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Album of the Year 2016 #01: Ka - Honor Killed the Samurai - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #01: Ka - Honor Killed the Samurai - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #01: Ka - Honor Killed the Samurai

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 09:01 AM PST

Artist: Ka

Album: Honor Killed the Samurai

Listen:

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Music

Background

Kaseem Ryan, or Ka, hails from the Brownsville neighbourhood of Brooklyn. Through much of the 90s, Ka existed on the peripheries of the hip hop world, his search for recognition proving mostly futile. Ka was briefly part of the Natural Elements Crew, his most notable appearance coming on "I Mean This". After Natural Elements failed to obtain a record deal, Ka left the group, feeling personal guilt regarding this failure.

The next step in Ka's journey came in the form of Nightbreed, a duo he formed with fellow rapper and close friend Kev in 1998. Once again, Ka progressed no further than an unheralded demo tape, featuring the semi-cult-classic "2 Roads Out The Ghetto".

Ka was one of many victims of a musical climate governed by record labels, and after failing to gain even a semblance of success, he turned his back on hip hop. For 10 years Ka existed in a state of forced complacency regarding his musical ambitions, committing to civilian life. Notably, he rose to the position of Captain in the Fire Department of New York, a position he occupies to this day.

In 2007, Ka self released his debut album, Iron Works. This was not a renewed bid at the fame he had long since abandoned, Iron Works served merely as a passion project by Ka, something he intended to gift to his friends and family. Inadvertently, Iron Works made its way to the GZA. An elite lyricist himself, GZA found himself thoroughly impressed by Ka's intricate and unique rhyming style. Ka was invited to record with GZA, his contributions eventually taking the form of the Roc Marciano-produced "Firehouse", a solo Ka song appearing on GZA's 2008 album Pro Tools.

Although this was the principal factor buoying the resumption of his hip hop dreams, it was only four years later in 2012 that Ka proved himself a concrete force within the genre. Grief Pedigree, completely self-produced and self-released, served as Ka's introduction to those who paid attention, and through this album and its follow-up The Night's Gambit, Ka built up a steady following and some well-deserved critical attention.

Early in 2016, Ka released the promotional singles "30 Keys" and "Grapes of Wrath". These songs, not tied to any project, served as a means of portraying Ka's current musical and emotional frame of mind.

Honor Killed the Samurai, released on Ka's own Iron Works record label on the 13 August 2016, is Ka's 4th solo album, and his 6th major project. As is tradition for Ka, he used the release date to sell copies hand to hand, interacting with his fans.

After taking a hiatus from production duties, with Preservation producing 2014's 1200 BC and 2015's Days With Dr. Yen Lo, Honor Killed the Samurai sees Ka returning to his traditional style of controlling every facet of his music.

On this album, Ka draws from a variety of Japanese samples, exploring the parallels between the titular Samurai culture and the grim world of crime and poverty Ka has chronicled throughout his career.

No stranger to minimalism within his music, Honor sees Ka taking the bold measure of excluding drums from his productions, this done in a bid to accentuate the weight of Ka's words.

Accompanying the release of the album was an animated video for the song "Just", with this visual serving as an excellent means of portraying the ideas explored within Ka's music.

In the aftermath of the album's release, Ka made a rare public appearance, giving an insightful lecture for the Red Bull Music Academy.

While still far removed from the mainstream, Honor adds to Ka's gradual rise in esteem amongst those who value lyricism and ingenuity within hip hop, receiving high praise from multiple respected publications.

Review

One of the most difficult feats for any musician to accomplish is the creation of an album that offers the listener appropriate insight into the mind of the artist, while avoiding a potentially obnoxious isolation from the broader world. It is just as easy to fall into the trap of self-aggrandisement as it is to create a work that feels shallow and impersonal. On Honor Killed the Samurai, Ka paints the portrait of a world that is all too real, and closely examines his own place within this world.

Ka describes the process behind his albums as one of catharsis, a way for him to release the turmoil inside him before it builds up to the point of danger. Naturally, this process reflects in the nature of Ka's lyrics. Pain is an unavoidable constant in life, and it is at the centre of Ka's work. Extending past his lyrics, Ka's delivery echoes his state of mind. His flow is slow and deliberate, he never raises his voice or begs for your attention. At points on the album, there are audible cracks in his voice.

Honor Killed the Samurai is the rare album that exemplifies the ethos of a musical era gone-by without ever feeling like cheap revivalism. It sounds New York, it sounds "hip hop", but it simultaneously builds on its influences to create a work that can not be so simply classified. The production here exists far outside the realm of boom bap one might expect an artist such as Ka to inhabit, and occupies unmatched sonic territory. A significant portion of this album is devoid of the drums that so often serve as a staple within hip hop production. Ka allows his voice to serve as the chief means of percussion. Ka's art is in his words, and he does his utmost to ensure that these words carry the weight they merit. It is in this unity between all facets of the music that Honor Killed the Samurai shines. The lyrics, vocals, production and vocal samples all enhance each other, and in doing so contribute to Ka's vivid creation.

The opening track, "Conflicted", serves as an effective introduction to Ka's philosophy. Duality is at the heart of this album. Ka proclaims himself to have "always been conflicted." While these tales are grim and wrought with pain, they also form the foundation of Ka's upbringing, and these experiences define his identity as a man. There is no glorification to be found on Honor, but neither is Ka consumed by condemnation. The result is an intimate portrait that refuses to pigeon-hole its subject matter. At no point does Ka shy away from the darkness surrounding the people and places he chronicles, yet at no point does the album lose the 'human element' at its core. The lines that best exemplify this are not found on Honor Killed the Samurai, coming from "To Hull and Back" off of Ka's 1200 BC.

You named them hustlers, killers, fiends, ex-cons

I called them cousins, aunts, pops, moms

To you? Hoodlums, crackheads, gunmens

To me? Just neighbors, classmates, young friends

Frequently, praise is doled out to artists who are "relatable." I think that the most accurate measure of an artist's ability is not simply creating work that might directly resonate with its listeners by force of sheer coincidence, but rather comes in the creation of work that is able to foster a sense of empathy and understanding even in the presence of foreign subject matter. This is where Ka's talents come to the forefront. One might not have any personal experience with the stories he is telling, but that doesn't hinder the resonance he is able to transmit by melding universal themes with acute social commentary.

The idea of necessity is one that surrounds Honor Killed the Samurai. On "Just", Ka proclaims "To get what we need, we did what we must." This is a theme that echoes throughout the album. Ka details the hardship he has endured, and laments the choices he was forced to make, but the story of Ka, for better or for worse, is that of survival. Ka has emerged from his predatory environment, and through this has been irrevocably changed. He may not have taken pleasure in his actions, but he persisted for the sheer sake of his having to persist. It is in this experience where Ka's unique perspective manifests. He is not the enthusiastic mafioso, and nor is he the powerless victim of circumstance. Ka represents the unacknowledged majority, he speaks for the humans behind the constant barriers between different facets of society.

This necessity is present not only within the world Ka constructs, but can also be found within the structure of the album itself. At 10 tracks and 36 minutes, Honor Killed the Samurai does not overstay its welcome. This is not an all-purpose album, Ka himself asks the listener to give the album their undivided attention, it is a short burst of unadulterated hip hop.

On a more microscopic level, Ka's chief strength as an MC is his unmatched gift for concision. The curse of the lyrical rapper is frequently a lack of focus and the sometimes problematic "rapping for the sake of rapping." Ka's work is the antithesis of this. Every line on this album links to the next, every word Ka utters can be directly linked to the message of the song as well as to the broader thematic concepts behind the album. Ka knows his message and he knows how he wants to convey it, and every detail in Honor Killed the Samurai is geared towards serving a specific purpose.

Seeing as this is a hip hop album, it is important to take note of the technical qualities that make Ka an exceptional rapper. Each of these songs is packed with dexterous multi-syllabic rhymes, as Ka employs poetic techniques as a means of enhancing his message. His use of assonance and alliteration allow him to change the tempo of his delivery at a moment. His individual lines are written with the intention of being picked apart, and close analysis makes Honor Killed the Samurai an even more rewarding experience. Ka is equal parts poet and technician, the power of his words is matched by the force provoking their delivery.

Honor Killed the Samurai is not an album that can be enjoyed by anyone at any time. It is dark and dense, challenging, and perhaps even off-putting to the first time listener. In the short term, these factors may work against it, but I believe that in time this album will cultivate the legacy its quality merits. Ka is a writer at his pinnacle, and his unique ability to document his world deserves universal respect, if not universal adoration.

Favourite Lyrics by /u/mikeest

Crooked in the town with a crew of raw people

That'll put you in the ground for the root of all evil

Kill in the building, the proof is in the bricks

We revel in the present like the future don't exist

Trying to find a reason I'm still alive breathin'

I wanna heal my inner child, it's been a while grievin'

Ones dropped from cocked semis and clapped with the fours

Can't remember none of my members gone from natural cause

Guess I was destined, my progression is evident

Want the best, so it test 'til I rest in the sediment

Was steady pride, try to show you every side

I give it life, but write like I already died

No petty fray, every day I hail the truth

Let it spray, never say Ka failed the youth

  • "That Cold and Lonely"

So I stood on mine, during the hoodest time

Was a nightmare, felt like life here was as good as dying

We was born in the thorns, few arose

Once a town's noose, now in soundproofs pursuing golds

What you minin' for? If unaware share with blind and poor

You tellin' stories that's celebratory in times of war

With bars of greed, I plead, how many cars you need?

When fathers bleed to fill ribs of kids that hardly read

Fuck your little rhymes, and the new finds you purchased

If you ain't buyin' no soup for them soup lines and churches

  • "$"

Hard to take high road when down in the gutter

Stop the flow, I pop and go with the pound and the cutter

Rule the streets faceless, dodgin' police bracelets

Draw weapons before jettin', the shells don't leave traces

The routes I scored I doubt the Lord ever condone

Steps was reckless, reppin' for precious metals and stone

But now knowledge power, this assemblance evidence shown

Walk with ghosts of close family and friends, I'm never alone

Virtually so thirsty my eyes watered

Served on curbs where they bought it, no gods lorded

I wrote flesh, sold death is morbid

Was on the scene you only seen what press reported

Truly there's beauty in this ugly

Scared to put seeds in the uterus that love me

Growing, knowing my roots indeed rotten

Producing bad fruits, all my family tree's dropping

Motion picture scripture, every song scored

They want grief, unsheath the long sword

It's hindsight of the fights I've endured

In my twilight, getting right with the lord

Get down for the crown, even if it got thorns

Fights are final when might is primal we lock horns

Won't dupe the block you shoot to stop no shots warned

Never slack cause attack first time we spot yawns

Discussion Questions

1) What is the place of lyricism in present-day hip hop? Will writers such as Ka always hold a place of admiration?

2) Do rappers have a responsibility to paint a more balanced picture of their socio-economic surroundings? Is "glorification" wrong?

3) What makes an album enjoyable to you? Can you find enjoyment in pieces of work that are intentionally desolate?

4) Are misguided attempts at revivalism the reason that New York hip hop has lost relevance?

5) Is hip hop too cluttered by excess, both musically and in terms of content?

submitted by /u/mikeest
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Kendrick Lamar and Young Thug performed together last night for NYE

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 10:59 AM PST

[FRESH] Tory Lanez - The New Toronto 2 AND Chixtape 4

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 02:00 PM PST

[FRESH MIXTAPE] Chief Keef - Two Zero One Seven

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 08:59 AM PST

BIGQUINT Run the Jewels 3 First Raction

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 06:41 PM PST

Young Thug is supporting Drake on his European tour this year.

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 04:45 PM PST

New Gucci x Metro Track Coming Out Midnight ET

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 04:17 PM PST

NEW YEARS DAY 2017 GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 10:06 AM PST

2017 is lit 🔥

NSFW: r/HipHopGoneWild

submitted by /u/TheHHHRobot
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Logic - Fade Away

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 11:26 AM PST

Snoop's GGN show is back on YouTube with A$AP Rocky as special guest

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 04:58 PM PST

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - 1st of tha Month

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 10:44 AM PST

BJ The Chicago Kid - His Pain (feat. Kendrick Lamar). Originally this was supposed to be on Section.80 as an intro to “Kush & Corinthians”

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 12:05 PM PST

I Dropped A Song W/ Saba For My 20th Birthday That's Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 09:19 PM PST

Best Verse: Special Edition, Week 93 - Best Verse of 2016

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 01:43 PM PST

Its a best verse special edition!

Special Edition Background: In this thread we will vote for the best verse of 2016. Submit and upvote your favorite verse of the year, please no downvoting!

Past 20 Week Results:

.....
Week 72 - Big Pun - "Twinz(Deep Cover '98)" - verse 1
Week 73 - 2 Chainz - "Mercy" - verse 4
Week 74 - Young Jeezy - "Seen It All" - verse 1
Week 75 - Denzel Curry - "Ultimate" - verse 2
Week 76 - Cam'Ron - "Down and Out" - verse 3
Week 77 - Isaiah Rashad - "Heavenly Father" - verse 3
Week 78 - Fabolous - "Wolves in Sheep Clothing" - verse 1
Week 79 - YG - "Twist My Fingaz" - verse 1
Week 80 - Gucci Mane - "Steady Mobbin" - verse 2
Week 81 - Mick Jenkins - "P's & Q's" - verse 1
Week 82 - Curren$y - "Airborne Aquarium" - verse 1
Week 83 - Meek Mill - "Dreams and Nightmares Intro" - verse 1
Week 84 - Killer Mike - "A Christmas Fucking Miracle" - verse 2
Week 85 - Future - "Codeine Crazy" - verse 2
Week 86 - El-P - "The Last Huzzah REMIX" - verse 5
Week 87 - Kodak Black - "No Flockin" - verse 1
Week 88 - De La Soul - "Stakes is High" - verse 3
Week 89 - Kevin Gates - "Angels" - verse 1
Week 90 - Q-Tip - "Excursions" - verse 1
Week 91 - Migos - "Bad and Boujee" - verse 1
Week 92 - Del The Funky Homosapien - "3030" verse 3

Please provide links with your votes!

Post your favorite verses here!

remember just because a verse may be iconic that does necessarily mean it's their best verse.

And as usual taking suggestions for next week

Spotify playlist for /r/HHH's Best Verse of 2015

Spotify playlist for top 5 best verses for every week!

submitted by /u/KHDTX13
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Maxo Kream announces new music releasing in 2017

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 10:27 PM PST

Yasiin Bey: December 99th Pitchfork Review

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 10:11 PM PST

Tory Lanez - The New Toronto [NO DJ]

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 11:00 AM PST

Capital Cities - Farrah Fawcett Hair ft. André 3000

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 02:59 PM PST

Snoop Dogg & The Doors - Riders On The Storm (NFS Underground 2 Soundtrack)

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 03:10 PM PST

XXXTENTACION - I don't wanna do this anymore

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 01:24 PM PST

Best Beats: Special Edition, Week 23 - Best Beats of 2016

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 01:47 PM PST

It's a best beast special edition!

Special Edition background: Submit your favorite beats of 2016 here.

IMPORTANT TIPS BEFORE VOTING:

  1. All Votes must provide a one-two sentence justification for it to be counted.

  2. Remember to provide links!

  3. One vote per comment as well.

Past 20 Week Results:

Week 2 - J Dilla - "J Dilla - Time: The Donut of Heart"
Week 3 - Metro Boomin - "Travis Scott - Sky Fall"
Week 4 - Madlib - "Freddie Gibbs - Thuggin'"
Week 5 - Just Blaze - "Jay Electronica - Exhibit C"
Week 5 - Dr. Dre - "Dr. Dre - Still Dre"
Week 6 - RZA - "GZA - 4th Chamber"
Week 7 - Noah "40" Shebib - "Drake - Tuscan Leather"
Week 8 - Pharrell Williams/The Neptunes - "Clipse - Grindin"
Week 9 - DJ Premier - "Royce da 5'9 - Boom"
Week 10 - Zaytoven - "Future - Oooooh"
Week 11 - The Alchemist - "Mac Miller - Red Dot Music"
Week 12 - Mike Will Made It - "Future - Move That Dope"
Week 13 - DJ Dahi - "Kendrick Lamar - Money Trees"
Week 14 - Knxwledge - "Kendrick Lamar - Momma"
Week 15 - Timbaland - "JAY Z - Big Pimpin'"
Week 16 - Swizz Beatz - "DMX - Ruff Ryders Anthem"
Week 17 - Flying Lotus - "Flying Lotus - Never Catch Me"
Week 18 - Hit-Boy - "JAY Z & Kanye West - Niggas in Paris"
Week 19 - Pete Rock - "Pete Rock & CL Smoth - T.R.O.Y."
Week 20 - 9th Wonder - "Anderson .Paak - The Season/Carry Me"
Week 21 - El-P - "Cannibal Ox - Iron Galaxy"
Week 22 - Boi-1da - "Drake - Pound Cake"

Post your favorite beats of 2016 (with links) here!

remember just because a beat may be iconic that does necessarily mean it's their best beat.

taking suggestions for next week

submitted by /u/KHDTX13
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Smooth Sunday. Post your smooth tracks here.

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 01:46 PM PST

Let's start the year off right. Give us that smooth shit to vibe to today. One Love.

submitted by /u/downtothegwound
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Documentary about the making of Fugees - The Score

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 07:36 AM PST

Ab-Soul - The Law ft. Mac Miller & Rapsody

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 04:54 PM PST

Hip-Hop First Week Sales Numbers - Final Chart

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 11:19 AM PST

Rank Artist Album Pure Sales Sales + Streaming
1 Drake Views 829K 1.075M
2 Beyonce Lemonade 501K 664K
3 J. Cole 4 Your Eyez Only 378K 511K
4 Frank Ocean Blonde 232K 278K
5 The Weeknd Starboy 228K 366K
6 Bruno Mars 24K Magic 190K 226K
7 Various Artists The Hamilton Mixtape 171K 190K
8 Kendrick Lamar untitled unmastered 144K 182K
9 Rihanna Anti 125K 172K
10 A Tribe Called Quest We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service 111K 136K
11 Future Evol 108K 139K
12 Kevin Gates Islah 90K 112K
13 Childish Gambino Awaken, My Love 76K 107K
14 Jeezy Trap Or Die 3 71K 87K
15 DJ Khaled Major Key 59K 96K
16 ScHoolboy Q Blankface LP 52K 77K
17 Wiz Khalifa Khalifa 50K 71K
18 Solange A Seat At The Table 46K 72K
19 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis This Unruly Mess I've Made 46K 56K
20 Alicia Keys Here 46K 55K
21 Yo Gotti The Art Of The Hustle 45K 59K
22 Travis Scott Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight 44K 89K
23 Meek Mill DC4 44K 83K
24 Gucci Mane Everybody Looking 44K 70K
25 Big Sean & Jhene Aiko TWENTY88 40K 48K
26 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne Collegrove 35K 51K
27 Mac Miller The Divine Feminine 34K 49K
28 Tech N9ne The Storm 32K 37K
29 Tory Lanez I Told You 31K 53K
30 PARTYNEXTDOOR PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 29K 50K
31 YG Still Brazy 28K 39K
32 Kid Cudi Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' 25K 48K
33 The Game 1992 24K 31K
34 A$AP Ferg Always Strive And Prosper 23K 37K
35 Young Thug Slime Season 3 22K 36k
36 Post Malone Stoney 20K 59K
37 Flatbush Zombies 3001 A Laced Odyssey 19K 24K
38 Young Thug Jeffery 17K 41K
39 Yo Gotti White Friday (CM9) 17K 28K
40 Run The Jewels Run The Jewels 3 17K 18K
41 Young Thug I'm Up 16K 23K
42 Gucci Mane The Return Of East Atlanta Santa 15K 33K
43 Rae Sremmurd Sremmlife 2 15K 30K
44 De La Soul And The Anonymous Nobody 15K N/A
45 Common Black America Again 13K 16K
46 Aesop Rock The Impossible Kid 13K 15K
47 Isaiah Rashad The Sun's Tirade 12K 21K
48 Atmosphere Fishing Blues 12K 13K
49 Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa & TM88 The Rude Awakening 11K 17K
50 The Game Streets Of Compton 10K 13K
51 Joe Budden Rage & The Machine 10K 12K

FAQ:

Q: Source?

A: http://hitsdailydouble.com/building_album_chart

Q: How is this list sorted?

A: It's sorted by pure sales

Q: Where is X album?

A: Only albums with 10K in pure sales are listed

Q: What about "The Life Of Pablo"?

A: It didn't have any sales first week as it was a Tidal exclusive. It had 90K in sales+streaming

Q: Where can I find last year's list?

A: Right here

Discussion Points

  • Who sold more/less than you thought?
  • Does x artist sell more or less with their next album?
  • How much would TLOP have sold?
  • Is it easier or more difficult to do numbers with streaming?
submitted by /u/Chriscftb97
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[FRESH] Playboi Carti- Another Day ft. Lamb$

Posted: 01 Jan 2017 09:09 PM PST
at

[FRESH] DatPiff - Disappointment - HipHop

[FRESH] DatPiff - Disappointment - HipHop

[FRESH] DatPiff - Disappointment

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 09:50 PM PST

Frank Ocean - Skyline To

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 04:02 PM PST

Run The Jewels 3 sells 18,000 copies first week

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 11:29 AM PST

It didn't let me post it as a link

http://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming

16,500 without streaming.

This is really impressive imo seeing how it's available for free download and it really didn't have as much mainstream appeal with the singles as RTJ2, yet it sold more than it with or without streams. Thoughts?

submitted by /u/MACTHEGOAT
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[FRESH] Tyga ft. Kanye West - Feel Me

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 10:58 AM PST

Travis Scott Gets MAD Angry at DJ and Asks Him to "Get Off Stage" during appearance in Montreal, Canada (Dec 31, 2016)

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 03:41 PM PST

A$AP Rocky - Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 03:44 PM PST

[FRESH] Action Bronson - Dealer Plates (prod. Harry Fraud)

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 11:25 AM PST

[FRESH] Trey Songz x Fabulous - Trappy New Years

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 08:31 PM PST

Travis Scott - A-Team

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 05:34 PM PST

Funkadelic - Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You? (Remix) ft. Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 06:51 PM PST

[FRESH EP] SpaceGhostPurrp - Winter's Mine 4

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 09:45 PM PST

Kanye West - Facts

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 10:12 PM PST

[FRESH Mixtape] Trinidad James - The Wake Up 2 FULL MIXTAPE

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 07:11 PM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 12/31/2016

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 09:18 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.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

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

Other ways to interact

There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
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Childish Gambino - Fucks Given (STN MTN)

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 06:39 AM PST

Riff Raff - Lava Glaciers feat. Childish Gambino - [3:52]

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 03:40 PM PST

Tame Impala ~ Prototype (Andre 3000/Outkast Cover)

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 09:37 AM PST

[FRESH]All albums being dropped by Cinematic Music Group in 2017

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 10:23 PM PST

[FRESH] G Herbo - Don't Forget It (Prod. By Harry Fraud)

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 10:25 AM PST

A mother load of old school Anticon, Eyedea, Atmosphere, etc. concerts were just uploaded onto Youtube.

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 07:45 AM PST

Azealia Banks goes after Sia for being against animal sacrifices, is praised by Complex for doing so

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 06:03 PM PST

[FRESH] Chris Brown - DAT NIGHT Feat Trey Songz & Young Thug

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 03:27 PM PST

[FRESH] French Montana - Empire (Prod. Harry Fraud)

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 11:28 AM PST

[FRESH]Harry Fraud - Rogues Playlist Vol. 2

Posted: 31 Dec 2016 02:30 PM PST
at

Travis Scott announces he'll be part of 5 albums this year (excluding his own), as he plans to produce more throughout 2017 - HipHop

Travis Scott announces he'll be part of 5 albums this year (excluding his own), as he plans to produce more throughout 2017 - HipHop

Travis Scott announces he'll be part of 5 albums this year (excluding his own), as he plans to produce more throughout 2017

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 07:10 PM PST

BIGQUINT x Anthony Fantano - Run The Jewels 3 REVIEW

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 08:57 PM PST

Chief Keef calls out the guy who "Interviewed" him and posted it here yesterday, says the guy made it up

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 09:11 PM PST

Kendrick Lamar Freestyle off the top while the hosts throw random words at him

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 04:48 PM PST

12 Months and 12 Mixtapes. Curren$y's busy year in review

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 02:14 PM PST

12 months and 12 quality mixtapes, that is what being a fan of Curren$y gets you. Curren$y is the face of the current New Orleans rap scene and has been busy grinding since the early 00's always making dope music. He is known for his consistent creation of fantastic albums and mixtapes and lyrics that often revolve around weed, money, and cars.

I love Curren$y, to me his music motivates and is mad chill. Y'all can listen to Kendrick and break down his music academically and try to find the meaning of life. Listen to Kanye and wonder his next white-man god complex song is about or nut yourself over record sales and numbers. Curren$y is the definition of a hustler, his music output proves it, his consistency, and is solid on the majority of his work and he's only getting better and better. Spitta is easily 25% of my music on the go, dude is too sick.

-/u/2war's description of Curren$y is the exact reason why I love Curren$y's music. In 2016 Spitta further proved this point by releasing 12 mixtapes in 12 months, a lot of amazing music. My goal is to condense all the work he has done into something that people can easily digest because it is a lot of music.

THIS IS THE PLAYLIST I MADE.

I'll also give a round up mini review of the projects he released.

My Rating Scale: pass, meh, eh, ait, p good, p damn good, RLLY damn good, SO GOOD, UGH

The Owner's Manual (January)

Produced entirely by Cool & Dre The Owner's Manual is a top tier mixtape from Spitta and one of my favorite from the year. A short tape at 6 tracks (with the first being mostly an instrumental) this is a short and sweet tape that packs a whole lot of heat. HEAVILY recommend this tape.

SO GOOD/10, Favorites: Mallory Knox, Rain Stunts, Sorry for the Wraith

The Carrollton Heist (Febuary)

The Carrollton Heist is a collab tape between Curren$y and Alchemist (follow up to Covert Coup which is THE BEST Curren$y mixtape), and is a great tape from the two. The tape features some fantastic relaxing beats that mesh extremely well with Curren$y's buttery flow. The tape doesn't quite live up to Covert Coup (an impossible task) and has some lagging tracks, but overall is solid spitta tape.

p damn good/10, Favorites: Vibrations, 93 AMG, Smoking in the Rain

Weed and Instrumentals (March)

The Weed and Instrumentals series has Curren$y and other Jet Life rappers going over various popular and classic instrumentals. This tape sufferes from the "quality vs quantity" argument, as there is a long tracklist of 17 songs with many being passable; however, this tape has some hidden gems that are worth digging for.

ait/10, Tracks worth listening to: Playing Dominos, Ultimate Ultimate, Still Tippin (FUCKING CRAZY), Chill

Bourbon Street Secrets (April)

Clocking in at 6 tracks this is another short tape from Spitta but is overall pretty forgettable outside of the first track Paper.

pass/10 Favorite: Paper

Legend of Harvard Blue (May)

Legend of Harvard blue is another shorter tape (8 tracks total) but unlike Bourbon Street Secrets is full of interesting and memorable tracks from Curren$y. This album has more uptempo "harder" beats, and highlights Spitta's ability to flow on basically anything you throw at him. Spitta SNAPS on Supply and Demand and Kilo Jam.

p damn good/10 Favorites: Enter, Kilo Jam, Ferrari Saga, Supply and Demand,

Stoned on Ocean (June)

At 7 tracks this is the best Spitta tape of the year; there are no bad tracks on this tape. Just go listen to this tape it is one of my favorite Curren$y mixtapes, the beats are so ethereal and just astoundingly amazing.

UGH/10 Favorites: Stoned on Ocean, Anything, THE REST OF IT

Weed and Instrumentals 2 (July)

Another Weed and Instrumentals project that is about the same as the first. Some gems in this one, but overall underwhelming. BUT, this tape has Spitta going over the Incarcerated Scarfaces beat which makes it worth listening to at least once (he kills it)

ait/10 Gems: Pirates, Ownership, Incarcerated Scarfaces (these tracks are fucking golden)

Revolver (August)

This project is also apparently a movie or something, and is all produced by Sledgren. At 6 tracks its small, and not really worth listening to. Beats aren't anything to write home about and same goes to Spitta's verses.

pass/10

Andretti 9/30 (September)

Coming up with names is hard so the last four projects are just #ofmonth/30. This tape has of mix of hard and more relaxing Curren$y tracks, but overall is just lacking something overall. The highlights of this tap are really damn good and worth a listen.

p good/10 Favorites: Traffic, Anybody, My Man

Andretti 10/30 (October)

October's Curren$y release follows the same theme as 9/30 not only in name but also in sound and quality. The tape is 10 tracks long and can at times lag on with some boring tracks but overall it is a solid tape. Cessnas and Helicopter Propellers is one of my favorite Curren$y tracks and 100% needs to be listened to.

p good/10 Favorites: Picking up Bags, Stunt on Em, Cessnas and Helicopter Propellers

Andretti 11/30 (November)

11/30 raises the bar in comparison to the past two /30 releases from Curren$y and has some really fucking good tracks on it. This is up there when it comes to great Curren$y projects as it has a great mix of different production styles and Spitta absolutely murders it.

RLLY damn good/10 Favorite: N.O. State of Mind, There go the Man, Hustlers, Slid

Andretti 12/30 (December)

The culminating Curren$y mixtape of the year dropped today, don't know what I think. I'm not gunna include any of this in the playlist because I literally just listened to it.

Another link to the playlist

Also I linked my favorite of the favorites with individual links

submitted by /u/bobi897
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Travis Scott Announces Astroworld is coming in 2017

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 08:38 PM PST

Travis Scott Performs Skyfall with Young Thug for the first time

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 01:58 PM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 12/30/2016

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 05:19 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.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

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

Other ways to interact

There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
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The "MAJOR" surprise release on Datpiff is a collaboration

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 06:44 AM PST

NoName Telefone Merch Available

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 03:29 PM PST

[FRESH MIXTAPE] Soulja Boy - King Soulja 7

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 08:15 AM PST

4 shot, 2 dead at Meek Mill concert in CT

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 10:55 PM PST

DJ Drama says Lil Uzi Vert is not signed to Taylor Gang

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 01:07 PM PST

TUT tweets that he has new music coming soon

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 01:24 PM PST

Run-DMC sues Wal-Mart, Amazon for $50 million

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 05:06 AM PST

JLo and Drake have a collab together.

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 06:25 AM PST

Multiple People Shot At Meek Mill Concert in CT

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 09:13 PM PST

[FRESH] Curren$y - Andretti 12/30

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 09:30 AM PST

Rhythm Roulette: Charlie Heat

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 07:28 AM PST

MadeinTYO - Uber Everywhere (Travi$ Scott Remix)

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 12:12 PM PST

A Year of Thug: 52 Great Young Thug Songs from 2016

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 07:41 PM PST

Here's a write up on 52 of the best Thug songs from this last year:

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/year-of-thug-52-great-young-thug-songs-from-2016-news.26849.html

Enjoy!

submitted by /u/Narsimha94
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6LACK once rap battled Young Thug

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 07:15 AM PST

https://twitter.com/nicxnation/status/608770718977761280

Did a dive and he has some battle rap videos online but I can't find anything about the video from twitter. I know that's Thug, and I know that's 6LACK. Very strange

Also could be 6LACK just spitting for him, but the twitter video says battle

submitted by /u/Kingdariush
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Lil Uzi Vert - Ronda (Winners) [Produced By Metro Boomin + CuBeatz]

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 10:16 PM PST

Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor getting vinyl reissue

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 08:50 AM PST
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