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| Dancehall HipHop |
Music of the Month: April 2017
Album of the Month:
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (Top Dawg Entertainment) released 4/14
King Kendrick is back with a new full length album, DAMN. This is latest release since his 2015 grammy nominated album To Pimp a Butterfly. Shortly after TPAB he also released untitled unmastered, which consisted of the leftovers or extras from TPAB. Both of these projects were fantastic, the songs were very introspective and descriptive. The beats were fresh and new and contained such creative production. TPAB is possibly one of the best rap albums of the past decade. I am also a huge fan of his good kid, m.A.A.d. city album. The story that Kendrick displays in this project through his lyrics and skits make the album so intriguing and fun to listen to. On all of these projects, Kendrick finds a way to have both party bangers and think/thought songs all over the track list. And even the songs that involve the listener to "turn their brain on" in order to listen to them, are still so catchy and groovy. And that continues on this latest release. The Fox News samples that lead directly into "DNA." is so creative and unique. The production from Mike WiLL on this track is incredible, specifically the beat switch. The bass is so thick and ground shaking. That is also present on the lead single "HUMBLE.". Another Mike WiLL produced track, Kendrick tells other rappers in the game to "sit down. be humble." I also love the smoother takes on this record, including "YAH.", "FEEL.", and "PRIDE.". The sample on "FEEL." is so catchy. It sounds like it's underwater and muddy, which complements the extra synth play within the song. The Steve Lacy production on "PRIDE." makes Kendrick the singer in a somewhat indie rock/hip-hop song, very different. The blooming maybe I wasn't there! chorus is very elegant and soft. The song "LOVE." is another one that sticks out to me. It reminds me of a G-Eazy song with that type of chorus; the soft high pitched male vocal. But Kendrick works with it very well. The dichotomy in "XXX." is so interesting; I love the way the beat changes from just an aggressive banger to a more chill and jazzy instrumental. The U2 feature is definitely an added bonus. We see that introspective Kendrick explode on "FEAR.". Kendrick references his 27 year old self, God, and a passage from Deuteronomy. A theme of religion is also found throughout this record. Overall, this album is incredible. The instrumentals, the themes, the lyrical content, just everything about this record is so well put together and expertly produced. Most likely my favorite album so far this year. Listen below...
Listen: Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
Rating: 9/10
Fav Songs: ALL OF THEM
Other Albums to Checkout:
Joey Bada$$ - ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ (Check out my review HERE)
Listen: Land of the Free
Future Islands - The Far Field (Check out my review HERE)
Listen: Ran
Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution (Check out my review HERE)
Listen: Western Questions
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (Top Dawg Entertainment) released 4/14
King Kendrick is back with a new full length album, DAMN. This is latest release since his 2015 grammy nominated album To Pimp a Butterfly. Shortly after TPAB he also released untitled unmastered, which consisted of the leftovers or extras from TPAB. Both of these projects were fantastic, the songs were very introspective and descriptive. The beats were fresh and new and contained such creative production. TPAB is possibly one of the best rap albums of the past decade. I am also a huge fan of his good kid, m.A.A.d. city album. The story that Kendrick displays in this project through his lyrics and skits make the album so intriguing and fun to listen to. On all of these projects, Kendrick finds a way to have both party bangers and think/thought songs all over the track list. And even the songs that involve the listener to "turn their brain on" in order to listen to them, are still so catchy and groovy. And that continues on this latest release. The Fox News samples that lead directly into "DNA." is so creative and unique. The production from Mike WiLL on this track is incredible, specifically the beat switch. The bass is so thick and ground shaking. That is also present on the lead single "HUMBLE.". Another Mike WiLL produced track, Kendrick tells other rappers in the game to "sit down. be humble." I also love the smoother takes on this record, including "YAH.", "FEEL.", and "PRIDE.". The sample on "FEEL." is so catchy. It sounds like it's underwater and muddy, which complements the extra synth play within the song. The Steve Lacy production on "PRIDE." makes Kendrick the singer in a somewhat indie rock/hip-hop song, very different. The blooming maybe I wasn't there! chorus is very elegant and soft. The song "LOVE." is another one that sticks out to me. It reminds me of a G-Eazy song with that type of chorus; the soft high pitched male vocal. But Kendrick works with it very well. The dichotomy in "XXX." is so interesting; I love the way the beat changes from just an aggressive banger to a more chill and jazzy instrumental. The U2 feature is definitely an added bonus. We see that introspective Kendrick explode on "FEAR.". Kendrick references his 27 year old self, God, and a passage from Deuteronomy. A theme of religion is also found throughout this record. Overall, this album is incredible. The instrumentals, the themes, the lyrical content, just everything about this record is so well put together and expertly produced. Most likely my favorite album so far this year. Listen below...Listen: Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
Rating: 9/10
Fav Songs: ALL OF THEM
Other Albums to Checkout:
Joey Bada$$ - ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ (Check out my review HERE)
Listen: Land of the Free
Future Islands - The Far Field (Check out my review HERE)
Listen: Ran
Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution (Check out my review HERE)
Listen: Western Questions
Songs of the Month: (Click to listen!)
Hip-Hop/Rap
Mike Stud - Frio
Frank Ocean - Lens
Pop/Rock/Alt/Indie
Beach Fossils - Saint Ivy & Down the Line (New album Somersault is out 6/2)
Hoops - On Letting Go (New album Routines is out now)
The Murlocs - Noble Soldier
Mac DeMarco - On the Level & One More Love Song (New album This Old Dog out now)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (New album Murder of the Universe is out 6/23)
The War on Drugs - Thinking Of A Place
Foster The People - Pay The Man
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