Pages

Daily Discussion Thread 12/30/2020 - HipHop

Daily Discussion Thread 12/30/2020 - HipHop

Daily Discussion Thread 12/30/2020

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 07:59 AM PST

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Thread Guidelines

  • Do not create a separate self post for these types of discussions outside of this thread - if you do, your post will be removed, as stated in the guidelines.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

  • If a question has been asked many times before, provide a link to a thread that contains the answer.

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:

submitted by /u/ModsLittleHelper
[link] [comments]

Album Of The Year Write-Up #10: Mac Miller - Circles

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 04:50 AM PST

Artist: Mac Miller

Album: Circles

Tidal

Spotify

Youtube

Apple

Background

Malcolm James McCormick, known professionally as Mac Miller, had cemented himself as a major player in the music industry through a strong run of projects during the mixtape era of the early 2010's. Most notably K.I.D.S., which was his first project to garner him a wider audience and the snowball which is his career truly starts here. With songs like "Knock Knock", "Nikes on My Feet", and "Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza" gaining tremendous views online, he managed to carve a lane for himself in a very cluttered time for the internet. While some criticized his music for being shallow white boy raps, many gravitated towards his music because it was just plain fun. His music was lacking in mainstream attention and radio play, but his presence on the internet was soaring. He capitalized well off of this attention, releasing another free project titled Best Day Ever nearly half a year later. With even bigger viral hits such as "Donald Trump" and the titular track "Best Day Ever" he reinserted himself back into his audiences playlists before they had a chance to forget about him. This project was also well received, and gave him even more momentum to build to his biggest breakthrough yet.

8 Months after the success of Best Day Ever, he released his debut album Blue Slide Park independently and topped charts, reaching number 1 on the billboard 200. The album itself performed well but critics still gave mixed reviews. It didn't seem like he had stepped too far out of his comfort zone, and through the lens of his music it was still glaringly obvious that he had some growing up to do if he were to be taken seriously by music critics, despite his ever growing audience. He clearly had charm, and despite what his music would tell you, he wasn't simply a white kid from the suburbs that wanted to rap. He grew up loving music and playing instruments from the age of 6, and while his pursuit for fame was through rap music, he was actually a true musician at heart.

After the success of his debut, the years afterwards gave him the time to grow musically and experiment with other sounds. Macadelic was released in 2012, with a slightly heavier and psychedelic turn in instrumentals, he still rapped over the songs but few tracks included him singing and exploring more poetic approaches to his lyrics. Despite his lyrics in all his projects up until this point being about drugs, women, and fame, it was at this point that he developed an addiction to lean. He was quite open about his drug use, and was seemingly very self aware of the detriment to himself that he was causing.

His sophomore album Watching Movies With the Sound Off delved further into this exploration of music, with even more experimental instrumentals and more vulnerable vocal performances. In the years between then and now he released a strong amount of EP's, mixtapes, and albums, that each served as an artistic exploration into new styles and territories for Mac. The mixtape Faces gave a very dark window into the mind of Malcolm, he was struggling more with drug abuse and he made it abundantly clear that he was not doing well mentally. He himself stated that the final song on the project "Grand Finale" was intended to be his last song before his death. For fans, the music was incredibly well received as his talents had grown and refined, but it was also bittersweet due to how clearly unwell he was at the time.

In 2015 Malcolm signed a record deal with Warner Bros. and released the album GO:OD AM, which displayed a return to form of sorts. His rapping was more focused and clear, and his lyrics showed a happier and healthier version of himself, confronting his darker thoughts with more positive reflection and a drive to push forward. With lyrics such as "To everyone who sell me drugs, don't mix it with that bullshit I'm hopin' not to join the twenty seven club" and "They don't want me to OD and have to talk to my mother, telling her they could have done more to help me, and she'll be crying saying that she'll do anything to have me back" he was very open about wanting to put his substance abuse behind him and change the course of his life. The album itself showed greater lyrical skills in his rapping and a more subtle approach to his singing, which he was still easing us into but more effectively at this point. His next album The Divine Feminine gave us much more of his singing, and instrumentally was very jazz and funk inspired. He was clearly making an effort to distance himself from his rapping and focus on making music that could be more widely appreciated.

The album "Swimming" was announced in 2018 and the single "Self Care" was released. For Mac, it seemed to mark a distinct turning point where he wanted to better himself, the music video featured a visual reference to the film Kill Bill, with Malcolm punching his way out of a coffin in a triumphant moment of glory. What was once a powerful moment of renewal for him at the time, became a haunting visual soon after. The album was a pivotal moment for his discography, where he managed to create tracks that had many of his rap undertones but were predominantly fused with more classical pop ideas and formulas. It was a beautiful blend of Mac Millerisms and easy to digest jazz, pop, and funk elements. He displayed his singing abilities even more in many of these tracks, in fact, there was not much direct rapping to be found on this project. The lyrical substance of the album, while still influenced by the troubled times in previous years and his battle with substance abuse, was much more positive overall. For many, this is what makes the album more difficult to process now in hindsight.

On September 7th, Malcolm was pronounced dead in his california home, and it was later announced that his cause of death was an accidental overdose from fentanyl in his system. For many people, myself included, his death was incredibly hard to process. Many fans felt close to him, and for many it's a strange feeling to feel like you know someone so intimately despite not actually knowing them. The growth in his music and his open dialogue about drug use and mental health issues had opened a door to many to connect with him, and for many fans that had listened at the start of his career until Swimming, they grew up and matured alongside him. When I was getting tired of partying and wanting hype music, he would deliver more introspective albums, and after years of self reflection he would deliver an album like swimming, which would serve as a point of emotional maturity that I was at a point in my life to try to achieve. His passing recontextualized all of his music in a grim sweeping moment. It was painful to hear lyrics like "Life couldn't get better, this gonna be the best day ever" or "I wish I could tell you that I didn't see this coming but I'm ready for it all to end, die before tomorrow's trend". Many of his songs that were so clearly a warning, littered with references to overindulgence in drugs and a deteriorating mental health, are incredibly difficult to get through. Happier songs that are looking forward to a brighter future I found even more difficult to process. I couldn't listen to any of his old music for very long before I was overwhelmed, and for a while that was the case, until Circles.

Album Review

In January 2020 Malcolm's family took to his social media to announce directly to his fans that the album swimming was only one half of a pair of albums that were thematically linked, and that he had made a good deal of progress on the second album before his passing. Producer Jon Brion had worked with Mac on the creation of Swimming and Circles, and the family had reached out to him to ask him to piece together Circles as true to Malcolms vision as possible. Part of me was worried, mostly because my only context for posthumous releases has been from recently passed artists that have had their work milked dry, and ultimately muddy the waters of their discography, but the core difference was the family's direct involvement in pushing out the album, and the confidence that they had in Jon Brion to faithfully piece this together. Despite the worries, I was overcome with emotions with the news that there would be a new Mac Miller album.

Circles starts off the album with a very light and passive instrumental that Mac sings over in a half spoken half sung manner, that does a really great job set the tone for the rest of the tracks. Not very lyrically dense, but what is there is powerful. "This is what it looks like, right before you fall" Is the opening line, and as the first lyrics we've heard from him since his passing it's a tough pill to swallow, but one that he immediately asks you to. There are many lines that allude to his passing and it's quite haunting to hear, he seemed to have always thought it was right around the corner no matter where he was in his life. To hear it now though doesn't feel as daunting as before, instead it begs you to accept it for what it is and enjoy the music despite his passing. "And I cannot be changed, I cannot be changed, no. Trust me I've tried I just end up right at the start of the line, drawing circles"

The next song "Complicated" instrumentally sounds a lot like swimming but its quite tame lyrically. The tracklist delves into many other sounds as it progresses but this helps keep the pacing grounded and keeps the tone parallel to swimming for the time being. "Some people say they want to live forever, that's way too long, I'll just get through today". Ive found that the tracks later on in the album "I Can See" and "Hands'' provide more of this tonal padding to the album, helping to leave threads spaced around the tracklist that keep it grounded with the context of swimming, while other tracks depart from this sound entirely in their own right.

Blue World is the first moment that I truly smiled while listening to his music in a very long while. The production from disclosure is other worldly, and Mac glides over it effortlessly. He oozes confidence on this track and it's a firm reminder that this album does not exist just to dwell over somberly, it's here for us to enjoy, that's why he made music and that's why we've loved it.

This high is followed by the emotional Good News, which was the only single to be released prior to the album. It's a beautiful track where he breaks down his mental state over a delicate instrumental, it's a quite literal representation of his understanding of his own mental health by analyzing it over a subtle and warming melody. There are more brutal allusions to his death with the lines "Why can't it just be easy? Why does everybody need me to stay?". The song itself displays a lot of what I took from the album, the plead from him to accept that he may not be the picture perfect image of mental health, but to understand that he is just a person with issues like the rest of us. "Good news, good news, good news, That's all they wanna hear. No, they don't like it when I'm down." "There's a whole lot more for me waiting on the other side, I'm always wondering, if it feel like summer" the song ends with a beautiful outro where he sings about an afterlife, whether it's good or bad, whether he belongs there, and its moments like these that act as the emotional anchors for the album. Admittedly, if you weren't a fan of his music before this album, there are still going to be songs on this that aren't your cup of tea, but the major point of connection for listeners is the demand for empathy from the troubled lyrics of a man who is no longer with us.

The song Everybody is a cover but it's really a beautiful rendition. Thematically it's earned its place in the album and sonically it's one of the tracks that I think best represents my favorite parts of Circles. His singing on this song is my favorite of any singing he's done before, and this may be a hot take, but he's not a great singer. It's one of the reasons I love his singing so much. He has dropped a lot of random loosies over the years, some of them covers, that feature him primarily singing, and I love them so dearly. His cover of First Day of My Life is one of my favorite pieces of music, and it's because he's not an amazing singer. His voice is kinda raspy and you can tell it's weathered a bit from the concerts and cigarettes, and he definitely doesn't have a voice coach, and it's just so goddamn charming. If he was an amazing singer I would not like this album as much. Lyrically it would still pack an emotional punch, but I just wouldn't be as drawn to it as I am otherwise. With that said, his singing has gotten so much better, but it's not perfect, and that's exactly where I want it. "Because everybody's gotta live and everybody's gonna die, everybody's gonna try to have a good, good time. I think you know the reason why" The chorus of the song is simple, and is a really nice break from the heavy lyricism that's littered the album prior to this point. He really showcases his love of music with this piece, it's folk and blues inspirations aren't shunned away in an attempt to try and repurpose the song as his own, instead he wears these influences on his sleeve as he does his best to do right by the original. It serves as a confident step towards performing music with a more broad appeal.

The song Woods takes a dip towards a more spacey tone, the instrumental providing an open and forgiving atmosphere for him to loosely string along thoughts. "Yeah, things like this ain't built to last, I might just fade like those before me" on the surface these words feel like an empty call to a void about whether his legacy has been cemented or not, but after diving further into the song it becomes clear that this is about a relationship and whether or not he has made a lasting imprint on the other person. This is a quickly passing moment but the context is always crucial with this album. A simple line at the beginning of the song entirely changed in meaning based on his passing, and so much so that it took me many listens to even read further into the themes of love in the song.

Hand Me Downs is another example of where I feel he shows best his singing and songwriting abilities. The lyrics are beautiful and the instrumental is soft yet commanding. It allows his verses to jump out with purpose compared to the chorus, which is sung gorgeously by Baro, who has the only feature on the album. They make for a wonderful pair, and allow for a nice break between Macs lyrics, giving a greater sense of importance when we cut back to them. This is one of the best moments on the album, really allowing his clumsily endearing singing to take a step forward on a track that compliments it so well.

That's On Me is a somber display of emotions, while not very lyrically dense the feeling of guilt and remorse comes through quickly and thoroughly. The piano and guitar on this track are a great showcase of the departure from hip hop and show another moment of his confident step into a more general approach to songwriting. With that said, it's by no means generic, the chords on the song are sharp and jump to the ear, while lyrically he wallows in regret.

Surf comes in to really emphasize the newfound influences on his music. A stripped down guitar track that builds up to a laid back chorus with a sharp riff. He glides over the plucky high pitched notes with ease and really lets the instruments shine, showing again his appreciation for the process and love for the new sound he is stepping into.

Circles closes with the song Once A Day, a soft and subtle piano accompanied by an old school synth gives us the bare minimum to move the song along, because it's really about the lyrics. His songwriting abilities are strongest in this true grand finale. It's a strong end to the album because just as quick as the song has started, it ends. Not abruptly or out of place, he said what he wanted to say, but it's over now, and that's okay.

Circles, for me, has recontextualized Mac Miller's discography in a new way. As opposed to his death having washed over his old music with a sense of grief, misfortune, and pain, Circles has now stepped in to act as his new final moment. I can't speak for everyone, but having had close family pass away in my lifetime has proved that closure is not a real thing, all you can do is get better at being upset about it, and that just takes time. The songs on this album still contain many of the depressing themes and allusions to his passing that his previous work had, but the tone here is much different. I think that context is everything, because hearing this was so unexpected, that to hear it at all felt like a victory lap. I'm not going to pretend that every song on here is perfect, or that the album is perfect either, but for me it acts as a highlight reel of his career, displaying all the directions musically that he spent a decade building up to and all the different directions he was prepared to take his music. Reality is harsh and unforgiving, like Macs death, coming suddenly and cutting short the complete thought that Swimming and Circles were attempting to flesh out. Now having the other piece of the puzzle gives us a chance to put a bow on his life and his career, as opposed to dwelling on what else he had to show the world, we now have a glimpse.

Favorite Quotes:

-"'Fore I start to think about the future, first can I please get through a day?"

-"So tired of being so tired, why I gotta build something beautiful just to go and set it on fire?"

-"Get away to a place with a lake, such a great view leave the bank, a couple hundred thou'. I made it, but hate once I build it I break it down it might just break me down.

-"Yeah, well, sometimes I get lonely, not when I'm alone. But it's more when I'm standin' in crowds that I'm feelin' the most on my own"

-"But everybody keep rushing, why aren't we taking our time? Every now and again, baby, I get high"

Discussion Questions:

  • How does this album compare to the rest of his discography?
  • How has this album aged since its release?
  • Do you think it was worth using the songs that were left to make and finish this follow up?
  • What do you think would be different about this album if Mac was alive to make the final cut?
  • Do you have any thoughts on possible future posthumous releases coming out?
submitted by /u/yaromaj
[link] [comments]

Eminem on Why It’s Hard to Choose ‘Anyone Really to Be the Best Rapper of All Time’ Anymore: "Hip-hop's went through too many different transitions for anyone really to be the best rapper of all time."

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 11:57 AM PST

Theophilus London has attempted to illegally to sell his own unreleased collaboration with Miley Cyrus for $350; falsely claims he was hacked

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 06:52 PM PST

In a conversation with a Miley Cyrus fan, Theophilus London has attempted to sell a preview of an unreleased song 'Queen Of This Generation' for $100 and the complete song for $350. This is completely illegal and Cyrus' team should sue London. London has responded to the allegations on Twitter, saying he "was hacked". London has failed to provide any proof he was hacked to anyone involved with any interactions with him.

London has previously claimed he was hacked to other fans who were "scammed" last year and this year. None of these excuses make sense because of how active London is on his Instagram and the messages he has sent me and other people who were scammed by him. How could London be on Instagram every day and be hacked at the same time? It makes zero sense. The artists he has scammed and the people he has contacted have also been in touch with him throughout 2020 at different times. Has London been hacked the entire year and part of 2019? Probably not. He has given the same excuse every time without any proof of being hacked.

The DMs with London and London's tweet in response: https://imgur.com/gallery/f9PWImD

You may ask why London is doing all of this for only $350? It could honestly be anything... low record sales, no touring this year because of covid. As comments say, it's possibly drug related (hopefully not), and might be heroin related since he did not deny using it in response to Ian Connor's allegations in a 2016 Complex interview. London's also been accused of being a child molester by Connor, but you really can't trust Connor that much on that one since he's been accused of rape multiple times himself.

A couple weeks ago I posted about Theophilus London attempting to scam me and numerous others of various amounts for features. He has still not responded to any of the allegations I have made against him in instagram DMs, failed to provide a coherent explanation for any of the allegations made against him, and has failed to pay me $500. I know he won't possibly give me my money back to me or anyone else he owes, since he is a scammer. He owes around $1480 to me and two others who have also been scammed by him. In conclusion, do not deal with this loser.

*Realized I messed up the title, the second "to" shouldn't be there*

My original post that was deleted with 726 upvotes by the mods with no explanation:

"There have been numerous accusations against Theophilus London that he is a scammer. He attempted to scam me this year and numerous others in the past 2 years. He ghosted me after paying him for a feature for $500, so I tried to spark conversation to get him to send it over, which he never did, giving me the excuse that he did not like my beat. After I called him out on his BS, he sent me a beat for the same price, which I thought was fair at the time but now I know is a complete ripoff. I gave my excuse for being so angry that I am bipolar (which I am not really anymore) to calm down the situation so he would send me my money back. Read my entire conversation and see how he tries to manipulate me into thinking he cares about the feature. Telling me I don't need to be so aggressive when he was ignored me for half a year, and blatantly lying saying I haven't communicated with him which makes ZERO sense considering I messaged him all the time and he never responded.

I thought this was all confusingly resolved until I heard rumors of him scamming others. I learned today he had a different excuse for attempting to scam another person who he said was being scammed by London as well, u/FerdiFloyd. London's excuse to him for scamming a feature was that he was hacked and the hacker was scamming numerous people. He NEVER mentioned this to me. And you're probably thinking why he never mentioned this to me? Well, its because he might have lied to u/FerdiFloyd. London was probably never hacked, and he was scamming multiple people himself. u/FerdiFloyd believed London's shitty excuse, but I am not that gullible.

It is important to note that London sent me a picture of him in the studio saying he was working on the feature on October 19, 2019, which proves he was completely in control of his instagram at the time he said he was "hacked". I really wish I screenshot the photo, but you need to believe me by the disappearing image icon that appears in my conversation on that day. Don't be gullible, Theophilus London scams his own fans, and is one of the most inconceivable manipulators in music today. I have seen comments on u/FerdiFloyd's now deleted post that others have also been scammed by London, and London has also deleted comments on instagram regarding being a scammer. Today I sent him an edited version of the beat after 6 months of no talking to see if he would respond, and he left me on read. I sent him my final message today to see if he gives an explanation. He hasn't responded yet but I will update if he does.

Update: London now claims his feature price is 20k, and that some guy he hired is the one behind the scamming. This does not line up at all with my original story. He still hasn't responded or "read" my last IG message to him.

Update 2: Numerous people commenting have said the same story as u/Spic_Eazy said, "Theo asked a popular street wear brand Absent to send them a pair of their unreleased sunglasses for a Rolling Stones cover(I think). They sent him 3 pairs, and soon ended up at a popular L.A. resell shop." Seems like a fraud.

Update 3: I have received info from another person that they have been scammed $800 by London for shoes.

For your information, I am NOT the producer Vegyn. I am a 19 year old college student and artist from Pennsylvania. I am honestly not sure what to do about this situation. I was thinking of pitching this to music websites, but I am not sure if I will I be taken seriously. To be honest I just want my $500 back and to never have to talk to this clown ever again. Thanks for reading.

  1. London's excuse to u/FerdiFloyd: he asked me to take these down.
  2. London's continued excuse to u/FerdiFloyd: he asked me to take these down
  3. My beginning conversation with Theo: https://imgur.com/gallery/2RfFwKz
  4. London's excuse to me and further conversation. This takes place after I sent my rant message (3rd to last slide of #3): https://imgur.com/gallery/NJKFxVQ
  5. Theo now says his verse price is 20K? (Provided by an anonymous person in the comments) https://imgur.com/a/KVTORZs

I originally made a post about this in July but deleted since it wasn't very detailed and didn't have this extra information. More information from others and myself is in this comment section."

submitted by /u/vegynvegyn
[link] [comments]

Childish Gambino Freestyles over Drake's "Pound Cake" Beat | Sway's Univ...

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 03:41 PM PST

I made this Whole Lotta Red inspired Gameboy game

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 07:28 PM PST

The Wild Story Behind the Kid on XXXTentacion's "Look At Me!" Cover

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 06:39 AM PST

Eminem - Nail in the coffin

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 06:15 AM PST

Young Thug explains why meeting his hero, Lil Wayne, was a bitter disappointment (interview)

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 02:47 PM PST

New ZANE LOWE x EMINEM interview

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 09:39 AM PST

Drake ft A$AP Rocky - Wu-Tang forever (Remix)

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 09:57 AM PST

I took a photo of Kendrick and Rihanna at the TDE Christmas concert. She published it in her book!

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 09:45 AM PST

[FRESH] 50 Cent ft. NLE Choppa & Rileyy Lanez - "Part of the Game" | Official Lyric Video

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 09:41 AM PST

J. Cole announces 3 final albums (then retirement?)...The Off-Season, It's a Boy, & The Fall Off

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 06:57 AM PST

https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/j-cole-fall-off-era-albums-announcement/

When J. Cole takes to social media, you know it's deliberate. So, when the rapper posted a cryptic photo to Instagram yesterday detailing a list of unreleased albums and teasing impending retirement, best believe there is substance to it.

The Dreamville boss shared his plans for the "Fall Off-era" of albums, which seemingly involves dropping two other projects before released his previously-teased and highly-anticipated The Fall Off album.

Cole's post includes a trajectory of projects with some already-completed entries crossed out. For instance, "Features" appear to be done, while Cole hasn't released any solo music since 2018's KOD, he has appeared on a number of tracks with the likes of Gangstarr, Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, and his Dreamville cohorts. Then his Dreamville compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III, which dropped last year, also appears crossed out on the list.

What follows next are two as-yet-unreleased projects, The Off Season and It's A Boy, leading up to The Fall Off.

submitted by /u/deltron_zero_3030
[link] [comments]

Benny The Butcher - All 70 (feat. Conway The Machine) (prod. Daringer)

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 10:02 AM PST

[Discussion] Kendrick Lamar - Training Day (15 Years Later)

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 11:08 AM PST

15 Years Ago this Lil Wayne impersonator dropped his sophomore mixtape while signed to Top Dawg Entertainment

Tracklist

DatPiff Link (Unofficial)

SoundCloud Link (Unofficial) - Unsure why uploader says it's a 2007 mixtape

  • Have you actually listened to it?

  • Favorite verse? Feature?

  • Do you wish that Kendrick would've kept mimicking Wanye?

submitted by /u/NerdGasem
[link] [comments]

BLACK KRAY AKA SICKBOYRARI - 50 IN MY DENIM (GANG SHYNIN LYKE STARS) ✰OFFICIAL VIDEO✰

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 07:18 PM PST

[FRESH] redveil - how 2 find hope

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 02:09 PM PST

Fan confuses DaBaby with Roddy Rich

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 08:41 AM PST

How Atlanta rappers helped flip the White House (and they're hustling to flip the US Senate)

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 07:36 PM PST

'Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty' At 10: The Story Behind The Missing Tracks From Big Boi's Solo Debut Album

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 11:28 AM PST

[FRESH] Key! - My Puppy

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 09:38 PM PST

Mobb Deep - Give Up The Goods [Hiphop]

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 08:27 PM PST

Z-Ro - Devil Ass City

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 09:47 PM PST

DJ LUCAS FT WIKI - "TRICKY" (PROD SUBB) (DIR. BY GGGGOLDBLOOM)

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 06:02 PM PST

[FRESH] Captain Daddy - Woke Up Dope

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 12:23 PM PST
at

2020 Album of the Year Write-Up #9: Bryson Tiller - A N N I V E R S A R Y - HipHop

2020 Album of the Year Write-Up #9: Bryson Tiller - A N N I V E R S A R Y - HipHop

2020 Album of the Year Write-Up #9: Bryson Tiller - A N N I V E R S A R Y

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:22 AM PST

Artist: Bryson Tiller

Album: A N N I V E R S A R Y

LISTEN

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

BACKGROUND

Bryson Djaun Tiller is now one of modern R&B's established veterans. Emerging as a budding, hungry 22-year-old in the middle of the decade, Tiller made immediate waves with his 2015 debut studio album, T R A P S O U L. As a new voice and sound to accompany the late night, trap-infused R&B aesthetics of contemporaries such as Drake, the Weeknd, and PARTYNEXTDOOR, Bryson became a fresh face in the industry, and quickly emerged with successful singles and a strong fanbase. While he was basking in all of this newfound fame, however, it was not all smooth sailing for Bryson. Over a series of interviews and media appearances throughout the years, he has detailed the mental burden the music industry has led him to, particularly hinting towards the criticisms of T R A P S O U L being a main factor. While the album was hugely successful and well-received by many, he had a vocal portion of detractors who merely dismissed his work as derivative of the current norm. Bryson has since detailed that, all of the noise of the industry and the fans, coupled with his youth at the time, led him to a creative block. He himself has claimed that this lack of passion towards his work had bled through on his 2017 sophomore release, True to Self, which was not nearly as well received as its predecessor. Tiller, knowing that his output of music was not what he (or the fans) wanted it to be, decided to step away from the spotlight for the coming years. The occasional loosie or feature would pop up here and there, but when it came to a new, proper body of work, Tiller was secretive towards his creative process, and there existed a lot of skepticism if he was even going to drop anything again, or just fade into his typically private life of fatherhood. Those theories were quickly dispelled once tiller announced his 3rd studio record, A N N I V E R S A R Y, coupled with a album cover paying direct homage to the original T R A P S O U L, and a release date that coincided with the 5 year anniversary of the record's release.

REVIEW

"With what the young generation's doing

And I'm like, "Yo, man, you really just got to do this, like"

Worrying about or tryna figure out

What they, if they gon' like it or not

Aww man, you gon' have about five years go by

Next thing you know, you ain't gon' wanna do this shit no more

But you really just gotta do you"

These words from Atlanta podcaster and record producer DJ Toomp open up the entire record. It's no coincidence that Bryson chose to lead off with such a statement, especially one that rings pertinent to Bryson's career. Synths begin to sweep, tension begins to build, and Bryson properly introduces the world to his third studio album with a gargantuan opener. Years Go By is a trap-tinged banger that embraces the braggadocio of some of Tiller's earlier rap cuts, with thunderous 808s and a swelling array of keys and embellishments to pair with Bryson's lyrical reflection of his recent life and confidence in his return to the music industry without a hook to be seen. As someone who has publicly expressed his lack of confidence in his musical output, you can hear the fire and passion return in his vocal performance on this track, and on the rest of the cuts to follow. He's back, and he feels back.

As an entire album, A N N I V E R S A R Y recaptures the general aesthetic of T R A P S O U L and Bryson's musical standard in general: the "trapsoul" sound, a sing-rap combination of soulful R&B confessions and punchy hip-hop percussion, makes a full-fledged return on this record, with a more fleshed out approach to the sound. Tiller's delicate flows are back, with an air of swagger through his newfound wisdom, rather than swagger through his hunger on T R A P S O U L. He's no longer an ambitious, burgeoning 22-year-old with a point to prove in the hip-hop industry. He's now 27, and while he's an established veteran, his fleeting youth and perceived lackluster output to most have put his career in a borderline position. With this new record, he reclaims the sounds that he had built his career around, and aims to utilize and refine it in a way that is both fresh, yet familiar.

The production, in terms of atmosphere, falls in line with what you may expect from Bryson and this subset of alternative R&B. While it's not a new approach, the sound of this record is much more grand, articulate and layered compared to his previous records, while not straying from his typical lane. I point to Timeless Interlude, which is driven by despondent, gorgeous piano keys, a swallowed vocal sample, and glistening synths that trickle behind the beat, as the drums take over halfway into the runtime to proliferate, emphasizing the space that the production created. The delicateness of this track is perfectly juxtaposed by Sorrows, the track succeeding it. Sorrows is massive, with these large, swelling 808s thundering overtop of a boisterous Peter Allen sample, complete with bouncy pianos and a slick guitar riff. As a whole, samples populate this album frequently, whether vocally or instrumentally, which is not a surprise or new ground for Tiller and his producers. This go-around, however, the samples act as narrative accompaniment and thematic relevance as opposed to a sonic addition.

I would be remiss to not talk about Outta Time, his first official collaboration with Drake, one of his biggest and most public musical peers and idols. Drake acts as the first feature present on any of Bryson's studio albums, and it's only appropriate that someone like him would be the first. Outta Time is a dancehall-influenced pop tune that has Drake's influence spread all over it, from the bouncy, colorful beat to the crooning, light melodies about girl troubles. It's definitely the most commercially viable track on the whole record, but I think it still fits in nicely with the rest of the tracklist, and doesn't seem out of place compared to the songs surrounding it.

Lyrically, there's nothing that's particularly out of place for a Bryson Tiller release. Relationships and heartbreak still perpetuate as the dominant lyrical theme across most of these tracks. However, there exist plenty of instances of self-reflection about internal struggle, personal growth and a newfound, mature outlook on life that he had been oblivious to while younger. These themes bleed into the aforementioned relationship based songs, as well. T R A P S O U L had plenty of songs with that youthful promiscuity; that's now gone. In a way, Bryson uses A N N I V E R S A R Y as a lyrical confessional and an update on how the past 5 years have affected his mental health and emotions, ranging from the highs and the lows.

Keep Doing What You're Doing is a particularly poignant track. Lyrically, it's highly emotionally driven as an ode to his late grandmother, one of his personal heroes. The track opens up with a voicemail from her, a loving message for his birthday. Tiller pours his depression into his words here, talking about how he does not see the man his grandmother saw, but through all of the pain he endures, he tries to remember those 5 words that his grandmother reiterated: Keep doing what you're doing. It's certainly the most depressive track on the record, and you can hear the emotions in Tiller's vocal performance. The album ends with Next to You, a plea of Bryson's love for a lover he's craving and his desire to wait, and the vocal sample of "How far out have I got to move?/Oh, I've gotta get next to you/But you're so far away/Searching for a heart another world away" helps capture the state Bryson is in.

At a concise 10 tracks, all of them refined, this album completely satisfied my expectations for a sequel to T R A P S O U L, one of my absolute favorite albums of all time. It's a refreshing take on what we already know and love from Tiller, and the newfound attitudes and themes of this record have hit a chord with me at this point in my life. It's an album that embraces nostalgia in the best way possible, and I can't get enough of it.

FAVORITE LYRICS

They be like "Do the task right, don't make no mistakes"

They negated what I sacrificed, think I live a flashy life?

But really life is flashin' by, twenty-two, go get it now

Twenty-seven, hold it down

I got several homies now, but still I keep my bro around

Crazy we both older now, babies, no, they older now

Plus, I know they count on us to lend more than a shoulder

This world is growin' colder

"Timeless Interlude"

I think that's what got me here

I gave it my best and that's exactly why I'm here

Hated how it felt to be in debt, to bein' failed 'til I did somethin'

Self-reflectin', thinkin' 'bout the testaments and wisdom

Make sure you got a will, there's a way when there is one

Keep doin' what you doin', go do what's already been done

I know you got it in you

"Keep Doing What You're Doing"

Years go by, where we at right now? (Now)

Thought we, might be able to relax right now (Now)

Pressure on me whenever I'm flatlined down

I can't keep 'em on my back right now

The game called me and said, "Come back right now" (Right now)

Put the fire on the fuckin' wax right now, yeah (Right now)

She want all the eggs in one batch right now, but (Right, right now)

I can't risk that right now, no

"Years Go By"

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Do you think this record was a worthy sequel to T R A P S O U L?

Where do you see Bryson's sound going from here?

Does Bryson have longevity in the hip-hop/R&B industry?

Do you think this heavy reliance on nostalgia benefitted the record?

submitted by /u/dropthehammer11
[link] [comments]

Daily Discussion Thread 12/29/2020

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 04:37 PM PST

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Thread Guidelines

  • Do not create a separate self post for these types of discussions outside of this thread - if you do, your post will be removed, as stated in the guidelines.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

  • If a question has been asked many times before, provide a link to a thread that contains the answer.

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:

submitted by /u/ModsLittleHelper
[link] [comments]

Detroit Pistons hire rapper Big Sean to be the team's creative director of innovation

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 01:03 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Run The Jewels - Walking In The Snow (Official Music Video)

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:08 AM PST

Aminé - DR. WHOEVER

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 07:26 AM PST

Yung lean - Agony

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 02:34 PM PST

Westside Gunn reveals alternate cover for "Sincerely Adolf" (Hitler Wears Hermes 8)

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 10:49 AM PST

Cover

IG Post

SINCERELY ADOLF" #HWH8 cover 2/2 @maisonmargiela I'm so diff from EVERYBODY, a true 🐐 of this Culture, so many ppl don't understand the ART, or get the Fashion Talk, bc shit soooo over their heads they think it's trash, im literally bringing u what the culture has been missing, that was the whole point of the FLYGOD being born, I'm acknowledged by every LEGEND possible your fav curators fav Curator don't give me my flowers now it's ok bc I smell my own shit... this pic right here is LEGENDARY, it's shows how far I came from part 1 if u don't get it then it's not for you... ALBUM will be a masterpiece 🤲🏽🤲🏽

Original Cover

submitted by /u/thesuntalking
[link] [comments]

Rick Ross - The Devil is a Lie feat. Jay-Z

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 04:40 AM PST

Jay Electronica - All Praise Is Due To Allah

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 01:30 PM PST

[FRESH] Jorja Smith & OG Keemo - Blue Lights x 216 ft. WDR Funkhausorchester | Machiavelli Sessions

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 10:57 AM PST

Billboard Chart Discussion - Week Of January 02, 2021 | Mood is the only non-Christmas song in the top 10

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 02:10 PM PST

Billboard Hot 100 chart

Position Title Artist ▲/▼ Last week Weeks Charting Peak
1 All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey ▲+1 2 43 1
2 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee ▲+1 3 38 2
3 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms ▲+1 4 35 3
4 A Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives ▲+2 6 19 4
5 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Andy Williams ▲+2 7 20 5
6 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano ▲+4 10 14 6
7 Mood 24kGoldn Featuring iann dior ▼-2 5 20 1
8 Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow Dean Martin ▲+3 11 13 8
9 Last Christmas Wham! ▲+5 14 19 9
10 Run Rudolph Run Chuck Berry ▲+19 29 8 10
11 The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) Nat King Cole ▲+4 15 26 11
12 Underneath The Tree Kelly Clarkson ▲+16 28 9 12
13 Sleigh Ride The Ronettes ▲+6 19 11 13
14 Positions Ariana Grande ▼-6 8 9 1
15 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Perry Como And The Fontane Sisters With Mitchell Ayres And His Orchestra ▼-3 12 8 12
16 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Gene Autry ▲+15 31 12 16
17 Santa Tell Me Ariana Grande ▲+15 32 8 17
18 Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season Andy Williams ▲+8 26 8 18
19 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Darlene Love ▲+18 37 7 19
20 White Christmas Bing Crosby ▲+18 38 20 12
21 Holy Justin Bieber Featuring Chance The Rapper ▼-8 13 14 3
22 (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays Perry Como ▲+21 43 7 22
23 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Michael Buble ▲+19 42 5 23
24 Go Crazy Chris Brown & Young Thug ▼-8 16 33 9
25 Laugh Now Cry Later Drake Featuring Lil Durk ▼-8 17 19 2
26 Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) Gene Autry ▲+43 69 10 26
27 Levitating Dua Lipa Featuring DaBaby - 27 12 20
28 Wonderful Christmastime Paul McCartney ▲+18 46 4 28
29 For The Night Pop Smoke Featuring Lil Baby & DaBaby ▼-4 25 25 6
30 I Hope Gabby Barrett Featuring Charlie Puth ▼-10 20 52 3
31 Lemonade Internet Money & Gunna Featuring Don Toliver & NAV ▼-7 24 19 6
32 You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch Thurl Ravenscroft ▲+69 [FRESH] 2 32
33 Blue Christmas Elvis Presley ▲+68 [FRESH] 3 33
34 Dakiti Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez ▼-11 23 8 5
35 Body Megan Thee Stallion ▼-13 22 5 12
36 Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas) Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters ▲+65 [FRESH] 1 36
37 Bang! AJR ▼-4 33 25 24
38 Willow Taylor Swift ▼-37 1 2 1
39 This Christmas Donny Hathaway ▲+62 [FRESH] 1 39
40 34+35 Ariana Grande ▼-5 35 8 8
41 Kings & Queens Ava Max ▼-11 30 20 13
42 Therefore I Am Billie Eilish ▼-6 36 7 2
43 Deck The Halls Nat King Cole ▲+4 47 2 43
44 Dynamite BTS ▼-35 9 18 1
45 Please Come Home For Christmas Eagles ▲+56 [FRESH] 9 18
46 Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town Jackson 5 ▲+55 [FRESH] 1 46
47 Little Saint Nick The Beach Boys ▲+54 [FRESH] 1 47
48 Take Me Home For Christmas Dan + Shay ▲+10 58 3 48
49 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Michael Buble ▲+52 [FRESH] 1 49
50 I'll Be Home For Christmas Bing Crosby ▲+51 [FRESH] 1 50
51 What You Know Bout Love Pop Smoke ▼-3 48 16 25
52 Whoopty CJ ▲+1 53 7 51
53 Lonely Justin Bieber & benny blanco ▼-2 51 10 14
54 Hallelujah Carrie Underwood & John Legend ▲+30 84 3 54
55 WAP Cardi B Featuring Megan Thee Stallion - 55 20 1
56 Holiday Lil Nas X - 56 6 37
57 Better Together Luke Combs ▲+2 59 12 30
58 On Me Lil Baby ▲+2 60 3 30
59 Afterglow Ed Sheeran ▲+42 [FRESH] 1 59
60 Gnat Eminem ▲+41 [FRESH] 1 60
61 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Justin Bieber ▲+26 87 4 61
62 Favorite Time Of Year Carrie Underwood ▲+37 99 4 62
63 Hawai Maluma & The Weeknd ▲+2 65 18 12
64 Monster Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber ▼-2 62 5 8
65 Diamonds Sam Smith ▲+1 66 14 40
66 Starting Over Chris Stapleton ▲+6 72 17 25
67 Cry Baby Megan Thee Stallion Featuring DaBaby ▲+28 95 3 67
68 You Broke Me First. Tate McRae ▲+11 79 18 50
69 My Ex's Best Friend Machine Gun Kelly X blackbear ▲+17 86 19 28
70 Without You The Kid LAROI ▲+11 81 3 63
71 Big, Big Plans Chris Lane ▲+2 73 12 42
72 Mr. Right Now 21 Savage & Metro Boomin Featuring Drake ▲+16 88 12 10
73 Forever After All Luke Combs ▲+19 92 9 2
74 Throat Baby (Go Baby) BRS Kash ▲+23 97 10 69
75 Under The Mistletoe Kelly Clarkson & Brett Eldredge ▲+26 [FRESH] 3 59
76 Tyler Herro Jack Harlow ▲+1 77 9 34
77 Champagne Problems Taylor Swift ▼-56 21 2 21
78 The First Noel Gabby Barrett ▲+23 [FRESH] 1 78
79 Love You Like I Used To Russell Dickerson ▲+4 83 16 31
80 Champagne Night Lady A ▲+21 [FRESH] 9 75
81 Prisoner Miley Cyrus Featuring Dua Lipa ▲+13 94 5 54
82 Good Time Niko Moon ▲+14 96 12 71
83 7 Summers Morgan Wallen ▲+18 [FRESH] 18 6
84 Adderall (Corvette Corvette) Popp Hunna ▲+17 [FRESH] 1 84
85 You're Mines Still Yung Bleu Featuring Drake ▲+16 [FRESH] 3 52
86 Tequila Shots Kid Cudi ▼-45 41 2 41
87 Back To The Streets Saweetie Featuring Jhene Aiko ▲+14 [FRESH] 5 76
88 Bichota Karol G ▲+13 [FRESH] 4 88
89 Way Out Jack Harlow Featuring Big Sean ▼-15 74 2 74
90 Hit Different SZA Featuring Ty Dolla $ign ▲+11 [FRESH] 15 29
91 'Tis The Damn Season Taylor Swift ▼-52 39 2 39
92 Damage H.E.R. ▲+9 [FRESH] 2 70
93 Backdoor Lil Durk ▲+8 [FRESH] 1 93
94 Silent Night Carrie Underwood ▲+7 [FRESH] 2 94
95 Golden Harry Styles ▲+6 [FRESH] 9 74
96 Hole In The Bottle Kelsea Ballerini ▲+5 [FRESH] 10 72
97 No Body, No Crime Taylor Swift Featuring HAIM ▼-63 34 2 34
98 Moonwalking In Calabasas DDG ▲+3 [FRESH] 1 98
99 Took Her To The O King Von ▲+2 [FRESH] 6 47
100 Put Your Records On Ritt Momney ▲+1 [FRESH] 10 79

Billboard Global 200 chart (most popular songs globally)

Position Title Artist ▲/▼ Last week Weeks Charting Peak
1 All I Want For Christmas Is You Mariah Carey - 1 8 1
2 Last Christmas Wham! ▲+3 5 7 2
3 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Brenda Lee ▲+1 4 6 3
4 Jingle Bell Rock Bobby Helms ▲+3 7 6 4
5 Santa Tell Me Ariana Grande ▲+5 10 6 5
6 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Michael Buble ▲+8 14 6 6
7 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Andy Williams ▲+4 11 6 7
8 Underneath The Tree Kelly Clarkson ▲+9 17 6 8
9 Feliz Navidad Jose Feliciano ▲+9 18 6 9
10 Dakiti Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez ▼-7 3 8 1

Ignore sales data this week, HitsDailyDouble is not updated

Billboard 200 chart

Position Title Artist Sales Change Last week Weeks Charting
1 Evermore Taylor Swift err err 1 2
2 McCartney III Paul McCartney err err [FRESH] 1
3 Music To Be Murdered By Eminem err err 199 48
4 Christmas Michael Buble err err 4 90
5 Merry Christmas Mariah Carey err err 10 99
6 The Christmas Song Nat King Cole err err 8 56
7 My Gift Carrie Underwood err err 6 13
8 Folklore Taylor Swift err err 3 22
9 The Best Of Pentatonix Christmas Pentatonix err err 13 18
10 A Charlie Brown Christmas (Soundtrack) Vince Guaraldi Trio err err 12 88

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why is X artist higher than Y artist on the 200 chart, even though X artist sold less?

A: This is because of a discrepancy between Billboard's ranking and the ranking from the website that the sales data is scraped from

Q: Where do you get the sales data from?

A: https://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming

Q: What does "err" mean on the 200 chart?

A: If you are seeing "err", that means that the bot I use to gather chart data couldn't identify sales data for a particular album because of a difference in album naming between Billboard and HitsDailyDouble

Get notifications for this post:

If you want to receive a message with the link when this thread is posted every week, message /u/HHHRobot with anything in the subject and put "subscribe billboard" as the message (or click this link). To unsubscribe, put "unsubscribe billboard" as the message (or click this link).

submitted by /u/RobYaLunch
[link] [comments]

Wiz Khalifa - In The Cut

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 06:37 PM PST

Rolling Stone: With All Eyes on Georgia, Atlanta Rappers Reignite Role as Political Kingmakers

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 08:14 AM PST

The Best Rap Verses of 2020

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 11:23 AM PST

Boldy James feat. Vince Staples - Give Me A Reason

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 02:40 PM PST

Mac Miller - Salamander

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 03:50 PM PST

Lupe Fiasco - Freestyle on Sway In The Morning

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 06:31 PM PST

Lupe Fiasco - Superstar (Live in Chicago)

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:35 PM PST

Playboi Carti - No Sl33p

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:00 AM PST

Abstract Rude - The Media feat. Busdriver, Myka 9, and Aceyalone

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 10:00 PM PST

redveil - Weight

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 12:09 PM PST

DJ MUGGS vs ILL BILL - SKULL & GUNS ft. SLAINE & EVERLAST

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 06:09 PM PST

[FRESH ALBUM] J. Stone - The Definition of Pain

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:51 PM PST

Tor Cesay - The Perch (feat Flying Lotus, Oddisee & Phonte)

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:50 PM PST

[ORIGINAL] Franck Kash - Trust Your Struggle Ft. Q-Man

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 09:43 PM PST
at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)