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Album of the Year 2018 #41: Key and Kenny Beats - 777 - HipHop

Album of the Year 2018 #41: Key and Kenny Beats - 777 - HipHop

Album of the Year 2018 #41: Key and Kenny Beats - 777

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 01:24 PM PST

Artists: Key and Kenny Beats

Album: 777

Label: Hello!/D.O.T.S

Listen

Spotify and Deluxe

Apple Music and Deluxe

Tidal and Deluxe

Soundcloud and Deluxe

Background (credit to /u/cattlecall_ for helping with the part on KEY!)

Key (or KEY!) is an Atlanta rapper (and occasionally producer) who first came to prominence as a co-founder of the Two-9 rap collective in 2009, at the age of 18. While not the most successful or famous rapper from Atlanta (from his song Hater on 777: "Why niggas hatin'? I ain't even fuckin' famous"), he has been quietly prolific in his collaborations, including key appearancesHe has had key appearances on songs such as Juicy J's Big Bank (when this released he was just 20 years old, back in 2011), Father's Look At Wrist, the extended version of OG Maco's hit song U Guessed It, Raury's Trap Tears, Too Much Dope by Playboi Carti, Slaughter Ya Daughter by 21 Savage, LeTumbapart1 by JID, Out the Front Door by Maxo Kream, Crazy Brazy and Please Shut Up by A$AP Mob (specifically working with A$AP Rocky and ASAP Twelvyy on the former song, Gucci Mane and A$AP Rocky on the latter song), and Came Up by EDM producers Flosstradamus, FKi1st & graves, which also featured Post Malone. Key has been referred to as "your favorite rapper's favorite rapper," commanding much respect in the Atlanta underground scene, and while he has been quietly building steam for years, 2018 will be looked back on as his breakout year, referring to his 2018 output as, "HD Me", a refinement of what he's been doing. From working with Juicy J in 2011 on two songs from his Blue Dream and Lean tape, Big Bank as a rapper, U Trippy Mane as a producer, to voicing the producer tag for the prolific Kenny Beats in 2018, KEY!'s charismatic personality, energetic rapping and distinctive adlibs has propelled him from an underground OG to the architect of one of this years and best (and most overlooked) releases.

Now to the other half of this pairing, the currently prolific Kenny Beats. Kenny after graduating high school went to music school and at the same time worked on hip hop beats. He found some levels of success, getting beats out to big name rappers like Schoolboy Q and Smoke DZA but as he has stated in the past (such as in this interview with Anthony Fantano), his lack of industry savviness limited his success. He was than introduced into the world of EDM, forming a duo called LOUDPVCK with DJ Ryan Marks, they remixed songs by Major Lazer and The Chainsmokers, and became a regular feature on the festival circuit. It was through this experience that he learned various lessons that he can now apply as he returns to hip hop production with grace. While he has worked with the likes of Vince Staples, Youngboy Never Broke Again, Ski Mask the Slump God, JID, Rico Nasty, 03 Greedo, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Freddie Gibbs this year, I think his work with Key is really his magnum opus for the year, producing about 20 fantastic songs for him, collaborating in a fashion that feels super natural and fitting. What makes Kenny's style of work so special is how he approaches different styles humbly, acting faithful to different styles whether it be Atlanta trap from Key, the bay area rap of ALLBLACK or Jpegmafia eccentric style. Plus he makes sure he works in person with the artists he produces for. Overall the outlook for Kenny is bright, he is sure to be a real presence in hip hop for the near future.

Before any of the singles for 777 came out on January 6th, the duo released Ice Cream Hello samples All Is Full of Love by Bjork and comes out of Key's request of, "I want a Bjork sample with the old ice cream noise at the beginning of it but then it need to drop into some super hard shit". The album itself came after releasing the singles Hater, Kelly Price Freestyle an Dig It and was at a comfortable 34 minutes, 15 track, length. In a world filled with artistically corrupting cash grabs and clout chasing, I've got to give props to the lack of features, as anyone paying attention is aware of, he easily could have gotten some really big names on this project but instead went for a pure Key + Kenny tape. After dropping 777, the two also dropped Time of My Life featuring DRAM, which has an undeniably fun tropical sound. After this they dropped Cable Guy featuring Jay Critch, the single for the 777 Deluxe EP. This EP was a really great addition to the album, including remixes to Hater and Love on Ice featuring Skepta and 6lack respectively, Cable Guy and Remember Me with Rico Nasty, as well as a solo track called Nothin.

Review

777 starts off on a fantastic note with the soulful 1+2 Demolition, which, contrary to many trap songs featuring some sort of vocal sample, doesn't exclude the sample's role to the intro. It really feels like an intro in the best way, giving off a euphoric, uplifting feeling, and featuring an addictive hook and giving us the first taste of the dynamic rapping, catchy hooks, satisfying production and the memorable, entertaining lyrics that define 777. The next few songs are extremely strong minimalist trap offerings with crisp drum patterns throughout. Little touches like the recurring siren in Hater, which blasts those that wish to bring KEY down, the busy synths in Blurry and the unapologetic goofiness of Boss, elevate these tracks above being standard trap songs. Move is especially nice with a distinctly frantic feel to it. The next few songs have a more low key, minimalist style, with Famous almost sounding fit for some auto tuned crooning a la Travis Scott, and It Gets Better having this really down to earth, mellow, uplifting tone with a beat that sounds influenced by the likes of "post-trap" producer Ethereal, followed by the poppy Kelly Price Freestyle. Love on Ice is a personal highlight, tackling the topic of love, and how his heart has became cold, blessed by one of the strongest beats on the whole project, with these beautiful, fluttering synths. This song is a real emotional introspective style but still delivered in a goofy way, Key finds a way to deal with the things that have happened to him, weather it be heartbreak or his upbringing. The next song, Dig It was the third single and is in a similar vein to Famous but maintains dark imagery of Key's past as a trapper, looking back on dead bodies and he persistent threat posed by authorities. Toronto is bouncy as fuck, both the beat and Key's satisfyingly "choppy" (but not remotely "rappity rap") flow, it's fun and braggy but centers around the sad fact that the world is a cold fucking place. On True Love Interlude and Control Key switches to a more genuine tone, especially on the latter which focuses on his love life, speaking on the pain his love interest has gone through. Twisted has Key sounding like DRAM and is a nice hurrah before the closer. Finally to close off 777 comes Squeamish, my favorite track on the album, with a beautiful beat and a dreamy atmosphere, it also has one of my favorite hooks of 2018, with this amazing almost hazy delivery. It really does feels like a perfect closer to the project, really showcasing his stream of consciousness style of lyricism that is seen throughout all these tracks.

It's also worth discussing the deluxe EP that came after the release of 777. It starts off with Remember Me, featuring fellow Kenny Beats collaborator Rico nasty. One thing that I love about this song is that both rappers fully and unapologetically bring their own style without compromising the other, the somewhat industrial trap beat sounds like a cross between the production styles of 777 and Rico's album Nasty and both of their verses showcase their signature style at it's best. Next is the hater remix featuring Skepta, who adds some nice variety to the song while still fitting into Key's style like a glove. Cable Guy is a real standout and my favorite deluxe track, it has this futuristic style with some of Key's most memorable lines, a fantastic hook and a fantastic guest verse from up and coming New York rapper Jay Critch. It also has this great video with a cool neon urban aesthetic. The Love on Ice remix is fairly nice, with 6lack's delicate, smooth voice and overall style fitting the song very well but I gotta say I prefer the solo Key version personally but it's definitely cool still to see 6lack on it. The next song Nothin is fairly standard, being more poppy but still without artistically compromising anything. These bonuses to 777 are a fantastic addition and successfully wraps up this fantastic year for both Key and Kenny Beats.

777 does a fantastic job sonically, with consistently catchy hooks, energetic rapping that never gets boring with all the switch ups, great beats from Kenny Beats and so on but it does more than that. What really comes across in this project is Key's personality, he is never trying to be someone else coming across as authentic, and down to earth. He talks about a lot of the same topics other rappers do, trapping, love, sex, drugs, money and so on but does so in an endearing, entertaining and amusing way that few others can rival. His lyrics may not be poetic sonnets of any sort but they are entertaining and paired with his great delivery they enhance the music moreso than a lot of other rappers in his lane. Furthermore the way the album is structured was refreshingly well done, the intro really feels like an intro, fulfilling its role, as does the outro and the track list has a cohesive naturally flowing feel to it, perhaps due to the way that key and Kenny we're collaborating so loosely on this project. Despite the project being essentially just the two of them, there is a surprising amount of variety on 777, especially if you include songs that didn't make it like Ice Cream Hello, Remember Me, and Cable Guy (although those last two clearly aren't just the two of them). Most of all what Key and Kenny Beats have provided is fun, entertainment, just let it infectiousness work it's magic, with great hooks, beats, punchlines and so on it manages to be pure, simple fun. And it is an album that invites replays, acting like musical comfort food, something that is just very easy to return to again and again and making you feel good.

Favorite Lyrics

I fell in love with a white girl, I know that she don't like me back

Young Key! I need an Nike check, police tryna indict me, yay

  • Key, 1+2 *Demolition

Man, I hopped up out this Earth and turned into a star (ok)

Baby girl, forgot you like I ate a xanax bar (ok)

Niggas groupies too, they wanna hang for no reason (whoa)

Nigga, you ain't my day one

Spent your advance on Saint Laurent (whoa)

I get high then tend to my mothafuckin responsibilities (lit)

  • Key, Hater

I done did shit that make me hate myself (aye)

Pistol on my belt, I can't make this up (aye)

Lost a lot of people, I can't get them back (aye)

Broke a lot of hearts, man why I do that (aye)

It gets better (just wait)

  • Key, It Gets Better

Why you let everything get to you?

Money get to me, fame get to you

Animated bitch, my bitch Betty Boop

Talk good shit, she finesse shit too

It's young Key baby from finesse shit

Cool, I'll invest in you... no I won't

Shawty get water like a boat

  • Key, Squamish

Look mama, I'm on TV (Goddamn)

Chains on my neck with the gold teeth (Goddamn)

Everybody wanna say they knew me (Rico, Rico)

I bet your boyfriend probably wanna screw me (Yeah)

Why all these bitches scared like Scooby Dooby? (Huh?)

  • Rico Nasty, Remember Me

Questions

  1. Would you like to see more producer-rapper albums such as this one? Does such an arrangement limit rappers or enhance the cohesion and quality of albums?

  2. With artists like Rico nasty, Young Nudy, Key, Hoodrich pablo Juan and so on are we seeing an underground trap renaissance?

  3. Why has Key failed to gain more popularity when many of his past collaborators (who he worked with pre-fame) such as Playboi Carti, JID, 21 Savage etc. have became quite popular, and generally speaking he has worked with so many major artists?

  4. How would you judge someone like Key lyrically? Would you call him a "good lyricist"? Is quality lyricism based on subjective enjoyment or are their objective standards?

  5. How does this compare to other stuff you've heard from either Key or Kenny beats?

  6. Could the original album have benefited from features? In general what do you think of the direction they took?

  7. What were your favorite tracks/stand out moments?

Personal Standouts: 1+2 Demolition, Move, Love on Ice, Control, Squeamish, Remember Me ft. Rico Nasty, Cable Guy ft. Jay Critch

Music Videos: Hater, Kelly Price Freestyle, Boss, Cable Guy

submitted by /u/666Tokyo
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Daily Discussion Thread 01/14/2019

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 05:23 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?")
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Thread Guidelines

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

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

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Weekly/Monthly Threads

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

New to /r/hiphopheads or hip-hop in general?

Check out these:

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Bey Ye: I saw Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) do a set entirely over Kanye West beats last night in L.A.

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 01:38 PM PST

YBN Cordae announces on XXL Magazine that he is collaborating with J. Cole, Joey Bada$$, Dr. Dre, and more.

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 09:38 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Trae tha Truth - I'm On 3.0 (feat. feat. T.I., Dave East, Tee Grizzley, Royce Da 5'9", Curren$y, Snoop Dogg, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Chamillionaire, G Eazy, Styles P, E-40, DRAM, Gary Clark, Jr. & Mark Morrison)

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 02:34 PM PST

Mac Miller’s DJ, Clockwork is having a tribute birthday party for him in NYC this Saturday. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Mac Miller Circles Fund.

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 01:02 PM PST

Mac Miller rapping in high school

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 06:42 PM PST

[FRESH] Young Thug - The Leak 10

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 08:02 PM PST

Young Thug has gathered up his recently leaked tracks into a project on Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/user-934687574/sets/young-thug-the-leak-10

Tracklist

  1. Shooters ft Jeremih
  2. Broke Niggas ft Gucci Mane
  3. Cake Up ft Fetty Wap
  4. Move My Way
  5. You're The One
  6. Get What You Want (feat. Gunna & Duke)
  7. New Bae (To The Moon)
  8. On Me (feat. Trouble)
  9. Out The Bowl
  10. R.I.P. Shawty Lo
  11. Take A Walk
submitted by /u/itwasafridaynight
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Childish Gambino - yaphet kotto

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 09:52 AM PST

Anderson .Paak - Brother’s Keeper (feat. Pusha T)

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 06:11 PM PST

[SHOTS FIRED] Joe Budden addresses Cyhi the Prynce, threatens to come out of retirement

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 06:30 AM PST

Lil Uzi Says His Label Is Holding Him Back From Releasing New Music

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 12:04 AM PST

Madeintyo - Uber Everywhere (feat. Travis Scott)

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 03:40 PM PST

YNW Melly reveals tracklist for "WE ALL SHINE" dropping on Friday

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 09:40 AM PST

Instagram Post

Screenshot

​

This man really got a ye feature

submitted by /u/macosta95
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Meek Mill to perform on Saturday Night Live, January 26th

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 12:17 PM PST

[FRESH PRE-ORDER] Future - Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 09:41 AM PST

[Discussion] First Week Album Sales Since 1991 & The Top 100 Hip-Hop First Weeks of All Time (2019 Edition)

Posted: 14 Jan 2019 02:03 PM PST

1991 was the first year that Nielsen started tracking music sales data.

I find it super interesting to look at this and see how current artists stack up against artists of the past so I broke it down into a few charts.

This is a continuation of a post I made last year. I've updated for 2017 and added the top 100 list. Is this something you'd be interested in me posting annually?

Year Artist Album Sales
1991 ??? ??? ???
1992 ??? ??? ???
1993 Snoop Dogg Doggystyle 803K
1994 Snoop Doggy Dogg Murder Was the Case 329K
1995 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony E.1999 Eternal 307K
1996 2Pac The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory 664K
1997 The Notorious B.I.G. Life After Death 690K
1998 Beastie Boys Hello Nasty 681K
1999 DMX …And Then There Was X 698K
2000 Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 1.76M
2001 DMX The Great Depression 439K
2002 Eminem The Eminem Show 1.322M
2003 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' 872K
2004 Eminem Encore 710K
2005 50 Cent The Massacre 1.14M
2006 Jay-Z Kingdom Come 680K
2007 Kanye West Graduation 957K
2008 Lil Wayne Tha Carter III 1.006M
2009 Eminem Relapse 608K
2010 Eminem Recovery 741K
2011 Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV 964K
2012 Nicki Minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 253K
2013 Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2 792K
2014 J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive 375K
2015 Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late 535K
2016 Drake Views 1.075M
2017 Kendrick Lamar DAMN. 610K
2018 Drake Scorpion 749K

Charts By Year

1991 - Nielsen begins to track music sales data.

Artist Album Sales
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???

A lot of data was impossible for me to find here. If I had to guess, N.W.A.'s "Niggaz4Life", Ice Cube's "Death Certificate", MC Hammer's "Too Legit to Quit", Public Enemy's "Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black", DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Homebase", and Various Artist's "Boyz n the Hood (soundtrack)" probably round out the top 5.

1992 - N.W.A succeeds as solo acts

Artist Album Sales
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???
??? ??? ???

Couldn't find much data for 92. I'm going to guess that Dr. Dre's "The Chronic", Beastie Boys' "Check Your Head", Too $hort's "Shorty the Pimp", MC Ren's "Kizz My Black Azz", and Ice Cube's "The Predator" (193K) round out the top 5.

1993 - The Rise of Snoop Dogg

Artist Album Sales
Snoop Dogg Doggystyle 803K
Cypress Hill Black Sunday 261K
Ice Cube Lethal Injection 215K
Eazy-E It's On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa 111K
??? ??? ???

Snoop set the record for best first week for a debut album. No data for number 5 but I'm going to assume it was LL Cool J's "14 Shots to the Dome".

1994 - Bone Thugs on ah Come Up

Artist Album Sales
Snoop Doggy Dogg Murder Was the Case 329K
Dr. Dre Concrete Roots 250K
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Creepin on ah Come Up 220K
Warren G Regulate... G Funk Era 176K
Scarface The Diary 155K

1995 - The rise of 2Pac

Artist Album Sales
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony E.1999 Eternal 307K
Tha Dogg Pound Dogg Food 278K
2Pac Me Against The World 240K
Cypress Hill Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom 142K
Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... 130K

1996 - The death of 2Pac

Artist Album Sales
2Pac The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory 664K
2Pac All Eyez On Me 566K
Snoop Dogg Tha Doggfather 479K
Nas It Was Written 268K
The Fugees The Score 206K

1997 - The death of Biggie

Artist Album Sales
The Notorious B.I.G. Life After Death 690K
Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Forever 612K
P. Diddy No Way Out 561K
2Pac R U Still Down? (Remember Me) 549K
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony The Art Of War 394K

1998 - X is coming...

Artist Album Sales
Beastie Boys Hello Nasty 681K
DMX Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood 670K
Snoop Dogg Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told 520K
Master P MP Da Last Don 495K
Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 423K

DMX's "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" also sold 251K making 1998 a dominant year for X.

1999 - The rise of Nas and Jay-Z

Artist Album Sales
DMX …And Then There Was X 698K
Dr. Dre 2001 516K
The Notorious B.I.G. Born Again 485K
Nas I Am 470K
Jay-Z Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter 462K

Eminem debuted with 283K first week for his "The Slim Shady LP".

2000 - A new millennium and the rise of Eminem

Artist Album Sales
Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 1.76M
Limp Bizkit Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water 1.05M
Jay-Z The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 558K
Outkast Stankonia 530K
Snoop Dogg Tha Last Meal 397K

Eminem smashed N.W.A.'s record and had the most successful first week in hip hop by far. Limp Bizkit also eclipses one million sales and moves into second place. Outkast has their best commercial week thus far. Nelly debuted with 235K sales for "Country Grammar".

2001 - The beginning of the end for DMX

Artist Album Sales
DMX The Great Depression 439K
2Pac Until The End of Time 427K
Jay-Z The Blueprint 420K
D12 Devil's Night 372K
Ja Rule Pain Is Love 361K

2002 - Eminem continues to dominate, the rise of Nelly

Artist Album Sales
Eminem The Eminem Show 1.322M
Nelly Nellyville 714K
Eminem 8 Mile OST 702K
Jay-Z The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse 545K
2Pac Better Dayz 366K

Somehow Pac was still having huuge debuts even 6 years after his death.

2003 - The rise of 50 Cent

Artist Album Sales
50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' 872K
Outkast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below 510K
Jay-Z The Black Album 463K
2Pac Tupac: Resurrection 430K
Ludacris Chicken-n-Beer 429K

G-Unit's "Beg for Mercy" debuted with 377K. Somehow 2Pac continued to stay on top.

2004 - The rise of Kanye West. Eminem, G-Unit & Nelly continue to dominate

Artist Album Sales
Eminem Encore 710K
D12 D12 World 544K
Kanye West The College Dropout 441K
Lloyd Banks The Hunger for More 433K
Nelly Suit 396K

Young Buck's "Straight Outta Cashville" debuted with 361K. Nelly's "Sweat" debuted with 342K. 2Pac continued to post great first weeks with "Loyal to the Game" debuting with 330K.

2005 - 50 Cent "massacres" the competition, the rise of Lil Wayne

Artist Album Sales
50 Cent The Massacre 1.14M
Kanye West Late Registration 860K
The Game The Documentary 586K
50 Cent Get Rich Or Die Tryin' OST 317K
Lil Wayne Tha Carter II 254K

2006 - Jay-Z takes the top spot

Artist Album Sales
Jay-Z Kingdom Come 680K
T.I. King 522K
The Game Doctors Advocate 358K
Nas Hip Hop Is Dead 356K
Young Jeezy The Inspiration 352K

Rick Ross' "Port of Miami" debuted with 187K.

2007 - Kanye kills gangster rap

Artist Album Sales
Kanye West Graduation 957K
50 Cent Curtis 697K
T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. 468K
Jay-Z American Gangster 426K
Fabolous From Nothin' to Somethin' 159K

2008 - Weezy F Baby and the F is for "first week king"

Artist Album Sales
Lil Wayne Tha Carter III 1.006M
T.I. Paper Trail 568K
Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak 450K
Young Jeezy The Recession 260K
The Game LAX 240K

2009 - Eminem's return to the top and a new empire

Artist Album Sales
Eminem Relapse 608K
Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 476K
50 Cent Before I Self Destruct 160K
Rick Ross Deeper Than Rap 158K
Young Money We Are Young Money 142K

2010 - The rise of Drake and Nicki

Artist Album Sales
Eminem Recovery 741K
Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 496K
Drake Thank Me Later 447K
Nicki Minaj Pink Friday 395K
Lil Wayne Rebirth 176K
Rick Ross Teflon Don 176K

2011 - Weezy back on top and the rise of J. Cole

Artist Album Sales
Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV 964K
Drake Take Care 631K
Jay-Z & Kanye West Watch the Throne 436K
Young Jeezy Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition 233K
J. Cole Cole World: The Sideline Story 217K

2012 - The rise of King Kendrick

Artist Album Sales
Nicki Minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 253K
Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D City 242K
Rick Ross God Forgives, I Don't 218K
GOOD Music Cruel Summer 205K
T.I. Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head 179K

Meek Mill's "Dreams & Nightmares" debuts with 165K.

2013 - Eminem is still sales king

Artist Album Sales
Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2 792K
Drake Nothing Was the Same 658K
Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail 527K
Kanye West Yeezus 328K
J. Cole Born Sinner 298K

Drake's "Nothing Was The Same" became the most pirated album of all time. A$AP Rocky's "Long. Live. ASAP" debuts with 139K.

2014 - The rise of streaming

Artist Album Sales
J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive 375K
Nicki Minaj The Pinkprint 244K
Rick Ross Mastermind 179K
ScHoolboy Q Oxymoron 139K
Shady Records Shady XV 138K

In 2014 Billboard began to take streaming into account for first week sales and total album sales.

2015 - Back to Back

Artist Album Sales
Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late 535K
Drake & Future What a Time to Be Alive 375K
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 363K
Dr. Dre Compton 295K
Meek Mill Dreams Worth More Than Money 245K

2016 - Views from the top

Artist Album Sales
Drake Views 1.075M
J. Cole 4 Your Eyez Only 511K
Kendrick Lamar untitled unmastered 182K
Future Evol 139K
A Tribe Called Quest We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service 136K

Drake becomes the first artist to do a million in a week since Lil Wayne in 2008. "The Life Of Pablo" marks the first time in his career that a Kanye album does not have a top five debut week.

2017 - Kendrick is king

Artist Album Sales
Kendrick Lamar DAMN. 610K
Drake More Life 505K
Eminem Revival 265K
Logic Everybody 251K
Big Sean I Decided 156K

Eminem's "Revival" had his worst first week since "The Slim Shady LP" in 1999. Due to Tidal not reporting streaming numbers, Jay-Z's "4:44" is his first album since "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1" from 1997 not to have a top five debut week.

2018 - Drake cements himself as number one, Weezy is free, and the rise of Travis Scott

Artist Album Sales
Drake Scorpion 749K
Travis Scott Astroworld 553K
Lil Wayne Tha Carter V 480K
Eminem Kamikaze 434K
J. Cole KOD 395K

Top 100 First Weeks of All Time

# Artist Title Year First Week Sales
1 Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 1.76M
2 Eminem The Eminem Show 2002 1.322M
3 50 Cent The Massacre 2005 1.14M
4 Drake Views 2016 1.075M
5 Limp Bizkit Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water 2000 1.05M
6 Lil Wayne Tha Carter III 2008 1.006M
7 Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV 2011 964K
8 Kanye West Graduation 2007 957K
9 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' 2003 872K
10 Kanye West Late Registration 2005 860K
11 Snoop Dogg Doggystyle 1993 803K
12 Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2013 792K
13 Drake Scorpion 2018 749K
14 Eminem Recovery 2010 741K
15 Nelly Nellyville 2002 714K
16 Eminem Encore 2004 710K
17 Eminem 8 Mile OST 2002 702K
18 DMX ...And Then There Was X 1999 698K
19 50 Cent Curtis 2007 697K
20 The Notorious B.I.G. Life After Death 1997 690K
21 Beastie Boys Hello Nasty 1998 681K
22 Jay-Z Kingdom Come 2006 680K
23 DMX Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood 1998 670K
24 2Pac The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory 1996 664K
25 Drake Nothing Was the Same 2013 658K
26 Drake Take Care 2011 631K
27 Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Forever 1997 612K
28 Kendrick Lamar DAMN. 2017 610K
29 Eminem Relapse 2009 608K
30 The Game The Documentary 2005 586K
31 T.I. Paper Trail 2008 568K
32 2Pac All Eyez On Me 1996 566K
33 P. Diddy No Way Out 1997 561K
34 Jay-Z The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000 558K
35 Travis Scott Astroworld 2018 553K
36 2Pac R U Still Down? (Remember Me) 1997 549K
37 Jay-Z The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse 2002 545K
38 D12 D12 World 2004 544K
39 Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late 2015 535K
40 Outkast Stankonia 2000 530K
41 Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail 2013 527K
42 T.I. King 2006 522K
43 Snoop Dogg Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told 1998 520K
44 Dr. Dre 2001 1999 516K
45 J. Cole 4 Your Eyez Only 2016 511K
46 Outkast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below 2003 510K
47 Drake More Life 2017 505K
48 Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2010 496K
49 Master P MP Da Last Don 1998 495K
50 The Notorious B.I.G. Born Again 1999 485K
51 Lil Wayne Tha Carter V 2018 480K
52 Snoop Dogg Tha Doggfather 1996 479K
53 Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 2009 476K
54 Nas I Am 1999 470K
55 T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. 2007 468K
56 Jay-Z The Black Album 2003 463K
57 Jay-Z Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter 1999 462K
58 Kanye West 808's & Heartbreak 2008 450K
59 Drake Thank Me Later 2010 447K
60 Kanye West The College Dropout 2004 441K
61 DMX The Great Depression 2001 439K
62 Jay-Z & Kanye West Watch The Throne 2011 436K
63 Eminem Kamikaze 2018 434K
64 Lloyd Banks The Hunger for More 2004 433K
65 2Pac Tupac: Resurrection 2003 430K
66 Ludacris Chicken-n-Beer 2003 429K
67 2Pac Until The End of Time 2001 427K
68 Jay-Z American Gangster 2007 426K
69 Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 1998 423K
70 Jay-Z The Blueprint 2001 420K
71 Method Man Tical 2000: Judgement Day 1998 411K
72 2Pac & Outlawz Still I Rise 1999 408K
73 J. Cole KOD 2018 398K
74 Snoop Dogg Tha Last Meal 2000 397K
75 Nelly Suit 2004 396K
76 Nicki Minaj Pink Friday 2010 395K
77 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony The Art Of War 1997 394K
78 Mystikal Ghetto Fabulous 1998 385K
79 The Game Doctor's Advocate 2006 385K
80 G-Unit Beg for Mercy 2003 377K
81 J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive 2014 375K
81 Drake & Future What A Time to Be Alive 2015 375K
83 D12 Devil's Night 2001 372K
84 2Pac Better Dayz 2002 366K
85 Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 2015 363K
86 Ja Rule Pain Is Love 2001 361K
86 Young Buck Straight Outta Cashville 2004 361K
88 Beastie Boys To the 5 Boroughs 2004 360K
89 Nas Hip Hop Is Dead 2006 356K
90 Young Jeezy The Inspiration 2006 352K
91 Jay-Z Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life 1998 350K
92 Nelly Sweat 2004 342K
92 Nas Stillmatic 2001 342K
94 Mystikal Let's Get Ready 2000 330K
94 2Pac Loyal to the Game 2004 330K
96 Snoop Doggy Dogg Murder Was the Case 1994 329K
97 Kanye West Yeezus 2013 328K
98 Various Artists Bad Boys II 2003 324K
99 Ludacris The Red Light District 2004 322K
100 Lil' Bow Wow Doggy Bag 2001 320K

Here is a graph showing the amount of albums in the top 100 per year

submitted by /u/Chriscftb97
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Sunday General Discussion - January 13th 2019 - HipHop

Sunday General Discussion - January 13th 2019 - HipHop

Sunday General Discussion - January 13th 2019

Posted: 13 Jan 2019 09:13 AM PST

You are now posting in a WALTER thread

submitted by /u/TheHHHRobot
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Album of the Year 2018 #40: Noname - Room 25

Posted: 13 Jan 2019 12:42 PM PST

Intro

Artist: Noname

Album: Room 25

Listen:

Youtube

Spotify

Apple Music

Background by /u/Baskin5000

Fatimah Warner, aka Noname, formerly Noname Gypsy, is an independent artist and rapper from Bronzeville, Chicago. Getting into rap due to her love of slam poetry, Noname began her career with features on her Chicago peer's works, such as Mick Jenkins, and Chance the Rapper. Although announcing the name of her first project Telefone back in 2012, fans would have to wait until July of 2016 for it to finally be released. Not even 3 months later, Noname announced that Telefone might be her first and last tape; however, this would be alluding to her working on and releasing an album 2 years later, Room 25.

Growing up in Chicago, Noname draws inspiration from what it's like living there, as well as the hardships she faced throughout her life. Some topics and themes frequently discussed in her music is death, fear, love, and introspection. Some of her peers from Chicago include previously mentioned Chance and Mick, as well as Saba, Phoelix, theMind, Smino, and Ravyn Lenae, although Smino and Ravyn aren't originally from Chicago.

Moving to L.A shortly after the release of Telefone, she would proceed to make Room 25, only taking about a month. Sadly it wasn't her passion or hunger to make a new album this time, it was financial concern. She needed money to pay rent, and was tired of touring Telefone due to getting sick of the same limited songs she had released. Staying independent also had its drawbacks due to having to pay for everything on the album, from production to ubers to and from the studio. "Man, that shit is fucking expensive as hell. "[I paid for] the whole album, everything, myself. And I was like, do I want to spend this much money on something that's so minimal?"

It paid off, and in full control of the album, Room 25 was released on September 14, 2018.

Review by /u/Baskin5000

Her quiet demeanor and calm delivery has led her to take on the title of "lullaby rap", although that isn't an insult. Speaking softly causes the listener to listen more closely to what she's talking about, allowing greater reflection on her lyrics. It also compliments her unique production choices, working with Phoelix to make a blend of neo-soul, jazz, blues, and hip hop.

Although the production is almost identical to the style she used on Telefone, if there was one word used to contrast the two projects, it'd be growth. The vocals are sharper, the instrumentals are grander and cinematic. Noname's life in L.A open up a chapter of new experiences to learn from.

The album opens up with a strong start on "Self". Its instrumental is enough to immediately put the listener in a head-bop, the smooth vocal hummings of Phoelix and Noname adding to its catchy-ness. The title is self-explanatory, as Noname introspects on a range of topics. From rap, to religion, to sex and success. It's an amazing opener, as it almost goes meta with the first few words questioning where and how the listener would listen to the album. "Maybe this the album you listen to in your car, when you driving home late at night really questioning every god, religion, Kanye, bitches…"

"Blaxploitation" takes inspiration from the Blaxploitation films of the 70's (black-exploitation). Much like the name suggests, the genre had a heavy focus on using black characters and stereotypes for the films, which helped sell throughout the country. This is exactly what Noname discusses throughout the song, as well as using a driving funk-bassline similar to the ones used in the genre's theme music. Also used are samples from blaxploitation films, such as Dolemite, and The Spook Who Sat by the Door. Things to consider in this song in regards to blaxploitation, is that even though the movies used excessive stereotypes, they were also some of the first movies to feature black protagonists, instead of side characters or gags. Noname says, "Eating Chik-fil-a in the dark that taste like hypocrite" in reference to the stereotype, as well as the fact that Chik-fil-a has been known to be anti-LGBT. So if you support these movies, are you supporting the stereotype, or supporting black excellence?

"Prayer Song" is arguably my favorite track on the whole album. Mainly discussing the state of the United States, it offers two juxtaposed viewpoints: A woman living in LA, and a corrupt cop. The stories are separated by the chorus, a prayer sung by Adam Ness. The first verse is of the woman, talking about some of the problems people, specifically minorities, might still face in the country. Gentrification is still prevalent, driving minority communities out of their homes with higher rent. Capitalism leads politicians to base the country's decisions in their own pockets. Violent crime has led to overpopulated hospitals, and the superficiality of social networks leading people to get plastic surgery in order to look like their favorite celebrities.

The 'prayer' is not only catchy, but heavy in its symbolism, such as ending most lines with "amen, amen." Using apple pie as a metaphor for the obesity epidemic, and asking questions like, "Can you hear the freedom bells? Can you hear the nails chip chip away on the coffin?" makes the listener think objectively about the 'state' of the states. Does the country deserve our pride when it's own problems are leading people to lose their faith in it?

The second verse about the corrupt cop is much more direct and cinematic in its imagery. The cop has pulled over and is arresting presumably a black mother with a child in the backseat. When noticing her phone on the dashboard, the cop "could've sworn it's a gun" and fires seven shots into the woman, leaving the child to witness. In denial, the cop is self-justified because the neighborhood's are overpopulated anyway, with gentrification and death being seen as the "better" solutions to those problems. However the cop thinks to himself how the way he acts is due to his training, "they ain't tell me how to cry, just shoot… they only taught me how to check her pulse, she dead". He even refers to the killing as "winning" since it's seen as a "us vs them" problem, even though it isn't that black and white, no pun intended. In the end he's trying to find a therapist help cope but all he's taught is to just say "amen, amen". Thoughts and Prayers.

"Window" is about a previous lover and relationship of Noname, and how it helped her grow as a person. With a dramatic orchestral opening, Noname looks back on the relationship, realizing how sex was prioritized, with empty promises in-between. Dwelling on it, the hook is more motivational, telling Noname to "quit looking out the window", and build your future instead of thinking what could have been.

"Don't Forget About Me" is very similar to Telefone in its theme of death, as well as the Neo-soul instrumental. Noname discusses her fear of being forgotten after death, and wants to be remembered. She goes down her family, hoping that each one doesn't forget about her after her death.

Noname goes back to discussing relationships in "Regal" and how when she's with the right partner, she feels like royalty. The song oozes royalty too, with the instrument choices and word choice, focusing on religion and the lord in the hook.

"Montego Bae" is a play on words for Montego Bay, Jamaica. With a stunning feature from Ravyn Lenae, the duo talks about finding love in the city, smoking weed, and sex. Coupled with fast-paced, bass driven beat, this song is roughly one of the catchiest, and easiest to dance to.

"Ace" features chi-town's finest, Saba and Zero Fatigue's own Smino (hE's fRoM ST. LoUiS). The trio really brings out the best in each other lyrically and musically, with similar examples being "Shadowman" from Telefone, and Amphetamine, sin Saba. Destination: London, Smino raps about the locations there in his signature sing-rap style, as well as the hook. Noname's verse uses tons of alliteration and humor (i.e "...scary and fuckin' is fantastic and frankly I find it funny that Morgan is still acting…"). Saba kills his verse with a long winded, syllabically fast rap about going independent, and flexing his skill as a rapper.

Much like "Window", "Part of Me" focuses on self-growth, and features an amazing feature from Benjamin Earl Turner. Comparable to Kendrick Lamar in his tone and flow, he talks about race, violence, and life in his city.

"With You" could've been the self-titled album track, talking about making music and life in LA. Looking on her past life chapters, from Telefone to "living" in room 25, Noname discusses selling her life through music, from her biggest chapters to her darkest secrets, and if it's worth it. Even if it isn't, now in a physical form, her music will live forever "with you".

"no name" is the perfect closer to Room 25. A self titled track, Noname goes into the reasoning behind her name, or lack thereof. The introducing bass, and the send off from Yaw and Adam Ness not only tie the song together, but the whole project. The song only gets more grandiose as it progresses, only to end with the soft piano chords that it started with.

Favorite Lyrics by /u/Baskin5000

Y'all really thought a bitch couldn't rap, huh?

My pussy wrote a thesis on colonialism in conversation with a marginal system in love with jesus

Self

Don't nobody got no holy, everybody got an iphone

Darkness lingers in the wake of slavery

Why, oh why my dick getting bigger? This violence turn me on, me on

A free man in the land of the noose, they ain't tell me how to cry, just shoot, I did, They only taught me how to check her pulse, she dead.

Prayer Song

and frankly I find it funny that Morgan is still acting

If Smi rolling, I'm sorry, I'm tapping out

'Cause I know I got the gift like an elf and been wrapping raps around them like i'm a belt

Ace

Oh what a drug is fear, oh what a love is close, Oh at the crib with the Coupe DeVille with the overdose

Part of me

A witty pear of happiness, a pretty Ricky Ross

With you

'Cause when we walk into heaven, nobody's name gon' exist, Just boundless movement for joy, nakedness radiance

no name

Talking points

What is your interpretation of Room 25? Is it a physical place, an age, or a metaphor for something else?

Where will Noname go from here? Has she found her style, or will she experiment with her next project?

Which do you rank higher, Telefone or Room 25, and why?

Will noname stay as a niche-underground lyricist, or has potential to hit mainstream ears?

Where does this rank with your 2018 lists?

Outro

submitted by /u/Baskin5000
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