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Album of the Year #7: LiL PEEP - HELLBOY - HipHop

Album of the Year #7: LiL PEEP - HELLBOY - HipHop

Album of the Year #7: LiL PEEP - HELLBOY

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 03:42 PM PST

Artist: Lil Peep

Album: HELLBOY

Listen:

Youtube

Soundcloud

DatPiff

Album Background

Lil Peep is an weirdo, and probably a scumbag. And he doesn't make any objections about it. His whole body is tatted up in an arguably tacky way (if you went to his social media, you'd peep the "Daddy" across his collarbone), he has neon pink hair, and an extremely out there fashion sense. His lyrics themes revolve around depression, suicide, love, and copious amounts of drug use. He mixes pop punk and trap rap equally.

Not much is known about the man known as Lil Peep. His real name is Gustav, he's from Long Island, and he's 20 years old. His come up, however, is less shrouded in mystery. At some point in 2014, he began uploading his music to Soundcloud, and in early 2015 was recruited to the "SchemaPosse", a group of musicians assembled by rapper/producer JGRXXN (whose credits include production and features with Three 6 Mafia, Rich the Kid, and popular underground rappers such as $uicideboy$).

Though he had dropped many smaller mixtapes and EPs throughout 2015 and early 2016, it all culminated in "Crybaby", released in June 2016. One of Peep's first releases after splitting from SchemaPosse, the 11 track mixtape featured production and features from frequent collaborators such as Nedarb Nagrom, Charlie Shuffler, Horsehead and Lil Tracy.

After dropping an EP with Tracy, Lil Peep officially joined GothBoiClique, an LA based collective of musicians with similar styles, and dropped Hellboy, his biggest record yet, which led to an America wide tour with Fat Nick & SmokePurrp and thinkpieces from Pitchfork, Noisey, and Anthony Fantano.

Review

Lil Peep's sound is heavily inspired by current day trap music, almost as much as it is by early 2000s emo & pop punk. And on this record, he really goes all out with what can only be described as the perfect combination of the two. Almost every instrumental begins as a simple guitar loop that wouldn't sound out of place on a Warped Tour stage before the hi hats and 808 kick in. In fact, a lot of them are sampled from songs that were probably played there.

A perfect example of this is on the title track. After a short intro, with a vocal sample coming one of the animated Hellboy movies, the song kicks off with a sample of Christian Hardcore band Underoath's "Too Bright To See, Too Loud To Hear". Once the drums kick in, we begin to hear Peep. He's not the best singer, but he's got a unique voice, especially if you only or primarily listen to rap music. Lyrically, Peep reflects on a woman who left him. Or maybe he's actually speaking about drugs. Peep intentionally keeps the lyrics vague, not mentioning any specifics about the woman, to keep the listener intrigued. Like many of the best songs on the album, it leans more toward the emo side, though the trap influenced drums make sure you don't forget that this is still kind of a rap song.

The next standout track is the Nedarb produced "OMFG". Once again, Peep juxtaposes southern hip hop (the Trapaholics tags) and rock (the beat is based on a sample of The Microphones). Peep's vocals are drenched in reverb as he sings about being suicidal. Though some people may write him off as using suicide as a gimmick to appeal to teenage kids who like to pop xanax, the emotion that Peep expresses through the screaming seems real & honest. The lyrics may not be deep or complex, but the emotions behind them feel genuine.

The following track, The Song I Played [When I Crashed Into The Wall] is another standout. Peep teams up with his Goth Boi Clique companion Lil Tracy, son of Shabazz Palaces/Digable Planets' Ishmael Butler, for the first of 3 collaborations on this mixtape. This duo is, in my opinion, next to unstoppable. They just work amazingly together, and their voices just have a sort of synergy to them. Peep also shows off one of his strongest traits, making every single line catchy enough to feel like it's the hook.

There are tons of moments on this mixtape on this mixtape that I could highlight, but these are just a few favourites for the sake of brevity.

Peep specializes in making relatable music. It's not necessarily the best technically. The lyrics are usually simple, and to some cringey, but they're catchy and honest. The production may not be the best, but it's unique and interesting. Peep may not be the best singer or rapper, but he does his own thing, and it works out for the best. This whole project has a unique vibe that I haven't seen replicated by anyone else. And that's why it's one of of my favourite albums of the year.

Favourite Lyrics by /u/SoTheFliesDontCome

Leave me to bleed I know I got you on your knees But something keeps on telling me, it keeps on telling me Peep leave it alone - "Hellboy"

This is the life I made and I can't go back to fall Back to fall, Back to everyone I ever knew at all Back to small town blues, and not a clue of what's going on Back to old routines, and wedding rings and living at the mall, yeah - "The Song They Played [When i Crashed Into The Wall]"

I'm not gonna worry about last night again You just wanna see me fall again That's alright I know you'll be back again for the last time You know my pain and you know my life You are the dark and you are the light I steal the look when you're not with me I wrote the book on feeling empty - Horsehead on "Girls"

Nobody wants to talk to me But everyone wants to walk with me And I've always been that kid Maybe I won't be if I live long enough But I think imma die now I just keep it to myself and I try not to cry too loud - "We Think Too Much"

Discussion Questions

  1. Does this fusion of rap and pop punk have any place in the mainstream?
  2. Do an artist's looks really affect how they are perceived in relation to their musical content? Would you be more likely to listen to his music is he dressed and acted "normally"?
  3. How much do lyrics matter in rap music? Are the emotions conveyed more important than complex lyrics?
  4. Peep and artists like him primarily use soundcloud to distribute their music. Where do you see this platform going in the future?

Tomorrow we'll have /u/SnideLaughter covering Anderson .Paak's Malibu

submitted by /u/SoTheFliesDontCome
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"ATLANTA" WINS GOLDEN GLOBE FOR BEST SERIES - COMEDY

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 05:28 PM PST

Donald Glover accepting this award like a boss.

submitted by /u/slough0967
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Donald Glover at the Golden Globes: "Migos are The Beatles of this generation"

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 09:46 PM PST

Bas (feat. J. Cole) - My Nigga Just Made Bail

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 02:00 PM PST

Lil Wayne - Watch My Shoes (No Ceilings)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 09:19 AM PST

Chance The Rapper - Israel ft. Noname Gypsy [3:21]

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 04:06 AM PST

[ORIGINAL] BEAST COAST THUG - OOOUUU (REMIX)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 08:31 PM PST

SUNDAY GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD - JANUARY 8TH 2017

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 10:26 AM PST

Is Antonio Brown a human? How many interceptions will Eli throw today?

submitted by /u/TheHHHRobot
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Saba- Bucket List (ft Matthew Santos)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 02:34 PM PST

Lil Wayne - Interlude feat. Andre 3000 & Tech N9ne

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 01:53 PM PST

Worldwide Choppers - Tech N9ne

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 06:40 AM PST

Pusha T - Drug Dealers Anonymous [Remix] (ft. Jay-Z & Big K.R.I.T.)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 08:23 AM PST

Best Verse, Week 94 - A$AP Ferg

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 03:22 PM PST

Harlem's A$AP Ferg is this week's best verse!

Background: ASAP Ferg (stylized as A$AP Ferg), is an American rapper from New York City's Harlem neighborhood. Aside from his solo career, he is a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker.

In January 2013, Ferg signed a solo record deal with Polo Grounds and RCA, the same labels that helped launch A$AP Worldwide, when Ferg's A$AP Mob cohorts A$AP Rocky and the late A$AP Yams, negotiated their own respective deal in 2011. His debut album Trap Lord was released on August 20, 2013, and was met with generally positive reviews. On April 22, 2016, Ferg released his second studio album, Always Strive and Prosper.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASAP_Ferg_discography

Past 20 Week Results:

.....
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
Week 93 - 2016 - "Really Doe" - verse 4

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 /r/HHH'S Best Verse f 2016

Spotify playlist for top 5 best verses for every week!

submitted by /u/KHDTX13
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Want to discuss rap, R&B, indie, pop, and any other kind of music, but in the same place? Come join us over at /r/ListeningHeads!

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 08:27 AM PST

Hey everyone, a few of us are starting a new sub called /r/listeningheads (it's kinda like Talking Heads but not)! We wanted a more casual place where we could discuss a variety of music instead of hopping around each of the genre subs. It's also where we want to post and discuss new R&B, since there really isn't a place to do that on Reddit! We will still maintain a strong lean towards music popular in the indiesphere. Think of us like /r/Music, but we are actively trying not to suck.

This isn't an overthrow of /r/hiphopheads or any of the other heads subs, just a nice supplement to the more in-depth discussion here. Feel free to subscribe and start posting!!!

submitted by /u/Not_Frank_Ocean
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Wiki - Seedy Motherfucker

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 10:42 AM PST

Tyler, The Creator - Transylvania

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 09:14 AM PST

[Fresh] LUCKI - Live It (prod. Kenny Beats)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 09:23 AM PST

Busta Rhymes - Thank You ft. Q-Tip, Kanye West, Lil Wayne

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 07:23 PM PST

Tory Lanez - Proud Family

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 09:47 AM PST

Lofty305 x Denzel Curry x xxxtentacion x THESLUMPGOD - SpaceGhostPussy (RIP YAMS)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 09:26 PM PST

J. Cole - The Autograph

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 10:48 AM PST

SpaceGhostPurrp - LIKX V STRIPPVH (Like a Strippah)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 02:15 PM PST

Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - I Ain't Even Fuck Rihanna

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 10:45 AM PST

Best Beats 2.0, Week 24 - Q-Tip

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 03:13 PM PST

The Tribe's man producer Q-Tip is this week's best beats!

Background: Q-Tip primarily produced the first three A Tribe Called Quest albums, with some assistance from group member Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and with the exception of contributions from Skeff Anselm ("Show Business", "Everything Is Fair", and "8 Million Stories") and Large Professor ("Keep It Rollin'").[7] Q-Tip did production work as part of the production company The Ummah, alongside Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and the late Slum Village member J Dilla. The Ummah produced Tribe's fourth and fifth albums. Outside of his work with Tribe, Q-Tip produced for such artists as Apache ("Gangsta Bitch", from Apache Ain't Shit, 1993), Run–D.M.C. ("Come On Everybody", from Down with the King, 1993), Crooklyn Dodgers ("Crooklyn", from Crooklyn, Vol. 1, 1994), Nas ("One Love", from Illmatic, 1994), Mobb Deep ("Give Up the Goods (Just Step)", "Temperature's Rising", and "Drink Away the Pain (Situations)", from The Infamous, 1995) and R&B singers Mariah Carey ("Honey", from Butterfly, 1997) and Whitney Houston ("Fine", from Whitney: The Greatest Hits, 2000). He also produced several remixes in the mid-1990s, including those of "The World Is Yours" by Nas, "Temperature's Rising" by Mobb Deep, "Illusions" by Cypress Hill, and "Get Down" by Craig Mack. He is featured on Janet Jackson's song "Got 'til It's Gone" from the 1997 album The Velvet Rope, and also produced the song's "Ummah's Uptown Saturday Night Mix". He co-produced jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel's 2003 release Heartcore. He has been involved with producing for Phife Dawg, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, RZA, Wale, Asher Roth, Esperanza Spalding, Chiddy Bang, Pusha T, Melanie Fiona, Mark Ronson, Busta Rhymes, D'Angelo, Questlove, Kanye West, John Legend, and Roc Marciano.

On February 7, 1998, a fire occurred at Q-Tip's home recording studio, completely destroying it; among the items destroyed in the blaze were his entire record collection, consisting of nearly 20,000 vinyl records, and a computer containing many unreleased songs.He called the fire "symbolic", because he was left with no records to sample, but still had the desire to make music. The following year, he began seeking musicians for a live band, taking drum lessons from Omar Hakim, studying bel canto, and taking piano lessons from Weldon Irvine, whom he sampled for Tribe's "Award Tour" single.Q-Tip has since rebuilt his record collection, which now consists of about 9,000 vinyl records.

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.

  4. Before voting please look into listen to some of the Tip's best beats and lesser known beats to ensure we are not voting on popularity:

Past 20 Week Results:

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"
Week 23 - 2016 - "Danny Brown - Ain't It Funny"

Post your favorite Abstract beats (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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Saba - Next Door (feat. Lucki Eck$)

Posted: 08 Jan 2017 11:23 AM PST
at

Album of the Year 2016 #6: YG - STILL BRAZY - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #6: YG - STILL BRAZY - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #6: YG - STILL BRAZY

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:40 PM PST

Artist: YG

Album: Still Brazy

Listen:

(YouTube)

(Spotify)

(iTunes)

Album Background by /u/nd20

YG is a 26 year old rapper and fashion icon from Compton, California who first burst onto the scene with his one-night stand anthem "Toot It and Boot It" in 2009. Some called him a one hit wonder, and few realized the heights to which he'd eventually reach (even today, listening to "Toot It and Boot It" is likely to make you scratch your head and wonder how the same YG put out both that song and Still Brazy). Over the next couple years, YG remained mostly under the radar, working with Ty Dolla $ign and DJ Mustard as part of the Pu$haz Ink collective (though he did land on 2011's XXl Freshman List along with legends like Diggy and Lil Twist). He began building up a lot of buzz from 2011 to early 2013—especially within the California scene—with mixtapes like Just Re'd Up, 4Hunnid Degreez, and Just Re'd Up 2. He became pretty synonymous with DJ Mustard's hyphy-inspired 'ratchet' sound—he even came up with the (soon to be) iconic Mustardonthebeatho tag.

In 2013, YG got signed by Young Jeezy to his CTE World label and released the first single off his debut album, "My Nigga". It was a smash hit that went multi-platinum, but people were still unsure if he had staying power or the ability to put out an entire solid album. My Krazy Life destroyed any reservations people had. An album that talked about gangbanging, fucking bitches, robbing people, and partying—an unfiltered Compton slice of life—My Krazy Life was hailed by some as the 'bad kid' version of Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city. To compare their stories to the classic movie Boyz n the Hood, if Kendrick was Tre, then YG is Doughboy—and unapologetic about it. DJ Mustard produced 8 of the 12 songs on the album, making the album feel like it was a YG & Mustard album the same way a lot of people consider Doggystyle a Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre album. Pitchfork said the two had a "symbiotic producer-rapper bond the likes of which has scarcely been seen on a mainstream field of play since Drake and [40]". On the album, we saw Mustard and YG both take their crafts to a higher level than ever before, with YG stepping up his raps from his mixtape days (not to mention being able to put together a thematically cohesive album) and Mustard making some of his best and most diverse (for his standard) sounding beats of his career. DJ Mustard had been known for making pretty formulaic beats—very danceable and extremely radio friendly to be sure—but formulaic nonetheless. For many people, including me, on this album DJ Mustard's minimalistic production was perfected by flavoring it with a tinge of 90s west coast g-funk. Under the trademark danceable ratchet DJ Mustard beats, the entire project had hints of Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop and Battlecat, giving it this sound that was throwback and modern at the same time. Instead of his production feeling overly samey, it made the album feel cohesive.

The lead up to YG's sophomore album Still Brazy—and therefore the album itself—was defined by two major events: YG's falling out with DJ Mustard in late 2014/early 2015, and him being shot in June 2015. At the beginning of 2015, we all found out that everything wasn't good in their clique due to Mustard calling out YG on social media for allegedly not paying him. The two went back and forth a few times and even threatened to pull up on each other in real life. Later, on June 12th 2015, an unknown gunman got into YG's LA recording studio and shot him—leaving three bullet wounds and causing YG to go to the hospital. YG talks about the incident as being "some inside type, somebody-was-really-coming-to-get-me type shit...It was like niggas knew where we was at". We didn't find out this bit of info until after Still Brazy released, but the shooting had YG so paranoid that he even suspected his old friend and partner DJ Mustard of setting him up. Eventually YG and Mustard would make up, but YG's sophomore album had already found its sound—a decidedly Mustardless one.

Album Review by /u/nd20

Still Brazy's sound is defined by DJ Mustard's absence almost as much as My Krazy Life (MKL) was by his presence. Still Brazy is the perfect followup to MKL, feeling like both the perfect evolution of it and the perfect contrast to it. The 90s west coast undertones of MKL make way for straight up (modernized) g-funk production on Still Brazy. With this album, it's not so much hints as it is a full blown ode to the classic production of DJ Quik, Suga Free, Westside Connection, early Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Producers like newcomer DJ Swish and Terrace Martin (who, combined, produce 7 out of the 13 songs on the album) take the warm, bass and synth heavy 90s LA gangster rap sound and modernize it perfectly. It is too easy to draw parallels to fellow Compton emcee Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, and cheapens the uniqueness of Still Brazy to do so. Both albums can be discussed as being part of the same wave of California rap revivalism—but while Lamar dabbled with the jazz and p-funk music of his parents' generation, YG unabashedly revels in the g-funk of the 90s. As Terrace Martin (who was heavily involved in the making of both albums) says, with YG, it "can't be jazz funk [like TPAB]—it's gotta be funky for him". The entire album is filled with dirty basslines and warbling synths that are equally likely to get you mean mugging or slap at a party. This new production style adopted by YG is the natural evolution of what we heard on MKL, and it makes this album just as sonically cohesive as his first. The album really feels like a classic 90s west coast gangster rap album, and little things like female RnB singer background vocals on "Who Shot Me" and "Gimme Got Shot" add to that throwback feel. A couple skits (including one of his father at the beginning, a mirror of the opening of MKL) move along the narrative of the album without feeling overburdened with narration like MKL did at times. We also get a little bit of a more hyphy-influenced sound, more like Mustard's production on the first album, on a couple tracks like Word is Bond and Why You Always Hatin (the former is produced by P-Lo of the Bay Area's own HBK Gang, and the latter features Bay Area emcee Kamaiyah). The plodding keys and incessant 'hey!' chants on these two tracks serve as a way to marry the styles of MKL and Still Brazy, and prevent the album from feeling too stuck in the past.

YG's raps feel more meaty and substantive than the previous album as well. It's not intricate and overly complex lyricism, fitting into the west coast tradition of straight forward rapping. Whereas some people found that his rapping took a backseat to the production on the last album, on this project, the raps take equal billing with the beats. This is in part due to the change in subject matter. Similar ground is covered—a gangster rap album wouldn't feel right without trademark tropes—but on the whole, YG's raps become less focused on partying and more paranoid and political. He has deal with the downsides of the fact that he's richer and more famous than when MKL dropped: hood politics, handout-seekers, seeing police brutality, and most prominently—being shot by an unknown gunman in 2015.

YG has the audacity to start the album with a posse cut, but it works. "Don't Come to LA" has a cold, menacing beat which fits perfectly with YG, AD, and Bricc Baby's rhymes about how everyone wants to come to Compton and act like they're down with the set and real gangbangers. All the featured artists come through with great verses, especially considering the fact that the majority of listeners wouldn't know them. AD in particular kills it with his aggressive and in-your-face verse, ending it by bluntly stating "Ain't no more passes on the set/All you niggas out here fucking up the west!". "Who Shot Me" is a clear standout and it has a great old-school storytelling vibe. YG details the night he was shot, and the feelings of paranoia and dark thoughts it caused him to have. "They knew the code to my gate, that was awkward," he raps. The slower paced beat really lends itself to his storytelling, and his rapping stands out in a way that it didn't at times on the last album. "Twist My Fingaz" is possibly the best track on the album, where YG addresses his shooting again, but this time using the incident to boast and self-mythologize, over an incredibly funky Terrace Martin beat that sounds like it could have been on an old DJ Quik album. "Gimme Got Shot" is another track that feels like an old-school storytelling song. YG addresses all the people that keep coming to him to ask for money now that he's made it, personifying them all as a dude named 'Gimme'. The first verse in particular has a dope flow and quotable lines, like when YG imitates Gimme's voice: "Niggas be like 'Give me a handout' / YG be like 'Why your grown ass hand out?' / 'Uhhh, fucked up my money, uhhh, shit got ugly uh baby mama was on me, damn man, we real homies?'". Another standout track is "I Got a Question", which we first heard in a teaser for the album. It has one of the dirtiest beats on the album hands-down, and YG flows impeccably flows on it, speeding up to double-time then slowing down (as he similarly does on later tracks like "Bool, Balm, and Bollective"), talking about the stress he faces—from his girl, from the cops. Lil Wayne also comes through with a top notch feature verse, the type that really grows on you the more you listen to it. "Got seventeen answers if you test me nigga / Got a question, where the fuck your weapon nigga" is peak gangster Wayne. "Still Brazy" is also one of the best tracks on the album, in which YG rhymes about his paranoia and the way he has to protect himself over a fast-paced and frenetic beat (produced by DJ Swish and Ty Dolla $ign). His delivery on this joint is great and matches the frantic feeling of the beat and the subject matter. "Paranoia (gasp) / paranoia (gasp) / Paranoia down in killer California / What's their motive? / What's their motive? / Shit! I'm the closest with some money that they know of". The final three tracks take a more political bent. YG is more of a fan of the Malcolm X school of political protest than Martin Luther King though. It's very much so a modern west coast version of certain Public Enemy songs like "Fight the Power" and "911 is a Joke". "FDT" is an in-your-face, disrespectful anthem, with both YG and Nipsey Hussle showcasing a hood dude's viewpoint—it's not discussing pros and cons of a certain policy, it's "FUCK YOU". On "Blacks & Browns", YG weighs (the conservative talking point of) black on black crime against discrimination and racism, and ponders how black people can help each other succeed. "Blacks & Browns" is dope because it shows a perspective often missing in hiphop, with Mexican-American rapper Sad Boy dropping a great feature verse. The final track, "Police Get Away With Murder", rounds out the political set of songs with YG talking about police brutality and addressing an imaginary judge over a Hit-Boy beat which is one of the most unique on the album.

Favorite Lyrics by /u/nd20

Hold on YG since you came out with BPT

These niggas think it's cool to come down to the CPT

Remember back when rappers was scared to come into town

Now its Hollywood passes man that shit on water down

  • AD on Don't Come to LA

I'm the only one who made it out the West without Dre

I'm the only one that's about what he say

The only one that got hit and was walking the same day

...

Don't call me no rap nigga (why?)

Cause I be in the spot strapped nigga

You put Compton, I put Bompton on the map nigga

  • YG on Twist My Fingaz

You know they like to blast on blacks

And act like they badge was given from God

That's why I gotta stay with my heat

  • YG on I Got a Question

What's my name hoe?

I got a few questions, I'mma pick your brain ho

I'm parlez-vous flexing, I'mma switch the lingo

I'm Piru flexing, all my niggas bang though

  • Lil Wayne on I Got a Question

Those jobs getting passed around, they dog our people

Why we gotta look for work at Home Depot?

...

Fuck you think we crossing the border for?

Why you think in a bedroom there's more than four?

  • Sad Boy on Blacks & Browns

Discussion Questions

  • How does Still Brazy weigh against My Krazy Life? Was YG able to make his lyrics and rapping more of a focus with this album?

  • What do you think of the recent trend of revivalism in hiphop? Lazy or dope to bring back classic sounds?

  • What were your favorite songs on the project?

  • Where will/should YG take his sound from here?

  • Was YG able to make A-list features like Drake and Lil Wayne fit on such an oldschool-inspired project?

Tomorrow we'll have /u/SoTheFliesDontCome writing about Lil Peep - Hellboy

submitted by /u/nd20
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Anderson .Paak to Open for Bruno Mars on 24K Magic World Tour

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:51 PM PST

Rob $tone's "Chill Bill" goes Platinum

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 08:42 AM PST

The Simpsons season premier on Jan. 15 will be a Hip-Hop special, starring Snoop Dogg, Common, RZA, Keegan-Michael Key, & Taraji P. Henson

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:53 PM PST

RiFF RaFF Challenges 50 Cent to a Boxing Match for $2 Million

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:20 PM PST

Swizz Beats shares cover for new DMX project.

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:33 PM PST

Rae Sremmurd freestyle - Westwood

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 09:05 AM PST

Schoolboy Q - Ride Out (feat. Vince Staples) [Blank Face LP, 2015]

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 10:47 AM PST

Future - Codeine Crazy

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 09:32 PM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 01/07/2017

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:00 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

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  • 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

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DJ Envy dumb questions compilation 2016

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:50 PM PST

Chief Keef (feat. 50 Cent & Wiz Khalifa) - Hate Bein' Sober

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 09:29 AM PST

Gucci Mane on "Highly Questionable" discussing addiction and jail

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 03:23 PM PST

[HYPE] SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD - I LIKE BRICKS

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:29 PM PST

Kendrick Lamar & Jay Rock Perform Money Trees For The First Time Ever

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 10:34 AM PST

XXL Ranks Nas's Albums

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 07:15 PM PST

XXXTENTACION - Let's Pretend We're Numb

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 04:51 PM PST

TRAVIS SCOTT - PUSSY (FT. GUNPLAY, FREDO SANTANA, CHUCK INGLISH) (PROD. BY MIKE WILL MADE IT)

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 01:35 PM PST

Rappers to Watch From Every State in 2017 #6 - ID, ME, OK, HI, NC

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 11:41 AM PST

Straight up told y'all Clemson is winning the natty don't @ me.

Also, still looking for artists for this list from Delaware, Kansas, New Mexico and Vermont. Let me know if y'all got some recommendations.

Who: ylti
SoundCloud
Age: 22
Location: Boise, Idaho
Recent Projects:
All Bad Things (2016)
Tears (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

Yoooo holy shit I did not see this coming. Ylti is nice coming out of Idaho. One of the few people in this list who doesn't seem to heavily rep his city (see "Crack"), or is at least salty at the lack of competition and hip hop scene in the area, but the surprises don't stop there. Dude also made his own light-up shoes, which actually should probably be a little less surprising, but hey, man of many talents.

Ylti raps with a lazy flow over bass-heavy beats and my god does it work together. The production on his music is excellent, with just some work on mixing needing to be done to improve the song. Honestly the dude's sound is all there, he's just got to continue to work on his lyricism and consistency – occasionally he'll seem to lose the flow in the song which is seen more in "No End" and then pick it up later. You'll have plenty of work from him in the year to see how he grows since he promises minimum of 35 songs and 5 mixtapes in 2017. He references Lil Wayne a lot in his music and his goal is for 2017 to be the year he does a feature for the man so expect him to be bringing his best.

Overall I was way pleasantly surprised with homeboy and am definitely looking forward to what he has coming. You can say you get a G-Eazy vibe from the dude or whatever but realistically he's another artist who has his own sound without a close mainstream comparison (to my knowledge). He works a lot with the artist Gino Driggs, also from Idaho. It's worth checking him out too, they work great together and he has a style pretty similar to ylti. [edit: Just talked to ylti, funny enough Gino is his real life brother, shit is really cool seeing them work so much and so well together.] Both of them seem to have big plans for 2017 – I'm not gonna say they're gonna take the world by storm tomorrow or nothing, but they definitely deserve the artist to watch in 2017 title from Idaho. Son is nice.

Who: Spose
SoundCloud
Age: 31
Location: Portland, Maine
Recent Projects: We Smoked It All 3: The Album (2015)

Songs to Check Out:

For y'all to truly understand how I feel writing this, just read all of this in the voice of someone who is eternally sighing. I'm not sure what you'd define Spose, but if you hate Lil Dicky (I do), or hate Hopsin (I do), you'll probably hate this guy. That being said, he's easily the biggest name coming out of Maine right now and is honest to god improving, as well as growing his fan base, so he's the rapper to watch from the state.

Before I continue with this write-up I want to make it clear that I'm not using corny as an insult here. I don't know which other word to substitute but I'm essentially using it to mean "clever lines that are meant to be funny and relatively immature". If you like the comedy rap type stuff like this, that's perfectly cool with me and I'm not hating on the man in the write-up. He's doing great at what he does.

To expand on Spose improving, I think he's come into the fact that he's going to make corny lines pretty naturally and it's what his fanbase loves, so he isn't emphasizing the lines as much and is letting them just flow. For those of us who don't like those kinds of lines, they don't stick out as much, which as whole improves his song since the flow is more consistent over the songs. His project Why Am I So Happy?, while still having its fair share of the joke songs, had made a lot of strides since his big hit "I'm Awesome". And all of his music isn't just comedy stuff, he has his more serious songs like "They Tell Us". The production on his music is excellent and his delivery is generally pretty solid. It's really just the content of his music that gets the flak but I don't have much of anything to complain about in his composition.

There isn't a ton else to add to the write-up since Spose is a pretty well known entity at this point. It's been a while since he's dropped a project but I'm sure once he does one of the songs will find it's way to /r/videos and everyone there will praise it as real rap and the dude will blow up in a major way akin to every youtube rapper. I respect the man, he knows his lane and he sticks to it and kills it. So keep doing you Spose, you're doing well and I respect the hustle.

Who: Josh Sallee
SoundCloud
Age: 27/28
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Recent Projects: Hush Hush (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

Fans of K.A.A.N. are going to feel pretty good about Josh Sallee, especially since he has worked with K.A.A.N. multiple times in the past. I was debating whether or not to go with Jabee for OKC, but Josh Sallee being on KD's song pretty much solidified his choice. Even if he is a little bitch and abandoned his city. You know, maybe I shouldn't have chosen Sallee, but the man was pretty instrumental in building the current rap scene in OKC, so I'll let it slide.

Sallee is another artist whose bread and butter is rapping outrageously quickly and continuously. He may appeal more to the commercial side of music, however, slowing down for music and having solid hooks more often than his MD counterpart. Take "The Worst" for example, he shows his ability to slow down a little bit, and then continues to delve into faster and more aggressive rapping to convey his frustration as the song continues on. "The Remedy" is an even better example of his ability to slow down, not really picking up the speed until the second third of the song. His music is a great compromise for the people who appreciated K.A.A.N.'s ability but would like something slightly less taxing in terms of focus to listen to. He's definitely trying out a lot of new sounds, taking the parts of commercially popular music and implementing it in his music in ways that make sense. He's not a dude who's out there trying to emulate anyone just in hopes of catching fire, he seems to be genuinely trying to grow himself as an artist.

Josh is one of those guys who seems to really be a big deal in his city's scene. Most people assumed that Josh was going to be the guy for OKC, and it makes sense considering his impact on the scene. His fast rapping is what seems to be his most popular music, but him experimenting with other sounds has been done really well, and I'd expect him to grow in a more accessible way as other audiences begin to find him. Hush Hush was a great project for him and I expect him to continue his consistent streak to produce some great music.

Who: Tassho Pearce
Spotify
Age:
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Recent Projects: G.O.O.D. Company (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

Coming back into the game recently with his drop of G.O.O.D. Company about 2 years later than expected, Tassho Pearce is making sure people know he's not ready to quit just yet. Naming his last album after his time spent in Hawaii with some members of G.O.O.D. Music – probably a good connection for the Cudi verse since the song was made right around the time Cudi left G.O.O.D. – Tassho has been fortunate enough to work with some of the biggest names in hip hop.

With simpler lyrics over pretty cool production, Tassho is accessible and follows an easy formula that makes sense as to why he's the first artist to make moves from the islands. You won't be blown away positively from his lyrics, but he exudes enough confidence and swagger than it can be ignored a lot of times. Production and hooks are definitely the stronger parts of Tassho's music, and he'll need to continue to work on his writing before he can carry a song like "Satellites" where he's working with a very well known entity. Otherwise, his music is a look into his life growing up in Hawaii, and he's proud of the culture he grew up in.

I'll be honest with you guys, I'm not huge on Tassho, and I attribute that to the fact that I can't get past the man's lyrics and how he'll casually cram too many syllables into a verse sometimes. If you can look past the lyrics, the dude's production is great and the overall sound is pretty solid too. Since he did miss his release target by almost 2 years, Tassho has sort of fallen out of the spotlight. However, he opened up his album with a shoutout from Kanye, and if he can reconnect with all the people he networked with back in the day, I think Tassho can make himself a more familiar name in the states.

Who: Deniro Farrar
SoundCloud
Age: 27
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Recent Projects:
Red Book, Vol. 1 (2016)
Mind of a Gemini (2016)

Songs to Check Out:

Out of the Queen City is Deniro Farrar, an undeniably honest, conscious rapper. He won't deny his past and he won't hide from rapping about current social issues around the country, especially in his newest Black Panther inspired project Red Book, Vol. 1. He's been able to collaborate with the likes of Flosstradamus and Denzel Curry and is continuing to grow, signing a record deal with VICE and Warner Bros back in 2013. The leader of #CultRap is continuing to grow and gain a bigger following, and his connections with growing artist Denzel Curry bodes well for his future.

Deniro has a deep, raspy voice and a sound reminiscent of Freddie Gibbs in a way. Rapping over chill but hard hitting production, his newer rap is much more about political and social injustice and about Farrar's new life, coming from a change he made in his own life – Farrar recently cut off smoking and starting eating healthy and working out, which he lends to his new sound pretty heavily. Another major role in this change is the death of his friend and other Charlotte rapper Donkey Cartel two years ago at the hands of an off duty officer, as well as the rise in deaths of unarmed black men from police. Deniro envisions a future where there is a society of equality but has no delusions that it will be easy to achieve, and his frustrations with these grievances that arrive in society is present in his music.

As Deniro continues to rap about "liberating the minds of the people so that we can come together as one and rise up against the crooked government, all evil, and oppression" – I'm sure he won't run out of material any time soon given the new political environment – look forward to seeing the development of his style further as he continues to polish things up and reach out to bigger resources. His current quality is excellent with goes without saying considering his popularity and resume; be ready for 2017 to be an even bigger year for him.

Still looking for artists from KS, DE, NM, and VT. If you guys have any recommendations, let me know. I also have the schedule for the rest of the series finally planned out so if you guys want to know when a certain state will be posted, message me. Have a good weekend fam.

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Childish Gambino - A**Shots (STN MTN)

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 02:54 PM PST

[Fresh] ETHEREAL - How'd It Happen? (feat. Lil Yachty & Lord Narf)

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 09:42 AM PST

Statik Selektah - "The Imperial" f/ Action Bronson, Royce Da 5'9" & Black Thought

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 07:16 PM PST

Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens (2007)

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 11:34 AM PST

ScHoolboy Q Performs Yay Yay Live (Feat. a Dancing Mac Miller)

Posted: 07 Jan 2017 05:23 AM PST
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