Kygo's Cloud Nine is All You'd Hoped For and More

After months of waiting and having the release pushed back a few times, Kygo's Cloud Nine finally landed in its entirety this week. On the full length debut, you'll find plenty of known favorites, as well as a handful of new gems. A few of my new favorites include Oasis, Happy Birthday and For What It's Worth. The first two feature world class vocals from Foxes and John Legend, so it shouldn't be a big surprise to hear that those stood out. If you've read any of my posts about Kygo, you already know how smitten I was for his original Piano Jam. It was only a matter of time before it was blessed with vocals, but I gotta admit, I wasn't blown away by how the brother/sister duo of Angus and Julia Stone's vocals meshed with the original instrumental.

In terms of ranking it with some of my favorite debut albums over the years, I won't go as far to say it's as good as Avicii's debut True. What I will say is that it will undoubtedly go down as one of the most influential debuts over time as Kygo single handedly carved his own path in a genre that is starved for originality. As decades pass, I don't see myself ever getting tired of hearing Firestone, Stay, or Stole the Show. There have been many albums that I've had high hopes for that haven't had a single track as good as the past three I mentioned, which should say a lot about how impactful the album is in its entirety. If you haven't had a chance to catch Kygo in concert, check yourself because you're missing out on a really talented artist put on an amazing show...#CloudNine

Album Review: Drake Take Care

It's been a while since I've done an album review, but I figured what better way to get back on the horse than reviewing @Drake's latest album. I know I'm a little tardy on the review, but better late than never. Those of you who visit my site on a frequent basis know how passionate I am about Drake's music, so the main reason I've put off the review for so long is because I knew it would be a big time commitment. Why can't I do a simple, short album review you ask? Because accountability to me is not doing a half-assed review of a quality album. As a result, I tend to be long winded with my album reviews and try to give back as much detailed opinion as I can possibly give in one post. #ConciseRhymesWithNotNice

To shake things up a bit, I tried a different approach to the organization of my review. For starters, I categorized the tracks on his album into two tiers and reviewed the tiers as a whole.

Top Tier (Top 7 Tracks):
1. Take a Shot
2. Over My Dead Body
3. The Motto
4. Take Care
5. Make Me Proud
6. Buried Alive (Interlude)
7. HYFR

As you know by now, I'm not one to shy away from writing about Drake tracks, especially tracks of his I really like. As a result, it shouldn't be a surprise that I've previously done a post on most of my favorite songs on Take Care. The best decision Drake made when constructing the tracklist was to lead with Over My Dead Body and Take a Shot. When trying to live up to enormous expectations, leading with two tracks that weren't singles, but were still standout tracks, was a great move.

With so much of the sound of the album being shaped by @OVO40, Take Care was able to take on a unique sound that is more comparable to So Far Gone than Thank Me Later. Even better, relatively unknown but extremely talented up and coming artists like @Kendrick_Lamar and @theweekndxo were able to get their chance to shine throughout the track on features. Hands down the most awe inspiring verse on the album came from Kendrick Lamar on the Buried Alive (Interlude). It's rare that artists use interludes for anything other than filler material on an album, but every interlude on Take Care was well done and provided contrast to the @NickiMinaj and @liltunchi tracks that were singles and subsequently garnered the most attention. For the people who really listen, it was cool to see that the album was chalked full of unique sounds, samples and features rather than high profile cameos. I really think Take a Shot will end up being a top 5 all time Drake track for me. The contrast of a subtly bitter, but proud tone lyrically gives the track an added layer of depth that isn't noticeable without listening closely. With all the ways to relate to the track it's no surprise that Weezy felt that same sort of personal accessibility to Drake's story...

Second Tier (8-13):
8. Headlines
9. We'll Be Fine
10. The Real Her
11. Crew Love
12. Underground Kings
13. Cameras Good Ones Go Interlude

Headlines ended up being a great way to get pop culture's attention as a lead single, but in the grand scheme of things there were a many more tracks I liked better on the album. In my ranking of second tier tracks, you'll find a few tracks that you may have skipped over, but I personally liked a lot. For example, We'll Be Fine an Crew Love stood out as tracks that I found myself gravitating to the more I listened to the album. We'll Be Fine is a mellow and upbeat and Crew Love is about as close to a ballad as you're going to get from Drake. I have to be in study or thinking mode to be able to listen to Drake's slower songs on Take Care, but that's not a bad thing because most artists can't pull off different sounds and tempos.

All in all, it's fair to say that I enjoyed Take Care about as much as I liked Wiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers and Drake's previous album Thank Me Later, but not as much as B.O.B.'s Adventures of Bobby Ray or Drake debut So Far Gone. I know it's becoming a little cliche that I keep giving albums a 4 out of 5 headphone grade on my review, but unfortunately since I have a 40 hour a week job, I don't have the time to review albums I don't enjoy. As a result, you're probably never going to get a review from me that is less that 4 out of 5 headphone because I won't be motivated enough to write about it if it's less than that. With that being said, I won't hesitate to critique an artist I really like if he sells out in any way (see Wale when he went MMG). Still, keeping it positive is what I try to do because hate is worthless emotion and you're not reading my blog in the first place if you want critical reviews...#NotMyCupOfTea

In two months Take Care has sold 1.3 million copies and will eminently head toward double platinum status in the coming months (especially if the song Take Care is released as a single). In other words, if you were looking for a sophomore slump from Drizzy, you've probably given up by now. It'll be interesting to see where he goes with his next album, but at this point it's safe to say he's proven that his lyrical depth and storytelling ability is second to none.

"We Fly, I Mean so Fly We Need a Whole Wing TGOD"

You’ve been asleep for quite a while if you think @REALWIZKHALIFA is a new artist or that nobody knew about him before Black and Yellow caught fire. In 2006 he was called a new artist to watch by Rolling Stone, only to cover the same magazine five years later when he released his first, highly anticipated album. Again, not his first, second, but his third studio album has everyone taking notice and joining the army that has become Taylor Gang.

From a first hand account when I saw him in concert a couple months back, I wrote about how I felt like I was missing something when everyone in the crowd knew verses word for word from tracks off mixtapes he did years ago. Other than @drakkardnoir, you just don't see that type of die hard fandom very often where fans can go years back to a mixtape and know every word. It's hard enough to get people to listen to your studio album, let alone a free mixtape. I also noted in my review how his sound caters to a huge demographic of suburban white kids. They are the type of Hip Hop fans who are drawn to white collar living. Ironically, they are also drawn to the in-your-face rebelliousness of Wiz’s music, highlighted by rampant Kush smoking. Add easily understood, repeatable lyrics that aren’t littered with the N word and you’ve got a style that a 15-30 year old white kid can get down with.

Rolling Papers is no different. He makes easy listening Hip Hop, characterized by chilled out rhythms that are more Pure Moods sounding than 808. The tone is set on the first track When I'm Gone, with a full minute of peaceful piano giving way to characteristically audacious lyrics. The persona of a Taylor is epitomized by the hook where Wiz harmonizes:

"I'm gonna spend it all
Why wait for another day?
I'ma take all this money I own
And blow it all away
Cause I can't take it when I'm gone"

After the intro comes the three high profile singles with the @IAmJimJonsin produced On My Level, Black and Yellow, and Roll Up. On My Level stands out on the album because it's the only track on the album produced by an industry heavyweight, so some may argue it doesn't mesh well, but tempo and hook wise it fits perfectly with the exaggerated, slow rhythms and mellow harmony. I don't even need to touch on how classic Black and Yellow turned out to be, but it's interesting to note I posted it on September 26th, literally 6 months before Rolling Papers dropped. Crazy how long anticipation has been building for his album and that it took 5 months for the second single Roll Up to drop. It ended up being a great decision because it kept the ball rolling with another radio friendly Stargate produced, smooth, synthy, feel good track.

As far as the album review is concerned, to me the review starts here because damn near every album these days begins to fall flat on their faces after the glitter of the singles wears off. Anyone can get a top 25 single on the radio, but it's rare for an album to keep my attention for the duration. As I started track 5, Hopes and Dreams, I was hesitant because the letdown was beginning as I wasn't a fan of the track. It's a little too slow for my liking and was too much of a mundane sing along. Luckily, as I skipped to the next track I was immediately drawn in by the third Stargate produced track Wake Up. The back and forth steady knock of the beat fits Wiz's delivery to a T like Taylor. If you want to hear him in his zone, listen to the first verse on this track. Dude even sings his own bridge, opting against the cliche T-pain or Akon collab sound and instead going with his own sound, which is beyond admirable considering how easy and popular it is to fit the industry norm...serious #Daps&Lbs for that.

Next, The Race is a dreamy, zoned out track that lands softly on the ear drums, emanating a soothing vibe throughout the track. To say it's a chill track is an understatement and doesn't do justice to the uniqueness of the guitar backbone on the beat. Star of the Show was filler track number two on the album, just not my cup of tea. Luckily, like the first filler, it was followed by one of my favorites, his third single off the album No Sleep. This will be a late spring, early summer anthem that has already reached the heights of the first two singles. The song makes me think of summer break in college when you didn't have a job or care in the world and all you did was party. No Sleep is perfectly suited for teenage/college kid consumption, emphasizing what matters to people in their late teens/early 20s, livin it up on the weekend. Again, perfectly nailing his demographic, which will only serve to convert more college kids into TGOD believers.

Get Your Shit is an emotional ballad that shows a lesser seen, vulnerable side of Wiz, as he tells his own breakup story saying, “I swear I love you but this ain’t right for us”. The back and forth knock and glee club style harmony on Top Floor sucks you in with an out of left field, tribal vibe on the track. Fly Solo is a nice acoustic change of gears, showing a little versatility in his sound by opting against the heavy Hip Hop beat and catering to a more contemporary sound. Rooftops continues the harmonic sound of the album with an echoing hook that offsets the aggressive, high caliber lyricism and chemistry shared between Wiz and @currensy_spitta.

The final track on the album, Cameras, is without a doubt my favorite on the album. It’s a feel good track with uplifting lyrics that go together perfectly with the upbeat, head nod worthy beat that keeps your attention with the calming guitar riff throughout. It's got a repeatable sound and genuinely happy feel to it, which ends up being a perfect way to cap the album. It won't be hard to imagine this as a final single to carry home the final push for sales and keep building on the 191K first week sales.

Wiz Khalifa - Cameras (prod by E.Dan)

|Download

All in all, Rolling Papers is front to back fresh. By my count there are only two out of 14 tracks I skip when listening to the album and that's very rare considering my on-to-the-next-one taste for music. He deserves credit for the homegrown sound, opting against the inclusion of typical hooks by Akon, T-pain, Chris Brown, or Trey Songz and instead singing the chorus on every song. I wouldn't call him a singer or say he's always on tune, but his own soft harmony maintains cohesion between verses and defines his style, making it unlike anybody else in the game. Sure his hooks are mostly sing-songy, but I’d argue that his G-funk sound is a continuation of the style Snoop, Warren G, and Nate Dogg coined a decade ago. The Grammys this year were another glaring example of how Hip Hop is still not on level ground with less controversial, more traditional genres like Country, Folk and Rock, but with Wiz, Drake, Cudi, and B.O.B. bringing a more contemporary, easy listening sound to Hip Hop, it’s only a matter of time before you'll see a true Hip Hop act perform at the Super Bowl.

Also noteworthy was that Wiz has his own Boi-1da in E Dan (@idlabsmusic) who did a great job in crafting a different sound that further differentiated Wiz’s sound from anything else in Hip Hop. The three Stargate tracks mixed with his production are instrumental (pun intended) in shaping the dreamy calmness that's comparable to Kid Cudi’s music, but a lot more middle of the road lyrically and generally happy in comparison. Call it happy stoner rap, rather than depressing stoner rap, with the contemporary instrumentation (plenty of acoustic guitar) that you’d hear on B.O.B.’s music. For a 23-year-old that smokes copious amounts of weed, he's undeniably smart/experienced enough to understand why his fans enjoy his music. With lines like, "Got money minor league turn major, Got money white people turn neighbors" on Wake Up and, "No socks in my boat shows now a n**** eatin’ good like whole foods” on Rooftops, he's not trying to make trap rap like T.I. or Pusha T, he's staying true to who he is and where/how he grew up no matter what type of Hip Hop fan he attracts. Five years ago his Hip Hop peers would have looked down on his style and called him "soft" for not rapping about drugs, guns and bitches, but now, thanks largely in part to artists like Drake, Cudi and B.O.B., Hip Hop has moved away from the harshness of Gangsta rap in favor of a more listen-able, relate-able and instrumentation based sound that I'm clearly excited about. #YouShouldBeToo

As a result of non-leaked, extremely well done tracks like No Sleep, Cameras, Wake Up and Top Floor, I'm giving Rolling Papers a 4 out of 5 headphone grade. It surpassed my expectations in both quality and quantity, firmly planting himself in my live starting 5 of up and coming MCs. Keep it up Wiz and I'll see you this weekend...

BONUS: Below are two recent videos and my favorite track on the album, Cameras for your viewing/listening pleasure.

Wiz speaks on trimming the features and "saving the suspense of future bigger collaborations" on Rolling Papers.

Interview with Ground Breaking Productions answering the basic pre-album question like what it feels like to be Taylor Gang and how it feels to come up like he has.

Cop Rolling Papers on iTunes

Album Review: Drake - Thank Me Later

"You say you like it like dat, I think I like it too, 

half a million in a week it's only right I do"

The most common question I get from friends and family of mine (many of whom don’t listen to Hip Hop) has been who my favorite artist is? Like any self respecting Hip Hop blogger, there is never a clear cut answer to that question because truthfully we follow so many different artists that catch our attention, the question is almost as difficult as a parent answering the question “Which one of your kids is your favorite?”. Obviously that comparison is a gross overstatement, but it was intended to make a clear point about Hip Hop bloggers like me. We all have the unique intrinsic motivation to share in addition to a healthy enough ego to assume people will care about our opinions of what we think about new music that is coming out. Deep down we strive to be musical opinion leaders and generally speaking, the best bloggers end up writing about and ultimately sharing what we deem quality Hip Hop...or at least noteworthy Hip Hop. Keeping that in mind, when I answer the cliché question of who my favorite artist is, I usually give a group of current artists that make enough quality music that they deserve to be placed on a pedestal. A group that (to me) includes but is not always limited to names like Kid Cudi, Bun-B, B.O.B., Crooked I, The Cool Kids and Drake.

Over the past year, if you’ve paid any attention to this blog or have been a subscriber to my monthly song list I send out to people around the US, you’ve probably figured out that Drake has become my favorite artist. Even though it’s become more than cliché to jump on the Drake bandwagon over the past year ("even though the bandwagon is full you can try and run behind it"), I feel like I was on the wagon before it had wheels (see the May 2009 GWDJ Song List when I rated many of the tracks off So Far Gone). Brace yourself, below is a long-winded explanation of how I feel about his new album Thank Me Later and why I have a heightened appreciation for his music compared to all other artists out right now. I spent a lot of time on this because a lot of his music has hit me on a real level, so I feel like I need to return the favor by letting you all know why he shit at times moves me.

If you’ve paid any attention to the buzz surrounding Drake’s new album Thank Me Later, you may wonder what exactly endears him to fans/listeners more than any new artist that has dropped a debut album in the past 20 years (debatably)? In my opinion, it’s a complex mix of his abilities and personality that has created his irresistibly likable style. His ability to be lyrically transparent and emotionally accessible while using intelligent, creative wordplay that is communicated with a clear, easily understood delivery is the reason why so many of his listeners not only really enjoy his music, but they admire him. I can’t remember the last time an artist was able to garner so much universal fandom and buzz leading up to a debut album and appealing to such a wide demographic by creating a very listenable (I hate using the word Pop, it’s become too cliché) mix of Hip Hop and R&B.

Prior to launching a career in music, he was known as Jimmy from Degrassi where he’d been acting since the age of 16. As a result, he’s used to the limelight, which has allowed him to grow up quicker than most 23 year olds ("I keep thinking young can you die from old age” - Light Up). For example, you don’t hear too many guys (especially Hip Hop artists) his age turning their nose up at beer, always opting for wine (“Am I the only 23 year old wine connoisseur?” - You Know You Know). You don’t hear other artists his age talking about how unfulfilling it is to hook up with groupies and "gassing" women up, looking instead for a grown woman who is driven and can relate to him intellectually ("women learn to love an honest man, I'm not going to sell you a dream, this is me"). You don’t see Hip Hop artists voicing their insecurities and personal thoughts that go through normal people’s head, it’s simply not Hip Hop to be so wide open ("What if I don't do the numbers they predict, considerin' the fact I'm the one that they just picked" - 9 AM in Dallas). Hip Hop culture has traditionally been all about being in control and never showing the vulnerable side that every person possesses, opting instead for the arrogant, “cool talk” that often demeans women and exhibits the hubris and unrelenting braggadocio that acts as body armor impervious to any lyrical threat or attack.

Having an inimitable career path and being a fearless grown up in a 23 year old’s body has allowed Drake to turn his unique own blend of Hip Hop/R&B into a successful 462k first week debut. What we as an audience learned from his So Far Gone mixtape is that his music should not be taken at face value. His lyrics are meticulously conceived (on his Blackberry no less) and reach a higher intellectual level than most Hip Hop, which is why people who only give his music one listen a lot of the time are missing the punchline of the joke. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m the worst at prematurely dismissing music that doesn’t immediately appeal to me on first listen. I get caught up in my own ego, believing that my skill in discovering and writing about new music is refined enough that after one listen I can usually tell whether I will like it or not. Drake was the exception to that as I was initially not thrilled by much of what he put out.

That all changed when I gave Successful more than one listen. Soon after I gave his whole mixtape a listen and his single Best I Ever Had caught fire on the radio. By then I was knee deep in all of his tracks (Best I Ever Had wasn’t even close to my favorite track on So Far Gone, see November 18th), taking a liking to his lyrical creativity that was uniquely vulnerable, but was still delivered with a the confident, audacious demeanor that all Hip Hop greats exhibit.

The main difference between So Far Gone and Thank Me Later is the amount of original content. Much of So Far Gone was filled with freestyles over other artists’ beats, while Thank Me Later is all original beats, mainly from his team of producers Noah “40” Shebib and Boi-1da. Objectively speaking, as a whole, Thank Me Later is more of an artistic compilation or concerted effort to create a cohesively themed album. The end result of the extra effort to create everything from scratch may be the reason why a lot of his fans are still becoming acclimated with his more original style and sound on his new album. In other words if you were expecting to get another album that sounded like So Far Gone, you were probably disappointed by Thank Me Later. Considering the insurmountable pressure and expectations surrounding this album, it was to be expected that fans would need to temper their expectations and comparisons to the well known mixtape or else they would end up killing the momentum of one of their favorite new artists. After a solid month of listening to Thank Me Later and two concerts witnessing new tracks, I feel like I’m finally prepared to make judgments and give opinions about an album that was meant to be listened more than a few times before deciding its fate, hence the title Thank Me Later.

On first listen, I liked Thank Me Later more than So Far Gone. Does that mean I’ll end up liking Thank Me Later more than So Far Gone? Probably not, but that’s more of a testament to how long it took me to appreciate his now legendary mixtape. Off top, starting with Fireworks, he quickly jumps onto a new train of thought that shows his transition into dealing with success wondering aloud “Money just changed everything, I wonder how life without it would go?” He continues on the second verse to touch on his brief quasi relationship with Rihanna and finishes the track touching on how his success has affected his family and shaped his search to find love. It’s as if he’s having an epiphany in realizing what his recurring dream finally means in front of our eyes. Alicia definitely adds to the introspective vibe of the track by providing a picturesque hook, opening the door for an emotionally wide open album.

Continuing on with a grown and sexy track Karaoke where Drake takes us on a personal relationship journey that ended as the woman he was after moved to Atlanta, afraid of taking the chance of pursuing something with him. Real sentimental track that while risky, endears him to his fans for his real life honesty.

If you held a gun to my head and made me pick a favorite off Thank Me Later, track 3, The Resistance, would be my favorite. It’s about as close as you’re going to get to a sequel to his track Successful, as he’s now experienced the success he initially craved and is now dealing with it. I say dealing with it because like anyone who has become a star, they have to listen to people say “You promised me you would never change” when they no longer have the same time to hang out. Questioning “when he started treating his friends different” is a thought process that a normal Hip Hop artist wouldn’t let us in on, it’s too honest. In choosing to embrace the chaos by saying “You can tell by looking in my eyes right now, cause we’re just having the time of our lives right now” he’s brushing off those who don’t understand (the haters), trying to insinuate that it's nothing personal. An overlooked artistic touch is the final line, “Ain’t no turning back for me I’m in it til it’s over” that leads into his hit Over. Nice touch and seamless transition from my favorite track to your most popular track.

I’ve alluded to many people being initially lukewarm to Over, but that’s mostly because of the crazy expectations that over-hype created. As time goes on and people forget about all the hype of it being the lead single, Over will end up being a great song I feel like. Maybe my opinion has been skewed by witnessing the raw energy of him closing all of his shows by performing by song, but it’s a true Hip Hop track that possesses so much vitality, it’s hard not to get hype listening to it.

After Over, Drake continues the feel good vibe on Show Me a Good Time, a stress relief anthem encouraging listeners to “take a shot and let it out, let’s get right, now that I’m here baby, show me a good time”. To each their own, if there were to be considered a track that I consistently skip over, this would be one of the two tracks. That isn’t to say it won’t be someone else’s favorite track on the album, the vibe is positive, just not my favorite.

The energy on track 5 was saved for his potential single with Nicki Minaj, Up All Night. There is quite a bit of chemistry between the two on every song they do together and this is evidence of that. One of the few fast paced tracks on the album, it provides a break between a lot of the slow R&B tracks and slower Hip Hop tracks.

Air Drizzy

The next five tracks are where Drake truly hits his stride, starting with Fancy. Drake and T.I's verses are on point over a Swizz Beat, but the true show stopped is Drake's final verse on the track, which is one of the top 5 verses on the album:

"Uh, 5 and a half in boys
Ass is off the hook
Cinderella bout to lose the glass off her foot
And when I find it is when I find you
And we can do the things we never got the time to
Better late than never
But never late is better
They tell me time is money, well we’ll spend it together
I’m down for whatever
You just lead the way
We go to dinner you don’t even look at me to pay
Mature women with more than me were the first to tempt me
And Jason had this girl Tammy with a purple Bentley
How she got it I aint never get to ask
I just knew that she was fine like a ticket on the dash
Yeah, but shout out to the homeowners
The girls that got diplomas

And enough money to loan us a little something extra

Should we ever need it
If it sounds like you then let me hear you repeat it"

Absolutely on point and despite slowing it down a bit on Shut it Down with The Dream, Drake absolutely shines in his own way. I can't think of any other artist that can drop a line like "put those f-cking heels on and work it girl, let that mirror show you what your doing" and have it come off as sincere and melodic. Again, he ends the song with a top 5 verse on the album with:

"Shooting Stars all around her, fire, comets.
I could bring her through and shut them down, Onyx

No, you’re not imagining, they’re looking at you long stares

Even though she’s standing out she looks like she belongs here
You feel the hours pass, until you find somethin’
I feel like when she moves – the time doesn’t
Yeah, baby you finer than your fine cousin
And your cousin fine, but she don’t have my heart beating in double time
You just shut it down, girl
Who told the cops where the party was?
Why do I feel like I found The One?
What’s in these shots that you ordered us?
Damn. I mean you sure know how to paint a town
Ever since you came around its obvious you shut it down"

The wordplay and imagery exude such powerfully meaningful emotion...I couldn't help by rewind that one a few times. And the irony is, just when I thought it couldn't get better he drops the best verse on the album on his next track Unforgettable.

"Yo, this is really one of my dumbest flows ever
I haven’t slept in days,
And me and my latest girl agreed to go our seperate ways, so I’m single
Thinking about what we had and missing you,
But I ain’t Santa, I got something for these bad bitches too

I mean paparazzi on me, trying not to get called out

They always seem to catch me with the women that I brought out
Baby, don’t hold on too long ’cause thats how them stories start out,
And all those girls that played me eat your muthaf-ckin heart out, it’s Drizzy
Always gone but never hard to find
And since you can’t escape me, do I ever cross your mind?
Because all this sh-t is new to me, I’m learning to behave,
And still spending every dollar they encourage me to save, but I’m good
I know that n-ggas would kill for this lifestyle,
I’m looking forward to the memories of right now
Never forgettin’ from where I came,
And no matter where I’m headed, I promise to stay the same"

From the santa line, to him talking ish to all the girls who did him wrong, to finally wrapping up the verse critiquing the way he's dealing with success, yet still doesn't lose perspective as he gives some food for thought with the "I’m looking forward to the memories of right now" line. I really do hope he keeps his promise of not changing no matter where he goes because right now his verses provide a lot of creative food for thought that dominates the thought processes of over-analyzers like me on a daily basis. Being able to subtly drop lines that make you think and appreciate life in a different way with words is a true skill and a big reason why I enjoy Drake's music so much. No disrespect to Jeezy, but this track would have been classic if we would have gotten another verse out of Drake rather than hearing you singing and a little out of your element.

Songs 10 and 11 are probably going to dominate the favorites lists of most Drake fans. I don't think I've fully gotten a chance to determine and appreciate the scope of the outside-the-box, out of the ordinary 32 bar verses (rather than the typical "Hot 16") that Drake and Jay-Z drop on their first big collaboration, Light Up. The "no hook" style adds to the legendary status of the track and it's another track that will probably gain popularity as Drake's career gains some longevity. Similarly, his track with Lil Wayne on Miss Me is a no-brainer stand out track. The laid back, at times silly but with plenty of well crafted wordplay to spare verses by both Drake and Lil Wayne are awesome, but it really makes me mad that this sort of chemistry couldn't have produced one or two more tracks on Thank Me Later (due to Weezy's incarceration). Still laugh every time I hear Weezy's lyric "I walk soft, so I don't piss the ground off"...not sure why that stuck with me, but to me it was really funny...for some reason.

Cece's Interlude is another artistic effort by Drake to show us his talent as a singer, which is good because we will get a better picture of what to expect, but it's probably going to get skipped over by a lot of fans (me included). Not a big fan of interludes (unless they are really funny). Find Your Love is doing some damage on radio and a great single choice (obviously) with the Kanye beat and catchy, repeatable hook. It's hard to turn off when it comes on, but like every track that radio gets a hold of, it takes away from the luster. Still a great track though. The album ends with somewhat of a whimper with Thank Me Now, which is only the 2nd track on the whole album I frequently skip. The second verse is growing on me the more I listen to it because of the candid demeanor and humble honesty, ending the album with:

"And I know life is just a game in which the cards are facing down
I’m in the world where things are taken, never given
How long they choose to love you will never be your decision
And I’m aware this could be the last time you listen
So while I’m still in this postion…you can thank me now"

As an aside, I still feel like his 9 AM in Dallas freestyle is the most underrated element of his album as a bonus track. I bet he worked on that freestyle 10 times less than any track he did on this album, but that's probably what makes it the best. It's a fast paced, witty assault on people who doubt him and the energy he brings to the track is living proof. Great Great Great track all things considered and an end of the album treat for unsuspecting listeners.

GWDJ Verdict: All in all, I'd say Drake's debut album Thank Me Later deserves a 4 headphone grade.

It's a different style we're used to hearing from him, which isn't a bad thing at all, it just adds to his depth as an artist. Parts of Thank Me Later that really make him stand out are the parts where he shows his more accessible/vulnerable, human side like:

“I heard they just moved my grandmother to a nursing home and I be acting like I don’t know how to work a phone” (The Resistance)

“I’m just such a gentleman you should give it up for me, look at how I’m placing all my napkins and my cutlery” (Fireworks)

“How many of our parents marriages lasted, I was only 5 I bet I barely reacted” (Fireworks)

“Don’t be fooled by the money, I’m still just young and unlucky, I’m surprised you couldn’t tell” (Karaoke)

“Never forgetting from where I came and no matter where I’m headed I promise to stay the same” (Unforgettable)

Some of his fans have bought into only the “Hip Hop” tracks where he mainly raps and talks about the finer things that come out of being rich and successful (Money to Blow, Forever, Miss Me). While those tracks are also some of my favorites, I also enjoy his slower R&B tracks (Sooner Than Later, Shut it Down, Brand New) and my absolute favorite type of tracks from him are his freestyles (9 AM in Dallas, King Leon, Say What’s Real). I feel like he’s at his best going bar for bar, giving us a dose of whatever is on his mind through his own creative wordplay. The “shit he writes while staring out the window of a plane” is what the fans crave and he knows that. On his 9 AM in Dallas freestyles he yells: “People say that old Drake we started to miss it, But they need to be a little more specific, Is this what y’all want?!” Yes it is partly what we want and the fact that you know we want it will always allow you to be a step ahead of us and give you the opportunity to take whatever risks you want because we will always listen.

In the XXL magazine I bought last month, Drake tried to put things in perspective wondering aloud:

"I'm one of the biggest rappers in the world, but this is my first album, and I haven't proved myself yet, so on what mind level do me and a listener meet?"

My answer to that is you have to start somewhere, establish a foundation. So Far Gone was a highlight reel, while Thank Me Later was the real Drake. Selling over half a million records in one week means that we like the real you Drake, so don't stop doing what you're doing. Keep being yourself, it's refreshing to the music industry as your style is a truly honest breath of fresh air. You don't hide behind anything and the fact that we can see you and feel like we know you through your music is what makes you special. The ballsy effort on your first album did not go unnoticed and having put a months worth of mileage on your new album, I feel like I appreciate it enough to Thank You Now.

As a bonus check out Drake's cameo verse on Jeezy's new track Lose My Mind.

Bonus: Young Jeezy feat Drake - Lose My Mind (remix)
|Link taken down by request please go to iTunes to purchase

Album Review: B.O.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray

Truth be told this is gonna be a tough review for me for a couple reasons. For one, it's going to be hard to NOT put an instant classic label on B.O.B.'s studio debut, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, similar to how I did for Kid Cudi's Moon Man Album.

I look at it like this, Bobby Ray has a knack...or talent to spare when it comes to his style...consider it music genre versatility. He can appeal to the hardcore Southern Rap fans with tracks like Bet I Bust, he can reel in a Contemporary non-Hip Hop demographic simply by including addictive hooks on tracks Airplanes by Hayley Williams of Paramore and Bruno Mars on his first single Nothin' on You, yet still knock down traditional Hip Hop barriers with acoustic soul tracks like Lovlier Than You and artistic ballads like Don't Let Me Fall, Satellite and Ghost in the Machine.

Me I'm a sucker for those lyrically depressing, inspirational tracks that fly off the reservation emotionally (hence the 5 headphone rating on Cudi's album). If I were to rank my top 10 favorites on this album it would go like this.

1. Don't Let Me Fall
*1a. Not Lost feat T.I. (sample not cleared so wasn't on official album, still dope though)
2. Airplanes
3. Ghost in the Machine
4. Satellite
5. Lovlier Than You
6. Nothin' on You
7. Airplanes Remix feat Eminem
8. Bet I
9. Fame
10.The Kids

The sheer fact I have ten favorites on one disk is pecans and nothing short of amazing nowadays with albums having more filler tracks (generally speaking) than quality material. With that being said, I wouldn't even call it audacity when I predict that I will end up liking Bobby Ray's album more than Drake's upcoming Thank Me Later album. Especially after being lukewarm on his new single with Kanye, it's going to take a lot of momentum to make up for the bumper to bumper, start to finish quality on Bobby Ray's debut.

Given my previous dialog discussing how there was a serious dog fight (in my eyes) between Cudi and B.O.B. for who has the better first album and who could claim the role of Robin to Drake's Batman, it's hard not to call that a push after this album.Bobby Ray is going to outsell Cudi by hundreds of thousands of records, without a question. There are so many potential singles still left on the Adventures of Bobby Ray like Don't Let Me Fall or Lovlier Than You, it's going to be a LONG time before we see his album fall off Billboard. The mass commercial appeal is the only potential drawback in my mind because as much as I love this album, I'm going to end up feeling like a granule of sand in the long run because everybody and they moms is gonna be listening to this front to back. I don't want that to sound negative though because Bobby Ray is so talented he can attract that wide of a demographic and his pockets are gonna be fatter than lard sammich as a result. I'm not implying he sold out AT ALL either by being commercially likable, he did so much genre blending throughout his album, it's a given more people will be able to relate. In comparison, I feel like Cudi's album struck a cord with me mood wise and provided me with about 3 or 4 absolutely timeless tracks, making it hard to match up 3 or 4 tracks on this album that had the same impact those tracks did. Don't get it twisted though, B.O.B.'s album is solid front to back with good tracks, there is no half steppin' and it definitely wins when you compare quantity.

As a result, The Adventures of Bobby Ray gets a 4.5 headphone rating in my eyes, coming up an eyelash short of classic with the potential of reaching classic status as time goes on. This album has set the bar so high, it's going to be hard for Eminem's Recovery, Cudi's Moon Man II: The Legend of Mr. Rager, Drake's Thank Me Later or even Kanye's Good Ass Job, which may be released this year, to compete. I liken this debut album to the start of Atlanta native Jason Heyward's first year so far...we knew it had potential and was going to be good...but for a first year/album there are no expectations that could contain how big of a splash this will end up making...

Mixtape Review: Pac Div - Don't Mention it Mixtape

Alright it's time to start legitimately talking about Pac Div is one of the best Hip Hop groups in the game. In case you missed their first Mixtape, Church League Champions do yourself a favor and click that link and read my review on it. The quality of their past Church League mixtape combined with their close affiliation to my favorite Hip Hop group, The Cool Kids .

If you're familiar with any of The Cool Kids material, you can see why I'd be so fond of Pac Div. There's a reason why they're called the "West Coast Cool Kids", with their sound mirroring Mikey Rocks and Chuck Inglish's style with the same measured, deliberate flow and lead heavy bass. If you don't know what I'm talking about, give The Cool Kids track Knocked Down a listen and compare it to the two songs below Waves at the Prom and Birds.

Both these tracks below go H-A-R-Mothafuckin'-D in the trunk, make no mistake you will piss people off by listening to this loudly if you what you have installed is > factory. Took me one listen of Waves at the Prom to decide it was my favorite track of the Mixtape. The slow, steady bassline is hypnotic and mixes smoother than a Belvedere and Tonic with the laid back verses by Gabe "Like" Stevenson, Mike "Mibbs" Stevenson and Bryan "BeYoung" Young. Yea the beat and samples are dumbed down and simple, but there's somethin' about it stylistically that is throwback and fresh at the same time. They may not be talkin' about all that much lyrically, storytelling about a prom experience, but those background WHOO!'s (especially at the 41 sec mark) solidify the rock hard sound of the track. Give it a listen...volume clockwise...don't half step...

Pac Div - Waves at the Prom Mixtape Favorite!!!


Second favorite track features an artist I'm trying to pick up more material, Pill. Sidebar: I did a google search for Pill and his myspace was listed in the top 5, that's pretty crazy considering all the pill searches that are probably made each day. Anyways, this one is more in your face with the rawkusness of the beat and in your face, lowered voice sample. More or less this calls out all ladies that are "run through more than finish lines"...catch my drift? No holds barred here with the chirping all over the track to go with the deck beatin' 808 bass. Ladies...if you get called a bird...not a good thing #justsayin'. Check it...

Pac Div feat Pill - Birds Goes HARD!!!


This Mixtape makes me think of a recent Drake interview where he explained how important Mixtapes are in Hip Hop right now and how you can't just stash your throwaway album tracks on mixtapes anymore. They can potentially make a career (Drake) and as a result artist are putting a lot more into these tapes because they can sell just the same on iTunes and gain respect just as easily since they are circulated as much as full scale studio albums are. See below...

My third favorite track shows a much different sound from Pac Div, giving more of less intense, relaxed, jazzy/R&B feel to the track. Had to post one that gave some contrast to all the other bangers that sound like Cool Kids tracks. Press...play...

Pac Div feat Ty$ - Rollin' Smooth Track!!!


Overall, this is a great mixtape, with at least six tracks out of 12 that I consistently listen to right now. Along with the three tracks above, I'd also check out Shine, Brocoli and the track with Dom Kennedy titled Don't Forget the Swishers. Do yourself a favor and download the whole Mixtape and show these three cats from the left coast some love...

Click Here to Download the whole Don't Mention It Mixtape - Credit 2dopeboyz

Jason Derulo Album Review

Pictured above is Jason Derulo with American Idol judge, and Warner Bros. Records Senior Vice President of A&R Kara DioGuardi and super producer JR Rotem holding a nice sized record plaque signifying that his first single Whatcha Say is certified platinum. Beleive it or not that record has sold over 4 million copies, with 3 million copies out of the 4 being sold in the US. Pretty crazy for someone who you were completely unfamiliar with last year.

It goes without saying, just based on his two singles Whatcha Say and In My Head, his self titled debut album should go platinum.The main critique I have read about his new album is the length, being only 9 songs with 1 digital bonus track if you buy it on iTunes. Personally, I am not going to look down on him trying to do what he needs to produce a successful album, which he may have thought is only 9 tracks deep for whatever reason. Maybe other tracks didn't fit the vibe he was going for, maybe he knew it was going to sell enough based on his two huge singles? Either way, I didn't mind, I actually think it's smarter nowadays for artists to give us less by way of an album and rely more on singles (because those sell more on iTunes than whole albums).

My only issue with the album has to do with the oversampling being a little over the top. We all know the sample worked real well for Whatcha Say (50 MILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS!!!), but with songs like Ridin' Solo borrowing Bittersweet Symphony's strings and Love Hangover sampling the classic Men at Work's Who Can it Be Now, the JR Rotem-ing of the album came off as a little over the top. I say that now, but currently Ridin Solo is ranked 12th in the Billboard Top 100 and climbing, so evidently I may be on an island with that critique. Now that I re-think it, it's almost like I'm saying he did too good of a job at creating catchy radio friendly singles that everyone could relate to sound wise due to the familiarity of the sample. To each their own, but In My Head is still my favorite single of his so far because of it's originality.

Two other tracks I've gained an appreciation for after a full listen are What If and the bonus track Queen of Hearts. I really liked the simplicity of the do do dodo on the chorus on What If. It's a catchy ballad lyrically and the slow piano vibe blends well. I've written previously about Queen of Hearts, but I really like the slower version of the track that didn't end up being the album version. The upbeat version is also good, but the slow version allows JD to shine more vocally. Check out the slow version...

Jason Derulo - Queen of Hearts (slow version) Better Version!!!

In it's entirety I'd say Jason did one hell of a job on the album mixing in samples with original material and also blending the fast/slow tracks. Fallen and Encore are the only filler tracks out of 9 in my opinion, which isn't bad at all. Out of the 7 solid tracks, at least 3 of them are going to be top 10 Billboard singles too, so I think Jaysahn can hang his hat on that. The only two tracks I haven't touched on are Blind and The Sky's the Limit, both of which I had posted about before and are respectable tracks worth a listen. The only track I really wish would have made the final tracklist is Fairytale, which was a great mid-tempo love song that would have fit well as a middle ground track tempo wise, offsetting the fast and slow tracks.

Overall I'll give the album 4 headphones because it was a great debut effort with a timeless single or two on it.

If it was a little longer with mainly original beats and lacked the aforementioned filler tracks , it would have been in the discussion as a classic album. A classic single doesn't necessarily mean classic album, but I will give JR Rotem a 4.5 headphone rating on the production of the album. Most of these songs would be naked if he hadn't laid the groundwork with accessible samples and catchy instrumentals. As a bonus, here's a new remix to In My Head with the barbie doll herself, Nicki Minaj.

Jason Derulo feat Nikki Minaj - In My Head (remix) New Beat Hot Remix!!!

Album Review: Wale - Attention Deficit

When it came to upcoming albums from the freshman Hip Hop class of 2009, there wasn't an album I was more excited to hear than Wale's. The uncompromisingly independent way he goes about doing his own thing in Hip Hop is admirable. He knows that his back is up against the wall when it comes to putting Washington, D.C. on the map since he doesn't have the ability to ride the coat-tails of other local Hip Hop pioneers...he is the pioneer...and he is well aware of that. Chris Richards of the Washington Post wrote a good article titled Wale Is Poised to Put D.C.'s Rap Scene in the Spotlight, summarizing the burden and torch that Wale is carrying in repping DC to the fullest, in hopes of opening doors for other local artists. In the article Wale quoted saying:

"I think every man has his own path," Wale says by phone (from his tour bus as he zig-zags the country opening for Jay-Z). "But if D.C. comes out and supports the album heavy, I think that within 365 days at least two [local] rappers will get a major deal."

That's a good amount of pressure he's putting on himself by making that statement. I've got a lot of respect for that too, especially because he's done it his own way without a lot of support from not only the Hip Hop history of his city, but also an industry heavyweight. For example, you see B.O.B. having worked with and been signed by T.I., Drake is signed and works closely with Lil Wayne, Kid Cudi has the Kanye influence and connection on his side...Wale though? Maybe producer Mark Ronson? As good of a producer Mark has been and continues to be (think Amy Winehouse - Rehab), he still doesn't have that same name recognition and clout that Wale could springboard off of.

Some will argue that now that Wale has opened up for Jay-Z on his recent Blueprint 3 tour dates (Source: Ace Showbiz), name recognition is coming. Still the diversity of collaborations on his album show that there are no boundaries in sight for Wale and he's taking the D.C. Go-Go style rapping to another level in an effort to create his own sound and platform for Hip Hop within the D.C. area.

As far as Attention Deficit is concerned, I've come to appreciate the diversity of sound Wale brought to the table. I'll admit at first, it was hard for me to find the "diamond in the rough" tracks on this album as I continued to keep it in iPod circulation, but a few separated themselves from the pack.

From the beginning, Wale starts off with Triumph, an upbeat, trumpet laden beat that creates a high energy backdrop for listeners to be able to get a feel for his lyrical style. The first track does a decent job at getting the listeners attention, only to hit the brakes on the next track where he slows it down with a live band feel on Mama Told Me . The song serves as an attention to Hip Hop that he has arrived and he's bringing something new for a "stagnant" Rap game. Pretty vanilla track in my opinion, but most likely one of the more "necessary" tracks lyrically for Wale to get off his chest.

The third track, Mirrors, is definitely one of my favorites, 1. Because Bun-B has always been one of my favorite artists and he killed it, but also 2. because it fits Wale's style so well. You can tell that he and Mark Ronson have a lot of chemistry working together and I was a little disappointed to see that he and Wale only worked together on two tracks for this album. The upbeat, rolling guitar-synth combo mixed with the occasional trumpet compliment the above average verses on the track, which as I said before is one of the hidden gems.

The fourth track was one of my favorite tracks on the album, mostly because of the chorus by Weensey of Backyard Band and the fact that Gucci Mane was NOT originally featured on the track. I won't give you the long winded version of my dislike for Gucci Mane, but I really don't get why he's blowin' up right now. I know he's put out a crazy amount of mixtapes and been featured almost as much as Weezy, but where's the quality in the quantity? Believe me, I myself love me some Southern Trap Rap (always been a big Youngbloodz fan), but Gucci really doesn't impress me much, I just don't get it. And yea I'll admit I do like his new track, Spotlight , but it's because of Polow Da Don's production and Usher's catchy hook. Anyways, that's neither here nor there, Wale shines, but the shine needs some Armor All after Gucci gets on it.

Movin' on to another really catchy, upbeat track that Wale sounds at home on with World Tour. Great choice for a single since it is so high energy and engaging, while still showcasing his ability to match the tempo with his verses, hitting the mark, bar after bar. Jazmine definitely doesn't hurt, gooooodness she's got that raspy soul that we haven't gotten a taste of since Mary J back in the day. Not the best track on the album, but probably his best performance and most likable song to the masses.

Yea there's absolutely no doubt that Let it Loose with Pharrell is hands down the best track on the album. The way Wale weaves through the bouncy Neptunes beat with his multi-syllabic, equally bouncy lyrical attack shows experience and talent beyond his years. Oh any by the way Pharrell, that bridge on the track is a GOOD LOOK! Definitely my favorite part of the album when he takes the song to baller status by sayin:

Now tell em,
It’s in the house, so throw your money in the air and stand in the couch
Laugh at the money that’s stuck in the chandelier
Tell them girls right there that the man right here!

Dipped in swag, amen P, between this and So Ambitious with Jay-Z, you are on a roll, back to being relevant and continuing to be known as one of the best at producing catchy party tracks.

Movin' with 90210, where Mark Ronson blesses us with a Nintendo sounding beat turned lullaby. The chemistry continues between Wale/Ronson and I'm not really sure where this track came from lyrically, but who knows maybe Wale has been spurned by the model types before, so he had to put them on blast a bit. Not one of my favorite tracks lyrically, but I'm not about to look down on him for venting about whatever caused him to pen the track...the storytelling angle was well done.

Shades is more of a laid-back smooth ride out track, showing a different side of Wale. A side that also works for Wale because just as he can pull off the fast paced verses, he can also sound very at home on a stop and go, bouncy mid tempo track where it can be more difficult to mesh the lines with the beat. Impressive delivery on this track, especially for a first album.

Personally, I like World Tour a little more than the next song Chillin' as a single choice, but I can see why including Lady GaGa on the chorus would only help the public appeal on the track. Definitely not scared to diversify the collabos, which is how it should be. The lack of allegiances is one of Wale's assets when it comes to him sounding unique and different. This is more on the pop side of the fence, but let's be honest you have to have a couple of these on an album to get it to sell copies these days. Decent track and much better than the next track Radio, which is about as much of a filler track as you can get. Sounds like a few of the earlier songs on the album with the trumpets (don't overdue it Wale, it's a good, unique sound, but too much can be bad).

The next two tracks Contemplate and Diary are the two biggest hidden gems on the album. Contemplate is a deep, thought provoking, lyrically analytical track that explores all the inner thoughts and insecurities of Wale. The Rihanna chorus is so simple it fits like a glove with the subject matter. Very well executed, not overdone and the end result is easy to appreciate as a result. Diary on the other hand is my second favorite track on the album. An ode to black women and the challenges and insecurities that men who try and date them have to face. The last Def Poetry Jam style verse that Wale drops is some classic shit:

See all I ever want to do is be relevant,
Just tell me that I ever meant,
Anything or that you could ever see me and you in another light,
But it's like the dark winter-endures the darkest nights,
By the wrong men,
Mostly all of them,
Have made you somewhat incapable,
Of a first impression,
What I do is channel my aggression,
With no cable,
Or antenna just intentions
To impress you,
If capable,
Hoping that the material possessions can materialize a better you,
Cars-nothing I drive
Can drive better this frame of mind
With such an ugly picture in the end,
Money-Nothing I buy
Can buy me more time
For your ears to say to your heart to listen
Diamonds-A girls best friend,
Is what they say,
But believe me with the right allegiance shorty you gonna shine anyways,
And every day that goes by is a couple more lines in her diary,
The day before is better than the present,
So anyone presented in her presence,
Endures these life...sentences,
No key for release,
No reason to be around,
Her mind's in the clouds,
She writes it all down,
In her diary... Diary - Wale

Big fan of the depth of lyrics and play on words while doing so...ain't nothin' more impressive these days that creative insight through poetry and Wale took us to the deep end with Diary. To sum up the song, c'mon ladies, just cause your man did this and that in your past relationship doesn't mean you have the right to assume I would do the same thing or make me feel bad for what he did to you in the past. Sometimes you have to forget to move on and find happiness because no man should have to pay for sins that your past man committed.

The last two tracks Beautiful Bliss and Prescription are two relatively bland tracks, but I will give a shout out to J Cole who killed his verse on Beautiful Bliss. The album definitely ends on a mellow tip, which I don't have a huge problem with due to the abundance of high energy tracks sprinkled throughout.

Music and album aside, Wale is doin' more work marketing than a lotta artists. For example, check the crispy 59 50 fitted he created:

GWDJ Verdict: Overall a very impressive debut album for Wale. I would have given it 4.5 headphones out of 5 on the rating had Bittersweet Life feat Colin Munroe and Letter feat John Mayer been included on the album instead of being throw in Bonus tracks. Nonetheless, Wale's album gave a shot of life to Hip Hop, going with a more contemporary, live band style of Hip Hop, which is becoming more common these days as some of the better up and coming rappers are stepping their game up both production wise and lyrically. I actually think when it comes to delivery, Wale has a step up on Kid Cudi and B.O.B.

As an aside, I'll comment that when you put it all together I still felt like Cudi's album > Wale's album because the amount of emotion Cudi poured into that creation was amazing and will continue to be amazing as I still have yet to take it out of my car cd player or iPod. Bobby Ray, you're up next and the bar has been set extremely high, so don't get Paul Pierce'd like Chris Bosh when he didn't come correct.



Oh and for the record Drake > Kid Cudi > Wale > B.O.B. currently for the viewers at home...Bobby Ray has the most potential to move up with a strong debut album due out in April and Drake...well...he may just end the discussion for best artists out of 2009 with his upcoming Thank Me Later project due out Valentines Day.

Here are a few of my favorite cuts from Wale's album too:

Wale feat Pharrell - Let it Loose


Wale feat Rihanna - Contemplate


Wale feat Marsha Ambrosius - Diary (Acoustic Version)


Wale feat Colin Monroe - Bittersweet Life