50 Great, Not Extremely Talked About Projects from 2016 - HipHop |
- 50 Great, Not Extremely Talked About Projects from 2016
- 15 Years Ago Today: Nas Responds To Jay Z On His Birthday w/ 'Ether'
- [FRESH] Jaden Smith - Fallen
- ScHoolboy Q's Photographer and Video Editor of his Tour is Going to do a AMA Tomorrow
- HHH Secret Santa Mixtape Thread
- [FRESH CDQ] French Montana x Swae Lee - Unforgettable (ft. Jeremih)
- Jeremih Removed From PARTYNEXTDOOR’s Summer’s Over Tour
- [C5 Leak] Lil Wayne - Start This Shit Off Right (feat. Mannie Fresh)
- J. Cole’s False Prophets Track | @AskDEHH
- Kanye West - When I see it
- Pitchfork's Top 20 Rap Albums of 2016
- [FRESH] Wiz Khalfa - O.N.I.F.C. 4 Year Anniversary (3 Unreleased Songs)
- PaRappa The Rapper: 20th Anniversary Edition Reveal Trailer
- SUNDAY GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD- DECEMBER 4th 2016
- Justin Bieber - Confident (feat. Chance the Rapper)
- G Herbo - Knucklehead (ft. Earl Sweatshirt)
- Flatbush Zombies: Fear Is Just An Illusion
- No PNDxTM88 collab afterall
- The Dream announces new project dropping Dec. 9th
- New Lucki mixtape "Watch My Back" coming out this month
- Injury Reserve - Yo
- Gang Starr affiliate Solar has been leaving angry reviews of Guru's final projects all over RateYourMusic
- Smooth Sunday. Post your smooth tracks here.
- Dave - Wanna Know (feat. Drake)
| 50 Great, Not Extremely Talked About Projects from 2016 Posted: 04 Dec 2016 08:11 AM PST This is a list of 50 hip hop projects from this year that are at least somewhat under the radar, all of them worth listening to. I'm not ranking these, the list is alphabetical. I'm including official streaming links to each project, as well a short write-up and my favourite song from each one. Comment with any projects you think should be here, but use your discretion with "not extremely talked about." Note: while I know RnB etc is a large part of hip hop culture, for the purposes of this list I tried to keep it strictly "hip hop". So no Jamila Woods, Solange, Robert Glasper... I'm aware of Saba, I love Bucket List, but I thought it got enough hype here. 'Tis What 'Tis is rooted in old school hip hop, but it still feels fresh and modern. The beats here are "hip hop," they're infectious and upbeat, they're warm and nostalgic. Googie's rhymes are extremely dexterous and clever, he always stays humourous and positive, but he's intelligent enough that he can be more serious if he needs to be. This album feels like a perfect tribute to the past without ever coming across as a cheap nostalgia grab. Big Mouth Arcade (prod. Blockhead) Short Fuze & Uncommon Nasa - Autonomy Music Uncommon Nasa's is one of the best operating in the New York undeground scene, and this might be his best project yet. I'm not too familiar with Short Fuze, but lyrics here are personal, sometimes uncomfortably so, but he is able to consistently paint a vivid picture of the issues surrounding him in his daily life. Nasa's production is frantic and high energy, taking a lot of influence from rock music. Collaboration between Heems (formerly of Das Racist) and Riz MC. This is another album that uses satire. It takes a lens to some very serious issues but does so in a humorous manner, which I think enhances the points being made. The principle theme of this album is race - particularly expanding on both rappers' experiences, Heems being Indian and Riz being Pakistani. The music reflects their heritage, and Eastern samples are flipped into hip hop beats. It's a very unique sound that isn't too prominent in hip hop. The lyricism here is consistently excellent, occasionally braggadocious and occasionally more personal and introspective. The production here has a lot of electronic influence, but it still remains within the realm of more traditional hip hop. There are a couple experiments with pop music on here, that while not really my thing, definitely feel well thought out and naturally integrated. One of my favourite "producer albums" in recent memory. Willie Green creates a bunch of dope beats that cater to the variety of dope underground MCs he recruits. The atmosphere is a bit unsettling and fractured, but it all makes sense in the context of the album. A problem I have with these types of albums is a lack of cohesion, but this is where Doc Savage excels. Even though each track contains different rappers, the album still exists as a clear and complete work. The Feathered Octopus feat. Elucid & Open Mike Eagle This is Lif's big return after an extended hiatus. Previously known for his great work with El-P and Def Jux, he hasn't lost a step. His delivery is entertaining and erratic, and his lyrics are consistently thought provoking and captivating. The lyrics here are very introspective, and at times Lif goes to some very dark places. But he's able to guide the listener through this world he creates and expertly conveys his unique point of view. FLYGOD is gritty NY street rap mixed with 'luxurious' production. Gunn has a very distinctive delivery, even annoying at first, but he once you get used to it, his voice matches perfectly with these beats. This album feels like it captures a particular era of hip hop, but at the same time it's not a rehash. It builds on its influences instead of copying them. There's a great set of features and producers here that craft the sound of the album, including Apollo Brown, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Roc Marciano. A very well executed fusion of more traditional hip hop production with some electronic sounds. This is another producer album. Factor Chandelier creates beats that are lively but simultaneously slightly ominous. The majority of this album is instrumental, but the MCs used here are well chosen, and they are able to enhance the mood that is created. Dozer II feat. Open Mike Eagle Lando Chill - For Mark, Your Son As the title suggests, this title serves as a tribute to Lando Chill's father. Lando sings just as much as he raps on here, and he's able to excel in both areas. The production is very smooth and soulful, melancholy but at the same time carrying a lot of positivity. The album is well put together, and after you've finished listening you feel as if you've progressed, as if a story has been told. Predominantly instrumental project from Deca, but it does feature some rapping and a lot of vocal samples. This is a concept tape, tackling the ideas of 'god' and spirituality. The production here is consistently excellent, and it's rare for an instrumental album to be able to tell a clear story as well as this project does. Every sample feels purposeful, every song feels like it was placed where it is for a particular reason. A very laid back and jazzy project from Coops, a rapper out of London. The lyrics here are great, he's a "conscious" rapper but he doesn't let that label detract from the musical quality here. He's introspective, political, and as the title suggests, he even tackles the broad ideas of spirituality and belief. The production is warm and calm, and he has a very conversational style of rapping that allows him to convey his points effectively. An all round excellently put together and immensely enjoyable project. The production here is smooth and upbeat, and the atmosphere created is consistently warm and inviting. The lyrics here are clever and witty. They're complex enough to keep you invested, but it never feels like ScienZe is trying too hard to make a point or convey a specific idea, it feels fluid and uncluttered. Nolan Ninja is a very talented rapper and producer out of Detroit. He blends "vintage" sounding production, reminiscent of the 90s, with absolutely furious delivery. All over this album, he's spitting clever, aggressive, and technically proficient lyrics with extremely high energy. This project is gritty and angry, but at the same time it's strangely calm and soothing. If you want to recapture that early Wu Tang mood in a way that still sounds fresh, check this out. Open Mike Eagle & Paul White - Hella Personal Film Festival Funny but thoughtful rhymes from Mike over Paul White's off kilter production. The title reflects the content, each track can exists in its own right as a vignette or a portrait of a particular issue, but when brought together something much greater is created. Open Mike Eagle has one of the most unique and intelligent 'voices' in hip hop, he takes serious issues and deconstructs them in a way that makes you really ponder his words, and he does all of this while being charismatic and likable. This is my favourite album of the year. I can not praise it enough. Ka's lyricism here is absolutely flawless, and I can't think of anyone that matches him. Every single line is directly relevant and adds to the song's meaning and the atmosphere he's creating. But he isn't just concise, he's able to exercise this precision while still being immensely clever and complex. There's so much to dissect, so much meaning to his words. He doesn't compromise on emotional resonance for the sake of complexity, his work is as poignant as it is lyrically impressive. The production, which he did himself, is able to mix gritty atmosphere classic to New York with more experimental sounds, and the Japanese samples interspersed add both to the sound and to the overarching concept. Every track is excellent, the album lasts just as long as it needs to. I couldn't recommend this more. Jeremiah Jae & PBDY - JP Moregun Jeremiah Jae has always made music with a dark and unsettling atmosphere, but this album takes that "noir" mood even further. The album is bleak and downtempo, and Jeremiah's flow is as monotone as it always is, but these factors cause you to focus completely on the lyricism and the vivid storytelling. This feels like modern experimental hip hop fused with 1940s detective fiction, and it works excellently the whole way through. Rome Fortune - Jerome Raheem Fortune Rome Fortune is not as good a lyricist as many of the people on here, but he excels by floating over these hazy and drugged out beats. But unlike many people who aim for the same style, Rome Fortune brings a measure of personality and charisma to his work. He's not excessively technical, but he is interesting, he knows how to add to a track without getting in its way. This is a very enjoyable project, with great melodies and great production. Hak is a former member of Ratking. This is his solo debut, and it takes a completely different direction. Hak fully produced the album, and the result is excellent. It's a very unconventional project, it contains a lot of singing and spoken word in addition to his slow flow, and the production is very electronic and experimental. Hak's lyrics are very esoteric, very abstract, and he's able to convey his ideas in a unique manner. Homeboy Sandman - Kindness for Weakness Over the last decade, Homeboy Sandman has built up one of the best catalogues in all of hip hop, and Kindness for Weakness is another great addition to his legacy. This project is probably the most personal he's ever been, and he uses his trademark wit and humour to transport you to his point of view. The production here exists outside of the New York archetype you might expect from him, and he rhymes excellently over some pretty unconventional beats. Fudge (Michael Christmas & Prefuse 73) - Lady Parts Prefuse 73 has been a large part of the underground scene within both hip hop and more electronic music for a long time, and he teams up with young Boston rapper Michael Christmas to form the duo 'Fudge.' The production here is off kilter but generally upbeat, and Christmas brings his usual style of calculatedly off-beat flows and funny rhymes. A very enjoyable album that is able to be unique without trying too hard. Wil Akogu - Language of the Soul Another up and coming rapper out of the flourishing Chicago scene, but quite isolated from his peers. Akogu's music is not in the soulful upbeat style that marks other Chicago rappers, he's a lot more sombre and philosophical even at a young age. He has a deep, powerful delivery, and he looks at the world in a very interesting manner. There is a lot of poetry influence in his style of rapping, and he's able to paint a compelling portrait in just a few tracks. Beginning of the End/Heaven's Gates feat. Wolfgang Signor Benedick the Moor - Maiden Voyage Suite Benedick is one of the most interesting guys coming out of the LA underground right now. This is only a 2 track EP, but he shows enough variety in terms of lyricism and production to make this a worthwhile project. I love his abstract lyricism, and the semi-industrial production he uses, similar to clipping, is excellent and keeps you interested. Great witty rhymes from Ace, and the beats from Slippers are very smooth and funky. This feels like a more funky version of Deltron 3030 for me, though I don't know if I'm reaching with that comparison. Very enjoyable on all fronts and a very well executed concept. Saul Williams - MartyrLoserKing Saul Williams has been a high profile figure within experimental hip hop for a long time, and he's able to use his experience combined with a great understanding of current issues to create one of the year's best projects. Williams comes from a spoken word background, and he's able to use that to his advantage on this project. His lyrics are sharp and dense, and the production is dark and sinister. Another rapper associated with the excellent Griselda crew. Benny doesn't come off as being as "high concept" as Westside Gunn, and focuses more on the bare essentials. This isn't a negative, it allows him to convey an incredible amount of emotion. His rapping is raw and gritty as you'd expect, but there's also some introspection and vulnerability on this project. The beats are nothing out of the ordinary, but they sound good and they work excellently with his rhymes. Kweku Collins is one of the most distinctive artists coming out of the currently prominent scene in Chicago. He's very musical, and a lot of the time he employs singing and "sing-rap." The instrumentals here are very airy and uplifting, and the lyrical content here is interesting without ever feeling forced. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking for a new Kid Cudi, but I think that in many ways Kweku is much better than Cudi. Kemba, formerly known as YC The Cynic, is an extremely talented MC out of the Bronx. Negus mixes a lot of heavy themes, regarding both racial disharmony and black empowerment, politics, gentrification, police brutality, and just generally takes a lens to society. But Kemba is able to escape the curse of the "conscsious rapper" and never elevates himself above his audience. If you're put off by these themes, don't be. He is consistently entertaining and charismatic throughout the project. His flow is varied and his wordplay is incredibly sharp. He jumps between moods with ease, and operates at an extremely high level of rapping ability. He even sings on some of these songs, and it doesn't feel out of place. The production here is handled by Frank Drake. It's very good, and very unique. The beats are equal parts traditional hip hop and futuristic. Another album I recommend to all hip hop fans. Blu & Fa†e - Open Your Optics to Optimism Blu is one of my favourite rappers, and 2016 has been a great year for him. But of the multiple projects he's dropped, I think this is comfortably the strongest. Blu's traditional poetic lyrics shine here, but the subject matter is also a lot broader than usual. Blu talks about religion, history, he looks at humanity as a whole from a variety of angles. My favourite song on here, His Story, is a spoken word narrative of the earth's history. Jalal Salaam & ewonee - Past Lives The rapping here jumps out at you as 'different'. It's smooth, but at the same time it feels urgent and frantic. The lyrics here are very philosophical, looking at quite broad issues of humanity without ever reaching a definitive conclusion. The production matches the spirituality of the lyrics, laidback and calm but not in a way that allows you to just leave this in the background. Tonedeff has been a staple in the underground for years, and this album has been in the works for a long time. His lyricism is insanely complex, he has great skill in terms of weaving together long multisyllabic rhymes without sacrificing meaning or emotional resonance. This album can be charecterised by its versatility. The music here takes ideas from different subsets of hip hop, electronic sounds, shoegaze, industrial, and even from pop music. His flow jumps around to fit whatever sound he's using, and even his singing enhances these tracks. The lyrics here are intensely personal, but there is still material to prove his pure rapping ability. This is Gensu Dean's second album of 2016, and here he takes the lead. He invites a wide selection of underground rappers to rhyme over his unconventionally soulful production. The guest are well chosen, and every feature verse is great. The album avoids feeling like a rushed compilation project, and there is a clear structure running through RAW. Ball of Yarn feat. Roc Marciano An excellent experimental hip hop album. Lushlife has a very unique delivery as a rapper, and similarly he brings in a unique perspective. His lyrics are somewhat odd, but he becomes more compelling the longer you listen. The production here is the highlight, it draws from shoegaze, as well as more traditional electronic sounds, and the result is a grandiose soundscape, even psychedelic at times. Toynbee Suite feat RJD2, Nightlands & Yikes the Zero Sadistik brings his customary complex and personal lyrics over some good experimental production. Everything about this EP, and Sadistik in general, is somewhat unconventional. It may take a while to get used to his style of delivery, but once you do there's a lot of very interesting details to unpack from this project, as he truly is a first rate lyricist. Elucid is a more directly abrasive and experimental artist. This album contains influence from industrial music, more glitchy electronic stuff, and even soul. Elucid produces all these beats, and he is the perfect fit for each one. Elucid effortlessly jumps between all these sounds, playing with his voice and with his delivery. He tackles serious themes in a uniquely esoteric way, there's a lot of obscure references and imagery, but it all adds to the broader picture he's creating. The subject matter here is very dark, both in terms of the more political issues Elucid tackles, but also in terms of the introspective angle he takes. He deals with themes of isolation and depression in a mature and entertaining manner. If the term "experimental hip hop" even slightly appeals to you, this is a must listen, and it really is accessible if you have an open mind. Another near flawless album. A very interesting blend of grime, hip hop, dancehall and more industrial sounds. Gaika is from London, and he uses that as well as his Caribbean heritage in his music, but he's able to escape the trap of being defined by a specific region. The production here is consistently interesting and unexpected, never staying stagnant in a particular sound, and Gaika has a very distinctive delivery that gets very ominous at times. White Picket Fences feat. 6Cib jinsang - solitude. Of the instrumental projects here, this is probably the most conventional "beat tape" in format. But that doesn't take away from the excellent music here. This album is completely calm and serene, all the way through, it's uplifting without having to say a word. There is influence from all over the world, mixing sounds from the California beat scene with Eastern sounds. It feels like no time has passed when you're finished listening, and it invites a lot of replaying. Like of Pac Div - Songs Made While High This might be the most pleasantly surprising project of the year for me. I was familiar with Pac Div, but I really had no expectations for this. But Like came through with one of the most purely enjoyable projects of the year. Like does all the beats here, and they're consistently layered and smooth, varied enough to keep my interest but perfectly blending into each other. He's not an incredible lyricist, but he has a great delivery and he has the odd clever line. A perfect "chill" project. Marv Won - Soundtrack of Autumn Marv Won is a former battle rapper out of Detroit, probably best known for rapping in an 8 Mile deleted scene. This album, fully produced by him, takes a close look at the life of a rapper who hasn't really made it as big as they'd hoped. There's no glamour or glory here, it's a consistently bleak portrait of how his commitment to hip hop impacts on his life. It's a very interesting topic, and Marv's rhymes are clever and well executed. Clipping experiments quite drastically on this album, and it works to good effect. The group is known for their fast paced industrial style, but this album takes on a host of new influences to create an altogether compelling listen. There's influence from gospel, from soul on here, and the album is tied together by the prominent influence of science fiction and space. This is very much meant to be listened to in album format, and even so it can feel somewhat fractured. But this is an example of experimentation done right, and even in spite of that, Daveed Diggs' technical ability is on full display here. Fahim is linked with the Griselda crew, but he takes his own direction in music. He makes beats that are a bit less gritty, and more influenced by soul and jazz, and his rhymes deal with more "conscious" topics in addition to the braggadocio you'd expect. This is a very well put together project, the samples feel carefully chosen, and nothing feels out of place. Fahim is a better producer than rapper, but he can still more than hold his own on the mic. Zeroh is one of the best "experimental" artists out right now, and he's allied with the really exciting scene coming out of LA. The beats are drugged out and glitchy, there's excellent use of vocal modulation, and Zeroh's rhymes are abstract while remaining entertaining. He's able to challenge the listener without ever taking himself too seriously. Apollo Brown & Skyzoo - The Easy Truth Skyzoo is an extremely consistent MC, and Apollo is an extremely consistent producer. As expected, this collab keeps up that high level of quality. Apollo's beats are perfect for the quietly nostalgic mood of this album, and Skyzoo kills every one of his verses. This is a very personal project, and everything about the album is rooted in Sky's upbringing, a period he's able to transport you to. A Couple Dollars feat. Joell Ortiz This is a very daunting listen for someone not already a fan of Reks. It's a double album and stretches over 2 hours, but I think you'll be well rewarded if you give it a proper chance at least once. Reks is an excellent and captivating MC throughout the album, he switches between songs where he shows off his technical ability, and then more downtempo personal tracks. The album tackles his upbringing, social issues and even the topic of hip hop itself, backed by some very enjoyable boom bap production. Aesop Rock - The Impossible Kid Aesop Rock has been one of the most prominent underground artists for well over a decade, and he comes with an album that lives up to if not surpasses his best work. The Impossible Kid, entirely produced by him, is filled with his trademark complex lyricism. This is his most personal album yet, and a lot of the content is quite grim without being outright depressing. It's very rewarding to comb through his lyrics in order to understand all his allusions and wordplay, but even if that doesn't appeal to you I think this is still a worthwhile listen. The production here is experimental but accessible, and his flow and technical ability is very conventionally impressive. L'Orange & Mr. Lif - The Life & Death of Scenery Possibly my favourite Mello Music Group release this year. The chemistry between Lif and L'Orange is incredible. L'Orange creates beats that carry his normal down-tempo, noir feel, but they're able to exist within the futuristic concept of this album. Lif brings his off kilter rhymes that reflect the chaos of the world that's being created. He's clever but light. The album is pulled together by a loose concept, that enhances it but never gets in the way of the music. 5 Lies About the World Outside feat. Insight Sho Baraka is an example of Christian Rap done well (cough, cough Chance). He is a great lyricist and storyteller, he effortlessly jumps between introspection and broader examination of society. He is able to use his beliefs as a means of enhancing his perspective, without ever coming off as pretentious or preachy. The production here is upbeat without ever being overbearing. The album is conceptual, and you can tell a lot of effort was put into its structure. Black Milk & Nat Turner - The Rebellion Sessions My favourite instrumental release of the year. Black Milk is a veteran producer out of Detroit, and here he's alongside his band Nat Turner. These tracks are beautifully jazzy and soulful, calm but at the same time carrying a bit of aggression. It's short and sweet, everything transitions smoothly but the individual tracks are still distinctive enough. It takes the traditional feel of great beat tapes and adds some extra gloss and musicianship. Scallops Hotel (aka Milo) - too much of life is mood Scallops Hotel is the alter ego of Hellfyre Club member Milo. On this project, he mostly ditches his philosophical rhymes in favour of a more experimental instrumental approach and it pays off excellently. The rapping isn't completely gone, and when he raps it's at a very high standard that enhances the atmosphere created by these instrumentals. Discussing Lanquidity with the Moor feat. Signor Benedick the Moor Blueprint & Aesop Rock - Vigilante Genesis One of the most concise and well executed concept projects I've ever heard. Blueprint, over Aesop Rock's experimental beats, tells a vivid story about a vigilante character. This EP is almost like a film, each scene is excellently detailed, you feel suspense when you're supposed to. This is one of the most impressive projects I've listened to this year, anyone wanting great storytelling or an interesting concept needs to check this out. Denmark Vessy & Gensu Dean - Whole Food Gensu Dean creates a great, soulful but slightly experimental soundscape, and Vessey jumps all over these beats with great charisma and energy. This album is a very hopeful one, in that it doesn't shy away from serious issues, but keeps its lighthearted spirit and humour all the way through. Vessey is perfect for this, he's multifaceted enough to be convincing on a serious political track and then be entertaining on a fun track. Very good album, and another hit for Mello Music Group. Black Love feat. 7evenThirty & Iman Omari Google Play Music playlist of most of the albums, made by /u/oaklandnative Spotify playlist by /u/sarcasmguy1 Lessons from this year: Detroit has an incredible hip hop scene. Unfortunate that Big Sean is trying to singlehandedly cancel that out, but it's a good scene nonetheless. Mello Music Group is the best label in the game. Albums with one producer, especially if that producer is also the main vocalist, are the best albums. [link] [comments]  |
| 15 Years Ago Today: Nas Responds To Jay Z On His Birthday w/ 'Ether' Posted: 04 Dec 2016 12:07 PM PST |
| Posted: 04 Dec 2016 03:07 PM PST |
| ScHoolboy Q's Photographer and Video Editor of his Tour is Going to do a AMA Tomorrow Posted: 04 Dec 2016 12:21 PM PST |
| HHH Secret Santa Mixtape Thread Posted: 04 Dec 2016 06:38 PM PST Not sure this is a great idea, but fuck it. I'm ready for the challenge.
Songs do not have to be from this year. Songs don't have to be obscure, just a representation of what you've been listening to this year. Avoid super mainstream artists like Drake, Kendrick, J Cole, etc. Sending dope homemade cover artwork and naming the mixtape is highly encouraged. Shoutout to /u/Squid__ because I basically copied the instructions from him [link] [comments]  |
| [FRESH CDQ] French Montana x Swae Lee - Unforgettable (ft. Jeremih) Posted: 04 Dec 2016 05:13 PM PST |
| Jeremih Removed From PARTYNEXTDOOR’s Summer’s Over Tour Posted: 04 Dec 2016 08:32 AM PST |
| [C5 Leak] Lil Wayne - Start This Shit Off Right (feat. Mannie Fresh) Posted: 04 Dec 2016 01:13 PM PST |
| J. Cole’s False Prophets Track | @AskDEHH Posted: 04 Dec 2016 04:15 PM PST |
| Posted: 04 Dec 2016 10:11 AM PST |
| Pitchfork's Top 20 Rap Albums of 2016 Posted: 04 Dec 2016 10:09 PM PST |
| [FRESH] Wiz Khalfa - O.N.I.F.C. 4 Year Anniversary (3 Unreleased Songs) Posted: 04 Dec 2016 08:18 PM PST |
| PaRappa The Rapper: 20th Anniversary Edition Reveal Trailer Posted: 04 Dec 2016 07:49 PM PST |
| SUNDAY GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD- DECEMBER 4th 2016 Posted: 04 Dec 2016 10:44 AM PST |
| Justin Bieber - Confident (feat. Chance the Rapper) Posted: 04 Dec 2016 10:39 AM PST |
| G Herbo - Knucklehead (ft. Earl Sweatshirt) Posted: 04 Dec 2016 09:48 AM PST |
| Flatbush Zombies: Fear Is Just An Illusion Posted: 04 Dec 2016 09:16 AM PST |
| Posted: 04 Dec 2016 10:40 AM PST |
| The Dream announces new project dropping Dec. 9th Posted: 04 Dec 2016 09:08 PM PST |
| New Lucki mixtape "Watch My Back" coming out this month Posted: 04 Dec 2016 02:11 PM PST |
| Posted: 04 Dec 2016 12:18 PM PST |
| Posted: 04 Dec 2016 06:59 PM PST So back in 2009 Guru, the rapper from Gang Starr, released his final album, Guru 8.0: Lost and Found, produced in large part by Solar and also featuring him on one track. If you've heard of Solar it was probably because of a sordid affair involving an e-mail leak, the details of which are too depressing for me to want to get into here. Still, it is worth taking a good look at these particular e-mails - pay particular attention to the writing style: http://images2.villagevoice.com/imager/u/745xauto/6634667/picture_23.png http://images1.villagevoice.com/imager/u/745xauto/6634674/picture_34.png Anyway, the album was tremendously poorly received just about everywhere, including the community-based music review site RateYourMusic where it holds a dismal rating of 1.13 out of 5. Two reviews, this one and this one, were actually published before the album was released, presumably due to a leak. Neither had much good to say about the album. Then, two days after the album's official release date, an account named "noaxetogrind" is created and immediately posts this review, along with a five-star rating of the album: https://rateyourmusic.com/review?id=22701927 (screenshot in case it's ever deleted) Now, look back up to those e-mails I linked above. Notice anything familiar about the writing style? It gets better. A month before the album, Guru had dropped The 8.0 Lost and Found EP, which had been similarly poorly received. After reviewing the main album, "noaxetogrind" evidently noticed this, because another review immediately sprang up on the page for that EP: https://rateyourmusic.com/review?id=22707213 (screenshot in case it's ever deleted) Now, obviously there's no way we could ever actually prove this is Solar, considering that he's left no personal information at all on the account page. But honestly? I'd be willing to bet a fair amount of money on it. I mean, considering what we know of Solar - a boundless capacity for pettiness, an inflated perception of his own talent, a really confusing blend of a pretty decent vocabulary with hideously godawful grammar - I think it seems more likely than not. Anyway I just stumbled across this shit while browsing RYM idly and thought it was some seriously funny shit, so I decided to share it with you. Solar describing one negative review as "nebulous ravings" is a personal highlight. [link] [comments]  |
| Smooth Sunday. Post your smooth tracks here. Posted: 04 Dec 2016 06:31 AM PST Give me that smooth shit to vibe to today. First Chicago snow incoming. -___- One love. [link] [comments]  |
| Dave - Wanna Know (feat. Drake) Posted: 04 Dec 2016 04:02 PM PST |
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