Album of the Year 2018 #28: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer - HipHop |
- Album of the Year 2018 #28: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
- 2018 /r/HipHopHeads Awards - Voting Thread
- [FRESH ALBUM] Bladee - Icedancer
- J.I.D named rookie of the year by BET
- Playboi Carti - Flatbed Freestyle
- ASAP Rocky - OG Beeper
- [DISCUSSION] 21 Savage - i am > i was [One Week Later]
- Young Thug reads the lyrics to “Best Friend”
- Kid Cudi freestyle - Westwood
- Ski Mask The Slump God “Faucet Failure” Official Lyrics & Meaning Verified | Genius
- Daily Discussion Thread 12/28/2018
- Kemba announces 'Deadass' - January 10th 2019
- Joe Budden x Charlamagne Tha God | 2018 Wrap Up
- [DISCUSSION] MIKE - War in my Pen [One Week Later]
- Bizzy Bone Seemingly Threatens 21 Savage & Migos, Clutches Gun
- Playboicarti - Mercedez (prod. Father)
- Kardinal Offishall - Dangerous ft. Akon
- New Music Friday: December 28th, 2018
- Jaden Smith - B L U E (All Parts)
- DJ Esco and Future - Married To The Game
- Mick Jenkins - U Turn (Prod. by THEMPeople & Ben Hixon)
- [Fresh Video] King Caexar - Perfect
- B.E.N.N.Y. The Butcher - '97 Hov
- Tierra Whack - Sore Loser
- Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie ft. JAY Z (Official Music Video)
- RAP REWIND 2018 | Everything That Happened In Hip Hop This Year
| Album of the Year 2018 #28: Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer Posted: 28 Dec 2018 09:04 AM PST Artist: Janelle Monáe Album: Dirty Computer Listen: Background Janelle Monáe (born Janelle Monáe Robinson), is a multi-talented 33 year old singer, songwriter and actress from Kansas City, debuting musically in 2007 with her Metropolis EP. This EP started a series of projects, most notably 2010's critically-acclaimed The Archandroid, centred around her fictional android alter ego Cindi Mayweather and her life in futuristic Metropolis. After her 2013 release The Electric Lady, Monáe's work up to this year has mostly involved acting, particularly with her appearances in highly regarded films Moonlight and Hidden Figures. She also launched her record label Wondaland Records, and eventually announced Dirty Computer in February 2018 before releasing Make Me Feel and Django Jane together a week later as its lead singles. While the Cindi persona had previously served as a representation of the real-life version of Monáe, she emphasised prior to its release that Dirty Computer would be more about Janelle herself. This aligns with her expanded public presence in recent years, openly discussing her pansexuality/bisexuality and expanding her political reach, including working with figures such as Michelle Obama in various initiatives. However, the Mayweather character would live on, as the album's release on April 27 would be accompanied by a 46-minute 'Emotion Picture' short film in which Janelle's character bore Mayweather's identification title of 57821. This film featured music videos for most of the album's songs with a dystopian narrative throughout to bring it all together (more on that later). Since this album's release, Monáe has continued to enjoy success, recently receiving the Trailblazer of the Year award at the 2018 Billboard Women in Music event, with this album enjoying critical and commercial success alike. Review The idea of the "dirty computer" concept has been explained at length by Monáe throughout the album rollout: She likens humans to computers and says that we all have 'bugs', being our imperfections, methods of deviating from the status quo or unique characteristics that differentiate us from the 'default setting', leading to conscious efforts to socially condition, or cleanse, us and eliminate these characteristics. As a black LGBT+ woman, she certainly knows about being stigmatised and oppressed, and her prideful and assertive response, as opposed to submitting to marginalisation, is the backbone of this album's subject matter, even when subtly, and is what makes its message so important. The accompanying "emotion picture" perfectly encapsulates and visualises this defiance, with a futuristic narrative based on Monáe struggling during the bug cleansing process, as she is stripped of her memories and identity, struggling to rebel and escape from the system - this emphasises the institutional nature of this 'cleansing' and the difficulty, but virtue, of resisting. This 46-minute film, reminiscent of a musical 1984, provides context and stunningly creative visuals for most of the album's songs and adds a whole new layer of beauty and impact to this album, making it essential viewing (I'd advise listening to the music alone first – I tried to keep the focus of the writeup on the music but I could go on for days about how great that film is). Scattered futuristic themes and narratives invite comparisons to Monáe's earlier work such as the highly-regarded The Archandroid, but unlike her other projects about the fictional Cindi Mayweather, this album is an unfiltered look into the thoughts and emotions of Janelle herself, including her desires, pride, love and fear. This allows for an unprecedented rawness of these emotions in her work, while also rendering her as an outlet, speaking on behalf of other voiceless people and groups in a similar way to how the Mayweather alter ego emulated her own persona. The excellence of this emotional expression lies in its subtlety, as this album is characterised by its tendency to turn substantial concerns and commentary on dreadful circumstances into gorgeous catchy tunes that could be enjoyed equally by a partygoer and a political scholar. After opening with a warm, fairly stripped-back intro featuring a beautiful meshing of Monáe and Brian Wilson's vocals, the tracklist turns to Crazy, Classic Life, immediately displaying the range of the album with sounds and themes ranging from catchy pop covering a party lifestyle to grittier politically focused rap, all within the one track. The two topics co-exist as apparently relatively generic lyrics about partying, sex and general wildness conceal borderline begging for the liberty to "just let me live my life" and be able to be able to enjoy such things without oppression. The pre-choruses particularly stand out for their enjoyable melodies and empowering lyrics ("We don't need another ruler, all of my friends are kings"), while the concluding rapped verse is a pleasantly-flowing outspoken venting of frustrations. Moving on to Take a Byte, the idea of freedom persists, now explicitly in the form of freedom of sexuality and sexual expression, clearly influenced by Janelle's feminist views. One of the more formulaic songs on the album (not necessarily to its detriment), the verses and choruses respectively stick to single repeated melodic passages, making the song instantly memorable. This song cleverly incorporates the futuristic, technology-driven themes surrounding the album, with Janelle likening herself to a computer and using metaphors such as talking about her partner disobeying her code (or the song's pun title itself), accompanied by an attention-demanding instrumental to complete this powerfully sexual song. Screwed is an instant highlight – You quickly find yourself humming the guitar riff to yourself even days after listening and it's perfectly complemented by a sprinkle of lovely high keys and a consistent upbeat bassline. Much like Take a Byte, it centres around a double entendre involving sex; the lyrics encourage "getting screwed" in a sexual context while simultaneously observing how "screwed" we are in a socio-political sense. There's a chaotic implication of partying to the sounds of sirens and bombs, and the suggestion of using sex as a retaliatory weapon again incorporates feminist ideas of sexuality as a means of liberation. All these components form a ridiculously replayable gem which quickly disintegrates into a haunting but smooth bridge of singing and monologue, before another concluding rapped verse discussing gender inequality and political corruption. "The devil met with Russia and they just made a deal" is the closest she gets to directly addressing Donald Trump - This vagueness helps allow the album's narrative to work in both a modern and semi-fictional dystopian sense. A seamless transition from this outro leads into Django Jane, a hard-hitting, pure-rap banger that perfectly exhibits not only Janelle's versatility and ability, but her drive. The hookless song is empowering, triumphant and assertive. Detailing her own past and accomplishments while also rallying her fellow 'dirty computers' to be similarly prideful, this song represents a clear shift in content from "This is how we're oppressed" to "This is what the fuck we're going to do about it". Numerous flows, all executed brilliantly, are used, and the energy Monáe delivers is contagious – the heavily emphasised "Black girl magic" line particularly hits like an earthquake. The unique beat and strong lyricism alone would make this a SOTY candidate, but the passion and inspiration of the message, demanding respect for the disrespected, ensured that this topped my year-end most played chart. The 4-song stretch from Screwed onwards is the best I've heard in a long time, and Pynk does a lot to make sure of it. The repeated groovy bassline is the first thing that hits you, and the song stays pretty stripped back for most of its runtime. The colour pink is used as a recurring theme, used for purposes like uniting all people ("deep inside, we're all just pink"), celebrating women/condemning patriarchal norms and exploring Monáe's own recently-revealed sexuality. Her vocals really steal the show with such a skeletal beat, going from sweet in the verses to wilder and more energetic in the hook, which sounds like it comes from a totally different song. This song has so much pop appeal, but is so much more than that. [Side note: The Emotion Picture version also contains a really romantic verse, one of the few musical differences between it and the album in audio form.] Next is Make Me Feel, the album's biggest hit which is dripping with funk, sexual energy and Prince influence. With a similar structure to Pynk, it develops from sleek and low-key to a roaring bridge in which Monáe's singing delivers so much emotion and passion. From there, it hits the musical equivalent of a rollercoaster hitting its biggest drop – everything is stripped away and the incredibly catchy chorus grabs you alongside a simple but perfect-for-dancing guitar part. This song could make anyone dance and summon emotions you didn't know you had, thanks to its ability to somehow be groovy and intensely expressive at the same time; another clear highlight not just of Dirty Computer, but of music in 2018. If you don't want to take my word for it, just take a look at Barack Obama's list of favourite songs this year. I Got the Juice is a simple, upbeat track with lots of bounce and flavour, and features a nice verse courtesy of Pharrell Williams. It's largely rap-inspired but incorporates elements of funk, and serves as one of the album's lighter cuts. Its expression of self-love complements the following I Like That, in which Janelle clearly maps out her flaws and insecurities before disregarding them as irrelevant when pitted against self-love. She (very accurately) describes herself as unorthodox and unusual, and the powerful delivery of the chorus instantly turns the song into a celebration, rather than condemnation, of these traits. Her harmonising here is as good as it's ever been, and the late anecdote about being embarrassed and rated a 6/10 in high school really adds a personal layer to the theme which has to hit home for more than a few of us. From personal experience, this song is as good as it gets when dealing with self-doubt or outside criticism, and I recommend maximum loudness for an optimal singing-along experience. The album then hits a slower stretch, with Don't Judge Me and So Afraid being of slower tempos and dealing more with personal fragility than the prior tracks. The former has a serene instrumental, with the spaced-out strings and keys conveying the vulnerability driving the song. The idea of worrying about someone only loving a certain portrayal or version of yourself (aka a specific model of a computer) is haunting and can probably resonate with many listeners, and the song effectively portrays a sensitive love. The latter continues these thoughts, using imagery that would impress the strictest of English teachers. I'm conscious of repeating this too many times, but it also thrives off blissful melodies and a great vocal performance. These two songs tie back into the idea of bugs in dirty computers, showing that they can be observed and attacked by the computer (person) themselves along with others, adding another layer to the metaphor. Finally, Americans ties the album together, enforcing the theme of outspoken resistance in the form of one of the more creative songs of this political era. It achieves a rare balance of musical quality and political commentary, managing to be entertaining while conveying a message. The lyrics interestingly and humorously satirise conservative attitudes of racism, homophobia etc. as Janelle takes on the perspective of people with these ideas to highlight their toxicity. Delivered in an anthemic, upbeat manner with catchy melodies throughout, it's hard to stop yourself from singing ridiculous phrases like "Jim Crow Jesus". With many songs on these topics falling short due to excessive preachiness, this one really stands out and serves as a fantastic closer that upholds many of the album's crucial themes. I could write a book on what makes this album so special to me, but I'll contain it to two factors: Consistency and depth. Every song has been my favourite at some point, and the while the songs are optimally consumed in the album's context with its recurring themes, all work and effectively deliver messages independently. By 'depth', I'm referring to how many ways these songs can be enjoyed, whether it be enjoying their pop appeal in singing along or analysing them for musical subtleties and the subjects they cover. Its recent success with Grammy nominations and high placements in many year-end rankings has been deserved and thrilling to see, and I can only hope that such a reception inspires more musicians to make projects like this. If you only take one thing away from all this: listen to this album. Discussion Topics What do you think about the blurring of lines between hip-hop and pop? Is it a good/bad thing for the genre? With hip-hop obviously being intertwined with politics, how responsible are these times for some of the music we're hearing like this album? Would you like to see more accompanying pieces like the 'Emotion Picture'? How does it enhance your experience with the album? This is the most personal Janelle album to date – how do you feel about this direction as opposed to the Cindi Mayweather saga? [link] [comments]  |
| 2018 /r/HipHopHeads Awards - Voting Thread Posted: 28 Dec 2018 11:38 AM PST Hey /r/hiphopheads! Welcome to the 2018 HHH Awards! How it worksBasically, you fill in the Google Form with your ranking from #1 to #3 or #5. Each rank has a set a value. A #1 vote gets 3 points, all the way to #3 which gets 1 point (except on project and song of the year). Most forms will have three text boxes for you to fill in, except for song of the year and album of the year which will have five. Please make sure you read the form carefully, follow all instructions, and don't make any spelling mistakes. Please be sure to not put the same album in multiple ranks! Google sign in is required to vote. This is to cut down on vote manipulation and reduce my workload (that and I'm still mad at the fuck that voted Faneto in every spot over 500 times in every category in 2015). You can edit your response after voting. When Do I Need To Vote By?Take your time, think about it if you need to. The deadline to submit your rankings is Friday January 4th, 2019. Where Do I Vote?Categories: Best Project (Album/Mixtape/EP) of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Song of 2018Previous Winners:
MVP Artist of 2018Previous Winners:
Most Improved Artist of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Producer of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Beat of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Guest Verse of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Hook of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Posse Cut (4 or more artists on one track) of 2018Previous Winners:
Best West Coast Project of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Midwest Project of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Southern Project of 2018Previous Winners:
Best East Coast Project of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Project From Outside of the USA of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Debut Project of 2018Previous Winners:
Best R&B Project of 2018Previous Winners:
Best EP of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Overall Verse of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Music Video of 2018Previous Winners:
Best Album Cover of 2018Previous Winners:
NEW THIS YEAR:
Have fun! If you see any issues please let me know. I'll get everything fixed up asap. [link] [comments]  |
| [FRESH ALBUM] Bladee - Icedancer Posted: 28 Dec 2018 08:07 PM PST |
| J.I.D named rookie of the year by BET Posted: 28 Dec 2018 10:48 AM PST |
| Playboi Carti - Flatbed Freestyle Posted: 28 Dec 2018 08:12 PM PST |
| Posted: 28 Dec 2018 08:02 PM PST |
| [DISCUSSION] 21 Savage - i am > i was [One Week Later] Posted: 28 Dec 2018 08:21 AM PST Didn't see it posted last night, remove if you have to. We've had some time to sit on this album now, what do y'all think? Edit: A word. [link] [comments]  |
| Young Thug reads the lyrics to “Best Friend” Posted: 28 Dec 2018 02:14 PM PST |
| Posted: 28 Dec 2018 04:33 PM PST |
| Ski Mask The Slump God “Faucet Failure” Official Lyrics & Meaning Verified | Genius Posted: 28 Dec 2018 09:03 AM PST |
| Daily Discussion Thread 12/28/2018 Posted: 28 Dec 2018 04:13 PM PST Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread! This thread is for:
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Weekly/Monthly Threads Other ways to interact There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:
New to /r/hiphopheads or hip-hop in general? Check out these: [link] [comments]  |
| Kemba announces 'Deadass' - January 10th 2019 Posted: 28 Dec 2018 12:28 PM PST |
| Joe Budden x Charlamagne Tha God | 2018 Wrap Up Posted: 28 Dec 2018 04:22 PM PST |
| [DISCUSSION] MIKE - War in my Pen [One Week Later] Posted: 28 Dec 2018 01:58 PM PST It's been a week, what are your thoughts on this album? How does it compare to MIKE's previous projects? [link] [comments]  |
| Bizzy Bone Seemingly Threatens 21 Savage & Migos, Clutches Gun Posted: 28 Dec 2018 03:21 PM PST |
| Playboicarti - Mercedez (prod. Father) Posted: 28 Dec 2018 05:44 PM PST |
| Kardinal Offishall - Dangerous ft. Akon Posted: 28 Dec 2018 12:05 PM PST |
| New Music Friday: December 28th, 2018 Posted: 28 Dec 2018 12:19 PM PST AlbumsSoulja Boy - Swag 2 (not on streaming) Knxwledge - HX. 12.8 (not on streaming) Curren$y - Weed & Instrumentals 3 (not on streaming) Pi'erre & Cardo - Pi'erre and Cardo's Wild Adventure (not on streaming) Waka Flocka Flame - I Can't Rap Vol. 2 (not on streaming) Bad Bunny - X 100PRE Roscoe Dash - 5thy5ive Kamiyada - Live From Space Vol 2 (not on streaming) Kane Grocerys - Trap Goth 2 CHICO (Formerly known as Le$) - Steak X Shrimp, Vol. 3 Working On Dying - Rapping Gifts EPsCormega - Mega DeJ Loaf - Go Dej Go Vol. 1 DJ Smokey - XMASWAYZ 24hrs - B4 Xmas SongsPost Malone - Wow lil tracy - my bestie Layzie Bone - Let Me Go Migo LUCKI & CHASETHEMONEY - More Than Ever Unotheactivist - Ronny J Please Turn Me Up The Underachievers - Stone Cold Domo Genesis - The Christmas Song Hopsin - Hell's Carol Bones - StayingAheadOfTheWeather Ramriddlz - Ramraja CHXPO - Nightmare Before Christmas Michael Christmas - SIDEWAYS Trippie Redd - What's My Name D Savage - Issues (feat. Fredo Santana) Lil Tracy - My Bestie [link] [comments]  |
| Jaden Smith - B L U E (All Parts) Posted: 28 Dec 2018 11:22 PM PST |
| DJ Esco and Future - Married To The Game Posted: 28 Dec 2018 06:50 PM PST |
| Mick Jenkins - U Turn (Prod. by THEMPeople & Ben Hixon) Posted: 28 Dec 2018 08:05 PM PST |
| [Fresh Video] King Caexar - Perfect Posted: 28 Dec 2018 02:01 PM PST |
| B.E.N.N.Y. The Butcher - '97 Hov Posted: 28 Dec 2018 04:30 PM PST |
| Posted: 28 Dec 2018 06:52 PM PST |
| Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie ft. JAY Z (Official Music Video) Posted: 28 Dec 2018 12:08 PM PST |
| RAP REWIND 2018 | Everything That Happened In Hip Hop This Year Posted: 28 Dec 2018 12:33 PM PST |
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