Pages

New Year Friday: January 1st, 2021 - HipHop

New Year Friday: January 1st, 2021 - HipHop

New Year Friday: January 1st, 2021

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 11:02 AM PST

Albums

R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira - R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel

Drakeo the Ruler - Because Yall Asked (featuring Rio Da Yung OG & Lil 9)

KEY! & Tony Seltzer - The Alpha Jerk (featuring Sonny Digital, Lil Yachty + more)

Fat Jon - Tephlon Funk: The Dope Tape

Fax Gang - Aethernet

Yung Pinch - WASHED ASHORE

J. Stone - The Definition of Pain (featuring Nipsey Hussle, Dom Kennedy, E-40, T.I., Dave East, Trae tha Truth, T-Pain, Kash Doll + more)

Uncle Murda - Don't Come Outside, Vol. 3 (featuring Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, Lil Tjay, Mysonne, Tamika Mallory + more)

Dat Boi Vic - The Almighty Pen (featuring Che Noir, Ransom + more)

Obijuan & dylantheinfamous - DEUS ANIMI

C-Rayz Walz - BLVCK RHYMES MATTER

T.F. - ErThangSkanless (Director's Cut)

Abe Linx - The Devil Is Dead (featuring Che Noir + more)

Sun Thru Trees - One Won Now

Doe B - The Last Definition Of A Trapper (featuring Young Dolph, Waka Flocka Flame, OJ da Juiceman, Rich Boy, Boosie, Trae da Truth + more)

not posted:

Los and Nutty - Panagnl4e, Vol. 3

Jay Orient - Mood Swing

HooksArthur & Influence Prod - Wave Form Fluent

Nothing_neue - III

Tiago Frúgoli Ensemble - Casa Remixes (Deluxe) (featuring lojii, Swavy + more)

Trizzy the God & Jadakiss - The Cartel

EPs

CRIMEAPPLE - Mátalos Con Más Éxitos

Bun B & Le$ - Distant

Lady Leshur - Astronaut

Benny Benassi & Jeremih - LOVELIFE Remxies

Slum Village - Villa Manifesto (Instrumentals)

Troy Ave - White Christmas 8

BabyTron & StanWill - Lewis & Clark

Singles

SZA - Good Days / Hit Different x Good Day (Acoustic)

Lupe - Crosshairs (Freestyle)*

REASON - Extinct (Extended) [feat. Joey Badass, Westside Boogie, Denzel Curry & Jack Harlow]*

A$AP Rocky - GRIM Freestyle*

50 Cent - Part of the Game (feat. NLE Choppa & Rileyy Lanez)

Jorja Smith & OG Keemo - Blue Lights x 216 ft. WDR Funkhausorchester | Machiavelli Sessions*

redveil - how 2 find hope

QUEBONAFIDE - MATCHA LATTE (feat. Mick Jenkins)

Grip - Burning Bush (feat. Kenny Mason) / Chicken N Dumplings

Captain Daddy - Woke Up Dope

Varg²™ - C2E (feat. Bladee)

EGOVERT - Do It! (feat. Smokepurpp)

Rasheed Chappell & Reckonize Real - Glass In The Air (feat. The Musalini)

Lucki - Stop The Act

SAFE - Feel (Safehouse Live Version) / TTG

Dax - I Don't Want Another Sorry (feat. Trippie Redd)

Thurz - Cents

TYuS - Fantasy / Be Mine

KESHORE - Stupid

GRIMM Doza - New Era (feat. Lord Fubu)

Madvillain - Meat Grinder (Ross From Friends Bootleg)*

BROTHA LYNCH HUNG - SLAM

THOUXANBANFAUNI - Outside

Slim Jesus - Kold as Ice

Jamal Gasol, Rudy Will & Sandy Solo - Case Of Blow

Kev Brown & J Scienide - Cutlass Supreme (feat. DJ Jon Doe)

Big Moochie Grape - Freestyle

not posted:

SIIMBA SELASSIIE - Thorns

Myka 9 & Profound Beats - Cloud Nine

Guilty Simpson & Self Serve - Live Forever

Kurupt - Membership (feat. franky371one & Anno Domini Nation) / PREMONITION (feat. Marques Anthony)

El Alfa & La Tukiti - Chaki Chan

Brasstracks - Disco Break (Live) [feat. Julius Rodriguez]

IAMDDB - Wa'hum

Amindi - YWSYLS

yungmorpheus - Emerald City / Niggas

House of Pharaohs - The Sandman

Kash Juliano - Rich

River Tiber - Hypnotized

Keyon Christ - blitz15

YN Jay - Steal My Groove

Features

inKedSavage - Ruthless (feat. Planet Asia)

Boss Wood - Spaceships (feat. Big K.R.I.T.)

Smokeythakid - Fuqd Meh Up (feart. Waldo & Tristan A$H)

Raymond Jermaine - The Rose of February (feat. Chris Crack)

Ken The Gentleman - Love Thy Enemy (feat. Jadakiss)

Bloc 2 Bloc Muzic - Keep the Hood Tight (feat. Roccett Loc, Yun-Gun, Brayzie Ru & MC Eiht)

Fat Fish Records - New Mexico (feat. Jiggie, Boy Dirrt, Bamboozle, Daz & Kurupt) / In the Back (feat. Kurupt & Oowee) / We Don't Give a Fuck (feat. Daz & Kurupt)

Kencay118 - Everywhere (feat. Kurupt)

Mk47usa - Thug Motivation (feat. Kurupt)

Jay Angel Latigo - Membership to the Dealership (feat. Kurupt)

Nhale - Just Like That (feat. Kurupt & Maserati Jay)

Masta Clutch, Dave Chappelle & KRS-One - Anomalous

Jeykoo - La Zone (feat. Trae tha Truth)

Jam Tight Records - Come Fuck Wit Me (feat. Uptown Q, Juvenile & C-Loc)

Gavin Santi - Sketched Out (feat. Rockie Fresh)

Aftermath - This Is Hip Hop (feat. Joell Ortiz)

Sir Veterano - All Hail The King (feat. Fashawn)

Y.O.K. 7 - The Lion (feat. Styles P)

Tez Chasin' - Set Party (feat. Icewear Vezzo)

Benny the Bug - Watchin' You (Remix) [feat. Ocean Wisdom]

Philllii Kennedii - Rich Dogg (feat. Swamp Dogg)

Lil Parkar - I Need You (feat. Nedarb & Brado Sanz)

O'deriic - Ballmane (feat. Pressa)

JourneyBthaReason - Vest Up (feat. Scando the Darklord)

Made47 - War (feat. Jay Gwuapo & 22Gz)

DJ Wrekshop - Ridin' 5 (Screwed & Chopped) [feat. Paul Waul & Lil' Keke]

Danny Flavors - Rollin Stoned (feat. Nef the Pharaoh)

Nowayy - Beat da Odds (Remix) [feat. Yung Bleu]

SOMAR 9500 - Henson (feat. SpaceGhostPurrp)

Terell Safadi & Tory Lanez - Can't Forget (Karim Naas Remix)

Alley Gang Trap - 2 Cheap (feat. Young Dro & FS Rudy)

* means not on streaming

project features are listed mostly just if the artist is recognizable

From /u/KHDTX13 (will be updated):

Fresh Singles

Fresh Albums & EPs

submitted by /u/TheRoyalGodfrey
[link] [comments]

Flying Lotus was working on an EP with MF DOOM before the rapper's death

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 02:26 PM PST

03 Greedo has tested positive for COVID-19

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 03:05 PM PST

Praying for Greedo rn, hopefully he's receiving good healthcare whilst locked up and is being taken care of.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJhRi-FAU9u/?igshid=e70l5h2k7p7l

submitted by /u/iphonesarereallybad
[link] [comments]

Meet the man who designed DOOM's iconic mask

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 06:17 PM PST

Madvillain, Madlib, MF DOOM - Rhinestone Cowboy [hiphop]

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 09:58 PM PST

Flying Lotus is restreaming last night's Tribute to DOOM

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 02:14 PM PST

MF DOOM - THANK YA (Born Like This)

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 04:30 PM PST

Eminem said SNL "Stan" Parody Shocked Him By Being 'actually really good'

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 05:29 PM PST

TDE President Punch announces 'A Room Full of Mirrors' - Possibly a new group he is starting?

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 09:40 AM PST

Website with snippets of every artist.

Announcement Post on IG

Looks like the people in the group are

Obviously Punch has an ear for talent, all of these artists are relatively small with I think Nick Grant being the biggest name on here with Punch. The introduction to everyone is amazing though, not a bad snippet there. Curious to see where this goes and if it has any relation to TDE, but I doubt it since no other TDE artist/management has promoted this.

submitted by /u/NerdGasem
[link] [comments]

Captain Murphy ft. Viktor Vaughn & Earl Sweatshirt - Between Villians

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 08:52 PM PST

[DISCUSSION] Playboi Carti - Whole Lotta Red (One Week Later)

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 03:28 AM PST

What are your thoughts on the album? How are you feeling about it after a week?

submitted by /u/j1u9001
[link] [comments]

30 minute DOOM tribute mix

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 05:03 PM PST

[DISCUSSION] SpaceGhostPurrp says that he has autism in tweet

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 06:32 AM PST

https://twitter.com/VampireMoneySGP/status/1344853580617052161?s=19 "EVERYONE MADE FUN OF ME MY WHOLE LIFE BECAUSE I HAVE AUTISM AND ITS STILL HAPPENING TO ME TO THIS DAY FROM MY LOVE LIFE MY PERSONAL LIFE AND MY MUSIC LIFE , AND IM TIRED OF IT"

I think a lot of people can agree that Purrp deserved a better career than what he ended up with, and assuming that he isn't lying (he tweets literally whatever comes to his mind all the time) this is to me another piece of insight as to just how badly he was blackballed by the industry.

The man has mental issues and was being protective of his work, and to me people made him seem like the bad guy in beefs and disputes that he didn't start. Not saying that he himself didn't play into it afterwards, but I feel like he can't be held completely accountable for his fall off.

What do you guys think?

submitted by /u/dnfariesgsa
[link] [comments]

I dont know if this is allowed but i thought it was pretty dope.

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 12:32 AM PST

Vanilla Ice performs for crowded, maskless New Year’s Eve party

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 04:20 PM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 01/01/2021

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 08:59 AM PST

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Thread Guidelines

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

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

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

Weekly/Monthly Threads

Other ways to interact

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:

submitted by /u/ModsLittleHelper
[link] [comments]

Rome Streetz announces his collab album with DJ Muggs - Death and The Magician to release on February 26th

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 05:36 PM PST

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJgwWunrq03/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Rome streetz x @djmuggsthe_black_goat

Death & the magician feb26th

submitted by /u/Tringamaster
[link] [comments]

Quavo - Lost ft. Kid Cudi (Audio)

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 11:36 AM PST

Playboi Carti performs "Stop Breathing" at Cyberwurld

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 06:37 AM PST

[FRESH] Matt OX - AMBITION (Official Music Video)

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 11:59 AM PST

Mos Def & Massive Attack - I Against I

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 04:32 PM PST

Album Of The Year Write-Up #12: D Smoke - Black Habits

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 07:00 AM PST

Artist: D Smoke

Album: Black Habits

Listen:

Spotify

Apple

Tidal

YouTube

Background:

Daniel Farris AKA D Smoke is a former high school Spanish teacher, now full time independent artist from Inglewood, California. D Smoke is the older brother of SiR who is signed to TDE and the younger brother of Davion Farris. To family and friends they're referred to as 'the Farris boys'. The whole family has a large musical background, at a young age the Farris boys were singing in their church choir while their mom was the minister of music and although they didn't explicitly go to college for it, all the brothers made money writing music throughout high school and college. D Smoke also has some acting credits as a background actor in CSI. Their father would be incarcerated from around the time of his birth till he was 8 years old.

D Smoke went to college at UCLA and majored in Spanish literature. While at UCLA he would still continue to develop himself musically by using the old music rooms after class, playing the piano and writing. D Smoke and his brothers would start to get noticed while in studio sessions, Smoke and Davion were the writer and composers for the hit Jaheim - Never that came out in 2007 and would hit 76 on the Hot 100 and 1 on the RnB 100.

While in college the brothers along with their cousin Tiffany Gouché would start an Independent label named Woodwork Records out of Inglewood. They have a building with a recording studio inside, that they also sell merch and perform concerts out of. All the brothers are 'signed' to Woodwork Records with SiR also having the joint deal with Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA. You can find a now 'archived' Instagram account of their label, where they have pics of a young D Smoke and SiR. Along with that pictures of their mom with Michael Jackson and SiR with Stevie Wonder. Woodworks was a staple inside of Inglewood where artists would come through to make noise and connections in the city - In the 2010/2011 era the brothers were openers for a TDE (Black Hippy) concert at 'Whisky a Go Go' in Hollywood - DJ Battlecat would often come through to check out artists in the area and said that many A&R's for record labels would come through to check local talent. Terrance Martin shot music videos inside of the studio. It was no doubt a place that artists would want to be. I already touched on the brothers having writing credits for certain artists. Along with Jaheim, they also wrote songs for Ginuwine and The Pussycat Dolls. The three brothers would create an album 'Producer of the Year' in 2006 - which I've been unable to find on the internet.

After graduating Smoke would then go on to be a teacher for close to a decade, teaching Spanish across different schools in Inglewood and Crenshaw, actually teaching at View Park High School which is right across the road from Nipsey Hussle's Marathon Clothing store. As the way D Smoke describes himself - 'Mr. Farris' seemed like a pretty good teacher. He would play music in class to inspire kids to use Spanish as an outlet to express themselves and said that when kids needed to fight he would let them run a fade to get it out of their system and then make them get back to work.

D Smoke finally caught a 'break' in his music career when he was chosen to participate and WON the first season of Netflix's Rhythm and Flow. The competition would match rappers against each other to see who was the best overall. The show was executive produced by John Legend and had Cardi B, T.I and Chance the Rapper as judges. Smoke put in an application to compete in the show and was selected, but was apprehensive at first. The winner of the show got $250k, but Smoke was worried that there may be hidden things in the contract like the winner being stuck in a record deal or some other nonsense. In terms of the actual competition, honestly it was unfair. You had a music veteran that had been making music for decades, up against a lot of new guys just trying to make any noise they could. Very few people were able to keep up with Smoke and he blew not only the competition away, but his music sounded better than some of the judges' recent output.

Highlights of D Smoke participating in Rhythm and Flow

D Smoke - Last Supper performance - The thing that caused him to draw Kendrick comparisons so quickly.

Before the filming of the show D Smoke was consulting with his team about the best way to drop Black Habits, but since the show opportunity came they put that off to the side. After winning the show he released an EP titled 'Inglewood High' to give fans music, but allow for more developments and updates to Black Habits now that he had more connections. Inglewood High EP draws a lot of influence from To Pimp a Butterfly as Smoke is rapping over Jazz inspired beats touching on some heavy subject matter. 'Honey Jack' is a must listen from the project.

Album Background:

The albums cover art pictures a young D Smoke with his brothers (left to right Davion Farris, D Smoke and SiR) and parents dressed in their "Sunday casual". At first glance it looks like a nice family picture, with happiness and love, but looking closer it shows them with their father outside the prison he was currently being incarcerated in. This picture was taken during a monthly visitation.

As mentioned in his background D Smoke has a lot of background with the Latino community (being from Inglewood) and speaking Spanish. About 15-20% of this album is in Spanish - Although I am not fluent in Spanish, from what I've heard from others the album really hits the mark when he is rapping in Spanish. Smoke isn't just saying random stuff, he has a message and is fluently rhyming in Spanish.

D Smoke gets a lot of Kendrick Lamar comparisons. When rapping (and Kendrick isn't experimenting with his voice) they sound similar, they're both conscious rappers who touch on a lot of similar subject matter. After listening to this album on repeat, it kind of reminds me of Good Kid m.A.A.d City: Inglewood Edition - As the overall premise of the album is about D Smoke navigating his way through Inglewood, going from kid to teacher. Along with touching on demons that he and others in the city face.

Track Breakdown

Morning Prayer:

The intro skit sets up the album by showing how much family, education, discipline and God means to the family. The three brothers repeat what their mother says, and then you hear a prayer from one of them - D Smoke never specifies what brother it is, but you know that this is how they all felt, they were all asking God for their father to come home.

Bullies:

Bullies is telling a story of the three brothers before their father came back from prison. The brothers were told not to fight anyone, but to also not allow anyone to put a hand on you or any of your brothers. D Smoke in an interview with Talib Kweli, fighting with each other was a normal occurrence, it's something they did for fun. The brothers would go to Karate classes to learn a way of self defense. Many of the boys from school would fight each other not out of malice, but for sport. They wanted to see who the strongest on the block was. So if it came down to it and people were being bullies, they knew who could put a stop to it real quick.

The outro of the song has a beat and flow switch, a much more mellow and calm cadence. It is a modern day D Smoke saying that every time he needs to let loose and feel like he needs to beat someone's ass, he will let the energy out in his music, opposed to trying to fight actual people - Showing his growth as a man.

No Commas:

No Commas tackles wealth inequality, gentrification and how D Smoke goal is to own the block - In interviews he references Nipsey approach a lot and how he respected Nipsey approach to financial independency and ownership. This comes out in verse 1 as he preaches ownership and being your own boss.

Verse 2 is where D Smoke starts talking about gentrification and ownership in Inglewood.

They buyin' everything in my city lines

Property value rising, they gon' gentrify

This ain't rocket science, here, let me simplify

We think we owners, but we only renters, why?

The system ain't broke, it's designed to keep us declinin'

Until we reach the bottom line and can't see the sky

Smoke starts off by talking about the gentrification of Inglewood. Despite Inglewood being a diverse place between Latino and Black people a lot of the ownership seen in recent years is from the Silicon Valley area buying apartments and raising rent. - Here is a good article on the gentrification Inglewood has seen in recent years and how there are potential opportunities for Inglewood natives to get good jobs in the area.

D Smoke poses the questions as to why Inglewood natives can't be the owners, but contradicts himself in the next line. Saying the system ain't broke, but designed to keep minorities declining. When it comes to economics it is class warfare on top of race issues; a majority of people are in poverty and this is causing deeper divides - America's capitalism has been a huge failure.

Gasper Yanga:

The track Gaspar Yanga is about being a leader. Gaspar Yanga was an African known for being the leader of a maroon colony of slaves in the highlands near Veracruz, Mexico during the early period of Spanish colonial rule. He is known for successfully resisting a Spanish attack on the colony in 1609.

The song starts with Snoop Dogg telling D Smoke to represent Inglewood. Then comes in a drowned out vocals of Latino women harmonizing in Spanish. as /u/Whatwereallywant tells me in the comments they sampled - The women harmonizing is actually bulgarian, they sampled this but that doesn't matter because D Smoke's first verse starts and he comes in bragging about the reputation he has built in his city.

Where your roots run?

Smoke, he talkin' that shit, nigga, where you from? (Inglewood)

We can do somethin'

Bro keep talkin' that shit, you just might move somethin'

Apply that pressure (Pressure)

This is common LA verbiage that every man in LA will be asked at some point. Everyone wants to know what block they're representing. D Smoke never gives a set name and proudly says he's from Inglewood. This hook is also a throw back to Smoke's first appearance on the show. Snoop Dogg was a guest judge that episode and after his brilliant performance, Snoop Dogg then pressed him for where he's from.

  • Snoop: "D Smoke, where you from, homie?"
  • D Smoke: "I'm from Inglewood."
  • Snoop: "Nah, where you from, homie?"
  • D Smoke: "I'm from Inglewood."

Instead of claiming a set, D Smoke answered by claiming Inglewood. Snoop knew the type of man Smoke was by not crumbling to pressure and maintaining his character. In context of the song Snoop is using pressure to mean knowledge, he wants Smoke to spread his knowledge to the kids of Inglewood.

The Second Verse is where he starts rapping about his reputation and influence in Inglewood.

Am I wrong for puttin' us on? You would if you could

In my zone, they leave me alone, I'm good in the 'Wood

These first two bars speak to the amount of respect that D Smoke has in Inglewood. Smoke doesn't have to claim a gang as he has earned his reputation and respect by teaching the youth of the city, along with being able to help put artists on through Woodwork Records, providing a place to record and a place for entertainment..

I did my homework and my rudiments

I made my dome work and stayed true to all my hooligans

Now I travel where I want regardless of the destination

And if you don't know your way, you just might need an invitation

The verse ends with Smoke saying that his influence goes beyond Inglewood and he can travel to any city and have respect. He speaks on this in interviews, as he has taught across different areas in LA. No matter where he teaches he understands how to garner respect from students and can help put them in situations to be successful. His influence isn't only in his music, but also in his teachings.

Top of the Morning:

In his Big Boy interview D Smoke said that this song was created to make everyone take in the moment - All the success doesn't matter if you don't have a good support system and don't take the time out of your success to focus on your love and relationships with friends and family. Despite all the bad things that have happened throughout Smokes childhood he wants people to know their was love in their household. People looking in from the outside may see a lot of sadness, heartbreak and struggle, but there was always love.

The song could also be a double entendre and Smoke could also be speaking to people outside of Inglewood, that look at Inglewood and look at all the bad things - Not realizing outside of the bad things there is an immense amount of love in the city.

Sunkissed Child:

The song features vocals from Jill Scott and some slightly jazzy production from DJ Battlecat. Smoke really pulled out the heavy hitters for this track about his parents. This song explores the relationship between Smokes mom and dad before the kids, during the addiction, and the start of their fathers incarceration's. Smoke depicts his dad as pretty manipulative, something that would be touched on in other songs.

Still wrestlin' with addiction, knew hubby ain't said enough

He just handed her the pipe, looked at her and said, "A puff

Will take you places you can't imagine or fathom", a drug

Is such a terrible word

In his interview with Rob Markman for Genius, D Smoke said that the second verse very much a straight forward telling of his parents dealing with addiction

"So a lot of the second verse is just straight down the pipe, literal. You know what I'm saying? It's literally how things happened. And me and your story is a little bit different in that you watched your parents transition from addicts out of that to sober people. But for me it was the moment right when my memories start, was when the addiction ended."

Black Habits I:

Honestly, just go listen to D Smoke himself breakdown the song in a Genius video - D Smoke "Black Habits I" Official Lyrics & Meaning | Verified

The first thing you should notice about this song is the 'ft. Jackie Gouche' Who??? He put his mom on the vocals and boy does she deliver. Smoke says the original plan was the two of them to harmonize on the chorus together, but after hearing how well her voice sounded he cut his voice out and went with just her on the final cut, with him throwing in Adlibs.

The song itself is described in the chorus - A celebration of Black excellence.

Black magic, black excellence

Black habits, this black medicine, everything

Black Chucks, black tux, everything, everything

Black hug, black love, everything

I think that this song is where Smoke shows some of his best lyricism.

Every time they hear this, they gon' say he made an anthem, life ain't a panda

Shit ain't black and white, it's a canvas

Spike Lee your dreams and Bruce Lee your tantrums

Two-three that bullshit and go Michael Jordan, go Samson

Knock down the walls around me, strong and dark and so handsome

The song itself sums up the whole album. Black excellence, Black Family, Black love and (Black?) God.

Fly:

Fly was the first single for the album and was a good stepping stone into the actual album, as the whole premise of the song is 'have we made it?' I enjoy the concept of the song because the brothers really approached the industry as a team and although each of them are starting to make noise at slightly different times they don't feel like they're made it till all of them are successful.

D. Smoke really gets to show off his vocals on this track, singing on the Chorus showing that he isn't the only brother that can sing an RnB hook. His voice sounds more polished and lacks the uniqueness of SiR's voice, but Smoke is still able to make the catchiest hook of the album. Questioning if the brothers have finally made it in the industry.

Are we on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on, on?

I am going to speak on Davion Farris's part as he is the one brother who doesn't have any name recognition despite being as talented.

I remember when I didn't have it all, huh (Have it all)

Puttin' clothes on layaway at shopping malls, huh

Now I eat off publishing and tour dates, huh (Tour dates)

'Cause I started grinding 'til the goods came, huh ('Til the goods came)

...

Only need one woman when you got you a queen

And she got her own, don't need no shoppin' sprees (Need no shoppin' sprees)

When we converse, we talk 'bout buyin' properties, yeah (Yeah)

Go getters, yeah, we all winners, whole crew, huh

Gold diggers, what we said, know we gon' do, huh

We be makin' waves until we seasick, huh ('Til we seasick)

Lookin' 'round like, "Bro, can you believe it?" We really flyin

The lyrics are pretty straight forward, there isn't much interpretation as Davion is singing his heart out about the rough beginning of his career and the struggles of trying to be noticed in the industry to now being able to enjoy the success that the brothers have had and get to build on top of while also reminiscing about their past and what it took to get to that point.

Lights On & Real Body:

Putting them together since they compliment each other very well.

Lights On is about how men will use strip clubs to battle their depression, loneliness and other demons. The opening verse has a man coming to the strip club after a long shift at work to blow off steam - Describing the women in front of him, almost to the point that he is objectifying her, but encouraging her to make the money she needs. SiR once again comes in and compliments Smokes voice very well, the two harmonize on the hook together.

I really recommend the music video for this as it features the amazing Issa Rae

Coming off of Lights On, Real Body has him taking a woman home from the strip club and the first verse has him describing her body and everything he wants to do with her.

Ari Lennox steals the show on this song - Coming in describing the woman's body as a full course meal and to get rid of any fear, anxiety, sadness as making love with them will leave them fulfilled.

Thighs mimic strawberries

Ripe for the right picking

Rolls for your Thanksgiving

Full C, nappy, Hi-C drinking

Hit your stroke, boy, and go'n to me

Feel good to have no fear

Love it when you are near

Really, baby, fuck on me

Real Body ends with the two of them harmonizing about sex.

Like My Daddy:

Is a song dedicated to their dad, taking out any bad parts of their relationship to focus on the good things. Despite being absent for the first 8 years of Smoke's life he's still able to gain a lot of life experience from what his father went through - He thanks his father for everything he taught him, dressing up, dating women, and just overall being a man.

The outro switches to Smoke singing from his fathers perspective and how he is proud to be their father - It then transitions into their father apologizing for being absent from their life and being locked up, thanking his wife for staying loyal and waiting for him to get out of prison, apologizing for everything he has put her through and thanking her for allowing him to stay home while she perused her career in music. The last thing he say's is what speaks to what kind of person their father is.

But that was the thing, I— I needed to fulfill that promise

That I wouldn't abandon my sons like I got abandoned

Closer to God:

This song was produced by D Smoke and that is evident as he loves playing the piano in his instrumentals. SiR's vocals are what makes this track come alive for me. The Chorus has SiR questioning the reason for getting high.

I don't know why I get high

Maybe I'm tryna get closer to God

Got broken wings but I'm still fly

Baby, I'm tryna get closer, closer to God

Why is it so common and is it used as a form of self medication to get rid of any anxiety about life around them? The first verse D Smoke reflecting on his time in church going from child to an adult. The song cuts to Smoke going to church and being told that if you are a believer in god that you will give up smoking weed, as someone who believes in God wouldn't need to smoke.

The second verse is about addiction and the demons that people face. It starts with Smoke taking inspiration on Kanye's song 'Addiction' on Late Registration

What's your addiction? (Yeah) Is it money?

Is it girls? Is it trees? I can't admit it (Yeah)

I need God to keep workin' on me

Later on in the verse Smoke would continue the theme

Some drank (Some drank), some smoke (Some smoke)

Some judge other people, some don't (Some don't)

...

You don't need pills to elevate

Just remember to stay strong and pray for better days

I'm high

This verse ends has Smoke speaking as a preacher, talking someone through their addiction. Going into the last verse Smoke raps about how he feels while battling his demons, that there is always a storm following him and he doesn't know how to beat it. The song ending with Smoke preaching that God is what is used to lift his spirits out of a dark place. Smoke believes that people should use God to battle through their demons he has described throughout the album. Drugs, sex, gang affiliation can be battled through and you will be able to find peace by getting closer to your God.

Black Habits II:

In comparison to the first Black Habits on this album, this song is about knowing your worth as a black man.

Verse 3 is probably the most culturally relavent verse of the album, reminding people of what black men with a voice may lose if they decide to protest. There will always be a white man trying to tell them how to act and put them in 'their place'.

Uh, run this ball a hundred yards

When I say ain't no fun involved

I ain't bring you to this team to be Dr. King

Take a knee and on me, you won't run at all

At the press conference, you better high step and smile

I expect you to be grateful

And the next time you don't wanna answer a question

You better figure out somethin' to say, fool

'Cause who you think paid for that suit you wearin'?

Or that new McLaren?

Or the car that your grandma drive?

Ain't you used to sharin'?

You could go back to not havin' a dime

Pullin' up at the club and get in back of the line

Couldn't tell you enough how easy to be replaced

You should face the facts, another you in no time, it's showtime

The end of the song (and album) is a reminder that pop culture follows black culture.

Their great is the black average

Imitatin' all our black talents

We got black habits

Conclusion:

This is a good introduction and debut by D Smoke. It showed that he is capable of turning this from hobby to full career and that the talent he showed on that show wasn't a fluke. Throughout the album he has impressive story telling about his time growing up in Inglewood, his parents, his come up into being a teacher and his thought process as an adult. There is good lyricism sprinkled in there in both English and Spanish. Each song has it's own flow, which make each song unique. The RnB cuts are really well done and do nothing but elevate the album (thank you SiR and Ari).

Some of the production choices are all over the place and the album tends to jump from topic to topic without any type of structure which makes it hard to follow along on a first listen. I think a few songs could've been cut to make it flow better as he's not really saying much in the songs.

Can't wait to see what D Smoke does next - Hopefully a joint album with SiR

Favorite Interviews:

Favorite Lyrics:

Gasper Yanga:

Am I wrong for puttin' us on? You would if you could

In my zone, they leave me alone, I'm good in the 'Wood

Grey poupon, it's in the cologne, my foot on your jug'

Gasper Yanga:

Stupid, man, it's ludicrous (Ludicrous)

Give my girl a kiss and start playin' all in her uterus,

People did it like me before, the world is new to this

Red City, nigga, plenty homies in the blue division

I did my homework and my rudiments

I made my dome work and stayed true to all my hooligans

Black Habits I:

Every time they hear this, they gon' say he made an anthem, life ain't a panda

Shit ain't black and white, it's a canvas

Spike Lee your dreams and Bruce Lee your tantrums

Two-three that bullshit and go Michael Jordan, go Samson

Knock down the walls around me, strong and dark and so handsome

Lights On:

I came here and needed some motivation

Your family probably got ass for generations

You got it from your mama, so mama can get it

Like My Daddy:

Thought I could get away wit'— You caught me masturbatin'

Didn't get mad, you just laughed and helped me master datin'

All the game you gave 'em helped, that boy go slay 'em, though

That reputation as a player, ho, start layin' low

Kamehameha, you was Goku, Super Saiyan, pro

And I'm just trainin' to be just like you one day and more

Closer to God:

Uh, I go to church to listen (Yeah)

The music had me lifted, the sermon left me conflicted (Yeah)

The one who holds the throne said, "Cast the first stone

Only if you never sinned", and you callin' yourself a Christian?

Well, As-Salaam-Alaikum to my haters (Haters)

Peace be unto you, hypocritical instigators

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you think this album deserves to be Grammy nominated?
  • Do you think it competes with the other four albums in Rap AOTY category?
  • Do you think D Smoke is a Kendrick 'rip-off'? If yes, what makes him comparable to Kendrick? Does he do anything better than Kendrick?
  • Do you like how much his family was involved in the project? Do you enjoy SiR, Davion Farris and Jackie Gouche contributions on the project?
  • Do you think it's to D Smoke's advantage to stay independent. This album didn't do commercially well despite being critically acclaimed* and him winning a Netflix show
submitted by /u/NerdGasem
[link] [comments]

Education - Freddie Gibbs, MF DOOM, Madlib (Edit)

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 08:59 PM PST

Rakim - How I Get Down

Posted: 01 Jan 2021 05:23 PM PST
at

MF DOOM MEMORIAL THREAD - HipHop

MF DOOM MEMORIAL THREAD - HipHop

MF DOOM MEMORIAL THREAD

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 01:48 PM PST

This is the official memorial thread for MF DOOM

There will be zero tolerance for disrespectful comments in this thread. All songs by the artist and non-news posts about the artist (e.g. reactions, tributes, etc.) should be posted within this thread, any posted outside of this thread will be removed whether or not they violate subreddit rules.

Announcement from DOOM's IG

Confirmation from DOOM's rep

R.I.P. MF DOOM
JAN 9, 1971 - OCT 31, 2020

Just remember ALL CAPS when you spell the man name

The Guardian - MF Doom, iconic masked hip-hop MC, dies aged 49

Rolling Stone - MF Doom, Elusive Bard of Hip-Hop, Dead at 49

ABC News - Influential rapper MF DOOM dead at 49, family confirms

Entertainment Weekly - Legendary masked rapper MF Doom dead at 49

Variety - Rapper MF Doom Dies at 49

Complex - MF DOOM Dead at 49

Pitchfork - MF DOOM Dead at 49

Genius - MF DOOM Has Died At 49

Tyler, The Creator - safe travels villain

Kenny Beats - I heard that some authors rewrote entire novels by the greats just to see how it felt

Denzel and I made UNLOCKED talking about DOOM every single day just trying to channel an ounce of the feeling

RIP MF DOOM

Denzel Curry - LONG LIVE MF DOOM

Playboi Carti - rIP mF dOOM ! wTF

Travis Barker - MF DOOM FOREVER

Phonte - One of the greatest comebacks/second act stories in hip hop history. RIP to the villain MF DOOM.

Shea Serrano - everyone has a story about they first time they heard about MF DOOM — his mythology always seemed to precede his music and then his music always seemed to outpace the hype

Westside Gunn - LONG LIVE MFDOOM 😢😢😢😢😢 #WESTSIDEDOOM

Cordae' - RIP MF DOOM 🙏

Mad Skillz - You would leave us on Halloween. 😔 Rest Easy Brother. #MFDoom

Jay Electronica - May Allah be please w our Brother MF DOOM.

Zane Lowe - Rest In Peace to the great MF Doom. An true Artist who gifted us with eternal innovation and creativity. I was listening to KMD just the other day. Still mind blowing. To have lived in a time...

QTip - RIP to another Giant your favorite MC's MC .. MF DOOM!!

crushing news...

JPEGMAFIA - Rest In Peace to a true pioneer. i hate hearing this. RIP MF DOOM. I'm hurt rn.

El-P - MF DOOM FOREVER

Black Milk - the year really ending like this, so fucking wack man... R.I.P MF DOOM 😔

Nothing_Neue: - Bro I wouldn't even be making beats if it wasn't for madvillainy.

I wouldn't have started listening to any of this shit. I was 16 when I pressed play on that album and it literally changed every part of my life.

Thank you so much. 🙏🏾❤️

Omari Jazz - Why you so stiff
You needa smoke more
bredren!

Danny Brown - *video of DOOM testifying to Congress

BSTFRND

I will NEVER FORGET getting the special edition MM..FOOD CD and being so inspired by album packaging. That album truly set me on my artistic path, and I'll be forever grateful, for that and so much more. REST IN POWER MF DOOM.

Carti - rIP mF dOOM ! wTF

Vic Spencer - 3 blunts with the DOOM catalog on shuffle.

Lupe Fiasco - "When they get to know us people dig us, leaders in the fights for equal rights for niggas..."

-MF DOOM

One of my favorite lines of all time. Wanted to be like him.

"Sit back and watch the world through the eyeholes in my oil paintings"

-LF Trying His Best To Be Like MF 🥲

Big Baby Gandhi - RIP DOOM. He left too many sons to be forgotten
if you loved DOOM let a corny dude get some coochie

Stu Bangas - 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

RIP DOOM

LAKIM - Was just listening to @Mike_Eagle 's podcast with Prince Paul and Paul said him and DOOM had been trying to find the time to do an album together. Man, what could've been.

RIP to DOOM. I don't even know what to say rn. What a fucking terrible way to end the year. Ozone too. Back to back. Legends, man.

Big Ghost Ltd - 2020 really took MF DOOM from this world like we needed another example of how trash it was

BBNG - Shocked to hear the loss of the greatest MC ever. DOOM thank you for everything you put on wax. Our GTA track lives in our hearts and souls 4EVER. Photo from 2013. <3

Sir Michael Rocks - MAN DOOM BROUGHT ME AND SOME OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS TOGETHER. LIFE WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT TOTALLY DIFFERENT FOR ME WITHOUT DOOM

Add-2 - 2020...you cut us deep with this one smh. RIP MF Doom

CLIPPING - DOOM was the greatest to ever do it. A true original.

On Doomsday Ever since the womb til I'm back where my brother went That's what my tomb will say

RIP

JAHMED - damn DOOM was the icing on the cake for 2020

ISHDARR - REST IN POWER , DOOM FORVER.

Camoflauge Monk - riP MF Doom

Savon - im havin a chicken & catfish nugget party in my room tonight & mf doom will be only thing wangin on the aux

Shrimpnose - Fuck today. Doom forever.

Bob Vylan - R.I.P MF DOOM! Truly one of the best lyricists in rap!

Tony Shhnow - Damn, Rest Easy MF Doom.

Blueprint - Rest in Peace to MF DOOM

Grimm Doza - Without DOOM a lot of shit wouldnt be the same and a lot of us wouldn't be who we are... gotta thank him for all that

Taylor McFerrin - DOOM lives on forever...that much is 100%...really can't comprehend this

AL.DIVINO - so many memories listening to doom man. i used to drink shroom tea and listen to dooms whole catalogue from beginning to end with the 1967 fantastic four cartoon on mute and watch dooms lyrics sync with dr doom talking. shit was nothing short of magic.

there wouldn't be a divino without doom. real shit.

Chuck Inglish - I dont even know what to say.

MF Doom leaving us today will never sit right with me.

Im just gon make beats and cry this out.

Statik Selektah - How ironic is it the guy wearing the mask as a character most his life... dies on HALLOWEEN in the year we all had to wear masks.... smh Rest In Peace MF DOOM.

Charlie Heat - DOOM DAMN.

Roc Marciano - This 1 hurt bad R.I.P MF DOOM

Pink Navel - "wilder than the nile, hold power like the great pyramids of giza, and stay leanin like the tower of pisa." Rest in peace to a true master. forever is the allegiance to the Super Villain MF DOOM.

Ty Dolla $ign - MF DOOM FOREVER !

Bas - He hold his heart when he tellin' rhymes When it's his time, I hope his soul go to Heaven He nasty like the old time Old Number Seven - MF DOOM. RIP 🙏🏿

Sa-Roc - MF DOOM FOREVER

Skyzoo - RIP MF DOOM. "Fancy Clown", "All Caps", "Accordion", "Hoe Cakes", on repeat

Wylie Cable - DOOM nominated for the best rolled L's, and they wondered how he dealt with stress so well.

Teenage Halloween - metal face forever. MF DOOM you were and are one of my biggest influences in life. your music changed me and I've looked up to your kindness and talent since middle school. thanks for being the supervillain and hero i always needed. I'm gonna bump all your records today. -luk

AbJo - I'm legitimately hurt right now, fuck!

Rest in power to the one and only true masked supervillain in hip hop, long live MF DOOM!!!

Sam Truth - october 31st is DOOMsday. rest easy DOOM fr

Lone - Absolutely heartbroken about Doom. No words for this one.. Rest in peace

Guapdad 4000 - RIP MF DOOM

Internet Money - Damn. I'm a big doom fan. This is sad. Doomsday one of the songs that got me into hip hop
Rest In Peace MF Doom. Legend.

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
[link] [comments]

R.I.P MF DOOM

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 01:03 PM PST

kennybeats is streaming a tribute to DOOM on Twitch right now.

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 04:27 PM PST

[FRESH] Lupe Freestyles over DOOM's Crosshairs Instrumental (RIP)

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 06:07 PM PST

Eminem explains why he disses Snoop Dogg

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 01:14 PM PST

[FRESH] REASON - Extinct (Extended) ft. Joey Badass, Westside Boogie, Denzel Curry, Jack Harlow

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 03:36 PM PST

DJ Mustard tests positive for COVID-19

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 04:28 AM PST

Questlove tries to listen to at least 100 new songs every day (also shouts out Open Mike Eagle's podcast 'What Had Happened Was')

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 05:07 AM PST

Lil Tjay Arrested for Gun and Weed Possession

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 12:32 PM PST

[DISCUSSION] Jay Electronica completed his magic trick in 2020

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 03:57 AM PST

I just finished watching the movie 'the Prestige' (2006), which I can highly recommend, and I realized suddenly that Jay Electronica took major inspiration from it and I would love to hear other parallels between the movie and Jay Elecs music.

Michael Caine who plays Cutter in the movie explains that: "Every great magic trick consists of three parts or acts. The first part is called "The Pledge". The magician shows you something ordinary: a deck of cards, a bird or a man. He shows you this object. Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course… it probably isn't. The second act is called "The Turn". The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret… but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn't clap yet. Because making something disappear isn't enough; you have to bring it back. That's why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call "The Prestige"."

Jay Elecs' first EP is called Act I 'Eternal Sunshine (the Pledge)' and we learn that he is very much into movies (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and, The Prestige). The final seconds of the EP have a quote from the movie: 'are you watching closely?'

The most important magic trick in the movie is about making the magicians disappear, which is what Jay Elec did. After releasing Act I, he disappears until this year, in which he released 'A Written Testimony', which is in fact, Act III. It was rumoured that Act III was titled 'Act III: the last will & written testimony of Timothy Elparado Thedford (the Prestige)'. The new title lost some words, but it is still his final act.

So us, his fans, are the audience to his performance. With Act I: the pledge and he disappears and reappears, not in place, but in time, 13 years later, thus performing Act III: the prestige. We wonder what happened, but we did not get to see Act II: the turn, until Jay Elec it put out asAct II: the patents of nobility (the turn), after it surfaced online. Its name might have a good reason: Kate Rothschild, whom Jay Elec dated, is of nobility. Was his disappearance was due to his affair with her?

If his disappearance is part of his perfomance, it might be the greatest in hiphop ever. In the movie, it is about sacrifice for the trick. Did he sacrifice his career for this performance? Did he trick all of us? Or am I watching too close?

submitted by /u/Thom385
[link] [comments]

[FRESH ALBUM] R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira - R​.​A​.​P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 07:40 AM PST

[FRESH ALBUM] KEY! - The Alpha Jerk

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 09:12 PM PST

[Discussion] This long-ass year is finally over, what albums flew under the radar?

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 07:54 AM PST

Happy New Year's eve. What are some of the albums you think deserve more shine and flew under the radar for the year? Here's a few of mine.

Killah Priest - Rocket to Nebula:

https://open.spotify.com/album/2jtIYNbAex7qMYqdDbcShm?si=tIM_oqgtSdee-uCUuM8rMA

If you were disappointed by the Jay Elec album that dropped this year, Rocket to Nebula by Killah Priest is the perfect alternative. On this album Killah Priest spits some of his best shit over psychedelic instrumentals with no drums, very reminiscent of Ka. I can see this being hard to get into, but it's definitely worth a shot. One of the best of the year.

Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu - FlySiifu:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3PgdbGumg1YyXSOVsyDvjn?si=JUJVZHbMTayrjZTTJH4gWA

Great collaboration of Fly Anakin and Pink Siifu, blending their lyrical styles together with a great line-up of producers like Ohbliv, Madlib, and Awhlee. Dusty, Raw, and jazzy.

$ilkmoney - Attack of the Future...

https://open.spotify.com/album/6IeARg6V2JURhJa1vCDTQT?si=YdUielRKR2ucMH_6FqBoDA

$ilkmoney changes up his style this album and what you get is a lowkey album from $ilkmoney but still has his humor and flow. Much more relaxed and sample-heavy but still a strong release.

Kahlil Blu - Dog

https://open.spotify.com/album/11Nyz8fXp3aWfFTZJnT1xa?si=cyQfKytMT7imIT8jJBeQlQ

Not much to say about this one. Just a fun album with some interesting beats and a fun mood.

RIP DOOM (1971-2020)

submitted by /u/ACosmicDrama
[link] [comments]

DUVY | NIGHTMAREZ (Official video) This kid from Toronto is the future

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 05:37 PM PST

Eminem responds to Snoop in new Shade45 Interview

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 01:20 PM PST

[FRESH] R.A.P Ferreira & Scallops Hotel- Bob’s Son

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 09:09 PM PST

Peaches - Fuck the Pain Away

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 04:51 PM PST

Capital STEEZ - "Herban Legend"

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 06:50 PM PST

[FRESH] WASHED ASHORE - Yung Pinch

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 09:03 PM PST

NME - Theophilus London claims he was hacked after being accused of trying to sell Miley Cyrus track

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 08:57 AM PST

[FRESH] Mach-Hommy - Eaters Gon' Eat (prod. by The Alchemist)

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 10:24 AM PST

Future & Lil Uzi Vert - Drankin N Smokin

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 07:41 PM PST

AZ - Doe or Die (Rza Remix) [feat. Raekwon]

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 01:11 PM PST

Album of the Year #11: Kahlil Blu - DOG

Posted: 31 Dec 2020 10:12 AM PST

Artist: Kahlil Blu

Album: DOG

Listen:

YouTube

Spotify

Appple Music

Background

Kahlil Blu is one of underground hip-hop's best kept secrets, a true jack of all trades. Born Kahlil Bedeau in Harlem, to parents of Trinidadian and Dominican descent, he attended Frederick Douglass Academy, where he felt like an outsider because of his interest in things like "niche designer clothes and architecture." He went to college to study visual arts, but quickly got tired of it. As a child, his parents played him a lot of soca and reggae music, as well as Kanye West, Ms. Lauryn Hill and No Limit Records releases, but his own personal investment in music began with discovering Odd Future in their early period. Other artists he cites as influences range from Lil Uzi Vert and Tame Impala to Daft Punk and Skepta, and his moniker was originally derived from Mac DeMarco's song "Baby's Wearin' Blue Jeans."

The earliest accessible music from Kahlil Blu appears to be a 12-track EP named LONERI​$​M®, presumably after the Tame Impala album, dating back to January 2014. By his own account, he was in the background during the prime years of the SoundCloud rap movement in the mid-2010s, primarily through his affiliation with the Divine Council group. After that group dissolved, he continued to produce for group member $ilkmoney, landing two production credits on his debut album, I Hate My Life And I Really Wish People Would Stop Telling Me Not To, an album that one of his earliest influences, Tyler The Creator, also produced and featured on. Since then, $ilkmoney has released two more albums, both of which are primarily produced by Kahlil, and progressively containing more boom-bap influence than the glitchy cloud-trap beats Kahlil typically makes.

In 2019, he released his first full-length solo album, titled 11, but it didn't make very much noise. In the year and two months following 11's release, Kahlil was hard at work on his second album, the entirely self-produced DOG, which saw release in June of 2020, and attracted far more attention than any of his previous solo efforts.

Review

In some ways, the connections that humans have with dogs are stronger than the ones we have with other humans. Kahlil Blu knows this a little too well; DOG is thematically inspired by the bond he formed with his roommate in Pittsburgh's dog, Rex, and what he learned from having to let him go. He lived in Pittsburgh for a year after deciding community college was not the wave, and when he moved back to New York, his mother did not want to take the dog in, and ultimately Rex had nowhere to go. Per Kahlil himself, "I eventually had to give away the dog, which was hard since I already developed a relationship and bond with him. The type of respect and bond with a dog is different from humans. Also within that process, having to depart from someone I cared about taught me how to depart from people, attitudes and things that were not providing good energy."

Strung out in between more light-hearted, braggadocious bars, many songs on DOG have introspective lyrical moments, where Kahlil comments on his own loneliness and desire for loyalty, but also his overall detachment from others and suspicions about their true intentions. Despite how serious his lyrics can get at times, from a purely sonic perspective, DOG is one of the most consistently fun albums to enter the hip-hop canon in years. Kahlil's dreamy, sometimes glitchy production is alternately hard-hitting and relaxing, depending on what he's aiming for, while his vocals are laidback but still spirited enough to keep the seemingly joyful atmosphere afloat, whatever he happens to be getting off his chest in his verses.

For most of DOG's runtime, Kahlil raps in agile, often fast-paced flows, which combined with the distortion he often applies to his vocal tracks, renders his lyrics sometimes indecipherable, but he is certainly a very capable writer based on what can be transcribed. The album begins with a humorous 8-second noise skit, which leads right into the hectic "coldsweats," where Kahlil introduces himself as an art school dropout who feels like his musical ambitions are not being taken seriously - or at least people think he should "stick to producing." He raps in dizzying triplets over a noisy, chaotic trap beat, ramping the energy up right out the gates before most of the album turns out to actually be at least a little bit more subdued than this introduction, as far as production is concerned.

DOG's middle section contains numerous beats that sound straight out of the Awful Records era of SoundCloud rap, with bright, sparkling synthesizers and fast, pounding drums. Not surprising, considering Kahlil was there, after all. The most purely nostalgic moment for that era is definitely "119 july," which literally samples Playboi Carti's famous ad-lib from the song "WHAT," and this track is instantly followed up by "lol play this when ur sad," which continues to sonically hearken back to that era. Despite what its title might imply, this is one of the most blissful-sounding songs on the album, with an irresistible hook on both ends and one of Kahlil's most confident verses in the middle.

Another one of the album's strongest hooks is in this section as well, on "CHEWING GUM," where Kahlil switches back towards a melodic flow halfway through the verse, reminiscing on humming and "going dumb" in his stroller when he was a baby, lending a moment of youthful innocence to an album often laced with sobering realities. Also continuing this sonic pattern is the bouncy, almost West Coast-reminiscent "sadgurl pt. 2," where Kahlil expresses his interest in forming a connection with the titular "sadgurl," joined by a strong guest verse from his old pal Fifthpower, whom he originally joined forces with for the original "Sad-Gurl" on 11.

The sonic palette of DOG does not entirely elaborate on this nostalgic sound, however, especially not during the first quarter. "october" is driven by eerie organs and calm rapping from Kahlil, who takes it nice and slow to let his words breathe; "Too much worries for a rhyme, and I say this every time / If you ain't with me when I'm sickly, you don't know me when I'm fine." Meanwhile, "U.F.O." is driven by a sample of what sounds like some kind of woodwind instrument, and serves as one of the album's most purely fun moments, with Kahlil putting the introspection on hold for a minute and a half and just talking his shit, with a catchy hook that could easily belong to a top 40 hit. "franklin" is a subdued banger that borders on psychedelic, with its live bass guitar and catchy flows; "Okay, that's real Franklin, like Ocean with Benjis on it / These Ms, that's real savers, type of shit my blocks don't notice." Towards the end, "Oh Well" is only a little over a minute long, and is sort of a trap remix of Earl Sweatshirt's "The Mint," using that same piano sample as a backdrop for Kahlil to comment on the record industry, and how he doesn't think he gets the recognition he deserves.

The album's centerpiece, however, is "REX," which is also conveniently right in the center of the tracklist. Over propulsive drums and almost haunting but still oddly cheerful synth chords, Kahlil calls out people who only use their friends for their own benefit, declares his aversion to romance and pork, and warns people against beefing with him, solely because he doesn't want to have to leave his house. Combined with an infectious staccato hook - "live, die, get, fly / You can never have my heart, bitch, die" - this track captures everything Kahlil Blu does best in one convenient location: nimble flows and witty lyrics, with a touch of emotional honesty, over excellent, dreamy production.

The energy level of DOG often varies from one track to the next, with plenty of more mellow, lyrically-centered tracks to balance out the livelier numbers. "melwood" presents a brief diversion from the 808s and glitchy synths, and sees Kahlil gliding atop a distorted soul sample, much closer to the production he did for the bulk of the album $ilkmoney released earlier this year. Another song that sounds like it could have easily been on that album is "11+22=33," mainly because it is literally rapped by $ilkmoney. The other most notable feature on this album is North Carolina lyricist MAVI, who pops in for a verse at the end of "runway talk," a calm, introspective cut, but over one of the hazy, glitchy beats Kahlil is known for, instead of one of the lo-fi, sample-based instrumentals MAVI typically uses on his own time.

As if these tracks didn't diversify the album's range enough, two more songs on the album work as cozy, soothing works of indie pop, complete with some excellently smooth singing from Kahlil himself. The lead single "Brand New" is one of the album's finest moments, as Kahlil sings softly over a breezy, laidback instrumental, complete with wistful harmonizing background vocals, before ending with a fast-paced rap verse that almost feels out of place, but it lightens the mood so wonderfully that one just can't be irritated at its inclusion. Also in this vein is the more uptempo "Land," where MIDI panflutes and a growling bassline help underscore some of his most vulnerable lyricism on the album, complete with an impossibly catchy melody holding it all together.

DOG concludes with the most serene and poignant moment on its tracklist, "PUPPY." Over a cozy, distorted guitar sample, Kahlil delivers the best verse on the album, no longer mixing his insecurities with bravado so easily, but laying them bare in the album's most potent moment of vulnerability. He does still top it all off with a simple, catchy hook; "Big dog, big pup / Big stick, get stuck." The final verse on the album is delivered by Na'Kel Smith, who drops off the second good verse of his career, elaborating on the toll that street life has taken on him. It doesn't technically end here, though; a one-minute instrumental track officially closes the album out, working as if the rest of the album up to this point had been a film, and now the credits are rolling. Consisting of funky drums and jittery, horror-esque synths, it's a nice excuse to end the album on a less serious note.

On another album, this might be frustrating, but this is perfectly in line with the overall atmosphere of DOG, an album on which Kahlil clearly wears his heart on his sleeve, but also doesn't take himself too seriously. He'd rather at least try distract himself with a little bit of fun than just purely wallow in his own misery, but at the same time, he does need to acknowledge his hurt and the causes of it from time to time. Catharsis through levity; considering what a shitty year 2020 has been for damn near everybody, maybe that's what we all need more of these days. More than any other album in years, DOG is the sound of smiling through the pain.

Favourite Lyrics

"Cause we're actin' brand new this time / Cause we done with the bullshit now / Almost lost but you know we got through / Even though that we don't know how / It's really fucked that you feel this way / Without sun, you really can't throw shade / We all knew it would be like this one day" -Kahlil Blu on "Brand New"

"What is my purpose? All this shit got me so nervous / I could do perfect, but that's just the surface, 'cause really this shit is not worth it / Why you gon' do me like that? Why I be feelin' so bad? / Why can't I let my thoughts pass? Why can't I make this shit last? / Tryna let go of my past, uh" -Kahlil Blu on "runway talk"

"Sometimes I wonder, if I leave my front door open, will my cat leave me? / Cut the dreads off, now I'm back with a mask and a black Caesar / Imagine a glass beaker, all I need to cook up this powder pizza / With this .45 I subtract you out them sneakers / Carry my 9 and multiply by 5 and still got .45s when I get receipts back" -$ilkmoney on "11+22=33"

"They want my heart and my soul, and I know it / I keep that shit close, cause I know that they bogus / Reach for my chain, feel that pain, now he ghosted / And I cannot change, for no change, cause that's bogus / What do you want? Why you here? What's your motive? / Live this shit up, what the fuck do you want here? / I cannot lie, this shit fye, and I know it / Nothing's the same, who's to blame? So keep focus" -Kahlil Blu on "Land"

"I want this and I want that, but this ain't this and that ain't that / Got a monkey on my back who took that fire out my raps / I need 50 colder rings and a big ass head, stat / I was thinkin' of this shit before I even fuckin' rapped, ayy / Live, die, get, fly / You can never have my heart, bitch, but I lied / Ten toes down, I got one in my trip / Me, myself and I, and I'm 'bout to make a flip" -Kahlil Blu on "REX"

**

"If I lost my fuckin' mind, tell me, would you stick around?

I do my dirt, you doin' your dirt, and I don't fuckin' make a sound

Cause this the time I need it, I don't mean to sound conceited

Since home, I feel defeated, do shit with no fuckin' meanin'

My big bro left and stayed the fuck up out the way

I've been dolo for so long that I don't know no other way

I just sit up in my room and sleep and beat my day away

I am not the one for beefin', so just watch what you say

I can't get attached cause n-ggas out here dyin' every day

It's so hard to say goodbye to motherfuckin' yesterday

And I know my heart so I don't need to fuckin' pray, wait

If I should die before I wake, I hope my dogs gon' ride for me

Though that shit is far from me, make sure that my momma good

Hope I copped a crib, cause she done told me that she tired of hood" -Kahlil Blu on "PUPPY"

Talking Points

  • What did y'all think of this album? Is it a good album or just a good frisbee? Somewhere in between?

  • Kahlil Blu tries out a number of different styles across DOG's tracklist, as a producer and as a vocalist. Which one(s) do you think he does best?

  • Do you think there's still a place for the cloud-trap sound of the bygone SoundCloud era? Does DOG successfully update that style for 2020, or is Kahlil stuck in the past?

  • The contradicting emotions throughout DOG are obvious and definitive of the album's atmosphere. Do you think the more joyful and more introspective moments play off of each other well? Or do you think it just demonstrates a lack of focus?

  • What do you think the future holds for Kahlil Blu? He has recently claimed that he has retired after releasing Still Lonely: DOG XL. Do you think he is going to stick to this, or is he going to join the dozens of other rappers who gave up on retiring? (dear Lord please don't let this man hang it up)

submitted by /u/707deathwish
[link] [comments]
at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)