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Logic - Gang Related - HipHop

Logic - Gang Related - HipHop


Logic - Gang Related

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 07:24 PM PDT

Earl Sweatshirt live ft. BADBADNOTGOOD and Gary Wilson

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 10:42 AM PDT

The Big 4 of Hip-Hop in terms of different sub-genres

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 08:29 PM PDT

In thrash metal, the Big 4 refers to the four bands of thrash metal that had major critical and commercial success and were majorly influential to the metal world to this day. The bands were Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. In terms of the different subgenres and eras of hip-hop, who do you consider the Big 4?

To start off, I consider the Big 4 of Alternative Hip-Hop Groups to be:

A Tribe Called Quest

Arrested Development

Pharcyde

and De La Soul

submitted by /u/cybershocker455
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Roc Marciano - Richard Gear

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 04:15 PM PDT

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert Album Review (DEHH)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 07:55 PM PDT

Kanye West feat. Kid Cudi - Can't Look in My Eyes

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 09:10 PM PDT

Sunday General Thread - October 10th, 2021

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 05:26 AM PDT

Worst project you've heard this year?
Will Bottas fuck this up?
Worst cooking experience you've had?


Today is World Mental Health Day, an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. Here at r/hiphopheads, we are committed to raising awareness and promoting positive mental health. Today, maybe reach out to and reconnect with old friends, go for a walk, pick up a new hobby, do anything to make yourself feel great.

If you or a loved one is in need of any mental health service or resource, please see the list below:

CDC Mental Health Resources

  • Resources for abuse/assault/violence, LGBTQ+, elderly care, psychology and psychiatry treatment, and opioid treatment

National Council for Mental Wellbeing

  • Resources for general mental health resources, depression and suicidal intentions, nonsuicidal self-injury, anxiety disorders, psychosis and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, help lines, and support groups

Mental Health Resources

  • Mental Health Resources (MHR) is a progressive, nonprofit organization that offers community-based mental health and substance use disorder services to adults recovering from serious mental illness

SAMHSA

  • A confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations

Your mental health is the most important thing. If you are comfortable sharing, we'd love to hear your experiences with navigating mental health. You are loved

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
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Eric B. & Rakim - Keep The Beat (1992)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 10:58 AM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] ShittyBoyz - Cold World (Official Video)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 07:19 AM PDT

Mavi- Methods

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 10:17 PM PDT

[FRESH] Babytron - Where They At

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 08:02 PM PDT

Will Lavin reviews Meek Mill's Expensive Pain in NME: "a rushed and haphazard fifth album –From the record's announcement to the hurried delivery and sloppy sequencing, it all feels disorganised and unusually chaotic for the Philly rapper"

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 11:01 AM PDT

Black Moon - Stay Real (2003, prod. Da Beatminerz)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 03:58 PM PDT

[FRESH] All Hail Y.T. x Boldy James - Dealer Plates (Prod. Cedar Law$)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 01:58 PM PDT

Smif-N-Wessun - Gunn Rap (2005, prod. Khrysis)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 04:01 PM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] Joyner Lucas, Ty Dolla $ign - Late to The Party

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 05:12 AM PDT

Russ - 3:15 (Breathe) (Official Video)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 08:37 PM PDT

Mad Skillz - Move Ya Body (1995)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 11:01 AM PDT

Blu & Damu The Fudgemunk - Ground and Water (2019)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 02:19 AM PDT

Kodak Black - Already

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 08:33 AM PDT

Wiley & Shola Ama - Ooh La La

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 09:17 AM PDT

Kev Brown - Albany (2005)

Posted: 10 Oct 2021 02:10 AM PDT

Recommended If You Like thread - October 09, 2021 - HipHop

Recommended If You Like thread - October 09, 2021 - HipHop


Recommended If You Like thread - October 09, 2021

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 08:00 AM PDT

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

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

You can also leave a top level comment recommending an artist/project/scene that you think others might like if they like X, Y, and Z.

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

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

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

Previous RIYL posts

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
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Meek Mill's "Expensive Pain" sells 93K First Week. Farruko's "La 167" sells 17K. Lil Wayne & Rich The Kid's "Trust Fund Babies" sells 15K.

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 09:47 AM PDT

Rank Artist Album Label Pure Sales Streaming Sales Track Equivalent Sales TOTAL SALES
1 Drake Certified Lover Boy OVO/Republic 46,000 562,329 5,000 613,000
2 Kanye West Donda G.O.O.D./Def Jam 37,000 272,000 684 309,000
3 J. Cole The Off-Season Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope 37,000 243,000 2,000 282,000
4 Tyler, The Creator CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST Columbia 55,000 114,000 604 169,604
5 Lil Baby & Lil Durk The Voice of the Heroes Alamo/Geffen/Interscope/WolfPack/Quality Control/Motown 4,000 144,000 1,000 150,000
6 Polo G Hall of Fame Columbia 18,000 124,000 1,197 143,000
7 YoungBoy Never Broke Again Sincerely, Kentrell Never Broke Again/Atlantic 10,199 126,874 701 137,775
8 Rod Wave SoulFly Alamo/Geffen/Interscope 4,000 126,000 700 130,700
9 Migos Culture III Quality Control/Motown 22,500 106,000 2,028 130,500
10 Lil Nas X MONTERO Columbia 22,000 102,000 2,000 126,000
11 Young Stoner Life, Young Thug & Gunna Slime Language 2 Young Stoner Life/Atlantic 6,000 106,000 1,000 113,000
12 Moneybagg Yo A Gangsta's Pain CMG/N-Less/Interscope 4,000 106,020 713 110,713
13 Doja Cat Planet Her Kemosabe/RCA 11,024 95,722 2,715 109,461
14 DJ Khaled KHALED KHALED We The Best/Epic 15,006 76,000 3,000 94,000
15 Meek Mill Expensive Pain MMG/Atlantic 9,338 81,318 2,667 93,323
16 NF CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE) NF Real Music/Virgin 61,541 27,377 916 89,834
17 The Weeknd The Highlights XO/Republic 9,995 69,827 9,018 88,840
18 Pop Smoke Faith Victor Victor/Republic 3,984 83,000 1,323 88,000
19 Trippie Redd Trip At Knight TenThousand 6,143 69,171 426 81,000
20 Lil Tjay Destined 2 Win Columbia 2,549 59,013 705 62,267
21 Pooh Shiesty Shiesty Season Atlantic 1,324 61,618 463 62,000
22 NCT 127 Sticker - The 3rd Album SM/Virgin 58,161 2,964 188 61,648
23 Nas King's Disease II Mass Appeal 20,385 34,962 1,594 56,941
24 Prince Welcome 2 America Legacy 51,970 4,476 480 56,926
25 Baby Keem The Melodic Blue Columbia 1,187 52,517 365 54,068
26 G Herbo 25 Machine Label Group/Imperial/Republic 1,609 44,693 289 46,591
27 Isaiah Rashad The House Is Burning TDE/Warner 4,338 38,175 211 42,724
28 Jazmine Sullivan Heaux Tales RCA 6,907 32,177 694 39,778
29 H.E.R. Back of My Mind RCA 6,099 29,045 1,026 36,170
30 Young Dolph & Key Glock Dum and Dummer 2 Paper Route/Empire 3,775 31,187 258 35,220
31 DMX Exodus Def Jam 14,332 16,872 965 32,168
32 42 Dugg Free Dem Boyz CMG/Interscope 819 30,899 206 31,924
33 $uicideboy$ Long Term Effects of SUFFERING G59 3,464 27,703 93 31,260
34 Giveon When It's All Said And Done... Take Time Not So Fast/Epic 1,307 28,624 365 30,296
35 Lil Tecca We Love You Tecca 2 Galactic/Republic 1,203 28,689 134 30,027
36 BROCKHAMPTON ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE RCA 14,932 14,362 53 29,347
37 Only The Family Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros Only The Family/Empire 2,020 26,806 200 29,025
38 EST Gee Bigger Than Life Or Death Warlike/CMG/Interscope 2,053 26,186 217 28,456
39 J Balvin JOSE UMLE 24,832 1,402 700 26,935
40 Anuel AA & Ozuna Los Dioses Real Hasta La Muerte 3,359 22,588 416 26,363
41 YNW Melly Just A Matter of Slime P2021 6,377 19,232 752 26,361
42 ITZY Crazy in Love JP 21,663 4,374 170 26,206
43 Various Artists Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album RCA 1,924 22,963 1,244 26,132
44 Tee Grizzley Built For Whatever Atlantic 828 23,363 235 24,427
45 Big30 King Of Killbranch Bread Gang/N-Less/Interscope 1,526 20,578 464 24,067
46 Toosii Thank You For Believing South Coast/Capitol 5,538 17,853 97 23,488
47 Yung Bleu Moon Boy Vandross/Empire 2,208 20,728 533 23,469
48 24kGoldn El Dorado Records/Columbia 2,501 19,675 458 22,634
49 Kevin Gates Only The Generals Part II Breadwinner's Association 2,346 19,706 303 22,365
50 Big Scarr Big Grim Reaper Atlantic 1,649 20,125 84 21,858
51 Kodak Black Haitian Boy Kodak Atlantic 691 19,845 123 20,659
52 Logic Bobby Tarantino III Def Jam 2,910 17,319 330 20,559
53 KAROL G KG0516 UMLE 1,439 18,166 576 20,181
54 Mozzy Untreated Trauma Mozzy/Empire 10,656 8,446 499 19,964
55 Young Dolph PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi Paper Route/Empire 2,428 17,260 189 19,876
56 Vince Staples Vince Staples Blacksmith/Motown 3,374 16,264 114 19,752
57 Rauw Alejandro VICE VERSA Sony Music Latin 456 18,674 258 19,388
58 G-Eazy These Things Happen Too BPG/RVG/RCA 2,518 16,068 634 19,219
59 Leon Bridges Gold-Diggers Sound Columbia 12,160 6,473 335 18,968
60 Benny The Butcher The Plugs I Met 2 Black Soprano Family/SRFSCHL 8,419 9,571 205 18,194
61 Snoh Aalegra TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES Artium 3,341 14,473 250 18,064
62 Myke Towers LYKE MYKE Warner 671 17,208 88 17,967
63 MO3 Shottaz 4Eva H$M/Empire 2,104 15,654 175 17,933
64 Pi'erre Bourne The Life Of Pi'erre 5 Interscope 397 17,170 87 17,653
65 Sleepy Hallow Still Sleep? Winners Circle/RCA 231 16,433 89 16,754
66 ATEEZ ZERO : FEVER Part.3 KQ 1,121 15,415 199 16,735
67 Ski Mask The Slump God Sin City The Mixtape Victor Victor/Republic 775 15,433 53 16,260
68 Farruko La 167 Sony Music Latin 816 15,427 565 16,807
69 Lil Yachty Michigan Boy Boat Quality Control/Motown/Capitol 218 15,708 71 15,997
70 Gucci Mane Ice Daddy Guwop/Atlantic 1,125 14,508 295 15,928
71 Lil Skies Unbothered All We Got/Atlantic 756 14,145 175 15,076
72 ZAYN Nobody Is Listening RCA 4,181 10,338 378 14,898
73 Lil Wayne & Rich The Kid Trust Fund Babies Republic 1,535 12,987 287 14,810
74 Fredo Bang In The Name Of Gee (Still Most Hated) Se Lavi/Def Jam 4,023 10,572 93 14,687
75 Logic YS Collection Vol. 1 Def Jam 1,955 11,807 377 14,140
76 Nelly Heartland Records/Columbia 2,976 9,877 1,108 13,961
77 mike. the highs. 4TheHomies 6,532 7,025 77 13,634
78 CJ Loyalty Over Royalty CJ Music/Warner 370 11,930 270 12,570

Top 10 First Weeks of 2021 Across All Genres

Rank Artist Album Label Pure Sales Streaming Sales Track Equivalent Sales TOTAL SALES
1 Drake Certified Lover Boy OVO/Republic 46,000 562,329 5,000 613,000
2 Kanye West Donda G.O.O.D./Def Jam 37,000 272,000 684 309,000
3 Taylor Swift Fearless (Taylor's Version) Republic 185,215 112,072 2,785 300,072
4 Olivia Rodrigo SOUR Geffen 68,333 214,446 3,771 286,550
5 J. Cole The Off-Season Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope 37,000 243,000 2,000 282,000
6 Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album Big Loud/Republic 75,181 178,576 7,608 261,365
7 Billie Eilish Happier Than Ever Darkroom/Interscope 148,529 84,055 1,464 234,049
8 Tyler, The Creator CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST Columbia 55,000 114,000 604 169,604
9 Justin Bieber Justice RBMG/Def Jam 30,000 119,941 4,401 154,000
10 Lil Baby & Lil Durk The Voice of the Heroes Alamo/Geffen/Interscope/WolfPack/Quality Control/Motown 4,000 144,000 1,000 150,000

FAQ:

Q: Source?

A: http://hitsdailydouble.com/sales_plus_streaming

Q: How is this list sorted?

A: It's sorted by the total first-week sales

Q: What are pure sales?

A: Pure sales are purchases of the album (iTunes, Amazon, physicals, etc)

Q: What are track equivalent sales?

A: Track equivalent sales (or TEA/Track Equivalent Albums) is a term used to describe the sale of music downloads or singles. A track equivalent album is equal to 10 tracks, or 10 songs

Q: Where is X album?

A: Only albums that make the top 50 in sales+streaming for their debut week are counted

Q: Why do some albums show exact sales numbers while others do not?

A: The albums that do not show exact numbers are the ones that have had sales corrections from Billboard

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

A: 2020 list, 2019 list, 2018 list, 2017 list, 2016 list


submitted by /u/Chriscftb97
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[LEAK] King Von - Story of J.R (Dead Broke) - Unfinished

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 01:47 PM PDT

Vic Mensa announces INNANETAPE Anniversary Show on October 21

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 08:59 AM PDT

source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUdYs3vFjBC/

𝙄𝙉𝙉𝘼𝙉𝙀𝙏𝘼𝙋𝙀 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙄𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙎𝘼𝙍𝙔 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝘾𝙏。 𝟮𝟭 Tix in Bio. $30 Just For The 30th.

8 Years Ago Today We Impacted The World. From Chicago to Australia To Ghana & Beyond. This mixtape kept me alive, as I know it did for so many other people. I'm blessed to have been able to be a channel to express everything that i did in this project. I'm blessed to have had the support of @realcottontale @papibeatz @stefanponce @camobi @chancetherapper @iamlpeezy and so many others in it's creation. For the first time in a long time, I'm going to perform The Innanet in it's entirety in a proper venue for the people who it's meant the most to. See you there

mirror: https://i.imgur.com/VRF0dbx.jpg

submitted by /u/RafiakaMacakaDirk
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Method Man, U-God, Inspectah Deck & ODB at the college party - Wu-Tang: An American Saga

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 07:21 PM PDT

[FRESH] Kodak Black - Killing The Rats

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 05:29 PM PDT

Daily Discussion Thread 10/09/2021

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 12:11 PM PDT

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

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.

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 these out:

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
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[FRESH] Casey Frey & Charlz Bucket - WANKA BOI

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 04:03 PM PDT

A$AP Ferg ft. Bone Thugs- LORD ( video)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 10:51 PM PDT

Kodak Black - There He Go (Official Video)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 07:03 AM PDT

Justin Rose - Speedy Gonzales (ft. Playboi Carti)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 05:08 PM PDT

Kyann-Sian Williams reviews Headie One's Too Loyal For My Own Good for NME: "an experimental mixtape – The 26-year-old doesn't have to always rely on his drilling ways, as he proves with a collection that showcases his singing voice and floorfilling sensibilities"

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 11:00 AM PDT

C-Murder - G's & Macks

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 11:40 AM PDT

[FRESH ALBUM] Obijuan & Giallo Point - DRESDEN JEWELER

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 11:56 AM PDT

Kool Keith - Livin' Astro (1999)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 10:39 PM PDT

[FRESH] No Love - Greg Kyng

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 04:43 AM PDT

Classified - The Hangover (VIDEO with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo and Kayo)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 08:55 AM PDT

Young KSB X Slob On My Ass

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 11:58 PM PDT

Bjorn Majestik showing off freestyle skills at Union Square Park, NYC

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 05:17 AM PDT

[FRESH] JhonnieDamnD - YoTexasPlug (ft. Boogotti Kasino) (Official Music Video)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 11:10 PM PDT

B.M.X. - Microphone Microphone

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 11:00 PM PDT

Bruno Mars announces Silk Sonic album releasing November 12th - HipHop

Bruno Mars announces Silk Sonic album releasing November 12th - HipHop


Bruno Mars announces Silk Sonic album releasing November 12th

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 12:06 PM PDT

[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] Don Toliver - Life Of a Don

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 08:49 PM PDT

Been about 24 hours since don dropped his sophomore album. Thoughts and favourite tracks?

submitted by /u/diabeticfit
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[FIRST IMPRESSIONS] James Blake - Friends That Break Your Heart

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 06:36 PM PDT

It's been about 24 hours since James Blake dropped his latest album. What are your thoughts? I think it's one of my favorite albums by him. It's consistent, pleasant to listen to, and has some really good features from JID, SZA, and SwaVay

submitted by /u/AceZombieRobo
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Lil Wayne Announces ‘Tha Carter Singles Collection,’ Drops New Song

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 10:50 AM PDT

[FRESH] Tech N9ne - Face Off (feat. Joey Cool, King Iso & Dwayne Johnson) | Official Music Video

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 12:07 PM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] Nardo Wick - Who Want Smoke?? ft. Lil Durk, 21 Savage & G Herbo (Directed by Cole Bennett)

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 12:16 PM PDT

[FRESH] Cookin soul ft. Freddie Gibbs. - thug till it's over

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 01:26 PM PDT

[FRESH] James Blake - Frozen (ft. JID, SwaVay)

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 04:52 AM PDT

Daily Discussion Thread 10/08/2021

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 12:34 PM PDT

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

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.

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 these out:


Next Week (10/9 to 10/15)

10th:

  • Big Boi & Sleepy Brown - The Big Sleep Is Over [Southern Hip Hop, Chronically Pushed Back, Purple Ribbon / HITCO]
  • Spose - Get Rich or Die Ryan (featuring Termanology + more) [Maine, White Boy, Stoner, One Hit Wonder, Preposterously Dank]

15th:

Full Calendar

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[FRESH] Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow - INDUSTRY BABY (EXTENDED VERSION)

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 09:54 PM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] Mick Jenkins - Contacts

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 07:22 AM PDT

[FRESH] Casey Frey & Charlz Bucket - WANKA BOI

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 02:03 PM PDT

[FRESH] Tech N9ne ft. Lil Wayne - Too Good

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 07:42 PM PDT

"Teezo Touchdown Is the Insufferable Fashion Rapper of the Moment" (Alphonse Pierre's The Pitch)

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 07:20 AM PDT

Murs ft. John Cena - H-U-S-T-L-E (Produced by 9th Wonder)

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 10:51 PM PDT

Evolution Of DMX 1991-1997 (Full Underground Catalogue/Every Track & Rare Footage)

Posted: 09 Oct 2021 12:03 AM PDT

James Blake Makes Sucking The Joy Out Of Life Sound Beautiful On ‘Friends That Break Your Heart’ - Album Review

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 08:47 PM PDT

James Blake songs are sad. They've always carried an emotionally heavy burden and likely always will. It's the factor that's given the shapelessness of his now-renowned, robotic voice reason for being so celebrated. The elaborate distortion meant that real confrontation was often beneath him. Escapism of that kind isn't afforded to Blake on his fifth album, 'Friends That Break Your Heart', however. Shaped by a magnificent mundanity, Blake is too human, and his everyday dilemmas, more relatable than ever, carry a new acidity. The feelings of paranoia and isolation that outlined 2019's 'Assume Form' still linger here, but they take on a tangible form. Cladded with a linear format, betrayal becomes routine for Blake. Each knife plunged into his back wears the performer's elusive cloak down, edging nearer to the person beneath.

Blake has always written personally and with brutal honesty in his music, even if it hasn't always been direct. To match that blueprint, Blake spends much of the LP delaying the inevitable to soften the blow, his tactics only make the goodbyes more taxing, however. Like on 'Famous Last Words' where he refrains from moving past a lover he never should've encountered in fear of having the whole thing happen again. It's part of a revealing process of humanisation that gives the crooner's usual glum greyness a meatier, more relatable body. Part of that requires punishment, which Blake self-administrates adamantly, but he never wisens to the real threat - his tolerance. The melodramatic 'Life Is Not The Same' reflects on this, leaving Blake with nothing but the hole caused by unreciprocated loyalty and a bare, undulating synth line to fill it.

Accordingly, Blake assumes a new voice, or more accurately several, to cope with the pain. As a result, Blakes's fondness for unuttered melodies often prevails, a replacement for the words he can't bring himself to say. Of the lot, the most soul-stirring is reserved for the climax of 'Say What You Will' where Blake's bent coo teeters like a spinning top until he literally gives out. On the surface, it feels like a grand goodbye that'd segue to death, but he's really just admitting defeat, finally resorting to not caring. So long as he's wrapped in a blanket of his own reverb, no emotion is beyond Blake's scope. Appropriately, he sings with a decrepit demeanor on 'Funeral' as if the throbbing vibrations had seeped through a coffin. It's the result of years of honing his skill set and remains the only thing Blake is in complete control of here.

But that spontaneity leaves ample room for this album's trademark: balancing an unassuming openness with looming anxiety. This is most effective on 'Foot Forward', where cagey piano loops press rapidly up against Blake's fluttering coo like an escapee scaling down a prison wall. The rage boils beneath Blake's balmy assertion, he's already survived the worst of what the world will throw at him, but the threat of more is always just around the corner. To counter the lumbering confessions dotted throughout the LP, the production hopscotches to propel the atmosphere with ease. Even the melancholy of a bare acoustic strum on 'Friends That Break Your Heart' guides Blake from getting caught up in a venomous spat with friends turned enemies. His eager submission, although drawn-out, is epiphanic. In this case, death is the better option, sucking the joy out of life has never sounded so attractive.

There is a cost to all the gambling Blake partakes in on 'Friends That Break Your Heart', though. His ugly fate catches up to him just as his emotional deafness does. Without an obvious target, these songs are largely impersonal and, often, even less flattering. SZA and Blake remove all emotion when slinging tired, tepid compliments back and forth as if they were texting each other on 'Coming Back'. "Couldn't let you forget me", SZA sings with a squashed posture, there isn't a reason to remember her part. Add 'I'm So Blessed You're Mine' to the catalog of corporate-pleasing love songs too. "I'm so blessed you're mine", a chipmunked effect spouts repeatedly in case you didn't get the message the first fifty times. That's it. Blake's silence would've been better spent on the unnecessarily stretched closer 'If I'm Insecure' which retreads over the record's themes of doubt and commitment only to be salvaged by true love, again…

In true James Blake fashion, the straightforwardness feels alien. That's precisely why the album soars when it nestles into the realm of the bizarre beeps and boops, and sometimes seemingly random code of his early work. Even by Blakes' standards, 'Frozen' feels like the result of mixing strangely coloured potions together in a laboratory. The backdrop of plucky synths remains light to make your hairs stand on end but features JID and SwaVay take no such care when barreling through the cacophony of impromptu bangs, wallops, and ka-chows during their respective performances. The fantastical pocket of sci-fi-inspired experimentation expands on 'Lost Angel Nights' as Blake perches in croaky vocal registers peppered with all sorts of bluey, ghostly, and less-than-human qualities that'll keep listeners on the edge of their seats.

Though returning to the pixelated parts of Blake's repertoire gives 'Friends That Break Your Heart' its most thrilling assets, there's still something so captivating about hearing Blake strip back the layers to reveal something more human beneath. His many voices have a face, and it is both textured and worryingly plain at once. To that point, the accessibility of these songs isn't always a natural fit for Blake, whose talents can feel suppressed by the LP's rigid structure, especially when he is emotionally censored. But Blake is learning to heal, in more ways than one. He bounces back stronger by being ostensibly weaker. He is at ease when being torn apart. But more importantly, he continues to do what so few could even dare dream of, even when confined to his most mundane form.

Friends That Break Your Heart - James Blake - 8/10

submitted by /u/RedHeadReviews
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[FRESH ALBUM] Atmosphere - WORD?

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 02:58 AM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] Don Toliver - Way Bigger [Official Music Video]

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 08:35 AM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] The Alchemist - Lossless (feat. MIKE)

Posted: 08 Oct 2021 09:01 AM PDT