've been told by close sources that this album played to a listener under the influence is really something.

Conclusion

With only one feature from Raphael Saadiq (my ninja!). And minimal production help, Kid Cudi once again proves he's got it all. This album gets 5 stars, two thumbs up, and some tears. As a test to my credibility, I played half the album for a non-Cudi fan. As unbiased as I strive to be, I love the fudge out of some Cudi. My close source did indeed like the album giving it a 4/5. She claims it could've been better if Cudi had chosen to go all beats or all songs w/ vocals. She thought the fusion of the two types of songs on one album was too weird. Nonetheless, Satellite Flight: Journey To Mother Moon is all good vibes.

Digital Track Listing                                                KID CuDi                                                 @ducidni

HAWT MUSIC PT. 2

Next Up To Bat...

What are we all listening to? Oxymoron that's what...

Humor me while I dole out a brief english lesson. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that juxtaposes apparently contradictory elements. For example big shrimp, dark light, and living dead.

OK, Tico. We don't care...

OK. Oxymoron is also the third album released by the OG himself, Schoolboy Q. The album dropped officially February 25, 2014, thanks to Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. This is the first album release that Schoolboy Q has released, backed by a major label. The recording for this project spanned 2012 and 2013 with singles such as Collard Greens and Man of The Year being available as early as June and November, respectively. 

If you weren't privy to the Black Hippy rapper prior to his first major studio album release, let me remind you that Schoolboy Q is by no means new to the game. He is an XXL Freshman (Class of 2013), he has released two other albums Setbacks and Habits & Contradictions, and has done extensive touring. (#TheGroovyTour, Long. Live. ASAP. Tour, & Under The Influence Tour)

Content

Schoolboy Q uses rap and music as a medium to express himself and explain his life. Oxymoron is quite possibly the most authentic and straight-forward albums of late. Schoolboy gets dark and spins a twisted tale of a lost youth in the songs Hoover Street, Studio, and Prescription/Oxymoron. It is no secret that this rapper once was a gang-banger and whenever Q can, he shouts out his set, the 52 Hoover Crips (Figg Side/ Figueroa St). Q bares his life for all to listen to in this album that is properly named- he did all this wrong and tried to translate it to "right" for his daughter.

His daughter is featured on several songs and brings more even more honesty to Q's story. In my honest opinion, and I'm sure some will agree, Schoolboy Q has never been much for content especially compared to the rest of Black Hippy. In fact, there is next to no diversity lyrics on the entire album. The same story of being a banger is relayed on each track.

For some odd reason though, (maybe the authenticity in what he's saying?) We listen to each song...

Flow

Schoolboy Q's flow is that of a true west-coast artist. Not just hip-hop, but all music in general. The lofty and confident voice heard throughout the album is thankfully not a feature. Schoolboy Q shines on his own project and uses inflections to decipher between "Rapper That Made It" Q and "52 Hoover Crip" Q. His rhyme scheme is easy to follow and his articulation is a godsend in an era of young rappers that suffer from mush-mouth and mangled bars. Schoolboy Q also makes use of variation in the amount of words in a bar- for example in the song Hell of A Night Q runs through quickly in the first verse. By the second verse, however, he slows packs less words in each bar and allows the listener to go from being hype to just vibing.

Beats

Oxymoron's production was properly handled by high-profile producers such as Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, Pharell, Boi-1da, The Alchemist, and Tyler The Creator. The beats of Oxymoron can be summed up in one word:

Gangsta

Yes, you're correct. At random, look at Gangster, The Purge, Man of The Year, and Break The Bank. What do these songs have in common? They get the listener internally-hype. These are those tracks you play while driving to school or the office. You feel so hood she playing these songs. It is a crime to play these on volume 20... you have to max out the bass and really vibe!

True- these aren't the most convoluted or complicated beats- No Random Access Memories going on here. At best, these songs are catchy repeats of the hook played behind the enigmatic and gangster voice of Q. This is a positive though- there are few other artists that get to wholly shine through their (over)production. Oxymoron is hood in it's own right with just the right amount of tweaking: Q's voice isn't tampered with, the samples of his daughter are placed intelligently, and the beats of over half the album play into the gang banging demographic Schoolboy wanted to reach. Oxymoron is an oxymoron to me, being that it is Q's first major studio album, but it sounds like a authentic "homie mixtape" that I want to support... as if I were Figg Side too.

You're not though. No drive-bys for you.

All in All...

Oxymoron could've been the entire soundtrack to Grand Theft Auto V. This album is as gangster as its going to get and I'm proud. I won't lie: I didn't initially see Schoolboy Q following Kendrick Lamar in terms of commercial success. I felt like the rough and ruggedness of Q hurt his musicality and commercial appeal, especially in light of what Kendrick was doing with good kid M.A.A.D city. However, it appears that Schoolboy Q is hungry as hell for the TDE throne. This album was critically acclaimed- from Metacritic to XXL, everyone agrees that Oxymoron is one of the best stories ever told. Schoolboy Q does identify himself as a "gangster rapper" and while he claims he isn't trying to bring that style of rap back, rather just showcase its still alive... he is bringing it back.

He is bringing back bucket hats too,

Two Thumbs Up.

Track Listing                                     Oxymoron Story                                    All Things Schoolboy Q

HAWT MUSIC PT. 1

"DAMN SON, WHERE'D YOU FIND THIS?"

So... I've been MIA.... not like the girl rapper but.... actually missing, peoples.

I wondered if you were coming back...

Of course. Music, like time, waits for no man and I have been avidly listening. Without further ado, I'm going to release a slew of takes from myself on what is making waves, peeps.

Come As You Are

Audio Push, the California based duo comprised of Oktane and Pricetag, had dropped a mixtape in late 2013. Now if you aren't familiar with these guys- you're lying to yourself. Remember the guys that taught you how to "jerk": Teach Me How To Jerk? Well funny story, Hit-Boy found them, founded his own label (Hits Since 87 Inc), and signed these peeps. Since the days of jerk, these young dudes have been hard at work in the studio and their 8th mixtape, Come As You Are, is making big waves.

Content

Audio Push in my fair opinion has fallen off and was not taken seriously in the music industry. The dance crazes of the late 2000's took the youth by storm and left the older listeners shaking their heads... However, you cannot fake on how much growth has taken place. Come As You Are has a cohesive story and lyric system that is comparable to that of major albums such as Born Sinner, Trap Lord, and Ambition. Audio Push is stating where they are from, putting themselves on the map, and showcasing their accent to the top. Songs such as Theme Song (featuring T.I.) and Tis The Season (featuring Joey Bada$$) shout out their humble beginnings while applauding the situation they are in now. 

It is arguable that Audio Push's content isn't as strong as their counterparts' but this recent vibe of west coast "getting it how you get it" definitely plays up what Oktane, Pricetag, and company have to say. Yeah, I'm saying Audio Push isn't the most socially conscious. However, the duo does an excellent job at poking at society's current petty ills: for example the song Turn Down "...you got one kid, two kids- don't take care of 'em. They always at they grandmama house,".

Flow

Audio Push's flow is flawless. I can listen (I have) to their mixtape all day on repeat, no problem. The laid-back but pinpoint voices of the duo are thick with a southern California swag that is hard to emulate. These guys have been at the drawing board several times and everything gets better with practice. Tis The Season, the perfect example again, is seriously one of the best song on the entire project. The guys are mad confident on the track and any listener can just take an easy listen. Oktane and Pricetag articulate beautifully; I swore I was chilling with them on several tracks.

Production 

I saved the best for last...Oh gee!

You seem excited...

Seriously, the matrimony between Audio Push and Hit-Boy was made in heaven. The production and features on this mixtape are too nasty. The likes of Joey Bada$$, T.I., Wale, Ty Dolla Sign, James Fauntleroy, and Vic Mensa grace the mixtape without over saturating the mixtape. These beats are all fire, and set the mood for each song. Hit Boy and Hazebanga come together to execute Audio Push's best sounding project to date. 

This mixtape is more musically diverse than full blown albums backed by major labels. There is club-bangers, slow jams, social conscious jams, hilarious interludes, intelligent samples, easy listeners, and the hard-hitting cypher style songs. As to be expected from a producer that has a strong track record (Watch the Throne). Audio Push under Hit-Boy is a godsend and the music from this partnership has no rivals. In the era of self-production,

I'm talking to you Mac... 

Audio Push has no rivals.

Conclusion

I'm giving this mixtape three-thumbs-up. Come As You Are made me a believer, okay? The pieces are finally falling together for this group and I am a true fan. Without bias though- I have to say this was one of the stronger projects of 2013. This mixtape was as authentic as any others dropped in 2013. This duo, Audio Push, under Hit-Boy is no different. Watch them- they're eating opposition right now.

"Why Hit-Boy sign them? They can't rap its all these discussions. So you mean to tell me since we dance are music ain't bumping? Cause please lets not forget, Tupac was on stage humpty-humping. Back up dancing like he couldn't rap- when in fact he was good at that-"

 

Some Background                                        Audio Push                                      Come As You Are

Fifty.Sixth.Time.Around

Yo, real quick, I'm going to let you finish....

But Good Kid m.A.A.d City was the chiz. Kendrick has worked oh so very hard this year and I have to hop up on my soap box for this one.

Kendrick Lamar's album was highly anticipated and critically acclaimed. The thought provoking album featured some of Kendrick's best written verses and collabs. I am deeply disappointed in Kendrick not winning any awards; it is an honor to be nominated but to be robbed so blindly before the public is disgusting.

Hops off soapbox...

A Heist of Grammys

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis swept the nominations with 6 (more than Tay Tay Swift! with 5) and brought home three, including the coveted Rap Album of the year. The Heist beat out Yeezus, Magna Carta Holy Grail, and most notably Good Kid m.A.A.d City. The album, which is well produced and a good listen is not my favorite. The Heist, to me is an album that amassed a cult following of fans that relate to what Macklemore is and was going through. Not an album full of bangers, urban truths, or universally relatable songs. I do not discredit Macklemore and Ryan Lewis- they worked equally if not harder than K.Dot and are amazing in concert- but their album is not as strong from an urban or rap standpoint. 

As for Best New Artist- I think that Macklemore deserved that one. It is important to remember all of these award shows and rankings are relative and debatable. Macklemore and company did indeed come onto the scene with a strong single (Thrift Shop), dropped their album (The Heist), and toured well (The Heist World Tour). Also, remember that Macklemore did everything he did without being signed by a major recording label. For this sole reason, I feel that Macklemore does deserve a little more gas. (Not enough to beat Kendrick though)

Royal Confusion

I am not really sure I get the hype behind Lorde and her song Royals. Her album Pure Heroine is completely lost on me. She isn't very appealing to me and her voice has zero range. Artists whose songs where I like the remixes better- I leave alone. Props to her though for grinding so early in life and taking charge. I commend her on her win, whether I like her music or not.

Album of The Year

Dear Complex Magazine- you are fully discredited by the Academia of Music and Grammy organization. If I do recall correctly you ranked Random Access Memories as 45th best album of the year under a mixtape released by Migos. Well, I'm sorry to tell you that you have mis-voted and Daft Punk has the appreciation they deserve. R.A.M is one of the best albums of all time and encompasses so many styles of music while still garnering new fans and cohesively bringing the original fans around for more.

As a quick little jib- shout out to Good Kid m.A.A.d City for the nomination. To be so close in several categories and lose it must sting a bit for Kendrick. However this is a battle well met- and a loss he'll most likely chalk up. R.A.M was really good.

That's All Folks

All in all, the 56th Grammy awards were cool. There were dope live performances, awards given when due, and a classy-star-studded red carpet. Every award show has some drama over robbed awards and this year is no different. Kendrick should've walked away with something; at the end of the day though Kendrick is always hard at work and his music still bangs. Good looks to Macklemore for the dedication of his award to Trayvon Martin and for his text to Kendrick.

P.S.- Shout Out to Alicia Keys on her win- and Little Big Town for their nomination. Those are two artists I love.

Grammy Winners               Grammy Robbery           Macklemore Wins A lot

Locality.Statements Pt. 2

She Had No Man, Now She Has No Gown

Yeah guys, naked women. 

Wait it gets better…. Lemonade.

Ryan Naylor, AKA Bucky, thee Royal Warlord hails from… somewhere in the 757. His stuff sounds really good in Richmond right now, though. Another VA native has some tracks out making the rounds on music sharing sites and in collegiate apartments. His latest releases (reviewed below) are rolling out and getting his listeners ready for his debut project which does not yet bare a name.

Mysterious..

Rusty

PROS: This song sounds like a straight freestyle- if dude wrote this thats still crazy. The days of continuous writing and spitting endlessly are coming back. The flow in this song is hungry yet playful. If the songs Vitamins and Watch For Detox, by Mac and Kendrick, respectively, had a song baby it would be Rusty. Bucky shows linguistic dexterity, going bar for bar with no hook at all. He hits all authentic points too: he's not sleeping but he's working, he isn't getting proper dues, he's smoking, etc. 

CONS: The production is lackluster for sure. I like the beat and feel like I recognize it from somewhere, (what's sampled?) He got his message down- but production is important. The right words always need the right beat. The right rapper always needs the right producer.

Stand

PROS: Again the flow here is confident. Even the trained ear could be fooled into thinking that Bucky has been at this for awhile. The relaxed and serious tone in this song offsets his young voice. It can be debated that Bucky sounds too clean-cut but the contrast created from his vocals saying some crude truths is his claim to fame, honestly. A listener can easily bump to his clear and enunciated bars. The content is there- cliche story of getting caught up spun originally. Iconic little verse from the track: "I'm taxed out the a** to get by. Yes I'm getting stressed- won't sell. But yes I'll get high,"

CONS: I'm not stuck on any. Nope, showing bias here.

Lemonade

PROS: This song is fun. The flow is lazy. The hook is catchy. The verses are just as catchy and easy to rap along to. This is an all around feel-good track that will bring a listener to the chill days of summer. Naylor shows some musicality through his voice inflections and meter of his flow on the beat. True there isn't as much content chocked up in these verses as his other songs but thats the beauty of it: He's chilling- and so are his listeners. There are some girls out there thirsty for lemonade- his spin on this phenomenon was made into a song thats honestly fire. If you miss pre-Lean Mac, from his K.I.D.S. days then you've found gold, man. Another dope thing about this track is that its Bucky's vocals on his own hook- which is catchy. Like... I Hit It First catchy.

CONS: I thought this song was the best produced out of all three releases I listened to, however, through a co-listen with my close friend, he pointed out this would sound even better with better production. If you don't like feel-good music where the point is to just "listen and chill" and instead prefer hard-hitting-thought-provoking music… this song isn't for you either.

Conclusion

Coming out of the production-heavy year of 2013 is one of the major problems on these singles. But when it comes to legit rapping skills and genuine flow talent: Bucky has it. This artist is young and has plenty of room to grow; his name will be one to watch though if he wants it to be. I personally like to listen to what he releases and that is always the point of music: to listen and enjoy. This sound that he has, this sound is natural talent. Naylor's story is interesting- let's see what the Royal Warlord does in 2014.

Look For The Project

"What you see you in the store- I can afford. And I'm whippin that beamer, don't f*ck with the Ford,"