Saturday, March 29, 2014
Songs of the Day
Three more tracks up for review today (7-9): "Prescription/Oxymoron," "The Purge," and "Blind Threats."
The start of "Prescription/Oxymoron" sounds like it could be a Lupe Fiasco track, which I can definitely cosign because I love him. Another track about Q's life as a drug dealer (it's kind of the "Sing About Me" equivalent to this album), it has a somber feel to it that makes you listen. The "Prescription" half deals with his love for pills. The times where his daughter comes in asking if he's ok are really heart breaking, but it gives the listener a better visual on the content. The Oxymoron half of the track has much harder feel to it, as it deals more with the dealing side of things. I'm almost mad at how catchy the hook "I just stopped selling crack today" is, but that's the point of it. A turn up track, for sure. I dig.
As cute as it is to hear little kids curse, I've never really been a fan when it's on a record for some reason. "My daddy said drive, nigga" is how "The Purge" starts, and I could've done without that expletive from a 4 year old, but whatever. The rest of the track is chill, I really like the sample of the fire alarm used in the beat - cool choice. I haven't really listened to Tyler the Creator since I reviewed Goblin forever and a half ago, and I must say I've always preferred him as a feature rapper. I've never listened to Kurupt before, but the three rappers sound good together, and they've all got good flow. Nothing about this track really grabs me, but it's not a bad song either. Decent.
"Blind Threats" for sure is my favorite beat of the day. The sample sounds like something out of a 70s movie, which gives it a old school feel that I dig, but it still sounds fresh. "But if God won't help me, this gun will," damn, that's a deep hook, but I'm sure that's how a lot of people feel. Dig the strings they come in, they sound pretty cool. Also dope to hear Raekwon on the track, his distinct sound works well with both the track and with Q's flow. Dope track.
The start of "Prescription/Oxymoron" sounds like it could be a Lupe Fiasco track, which I can definitely cosign because I love him. Another track about Q's life as a drug dealer (it's kind of the "Sing About Me" equivalent to this album), it has a somber feel to it that makes you listen. The "Prescription" half deals with his love for pills. The times where his daughter comes in asking if he's ok are really heart breaking, but it gives the listener a better visual on the content. The Oxymoron half of the track has much harder feel to it, as it deals more with the dealing side of things. I'm almost mad at how catchy the hook "I just stopped selling crack today" is, but that's the point of it. A turn up track, for sure. I dig.
As cute as it is to hear little kids curse, I've never really been a fan when it's on a record for some reason. "My daddy said drive, nigga" is how "The Purge" starts, and I could've done without that expletive from a 4 year old, but whatever. The rest of the track is chill, I really like the sample of the fire alarm used in the beat - cool choice. I haven't really listened to Tyler the Creator since I reviewed Goblin forever and a half ago, and I must say I've always preferred him as a feature rapper. I've never listened to Kurupt before, but the three rappers sound good together, and they've all got good flow. Nothing about this track really grabs me, but it's not a bad song either. Decent.
"Blind Threats" for sure is my favorite beat of the day. The sample sounds like something out of a 70s movie, which gives it a old school feel that I dig, but it still sounds fresh. "But if God won't help me, this gun will," damn, that's a deep hook, but I'm sure that's how a lot of people feel. Dig the strings they come in, they sound pretty cool. Also dope to hear Raekwon on the track, his distinct sound works well with both the track and with Q's flow. Dope track.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Songs of the Day
Three more tracks make up today's review: "What They Want," "Hoover Street," and "Studio."
I guess my 2 Chainz comment on the "Collard Greens" review has come back to bite me, because he's the featured rapper on "What They Want." I can't say I'm surprised, he's one of the biggest rappers in the game right now (unfortunately), just slightly disappointed. Q goes down to 2 Chainz level a little bit with his flow - it's much slower than it has been on previous tracks. I can do without the cum imagery though, thank you. Oh 2 Chainz, I simply do not understand how you have more money than I do, you are so awful! Q could have had a much better song with a different collaborator. The beat also isn't all that, but it definitely could have been the backbone to a great track. This one doesn't do much for me.
I like how out "Hoover Street" is. There's not really a locked in center - the flow is doing it's own thing over the super open, bare beat. It almost seems dream-like. I dig that it gets itself into something a little more structured, and at the right time too (a little longer would have seemed a little boring). Lyrically, this is a pretty in depth track about his dealing days, and I'm always down for a story. The beat is cool too, has an old school feel to it that I dig. The track is a little too long for my taste, it's too easy to be distracted. It'll take a couple listens to buckle down and really catch everything that's going on within this tune, but I'm down for it.
"Studio" is definitely my favorite track of the day. The beat has a 90s R&B vibe to it that I really dig, as I am such a sucker for a good throwback. "I'm just sittin in the studio tryna get to you baby" is a pretty catchy hook, and BJ the Chicago Kid's voice sounds great on it. There's nothing that's lyrically gripping me, but it's a dope beat to chill back to you, and it's got a catchy hook, so why the fuck not?
I guess my 2 Chainz comment on the "Collard Greens" review has come back to bite me, because he's the featured rapper on "What They Want." I can't say I'm surprised, he's one of the biggest rappers in the game right now (unfortunately), just slightly disappointed. Q goes down to 2 Chainz level a little bit with his flow - it's much slower than it has been on previous tracks. I can do without the cum imagery though, thank you. Oh 2 Chainz, I simply do not understand how you have more money than I do, you are so awful! Q could have had a much better song with a different collaborator. The beat also isn't all that, but it definitely could have been the backbone to a great track. This one doesn't do much for me.
I like how out "Hoover Street" is. There's not really a locked in center - the flow is doing it's own thing over the super open, bare beat. It almost seems dream-like. I dig that it gets itself into something a little more structured, and at the right time too (a little longer would have seemed a little boring). Lyrically, this is a pretty in depth track about his dealing days, and I'm always down for a story. The beat is cool too, has an old school feel to it that I dig. The track is a little too long for my taste, it's too easy to be distracted. It'll take a couple listens to buckle down and really catch everything that's going on within this tune, but I'm down for it.
"Studio" is definitely my favorite track of the day. The beat has a 90s R&B vibe to it that I really dig, as I am such a sucker for a good throwback. "I'm just sittin in the studio tryna get to you baby" is a pretty catchy hook, and BJ the Chicago Kid's voice sounds great on it. There's nothing that's lyrically gripping me, but it's a dope beat to chill back to you, and it's got a catchy hook, so why the fuck not?
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Songs of the Day
Got the first three tracks on deck for review this afternoon: "Gangsta," "Los Awesome," and "Collard Greens."
No surprised that "Gangsta" comes hard to open up the record. It's the kind of track that gives you a stank face and makes you want to turn up, which (in the right setting) I can get down with. Q has a roughness to his tone that definitely works with the track, although I prefer something a little smoother, but I don't mind it. It is pretty cute how his daughter starts the track off with "my daddy a gangsta," gotta love a good baby cameo. This track eludes back to Q's days as a drug dealer, and that vibe definitely comes across. Not anything lyrically that really jumps out at me, but it's definitely a cool tune that gives you exactly what you would expect from a song with that title.
"Los Awesome" goes along with the same kind of turn up vibe as "Gangsta," but with a little more of a dance feel. I can hear this bumpin in a club, and I'm sure everyone would get down to it. Dope to hear Jay Rock on the track, their flows go well together. The beat is almost a little overpowering, it's gonna take a couple listens before I really hear what the two are saying because they're somewhat muddled underneath the groove. The beats cool though, so I don't really mind (lyrics are secondary in my mind anyway). Now this song is making me want to go to the club...too bad it's only 2:30 in the afternoon. The slow down at the end is a dope lil interlude. I can get down with it.
So I knew I had heard at least one Schoolboy Q song on xm, and it was "Collard Greens." I definitely stopped at it because it was featuring Kendrick, and I'm down to listen to anything he's on. This is definitely a catchy tune, which I'm sure is why it was the first single off the album. Love Kendrick's little Spanish section in his verse...and his whole verse in general. I really dig the beat on this one, another club banger for sure. The two's flows go well together, so it's no surprise that they come from the same crew. "Kush be my fragrance," no way, me too! It's nice to hear rap tracks with rappers that have actual flow (which is so lacking in popular rap these days *coughcough* 2 chainz *coughcough*). Definitely a catchy track.
No surprised that "Gangsta" comes hard to open up the record. It's the kind of track that gives you a stank face and makes you want to turn up, which (in the right setting) I can get down with. Q has a roughness to his tone that definitely works with the track, although I prefer something a little smoother, but I don't mind it. It is pretty cute how his daughter starts the track off with "my daddy a gangsta," gotta love a good baby cameo. This track eludes back to Q's days as a drug dealer, and that vibe definitely comes across. Not anything lyrically that really jumps out at me, but it's definitely a cool tune that gives you exactly what you would expect from a song with that title.
"Los Awesome" goes along with the same kind of turn up vibe as "Gangsta," but with a little more of a dance feel. I can hear this bumpin in a club, and I'm sure everyone would get down to it. Dope to hear Jay Rock on the track, their flows go well together. The beat is almost a little overpowering, it's gonna take a couple listens before I really hear what the two are saying because they're somewhat muddled underneath the groove. The beats cool though, so I don't really mind (lyrics are secondary in my mind anyway). Now this song is making me want to go to the club...too bad it's only 2:30 in the afternoon. The slow down at the end is a dope lil interlude. I can get down with it.
So I knew I had heard at least one Schoolboy Q song on xm, and it was "Collard Greens." I definitely stopped at it because it was featuring Kendrick, and I'm down to listen to anything he's on. This is definitely a catchy tune, which I'm sure is why it was the first single off the album. Love Kendrick's little Spanish section in his verse...and his whole verse in general. I really dig the beat on this one, another club banger for sure. The two's flows go well together, so it's no surprise that they come from the same crew. "Kush be my fragrance," no way, me too! It's nice to hear rap tracks with rappers that have actual flow (which is so lacking in popular rap these days *coughcough* 2 chainz *coughcough*). Definitely a catchy track.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Album Factoids
Oxymoron
Genre: Rap
Released: March 3, 2014
Label: Top Dawg, Interscope
Producers: Schoolboy Q, Anthony "TOPDAWG" Tiffith, Pharrell, Boi-1da, Clams Casino, DJ Dahi, Frank Dukes, LordQuest, The Maven Boys, Mike Will Made It, Marz, Nez & Rio, Rocket, Sounwave, Swiff D, Tae Beast, THC, Tyler the Creator, The Alchemist, Willie B
Genre: Rap
Released: March 3, 2014
Label: Top Dawg, Interscope
Producers: Schoolboy Q, Anthony "TOPDAWG" Tiffith, Pharrell, Boi-1da, Clams Casino, DJ Dahi, Frank Dukes, LordQuest, The Maven Boys, Mike Will Made It, Marz, Nez & Rio, Rocket, Sounwave, Swiff D, Tae Beast, THC, Tyler the Creator, The Alchemist, Willie B
Week 92: Schoolboy Q
So, everybody's been talking about Schoolboy Q lately, and I guess I'm completely out of the loop because I couldn't name a single track of his. But I was doing some research, and a) he's in the same crew as Kendrick Lamar (who is definitely my favorite rapper right now. I mean, cmon, good kidd was pretty fucking incredible), and b) his album just dropped a couple weeks ago so there seems to be no better time than the present to check this dude out. I've been trying to keep up with new music a little better as of late, so hopefully this is a new artist that I'll be able to get down with. Here's hoping this album lives up to the hype!
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