Saturday, August 6, 2011
Songs of The Day
The Hangover ft Mikey Rocks: There are elements of this beat that I like, but it needed some edited in my opinion. It's kind of corny, but is really close to being cool. Then again, corny isn't that bad with this seeing that the subject matter of this song is just as corny. What is with the corny hooks on this? Curren$y sounds lame on this one too. And Mikey Rocks? He sounds kind of lazy... Not feelin it.
The Day ft Mos Def & Jay Electronica: I can't get down with the muddled effect on the horns in the intro - it makes them sound off and annoying - but once the beat settles, everything sounds much better. Curren$y's verse is aight, he doesn't sound as annoying as on other songs. Jay Electronica and Mos' verses (Mos' is more a hook than anything) are good, but there's no surprise there. Aight.
Prioritize ft Nesby Phips: This is a decent beat, nothing crazy though. Nothing about this song really holds my attention. Every time I've tried to take a listen, I have to start over, because I've missed have the tune. Nesby's verse is aight. This whole song is just ok.
The Day ft Mos Def & Jay Electronica: I can't get down with the muddled effect on the horns in the intro - it makes them sound off and annoying - but once the beat settles, everything sounds much better. Curren$y's verse is aight, he doesn't sound as annoying as on other songs. Jay Electronica and Mos' verses (Mos' is more a hook than anything) are good, but there's no surprise there. Aight.
Prioritize ft Nesby Phips: This is a decent beat, nothing crazy though. Nothing about this song really holds my attention. Every time I've tried to take a listen, I have to start over, because I've missed have the tune. Nesby's verse is aight. This whole song is just ok.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Songs of The Day
Seat Change ft Snoop Dogg: This song is kind of weird. The groove's pretty decent, a better use of rock guitar than "Example", but it doesn't seem like either Curren$y or Snoop's flows go with it. There's something about Curren$y's tone on this one that sounds kind of arrogant, and I can't really get down with it. Not to mention, the hook is pretty lame. I was excited to hear what Snoop had to say on this one, but it really wasn't much at all. The rhythm of his flow doesn't even really sound like it goes with the beat most of the time. C'mon Snoop, we know you can do better than this. Eh.
Breakfast: This is a pretty cool groove. Better than the rest at this point. The horn sample is pretty sweet, and with the bass and guitar, it really comes together. I like his flow better on this one, he doesn't sound like an asshole. There still isn't anything lyrically that really sticks out to me, which is disappointing, but I've still got plenty of album left. Oh Mos Def! Why must you only be in the background? I would have loved to hear him spit on this, especially seeing that he co-produced it (no wonder I like this groove). Aight, we're gettin somewhere...
Roasted ft Trademark Da Skydiver & Young Roddy: Ah yes, another chill beat that I can get down with. I like Trademark's flow, although, I wish it wasn't doubled - it's a little too harsh for the mellowness of the beat. Definitely seems like this would sound great through some good speakers. Curren$y's flow sounds much better on this song, but again, not hearing anything lyrically that's super impressive. Young Roddy's flow is pretty good too, but I feel the same about his vocals being doubled - lil too harsh. Unfortunately, they've got another corny hook on their hand, but hey, this is still better than some of the previous.
Skybourne ft Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA: And the final song is the best song! Very chill groove on this one, which is no surprise seeing as it's a weed song. I really dig the guitar riff that goes on. It's just all around smooth. And oh my goodness, I like the hook! Granted, it's not the greatest hook, but it is catchy. This is my favorite verse of Curren$y's so far, but I just wish he'd give me a line to post. Pretty decent verse from Big K.R.I.T. - I like his flow. Smoke DZA has the best verse in my opinion. His final line is my favorite - "They lied, money really do grow off trees." A doob will most definitely be lit to this one. Yay for ending on a happy note!
Breakfast: This is a pretty cool groove. Better than the rest at this point. The horn sample is pretty sweet, and with the bass and guitar, it really comes together. I like his flow better on this one, he doesn't sound like an asshole. There still isn't anything lyrically that really sticks out to me, which is disappointing, but I've still got plenty of album left. Oh Mos Def! Why must you only be in the background? I would have loved to hear him spit on this, especially seeing that he co-produced it (no wonder I like this groove). Aight, we're gettin somewhere...
Roasted ft Trademark Da Skydiver & Young Roddy: Ah yes, another chill beat that I can get down with. I like Trademark's flow, although, I wish it wasn't doubled - it's a little too harsh for the mellowness of the beat. Definitely seems like this would sound great through some good speakers. Curren$y's flow sounds much better on this song, but again, not hearing anything lyrically that's super impressive. Young Roddy's flow is pretty good too, but I feel the same about his vocals being doubled - lil too harsh. Unfortunately, they've got another corny hook on their hand, but hey, this is still better than some of the previous.
Skybourne ft Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA: And the final song is the best song! Very chill groove on this one, which is no surprise seeing as it's a weed song. I really dig the guitar riff that goes on. It's just all around smooth. And oh my goodness, I like the hook! Granted, it's not the greatest hook, but it is catchy. This is my favorite verse of Curren$y's so far, but I just wish he'd give me a line to post. Pretty decent verse from Big K.R.I.T. - I like his flow. Smoke DZA has the best verse in my opinion. His final line is my favorite - "They lied, money really do grow off trees." A doob will most definitely be lit to this one. Yay for ending on a happy note!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Songs of The Day
Example: This is an ok start to the album. I'm not sure how I feel about the rock guitar opening. I get the effect it has, it definitely makes you pay attention and sounds like an opener, but the beat that settles afterwards is so much better that I could have done without. The keys are smooth, it's nice. His flow has an undertone of Wiz to it, but I'm not sure how I feel about it. I'm not that impressed lyrically, so I'm glad it's short.
Audio Dope II: I like this beat solely based on the fact that it has a steel pan sample, which is not something you hear very often. Although, I don't like the muddled effect it has on it. Granted, the effect matches the rest of the beat, but the rest of the beat doesn't really impress me, so... His tone on one of the verses kind of irritates me, and I find that I am not paying attention to the song. The hook is kind of lame, I know he can do better than "Right back at it/Like the Pilot get the pot/We can get it crackin in here/Audio Dope/We track traffickin/And they askin for mo is you back again?
And I ain't talking bout practice no mo./When it's game time show me to the stove/Audio dope/Yea nigga/we track traffickin/They askin for mo is you back again?" - Lame.
King Kong: This beat is decent. I like the use of dynamic, and the synth sample that's used, but it's overall just aight. I'm not into this song. The hook is dumb. Sorry, Curren$y, but King Kong does have shit on you. He's an enormous ape that could crush you in between his fingers. Not feelin it.
Audio Dope II: I like this beat solely based on the fact that it has a steel pan sample, which is not something you hear very often. Although, I don't like the muddled effect it has on it. Granted, the effect matches the rest of the beat, but the rest of the beat doesn't really impress me, so... His tone on one of the verses kind of irritates me, and I find that I am not paying attention to the song. The hook is kind of lame, I know he can do better than "Right back at it/Like the Pilot get the pot/We can get it crackin in here/Audio Dope/We track traffickin/And they askin for mo is you back again?
And I ain't talking bout practice no mo./When it's game time show me to the stove/Audio dope/Yea nigga/we track traffickin/They askin for mo is you back again?" - Lame.
King Kong: This beat is decent. I like the use of dynamic, and the synth sample that's used, but it's overall just aight. I'm not into this song. The hook is dumb. Sorry, Curren$y, but King Kong does have shit on you. He's an enormous ape that could crush you in between his fingers. Not feelin it.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Album Factoids
Pilot Talk
Released: July 13, 2010
Genre: Rap/Hip Hop
Label: Roc-a-fella, DD172, Def Jam
Producer: Curren$y, Damon Dash, Mos Def, Ski Beatz, Nesby Phips, Monsta Beatz
Shante Scott Franklin
Released: July 13, 2010
Genre: Rap/Hip Hop
Label: Roc-a-fella, DD172, Def Jam
Producer: Curren$y, Damon Dash, Mos Def, Ski Beatz, Nesby Phips, Monsta Beatz
Shante Scott Franklin
Week 44: Curren$y
So, I'm going to Rock the Bells in Boston this year, and Curren$y is on the bill. I'd heard of Curren$y, but had never heard any of his music until this month when I was in a bar. I was really digging the feel, and got my handy dandy shazaam app out to figure out what the bar was playing, and they were playing this whole album (Pilot Talk). It sounded like the kind of rap that I'm into, so I thought I'd check into it before I saw him next month. Excited.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Final Grade: B+
Oh Little Dragon, how I love you so. This album, though not as good as their debut (which I might have to raise from an A- to an A) is still pretty solid. It gets off to a really great start with its opener and title track, which really set the tone for the majority of the album. I like that this album is a pretty good mix of the soulfulness of Little Dragon and electronic, 80s vibe of Machine Dreams. Although, I think it's a little heavy on the Machine Dreams side; I would've dug a lil more Little Dragon. The beginning of this album is seriously killin. "Brush The Heat" is probably my favorite. I was pretty disappointed by the end of this album. Starting at "Precious" it started to trail off for me. I still liked up to "Summertearz," but "When I Go Out" and "Seconds" were pretty lame in my opinion. That being said, it sounds like Little Dragon has found their sound, which is unique to a lot of the stuff out today, and I really get down with it. Still a die-hard LD fan, and will be looking forward to their next release!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Songs of The Day
When I Go Out: This groove starts out with only percussion, which have a kind of tribal feel to it that I dig, and they remain there throughout as other elements come in and out. Yukimi's vocal melody has harmonies the whole time, which I find cool, especially since they're not your standard harmony. This song doesn't do much for me though. It's a little long (Yukimi leaves for quite some time, leaving it instrumental before she comes back) and it starts to sound like something out of a bad alien movie (see, there are some alien things I don't like). There have been cooler grooves, and cooler melodies on this album. I can do without.
Seconds: Ritual Union ends on an instrumental track, which is surprising seeing as Yukimi is their seller. The groove reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe the kind of music you would expect to hear in a fantasy video game or something. I'm not gonna lie, this is a pretty lame way to end this album, especially one that had such a great start. Ending on an instrumental track isn't a bad thing, but this is and the previous are probably the weakest grooves of the whole album. Why did you do this to me LD??
Seconds: Ritual Union ends on an instrumental track, which is surprising seeing as Yukimi is their seller. The groove reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe the kind of music you would expect to hear in a fantasy video game or something. I'm not gonna lie, this is a pretty lame way to end this album, especially one that had such a great start. Ending on an instrumental track isn't a bad thing, but this is and the previous are probably the weakest grooves of the whole album. Why did you do this to me LD??
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