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Album of the Year 2018 #13: The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy, - HipHop

Album of the Year 2018 #13: The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy, - HipHop

Album of the Year 2018 #13: The Weeknd - My Dear Melancholy,

Posted: 15 Dec 2018 09:33 AM PST

Artist: The Weeknd | Album: My Dear Melancholy,

Listen: SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | TIDAL | GOOGLE PLAY | YOUTUBE

Background by /u/Kitchen_Ur_Lies

Deriving his stage name from "leaving home one weekend and never coming back," singer Abel Tesfaye managed to enter the R&B world in 2010 with a sound that hasn't seemed to leave since. Tesfaye was born in 1990 to Ethiopian immigrants in Toronto, being primarily raised by his mother and grandmother. There, he was raised learning Amharic, his native tongue, which opened his breadth of early musical influences from Amharic singers all the way to Michael Jackson and Prince. Tesfaye would end up dropping out of high school to pursue music, while living in a one-bedroom apartment with friends. The years spent here would cultivate the dark subject matter of his early work, surrounded by flagrant drug usage and rampant sex. It wasn't until 2010 that he would link up with producer Jeremy Rose, who envisioned a dark R&B project. Together, they made "What You Need", "Loft Music", and "The Morning", all of which were uploaded to YouTube by December under the name "The Weeknd." These tracks would garner some attention online, skyrocketing once they appeared on Drake's blog, receiving further cosigns in the form of tweets. This relationship would soon materialize in the form of five collaborations on Drake's next studio album, Take Care. Tesfaye's first three mixtapes released in 2011 would later culminate in the collection known as Trilogy, his first compilation album upon signing with Republic Records in 2012. Collectively, these tapes would solidify his stance as an alternative R&B juggernaut, shifting the soundscape to atmospheric trip-hop accompanied by a diaphanous voice. The explicit content, slowed tempos, fogged production, and general anonymity of The Weeknd lent to the clamoring for more of this sound.

Where the Trilogy era depicted Abel's life in Toronto, his debut studio album Kiss Land would "symbolize the tour life, but it's a world that I created in my head." Unfamiliarity and fear encompassed his mind while recording, likening the project to a horror movie. While the dark and brooding atmosphere did retain continuity through some of this project, certain tracks came off brighter than Trilogy, lending to the pop realm. This would serve as a prelude to his next studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness. In the time between these two projects, The Weeknd's fanbase grew exponentially from dropping a remix to Beyonce's "Drunk in Love", embarking on his first headlining tour, collaborating with Ariana Grande, and releasing "Earned It", for the highly anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey film adaption. His efforts in expanding his sound proved fruitful, as Beauty Behind the Madness was then sponsored by two massive #1 singles, "The Hills", and "Can't Feel My Face". Marked by cleaner instrumentation paired with familiar subject matter, certain cuts such as "In the Night" drew clear-cut comparisons to Michael Jackson, and truly distanced this project from his previous work. It would only be a year later in 2016 that he would follow up this commercial success with another reinvention of himself, in the form of Starboy. This time featuring two collaborations with Daft Punk, production dipped into electronic elements, bolstered by flashy synths and autotune used throughout. While this did garner him his third #1 solo single and plenty of sales, many fans felt this was a rather washed-out, almost sanitized version of The Weeknd, claiming he could never provide that Trilogy sound again. Likely a reflection of his personal life, The Weeknd had been in relationships for the majority of 2015 through 2017, where he made both of the latter albums. Pairing with Bella Hadid in early 2015, his relationship with Hadid seemed to end due to conflicting schedules. He would soon become romantically involved with Selena Gomez just after, and ten months later would breakup with her as well. As Gomez would soon be seen with former boyfriend Justin Bieber, this seemed to fuel inspiration for new music from The Weeknd. Acting as the catalyst for heartfelt lyrics as opposed to the braggadocio side of Starboy, the anticipation for his next project rose even with no release date in sight. All of this guessing was halted in March when The Weeknd dropped his first EP, My Dear Melancholy,

Review by /u/Kitchen_Ur_Lies

The EP begins with "Call Out My Name", a steep departure from the electronic soundscape found across Starboy. Sampling his own smash hit "Earned It", we're driven by keys engulfed in white noise along a low bassline reminiscent of his older mixtapes, only to be interjected by panning vocals covered in reverb. Abel recounts the emotional pledges he made to Selena during their time together, marking a sheer contrast from the almost numb, playboy-esque persona he portrayed during his Trilogy period. He reflects on finding themselves in each other's company as a means of coping with heartbreak, stating that this was nothing more than a mistake made at a vulnerable time in his life. The comfort he felt within another person was not evenly exchanged, even as he pushed his own boundaries. In the process of falling in love, he openly expressed his affection through public appearances together, social media postings, and otherwise binding moves to be made by a celebrity of his stature that cement the public's current perception of his personal life. While he previously had similar outings with Bella Hadid, the following lyrics ensure the song is largely focused on his more recent breakup with Gomez:

I said I didn't feel nothing, baby, but I lied

I almost cut a piece of myself for your life

Guess I was just another pit stop

Til you made up your mind

You just wasted my time

Relationships do involve both emotional and physical commitments, but this portion can be interpreted quite literally. Gomez suffers from lupus concentrated in her kidney area, and Abel offered his own kidney to save her life. Beyond the physical implications made by such an offer, he found himself at a mental state his 2011 self would never consider. Donating his organs to save a girl is a far cry from only allowing a girl to see him on Thursday. Furthermore, he found himself as nothing more than a vessel for her to get over her previous relationship, which makes for more uncharted content in his music. Only days after making it public that they had broken up, Selena was pictured rekindling with her ex Justin Bieber. Abel was clearly devastated that she still hadn't chose who she loves more, while he gave her his full affection. This theme is far more relatable to the average guy or girl whose relationship ends because there's "another person", but for the guy that wrote songs about convincing a girl that he's the better man, it's hard to imagine this resonates with him. For many of us that have felt the larger toll in a breakup, it feels a bit better knowing even Abel found himself in our shoes. Pain of heartbreak is felt not only through lyrics, but with inflection by the second chorus' distortion of,

So call out my name (call out my name baby)

It's the audible equivalent of the anguish brought to him by this breakup and makes for one of the most memorable musical moments I've found this year. The EP instantly sets itself apart from the rest of his material through the opener alone, exploring the vulnerable side of a playboy growing out of his old ways. The next track "Try Me", brings into question when Abel wrote most of the EP, as he's swapping roles from the last one. Now, he's back to his old ways in trying to persuade a girl in a relationship to try him instead. Attempting to remind her of the love they shared, he's ready for her to relive the times, so long as she's ready. The contrast between this song and his Trilogy approach is that he doesn't want to end an otherwise healthy relationship. Being on the receiving end of this love-triangle situation, he's softened the lust-driven persona he typically carried and wouldn't want to cause someone else the same woe. The start of the lone verse didn't premiere with this EP, rather coming from a freestyle he performed on stage back in 2014,

I didn't know you were down for him finding out

I thought you had some kind of love for your man

Well, I'm not tryna break up something

You've been workin' out, you've been steady

But I'm ready to go all the way if you let me

The chorus plays on rhyming "try me", with "notify me", and "remind me". Abel wants to be reminded of their old times, but she can't try him until she notifies him that she's ready. She must put her pride aside first, and in this instance that would be the relationship she's been working on working out. For those of us that don't have the bravado of Trilogy Abel and have been in pursuit of women that are already in relationships, it's painfully accurate how these thoughts have come about and lingered. Before ending the track, he delivers a melodic bridge with rather meaningless syllables that still manage to encapsulate emotion in their earworm inflection, hitting notes that most new wave R&B artists imitating his sound could never hit. Next up is "Wasted Times", where we see the EP make a slight shift in sonic direction, with an even larger shift in audience, now speaking directly to Bella Hadid. Produced by Frank Dukes and Skrillex, this track offers an electronic-pop flair reminiscent of Starboy, and could have very well been placed on that project. Of course, that only holds true if you ignore the almost direct shots at Selena who he was with at the time of Starboy. Opening the song by claiming he wasted his time with someone who wasn't even half of Bella, it's almost certainly Selena. There's something to be said of the unequivocal love we'll show for someone no matter what they ended up doing to us, simply because of the time already invested in each other. Even if they put us through emotional distress, the fond memories are what drives us back, for we choose to selectively remember those more. While Abel feels Bella put him through hell, she hasn't quite left the crosshairs of his love. If the timing of the release doesn't confirm he's talking to Bella, the next lines surely do,

These girls only want you when you're winnin'

But you've been with me from the beginnin'

Typical tropes of famous people finding love can include the struggle in discerning real affection as opposed to monetary reasons. However, he knows Bella is into him as she's been seen tweeting his lyrics since 2012 and attending his shows. He then drops,

You were equestrian, so ride it like a champion

And to further confirm this track is aimed at Bella, he references her initial ambitions to become an Olympic equestrian, likening her riding skills on a horse to riding him. Summed up by the song's catchy chorus, Abel just wants to catch up with a former lover and make up for lost time. As of this writing, it seems to have aged gracefully because they are indeed back together, coming full circle. His relationship with Selena reflected on his work with Starboy as a blissful time in his life, while the internal turmoil caused by their breakup reflects in My Dear Melancholy. So even if Abel feels here that this was "Wasted Time", the fans can enjoy the music brought forth by the catharsis. Sentiments on wasted time are carried over onto the next track, "I Was Never There". For the first of two collaborations with French DJ Gesaffelstein, blaring horns over a pronounced drum break set the tone to the auditory expression of a horror movie. Acting as one of the darker songs on the EP, The Weeknd confronts his tribulations with thoughts of suicide and intoxicating himself to cope. Crying and contemplating suicide are direct causes of the realization that the happiness his relationship brought can only be temporary. He takes a unique route in expressing this, by speaking to the heart breaker in third person and transitioning to spouting the lessons he's learned from his point of view. Repetition is the key here with these lines resonating throughout,

When it's time, when it's time, when it's time

It won't matter

It won't matter

It was like he was never there

Time can make the end of a relationship bitter, because once it's over you're back to your life before it ever happened. This makes the initial separation hard as it feels you've wasted all the time during the relationship to end up where you started. Abel seems to be in this stage of grief, signaling that this probably was one of the first recorded. As we transition to the second half, the production exudes the feeling of drifting off into a void. Once Abel begins venting, he fixates on letting us know he's somewhat relapsed into medicating himself. Venting,

I feel my mind is slowly fadin'

If I keep going, I won't make it

If I keep going, I won't make it

This creates a duality between relationships and drugs, expressing how their brief euphoric moments are otherwise causing a toll on the body and mind. If Abel felt he was in a toxic relationship, he continued until he felt nothing, as he's recounted in the past with his egregious drug habits. But none of that is his fault to him, for it's all because of a partner that isn't meeting his needs. Even if we don't necessarily share the same coping methods as him, we can surely connect to the vacuum of emotion following a split. And Abel surely doesn't wish this on anyone, as he doesn't want to "Hurt You" for his second collaboration with Gesaffelstein. Reflecting on the time before Bella and Selena, along with their individual conclusions, he realizes,

And now I know relationship's my enemy

So stay away from me

He doesn't find himself suitable for a relationship anymore because of the inevitabilities realized throughout this project. Knowing most won't materialize to anything more than few years of commitment, he thinks it'll only harm the both of them. Reverting to the womanizing ways of before, he only asks that she thinks of him when intimate with her new man. However, he keeps it frank that he doesn't need nor want an emotional connection any longer. "Privilege" delivers a succinct closure to both the EP and his relationship with Selena. Returning to the hazy, reverb-centric vocals that introduced us to this project, Abel tells Selena to return to her normal, privileged life in the most heartfelt way possible. In his perspective, she is the privileged one not only for her fortune, but because she isn't leaving the relationship into self-deprecating heartbreak. As he toiled with supporting her through her battle with lupus by offering physical and emotional aid, she still finds herself suffering. Abel is incredulous to hear that she still has any sorrow remaining and offers her a way to find out what it meant for him. In one of my favorite double entendres of the year,

I got two red pills to take the blues away

Blues away, way, way

For anyone that hasn't seen The Matrix, the main character is given the option of a red pill where he learns the truth and escapes the matrix, or a blue pill which returns him to normal life. Abel is referring to red oxycodone pills which are only meant to deal with physical pain, however they can have mental effects if abused. Conversely, the blues or sad times can be overcome using the red pills. With presenting these options, she can learn the toll that supporting her had on Abel, or choose to live in blissful ignorance. Since there's no indication that they've fully reconciled, it would appear she chose the latter.

Regarding this project as a whole, it does nothing less than prove The Weeknd is one of the most interesting characters in the R&B genre since he entered the realm. As time went on and imitations of the Trilogy sound became prevalent, seeing the originator return to his own sound was incredibly gratifying. Many may consider it a return to form, but I wouldn't discount it as just that. My Dear Melancholy conveys the maturation of Abel Tesfaye from a lustful libertine to a vulnerable, damaged lover. And even there it's not strictly the Trilogy sound, with him dabbling in elements and lyrics touched upon in Kiss Land and Starboy. Furthermore, he's now found himself back in a relationship with Bella Hadid, meaning this project's role as therapy following a breakup has served its purpose. As a standalone EP, My Dear Melancholy sits high in The Weeknd's artful contributions to the R&B world.

Favorite Lyrics by /u/Kitchen_Ur_Lies:

I want you to stay even though you don't want me

Girl, why can't you wait? (why can't you wait, baby?)

Girl, why can't you wait 'til I fall out of love?

  • "Call Out My Name"

Catchin' feelings

These girls only want you when you're winnin' (winnin')

But you've been with me from the beginnin' (ooh, yeah, yeah)

And I know right now that we're not talkin' (not talkin')

I hope you know this dick is still an option

Cause I'll beat it up (I'll beat it up, yeah)

I took my time to learn the way your body functions

You were equestrian, so ride it like a champion (ride it baby)

  • "Wasted Times"

So, I poison myself again, again

'Til I feel nothing

In my soul (in my soul)

I'm on the edge of something breaking

I feel my mind is slowly fadin'

If I keep going, I won't make it

  • "I Was Never There"

And I'ma fuck the pain away, and I know I'll be okay

They said our love is just a game, I don't care what they say

But I'ma drink the pain away, I'll be back to my old ways

And I got two red pills to take the blues away, oh

  • "Privilege"

Talking Points

  1. Where does this rank in his discography?

  2. How do we as fans accept that an artist's best music may be made when they are at a low point? Should we wish their spirits are lifted or that they continue feeding us amazing work?

  3. Why do you think he named it My Dear Melancholy, with the comma, was this supposed to be a series of EPs? Did his reunion with Bella ruin it?

  4. If we know he's capable of giving us this sound again, will we receive his next project differently if it shifts away?

  5. I've been sad the last week listening to this over and over to make this writeup, does R&B depend on us being in a particular mood more than hip-hop for us to like it?

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Recommended If You Like Thread - December 15, 2018

Posted: 15 Dec 2018 10:04 AM PST

If you're looking for a recommendation give a description/music link/artist so that other people will know what you want.

Example: I want to hear an artist that sounds like old Kanye (you can get more specific but that's enough imo). And then someone will respond with X, Y, and Z

You can also recommend an artist/project/scene

Example: You guys should check out DJ Mustard's mixtape Ketchup RIYL (recommended if you like) post-hyphy and minimalistic west coast beats.

Remember, the point of this thread is to share music, try not to post stuff that's already really popular unless it answers someone's question.

Also the more descriptive you guys are with your posts the easier it is to help you find what you want, just stating an artists name isn't that helpful since you might only like one specific aspect of that artist's music.

Look through past posts here

ALSO please check out this thread for a list of some of the most popular recommendation requests and the suggestions provided

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Offset interrupts Cardi B’s set at Rolling Loud to beg her to take him back, only to get rejected and kicked off stage

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at

New Music Friday: December 14th, 2018 - HipHop

New Music Friday: December 14th, 2018 - HipHop

New Music Friday: December 14th, 2018

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 08:38 AM PST

Albums

$ilkMoney - I Hate My Life and I Really Wish People Would Stop Telling Me Not To

Kodak Black - Dying to Live

Various Artists - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From & Inspired by the Motion Picture)

Method Man - Meth Lab Season 2: The Lithium

Lil Keed - Keed Talk to Em

Various Artists - 1800 Seconds: Curated By Pusha T

OmenXIII - HACKER

Princess Nokia- Metallic Butterfly

ALTRD State - an ALTRnate enDing

Chuuwee, Imaginary Friends - The Tip Of A Tab (PO+)

Devilish Trio - Vol. 3

Rare Akuma - AKUMA SEASON!

Yhung T.O - Trust Issues

Jaydayoungan - Forever 23

The Grouch - Unlock the Box

Curly Castro - TOSH

smrtdeath- We'll be alright

EPs

Big KRIT - Trifecta

Vic Mensa - HOOLIGANS

Khary - Uhhh

Pink Siifu - im still.

lil aaron - WORST CHRISTMAS EVER

Polari - GODBODY

Singles

Saba - Where It's At

TM88 & Southside - Hmmm (Feat. Lil Yachty & Valee)

Yung Gravy - Alley Oop (feat. Lil Baby)

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie - Startender (feat. Offset and Tyga)

Higher Brothers - 16 Hours

Saint JHN – White Parents Are Gonna Hate This

Smokepurpp – Sauce Like This/But I Still Respect Women

Zack Villere - super

DJ Khalil - Elevate (feat. Denzel Curry, YBN Cordae, SwaVay, Trevor Rich)

Tiny Meat Gang - No Flex

Loosie

Young Thug - Turn Up On Em (feat. 21 Savage) / Birthday Song (feat. Fetty Wap) / Start A War / Patek / Show Off (feat. Future) / Offvert (feat. Gunna)

03 Greedo - Dear Winter

Oliver Francis - Kamaboko

KEY! - Never Been Freestyle

Conway the Machine - Everybody is F.O.O.D. 2 - Eat What U Kill

Standing On The Corner - gio sees mysteries

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Album of the Year 2018 #12: Pusha-T - Daytona

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 09:05 AM PST

Artist: Pusha-T

Album: Daytona

Released: May 25, 2018

Label: GOOD Music; Def Jam Recordings

Listen:

Youtube

Spotify

Apple Music

TIDAL

Background:

Terrence LeVarr Thorton, also known as Pusha-T, was a member of the Clipse before he embarked on his solo career. The Clipse was made up of him and his brother, who went by Malice. Usually backed by Neptunes production, the Clipse were making big waves at the time until their manager was arrested for leading a drug ring in 2010. His brother soon changed his name to No Malice and became a Christian rapper. Push went on to start a solo career by being featured on Kanye West's album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. He then released two mixtapes and two albums over the course of five years. The last of these projects, King Push: Darkest Before Dawn - The Prelude, was meant to be a prelude to his next album, King Push. The album was delayed numerous times since being announced back in 2015. However, on April 19, 2018, Kanye West announced the album on Twitter as the first album in a string of releases that would now be known as the Wyoming Sessions. Pusha-T announced the new title of the album, Daytona, about a week before release.

Review:

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

The sounds that begin this album and its opener, "If You Know You Know". They set the stage for Push before we hear him. We're in his grimey ass kitchen and he's trying to get the stove started. It just won't spark up. Then, after a bit, the flames kick in and he's ready to really start cooking. He sets everything ablaze. The bass is muted yet powerful. The subject matter is gritty and retrospective of his drug dealing days, but the soundscape the drums create make it impossible to ignore that he's specifically talking about dealing crack cocaine. Not that Push wouldn't tell you he's talking about cocaine. Anywho, his rap style also boasts nonstop imagery, which is a characteristic that reminds me of Bukowski's poetry.

Pullin' up in that new toy

The wrist on that boy, rock star like Pink Floyd

Waving at rude boy

I'm waving at you, boy

First, the image of the expensive car pulling up slowly, to the blinged out watch and Pink Floyd (probably Dark Side of the Moon), then hand waving, to Push waving at you, then- you get the point. Push is gifted in the art of nonstop imagery in his penmanship. This transitions well into the next song, "The Games We Play".

The very antique-sounding guitar sample gives the track a sepia-toned hue. I imagine this would score a modern take on a spaghetti western filled with action at every twist and Push as our gun-slinging protagonist. It sounds like he's walking through the streets of Virginia feared by rival drug dealers that see him around. What amazed me more was how bare the song was and how much of an impact it had on me as the listener. It's also packed to the brim with quotables. "This ain't a wave or a phase, cause all that shit fades", "My numbers lookin' like a bank code", "With Ye back choppin', the cars and the women come with options", "Stay woke, n***a, or get out", etc. This is Pusha-T at the top of his game. One of his all time best songs and one of my favorite songs of the year. Its simplicity in structure makes it such a great song.

"Hard Piano" takes the simplicity that we heard on "The Games We Play" and doesn't really go anywhere with it. It's just not the most engaging sample, but Push makes up for that with a strong verse. The hook by The World Famous Tony Williams is the song's attempt to up the drama when there isn't a rapper to fill in a measure, but it fails to make the impression it intended on making. It comes before a very lackluster Rick Ross verse and a little too late after his verse, but it also doesn't really fit the album. This grandiose hook is ill-placed on an album filled with minimal and dark production.

"Come Back Baby", on the other hand, lets its sample take the hook and it works wonderfully. Its buzzing and distorted bass line match Push's flow and the snares of the percussion. This song highlights how well Push works with the production he hops on. The synergy is rock-solid here. When a rapper and producer are so involved in each other's work, it shows. Going back to the hook, when you first hear it, you understand how well it builds on the drama created by Push's performance. The melody, the selected sample's lyrics, how well it transitions into the verse, etc. Tell me that "I'm 'bout to go out of my mind" isn't a great line to lead into a verse.

The following song, "Santeria", has a bit of a concept going for it. Named after the Sublime song the Afro-Cuban religion that has elements of Yoruba culture and Catholicism, Push raps about the feelings he's had regarding the murder of his friend De'Von "Day Day" Pickett. The Santeria religion is commonly associated with rituals that involve mediums speaking to spirits. Essentially, Push is talking to his friend. Much like the time of day in which Santeria rituals are practiced, the production is dark and eerie. The guitar notes wail throughout the sample, creating a mournful sonic aesthetic. A beat switch occurs in the final minute of the song's run time, which I had always felt to be symbolic of him coming to terms with his feelings.

"What Would Meek Do?" is the wild card of the album's seven tracks and part of that is the unpredictability of Kanye's feature. The sample on this track doesn't have the serious tone of past songs, but it's still not a complete miss. However, it doesn't have the depth of past songs, either. Push's verse on his overall omniscience as a rap mogul excels, while Kanye's verse about the public's perception of his antics and character entertain more than they do evoke discussion. I can imagine Ye's verse comes from a need to entertain and genuine inquiry. Though, the discussion on Kanye comes when when he does something outlandish, as he did yesterday or the day before. While his verse on this song is entertaining, it also comes off as out of touch.

So... Here we are. "Infrared". Surgical Summer: The Prelude. The song that launched a thousand Canadian ships from the bays of Toronto. From the sample, to the percussion, to the bass line, everything about this track screams "war ready".

Infrared, yeah... Y'know what I mean?

Yeah, everyone heard you loud and clear, Push. Every line has been analyzed to hell, so I won't spend any time talking about its content. Though, when I heard it for the first time, I knew this would be that final straw. If "Exodus 23:1" didn't do it, this would be the one. Boy, was my hunch strong with this one. And kudos to the man for coming through with a rather lengthy diss track within 24 hours. I'm honestly always in the mood for beef. He could put one out today about Ye and I'd still be here for it. To be honest, with what's been going on recently, it might just happen.

My favorite aspect of Pusha-T's rapping lies in his delivery. He's engaging, aggressive, and upfront; almost a bit in-your-face. He makes sure to accentuate every word with the utmost urgency so you don't forget anything he says, but he does this so effortlessly. By doing this, every bar hits even harder. Each song has the potential to become an endless stream of quotables. On this album, he raps as if he's accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award for Drug Dealing, which also coincides with the title, Daytona. Having the luxury of time, as Push said himself. Moreso than that, the skill set you're confident enough in that earned you that luxury.

It's safe to say that on Daytona, Pusha-T proved everything about himself as an artist twice over. The lyricism is air-tight, with some of Push's best bar-for-bar performances. The production is dark, murky, and represents the artist and its subject matter very well. It exceeded every expectation I had for King Push before the name change, but my only complaint is that I wish it were longer. Simple as that. It is an excellent addition to the hip-hop canon and an extremely strong contender for Album of the Year.

Favorite Lyrics

If You Know You Know

A fraternity of drug dealers ringing off

I just happen to be alumni

A rapper turned trapper couldn't morph into us

But a trapper turned rapper can morph into Puff

The Games We Play

This ain't a wave or a phase, cause all that shit fades

My numbers lookin' like a bank code

With Ye back choppin', the cars and the women come with options"

Stay woke, n***a, or get out"

Come Back Baby

They don't miss you 'till you gone with the wind

And they tired of dancing like a Ying Yang Twin

You can't have the Yin without the Yang my friend

Real n***as bring balance to the game I'm in

Santeria

Of all the things I've ever paid for

Know that it's no price tag when I wage war

Leave you like Malcolm where X marks your grave

Talking Points:

  1. What do you think King Push would have sounded like if it was released instead of this album?

  2. Sure, Pitchfork called Daytona an 'instant classic' too soon, but do you think it has the potential to be one?

  3. Do y'all think Push will ever collab with Malice again on a future release?

Thanks for reading what I have to say about my third favorite album of the year and my number one hip hop album. If you haven't heard it, you really should. Seriously, pause Scorpion Some Rap Songs and go listen to Daytona. It ain't even that long.

submitted by /u/ledzeppelin341
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Travis Scott Retains Billboard No 1. Over Tekashi 6ix9ine Following Recount: Report

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 01:42 PM PST

Kill Edward (J Cole Alter Ego) on twitter: "my album coming dont think i forgot"

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 07:21 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] JPEGMAFIA - Thug Tears | A COLORS SHOW

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:05 AM PST

XXXTENTACION's "Skins" sells 141K First Week (55K Pure). Gucci Mane's "Evil Genius" sells 48K First Week (4K Pure). Ice Cube's "Everythangs Corrupt" sells 14K First Week (8K Pure).

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 04:00 PM PST

Rank Artist Album Label Pure Sales Sales + Streaming
1 Drake Scorpion YMCMB/Republic 158K 749K
2 Travis Scott Astroworld Cactus Jack/Grand Hustle/Epic 270K 553K
3 Lil Wayne Tha Carter V Young Money 141K 480K
4 Post Malone beerbongs & bentleys Republic 157K 471K
5 Eminem Kamikaze Shady/Aftermath/Interscope 252K 434K
6 J. Cole KOD Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope 166K 395K
7 Cardi B Invasion of Privacy Atlantic 105K 254K
8 Kanye West Ye G.O.O.D./Def Jam 82K 210K
9 Meek Mill Championships Atlantic 34K 208K
10 Migos Culture II Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 34K 200K
11 Nicki Minaj Queen YMCMB/Republic 83K 190K
12 Twenty One Pilots Trench Fueled by Ramen 134K 170K
13 Logic YSIV Def Jam 122K 167K
14 The Weeknd My Dear Melancholy, XO/Republic 70K 167K
15 Various Artists Black Panther TDE/Aftermath/Interscope 52K 156K
16 XXXTENTACION Skins Bad Vibes Forever/Empire 55K 141K
17 Kanye West & Kid Cudi Kids See Ghosts G.O.O.D./Def Jam 79K 140K
18 XXXTENTACION ? Bad Vibes Forever 21K 134K
19 Lil Baby & Gunna Drip Harder Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 9K 130K
20 Jay-Z & Beyonce Everything Is Love Roc Nation/Parkwood/Columbia 70K 124K
21 Logic Bobby Tarantino II Def Jam 30K 117K
22 Brockhampton iridesence Question Everything/RCA 83K 106K
23 Quavo Quavo Huncho Quality Control/Motowon/Capitol 6K 99K
24 Metro Boomin Not All Heroes Wear Capes Boominati/Republic 5K 99K
25 Future & Juice WRLD WRLD On Drugs Freebandz/Epic/Grade A/Interscope 8K 98K
26 Trippie Redd A Love Letter to You 3 TenThousand 11K 84K
27 Lil Baby Street Gossip Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 6K 84K
28 Lil Peep Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 2 Columbia 43K 81K
29 Wiz Khalifa Rolling Papers 2 Atlantic 13K 80K
30 Russ Zoo Columbia 57K 79K
31 Nas Nasir Mass Appeal/Def Jam 49K 79K
32 Kevin Gates Luca Brasi 3 Atlantic 18K 78K
33 Pusha T Daytona G.O.O.D./Def Jam 39K 77K
34 6LACK East Atlanta Love Letter LVRN/Interscope 27K 76K
35 A$AP Rocky TESTING RCA 13K 75K
36 Trippie Redd Life's A Trip TenThousand 15K 71K
37 Lil Baby Harder Than Ever Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 4K 71K
38 6ix9ine Dummy Boy ScumGang/Create 9K 68K
39 Ella Mai Ella Mai 10 Summers/Interscope 17K 64K
40 Lil Yachty Lil Boat 2 Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 7K 64K
41 Gorillaz The Now Now Parlophone 51K 61K
42 Rae Sremmurd SR3MM EarDruma/Interscope 6K 61K
43 Playboi Carti Die Lit AWGE/Interscope 5K 60K
44 Joji Ballads 1 88Rising/12Tone 34K 57K
45 Mac Miller Swimming Warner Bros. 20K 57K
46 YG Stay Dangerous Def Jam 10K 56K
47 Rich The Kid The World Is Yours Rich Forever/Interscope 7K 56K
48 Janelle Monae Dirty Computer Atlantic 43K 55K
49 6ix9ine Day 69 Scum Gang/Ten Thousand 21K 55K
50 Tory Lanez LoVE me NOw? Mad Love/Interscope 5K 54K
51 Future Beast Mode 2 Freebandz/Epic 0 54K
52 Ski Mask the Slump God Stokeley Republic 5K 52K
53 Tory Lanez Memories Don't Die Mad Love/Interscope 12K 51K
54 Takeoff The Last Rocket Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 4K 50K
55 YoungBoy Never Broke Again Until Death Call My Name Atlantic 7K 49K
56 Nipsey Hussle Victory Lap Atlantic 25K 48K
57 Khalid Suncity Right Hand Music/RCA 9K 48K
58 Gucci Mane Evil Genius Atlantic 4K 48K
59 Kris Wu Antares Interscope 25K 47K
60 $uicideBoy$ I Want to Die In New Orleans G59/Caroline 32K 46K
61 Young Thug & Young Stoner Life Records Slime Language Young Stoner Life/Atlantic 3K 44K
62 Anderson .Paak Oxnard Aftermath/12Tone 13K 40K
63 Lil Yachty Nuthin' 2 Prove Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 2K 40K
64 Juice WRLD Goodbye & Good Riddance Interscope N/A 39K
65 YoungBoy Never Broke Again 4Respect 4Freedom 4Loyalty 4WhatImportant Never Broke Again 1K 35K
66 Nav Reckless XO/Republic 4K 34K
67 Jay Rock Redemption TDE/Interscope 9K 31K
68 Young Dolph Role Model Paper Route/Empire 3K 31K
69 Moneybagg Yo Reset N-Less/Interscope 5K 30K
70 Earl Sweatshirt Some Rap Songs Tan Cressida/Columbia 10K 29K
71 Mike Shinoda Post Traumatic Warner Bros 23K 28K
72 Flatbush Zombies Vacation In Hell Glorious Dead 14K 28K
73 Lil Xan Total Xanarchy Columbia 13K 28K
74 T.I. Dime Trap Grand Hustle/Epic 10K 27K
75 Meek Mill Legends of the Summer Atlantic 5K 27K
76 Tee Grizzley Activated N/A 4K 27K
77 Lil Durk Signed to the Streets 3 Alamo/Interscope 2K 27K
78 Moneybagg Yo Bet On Me N-Less/Interscope 5K 26K
79 Young Thug On the Rvn Atlantic 2K 26K
80 Famous Dex Dex Meets Dexter Rich Forever/300 Entertainment N/A 25K
81 Sheck Wes Mudboy Cactus Jack/G.O.O.D./Interscope 1K 24K
82 Teyana Taylor K.T.S.E. G.O.O.D./Def Jam 7K 23K
83 RM mono. BigHit 18K 22K
84 Tech N9ne Planet Strange Music 16K 22K
85 Machine Gun Kelly Binge Bad Boy/Interscope 9K 22K
86 John Legend A Legendary Christmas Columbia 20K 21K
87 G Herbo & Southside Swervo Epic 3K 21K
88 Lil Mosey Northsbest Mogul Vision/Interscope 1K 21K
89 TobyMac The Elements Forefront 17K 20K
90 Royce Da 5'9" Book of Ryan Eone 10K 19K
91 Queen Naija Queen Naija Capitol 6K 19K
92 Rich Brian Amen 88Rising/Empire 4K 19K
93 Tee Grizzley Still My Moment Atlantic 1K 18K
94 Denzel Curry Ta13oo Concord/Loma Vista 4K 17K
95 Kali Uchis Isolation Virgin 4K 17K
96 YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Kevin Gates 4 Respect EP Never Broke Again 2K 17K
97 KYLE Light of Mine Atlantic 2K 17K
98 H.E.R. I Used to Know Her RCA 5K 17K
99 Lil Skies Life of a Dark Rose Atlantic 5K 16K
100 Vince Staples FM! Def Jam 4K 16K
101 Usher & Zaytoven A Brand Usher/RCA 4K 15K
102 21 Savage, Future & Lil Wayne Superfly Soundtrack Epic 3K 15K
103 JID DiCaprio 2 Dreamville 3K 15K
104 Mike WiLL Made-It Creed II: The Album Interscope 1K 15K
105 The Internet Hive Mind Columbia 9K 14K
106 Ice Cube Everythangs Corrupt Lench Mob/Interscope 8K 14K
107 Moneybagg Yo 2 Heartless N-Less/Interscope 5K 14K
108 Rich Homie Quan Rich As In Spirit N/A 3K 14K
109 YoungBoy Never Broke Again Decided Never Broke Again/Atlantic 1K 14K
110 Ne-Yo Good Man Motown/Capitol 7K 13K
111 Jorja Smith Lost & Found Famm 5K 13K
112 Dave East Karma 2 The Dispensary 2K 12K
113 Blac Youngsta 223 Epic N/A 12K
114 PRhyme PRhyme 2 N/A 9K 11K
115 Dave East P2 Def Jam N/A 11K
116 2 Chainz The Play Don't Care Who Makes It Def Jam N/A 11K
117 BlocBoy JB Simi Bloc Nation N/A 11K
118 Ski Mask the Slump God Beware the Book of Eli Republic N/A 11K

FAQ:

Q: Source?

A: http://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming

Q: How is this list sorted?

A: It's sorted by sales + streaming

Q: What are pure sales?

A: Pure sales are purchases of the album (itunes, amazon, physicals, etc)

Q: Where is X album?

A: Only albums with 10K in sales + streaming are listed

Q: Why are Famous Dex, Blac Youngsta, Dave East, BlocBoy JB, Ski Mask, Juice WRLD, and 2 Chainz' pure sales "N/A"

A: Those artist's pure sales were outside of the top 50 for their release weeks, meaning the exact number was unknown. Dave East, Ski Mask, and 2 Chainz sold fewer than 3K pure copies, Blac Youngsta, BlocBoy JB, Juice WRLD, and Famous Dex sold fewer than 2K pure copies.

Q: Aren't those sales kind of low for 6ix9ine and JID?

A: 6ix9ine's "Dummy Boy" released on a Tuesday, thus losing out on 4 days of sales. JID's "DiCaprio 2" released on a Monday, thus losing out on 3 days of sales.

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

A: 2017 list, 2016 list, 2015 list

submitted by /u/Chriscftb97
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Danny Brown is premiering New Music on his Twitch Stream

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 07:44 PM PST

It's not album cuts, more so Twitch Mixtape 2 https://www.twitch.tv/xdannyxbrownx While y'all here, the Official Bruiser Brigade Discord Server is https://discordapp.com/invite/79tsWNr

EDIT: DICK IN THE MILK IS COMING OUT SOON. Be on the look out for Baby Blood.

https://clips.twitch.tv/FuriousHelpfulMeerkatFreakinStinkin

submitted by /u/LucidsDreamers
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[DISCUSSION] BROCKHAMPTON - SATURATION III (One Year Later)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 03:47 PM PST

It's been a year since the final installment of BROCKHAMPTON'S SATURATION Trilogy. How do you think it holds up a year later, how does it compare to the other 2 SATURATION's?

submitted by /u/merparmy
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Chance the Rapper Easter Egg in Spiderman Movie

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:10 PM PST

I don't know if anyone noticed or if anyone cares. But Miles has a Chance the Rapper poster on his wall of the coloring book artwork but Chance's hat has a 4 on it instead of a 3.

submitted by /u/Second_Insanity
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[FRESH VIDEO] Teyana Taylor - Gonna Love Me (Remix) ft. Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 09:32 AM PST

[DISCUSSION] N.E.R.D. - No One Ever Really Dies (One Year Later)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 09:33 PM PST

It's been a year since N.E.R.D. released No One Ever Really Dies, their second full-length studio album following 2010's Nothing. How do you think it holds up a year later? Personally, I absolutely love this album, from the production to the samples, to the lyrics and the features I think N.E.R.D did a fantastic job, and songs such as Voila, Don't Do It!, Deep Down Body Thurst, and Lightning Fire Magic Prayer are some of my favorites.

submitted by /u/MiCroweGG
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[Discussion] Eminem - Revival (One Year Later)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 05:12 PM PST

It's been a year since Eminem released his 9th studio album Revival.

How does this album hold up to others in his discography?

How does this album effect his legacy?

submitted by /u/King_Nakamura
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Lil Pump arrested for disorderly conduct after being accused of having drugs on a plane

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:45 PM PST

Gucci Mane Rolls a Cigarette

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 02:30 PM PST

Kodak Black on the Breakfast Club 12/14/2018

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 06:26 AM PST

[First Impression] Kodak Black - Dying To Live

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 10:22 PM PST

Been a little over 24 hours since it dropped. What are your guys' opinions?

submitted by /u/ThatGuyDes
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[FRESH] Young Thug - Shoot At The Cops

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 02:37 PM PST

J Hus jailed for 8 months for carrying knife

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 07:26 AM PST

GOLF: Fall / Winter 2018

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 08:07 AM PST

How Kenny Beats Became the Hottest Rap Producer on the Planet

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 11:42 AM PST

The Pharcyde - Runnin'

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 03:15 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] XXXTENTACION - BAD!

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 11:06 PM PST

Beastie Boys - Too Many Rappers (Ft. Nas)

Posted: 14 Dec 2018 08:16 AM PST
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