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Album of the Year #41: Mach-Hommy - Balens Cho (Hot Candles) - HipHop

Album of the Year #41: Mach-Hommy - Balens Cho (Hot Candles) - HipHop

Album of the Year #41: Mach-Hommy - Balens Cho (Hot Candles)

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 01:32 AM PST

Artist: Mach-Hommy

Album: Balens Cho (Hot Candles)

Listen

Background:

Following the release of Pray For Haiti earlier in 2021, rumours emerged of a new Mach-Hommy album releasing on Black Friday. Mach had dropped multiple albums every year until 2020, so fans were excited for the possibility of a second album and the return to 'dumping' multiple releases a year. The project was soon postponed, and was eventually released the next week on December 4th with the title Balens Cho (Hot Candles).

Review:

The album's cover depicts the rapper sitting, completely toned in the yellow which colours the music to come. Behind him appears a shrine, potentially one of Vodou or Santeria practises. These religions are prevalent in Haiti, comprising of the religious bellies of West African slaves and Catholicism. Vodouist shrines are typically adorned with the candles which the album centres itself around. The symbol of a candle suggests the focus Mach places on the Haitian diaspora, the beliefs and religion which defines it, and the importance of these light-bearing adornments and everything their light represents.

The album's opening interlude is 'La Prèmiere Bougie', a French phrase which can be translated as 'The First Candle' in English. It directly addresses a listener, instructing them to "go down to Haiti […] looking for new items to buy". This narrative runs throughout the album's 5 interludes - describing this colonial presence concerned with commodification.

Balens Cho opens on 'Labou', where a loop of horns harken back to those on the opener to Pray For Haiti, this time triumphantly announcing a victory lap. The song sees him rapping about his origin from the "swamp", embracing the Haitian tropical landscape and the murk which defines himself. The track's title, 'labou', is Haitian Creole for "mud", which is mentioned several times throughout, most noticeably in the chorus. Mach relentlessly echoes the words "I got it out the mud, swear to God", a call to his origin - emerging from the "mud" of the societal bottom. The first verse ends calling upon "the swamps with the green moss", and the second opens further describing these "muddy waters". In a reference to Mach's Hard Lemonade, he raps about how he was "really picking lemons in the orchard", building upon his description of working from the bottom by comparing his craft to that of agricultural work and growing fruit out of the mud. The triumphant horns of the beat continue, produced by Nicholas Craven, and Mach's final chorus closes the track.

The album then moves into its second interlude, 'La Deuxième' (The Second), where ceremonial drums pulse and an American voice describes the meeting of "executives of Caribbean exports" who meet at a cafe on the south coast of Haiti. The brief interlude then ends with a short description of their discussion.

What follows is the choral loop and boom bap beat of 'Separation Of The Sheep From The Goats', again produced by Nicholas Craven. The track is a biblical allusion to Matthew 25:31-46, where Christ will separate mankind 'as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats', where mankind is divided into the punished and the righteous. The track's title also calls upon the pervasive hip-hop proverb of the greats ('greatest of all time') being the "goats". When compared and separated from the similar livestock of "sheep", Mach fundamentally contrasts the 'great' rappers with those who aren't. The track's chorus is spiritually sung using the doubled vocals of the rapper, one recording in his signature baritone, with a higher variant layered above it. It's content includes singing the track's title, as well as a direct a biblical reference to its inspiration, "the Book of Revelation". In the final line he raps "So holla at me if you want the throne back, not bad for some gibberish and monotone raps", a direct assertion of his 'greatest' status and referencing the praise for his craft despite its esoteric and hard-to-parse style.

This is followed by 'Magnum Band Remix', produced by Ras G. Before the album's release Mach was pictured at a Ras G mural, and has spoke of a collaborative album Haitian Space Base coming at some point. The beat opens on a heavy organ drone and bass line, with dusty drums and the Ras G producer tag echoing into the space of the track. Mach enters with a slow flow, rapping allusions to Frida Kahlo (coolin' with my Mexican wiz"), MF DOOM ("seen a stocky n***a in a mask like a DOOMposter"), Biggie ("say peace to B.I. after that G ride to heaven") as well as the standout final bar "chain snatching to DMCA, either way your link gone", a double entendre that equates snatching chains to pirated music. An outro is spoken by A.A. Rashad, Griselda's second in-house poet, who's Afrofuturist monologue finally asserts that "all space programmes are from Africa".

The album's third interlude, 'La Troisième' (The Third) features an old recording of orchestral horns, whilst a voice describes "warm tropical breezes", "a big golden moon" and "dramatic drums in the distance".

Proceeding track 'Lajan Sal' opens on the jingling warmth of its beat, produced also by Nicholas Craven, and the baritone chorus "my lajan sal, I ain't seen my P.O. in a while". The phrase is Haitian Creole for 'dirty money', with the track's focus centred on criminality and societal trapping of those into criminal acts. The final line of the hook makes a demand to free from prison those close to Mach, with the assertively sung "let em out" closing each section. The second verse suggests sentiments of escaping this criminality, with the rapper stating "I really made it out the bricks, done got rich, no longer gotta stick up". This growth does not leave him any less assertive however, as suggesting by closing lines "ain't no Jesse Jack when it's Hommy-town, try me clown, got me clap back like Kwame Brown".

Fourth interlude, 'La Quatrième' (The Fourth), features more dialogue, which asks "how'd you like to attend a voodoo ceremonial worship?". The invitation is answered "aren't those things supposed to be secret?", before the interlude closes on a short, ominous moment of horns.

After this is 'Wooden Nickels', comprised of a soft, drum-less jazz loop produced by Fortes. It also features the airy, breathing saxofone of Sam Gendel, which emerges at times in the slow loop. This song sees Mach at his most vulnerable, and his softer spoken raps are parallel to the jazz loop, as he recounts the wisdom of his grandparents ("words fitting in the stanza just like poetry"). He references his grandfather's martyrdom, who wasn't appreciated by those he helped. This is where the track's meaning lies, like his grandfather he feels an that lack of appreciation, suggesting "n****s ain't gonna leave me with two wooden nickels to rub together". Essentially, the world will leave him with nothing for his work, just like his grandfather, describing the generational discrimination of Haitian people. He extends this generational discrimination to his father, explaining how those who owed his father favours were eager to forget them after his death. The end result being that it has made the rapper's "heart colder than Antarctica", wary of the world and its exploitation of his people. To close the track the loop fades out, and Gendel solos until a final, sustained note breaths.

After this is 'Traditional', the final track produced by Nicholas Craven on this album. Craven once again employs a sample of horns, played slower than the album intro, but just as commandingly. Mach once again has a message to share, continuing his focus on the effects of discrimination he describes the hopelessness of poverty. Over the cinematic horns he raps, "What happens when conditions ain't liveable, n****s get to acting they religion ain't biblical", where he describes the conditions of poverty as so unable to be lived in, that all hope is lost for those suffering in them. The message is told over the continuing cinematic horns, which eventually fade away with it.

Final interlude, 'La Cinquième' (The Fifth) features the audio of an apparent 'ritual', with the "throbbing rhythm" of drums and a dancing horn underscoring the narration, as the ceremony "picks up in intensity".

The next track, 'Money Magnets', sees Mach rapping with his fellow Dump Gawd Tha God Fahim, in another ode to the Dump catalogue. The beat is produced by Messiah Musik, consisting of a slow piano loop and traditional boom bap drums which drive its eery melody. Standout lines from Mach include "watch how I put you on skates, it's the Haitian", followed by "I dedicate my masters to this tape, to the next generation" where he details the good he wants to do for his country. The track is a declaration of wealth, but also that it's going to the right places.

'Self Luh' continues Mach's stylisation of 'love' as 'luh', seen in both Bulletproof Luh and Luh Hertz. Building on the concept, this time it is applied to the self - with the song's production taking a soulful sample of vocals and looping this message of "loving yourself, but taking it all for granted". The song is produced by Griselda staple Conductor Williams, whose trilogy of beats made for some of the most powerful moments of Pray For Haiti, and makes for a just as powerful outro to Balens Cho. Opening the track Mach asks "you ever stop to thank your heart for beatin'? What if you had to stop and thank for your lungs to start breathing?", questioning the apparent lack of gratitude many have for the parts of their body used everyday. This starts a message of caring for the human body and self love which runs through the whole song, ending in final lines "I am infinite wealth, but it all starts out with loving yourself".

Overall, Mach-Hommy's second showing of 2021 is another powerful project that showcases his G.O.A.T. status in the underground hip hop scene. He proves that he retains the ability to make projects in a similar vein to past work, as well as working in the sound of his breakout Pray For Haiti. He also channels the Mach of 2017-2019 in the "dumping" of more than one project, leaving much to be excited for in his next releases. Will he continue his old sound, his current sound, embrace a combination of the two, expand on the post-2019 'yellow trilogy' (Mach's Hard Lemonade/Pray For Haiti/Balens Cho), or move forward and do something entirely different? This leaves a hope that Mach-Hommy continues to build his discography and craft his increasingly growing presence in hip hop in the 2020s and the future.

Questions:

  • Do you prefer Balens Cho or Pray For Haiti?

  • Is this a return to the more 'underground' form for Mach?

  • What would you like to see him do in the near future?

submitted by /u/LiquidKonfusionPlaya
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[FRESH] Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, Alicia Keys - City Of Gods

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:00 PM PST

Anthony Fantano in the Washington Post: Musicians, please stop luring your fans into the risky world of NFTs

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 08:42 AM PST

Kanye West Calls Out Billie Eilish, Threatens to Pull Out of Coachella

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 02:49 PM PST

According to hip-hop media executive Ebro Darden: Kendrick Lamar will be releasing a new single this week. Lamar’s camp confirmed that the rapper will be dropping a new song ahead of his performance at the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 10:28 AM PST

[FRESH ALBUM] $NOT - Ethereal

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[FRESH] KayCyy - OKAY! (Prod. Gesaffelstein)

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:00 PM PST

DaBaby beats up Dani Leigh’s (his baby mama) brother, Brandon Bills, at a bowling alley

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 04:24 AM PST

[FRESH] Future - Worst Day

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[FRESH VIDEO] Future - Worst Day

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[FRESH VIDEO] Yeat - Still Countin (Directed by Cole Bennett)

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[FRESH ALBUM] Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous (feat. Fivio Foreign, Anderson .Paak, Usher, and more)

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[FRESH ALBUM] Snoop Dogg - BODR

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[FRESH] Yeat - Still Countin

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[FRESH] Duke Deuce - Falling Off (Ft. Rico Nasty)

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:04 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Curren$y & The Alchemist - The Tonight Show

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:03 PM PST

[FRESH ALBUM] Cousin Stizz - Just For You

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[FRESH ALBUM] Jazmine Sullivan - Heaux Tales, Mo' Tales: The Deluxe

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[FRESH VIDEO] Future - Worst Day

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Big KRIT announces tour dates

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[FRESH ALBUM] Raveena - Asha’s Awakening

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:06 PM PST

Tracklist for Curren$y & The Alchemist "Continuance", dropping February 18.

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 03:34 AM PST

# Title
01 Half Moon Mornings
02 Reese's Cup
03 No Yeast (Feat. Boldy James)
04 Obsession
05 Corvette Rally Stripes (Feat. Havoc & Wiz Khalifa)
06 Whale Watching (Feat. Styles P)
07 The Tonight Show
08 Signature Move
09 Louis Baggage (Feat. Babyface Ray)
10 The Final Board
11 Jodeci Tape
12 Endurance Runners (Feat. Larry June)
13 Kool & The Gang

 

37 minutes long

Tracklisting taken from Apple Music New Zealand.

Hiqh Quality Artwork (2000x2000)

submitted by /u/tunapizza
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[FRESH VIDEO] $NOT - Ethereal [Official Album Trailer]

Posted: 10 Feb 2022 04:08 PM PST

Fivio Foreign announces his new album, B.I.B.L.E, will drop on March 25th and will be executive produced by Kanye West

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[FRESH ALBUM] Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa - Stoner’s Night

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[THROWBACK THURSDAY] 2Pac/Makaveli - To Live And Die In LA

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at

What have you been listening to this week? / Last.fm thread - February 09, 2022 - HipHop

What have you been listening to this week? / Last.fm thread - February 09, 2022 - HipHop

What have you been listening to this week? / Last.fm thread - February 09, 2022

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:31 AM PST

This is the weekly thread to share what you've been listening to recently and/or post 3x3 collages. Make sure to write some shit about what you listened to in order encourage discussion.

To make 3x3s:

Import from Last.fm:

Make yours manually:

Make sure to re-upload your picture on a site like Imgur, otherwise the 3x3 posts change.

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
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Album of the Year # ? : Isaiah Rashad - The House Is Burning

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 07:59 AM PST

Isaiah Rashad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah_Rashad

THIB (Homies Begged Linktree): https://isaiahrashad.lnk.to/thibhomies

​

https://preview.redd.it/0khkvmmeytg81.png?width=225&format=png&auto=webp&s=1fb0369847ab44b5234c17e3b3461e63e856ad19

(Original Version)

Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-house-is-burning/1577188639

Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/album/6TQ8nqw43uUOWu7Yqp58ko

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBY8aDToI-OBq2fe7NbwoqA (top dawg youtube)

Previously On Isaiah Rashad....

I can't honestly tell you my introduction to Isaiah Rashad. I honestly have no clue at what point and time I started listening to his music. I just know at some point, "AA" and "A Lot" were some of my favorite songs to drive and smoke to. Sooner or later I shuffled and found "Park" which is the song I play when I'm frustrated and just wanna repeat something dope. Or maybe I'm trying to show someone his lyrical range. Whichever reason, "Park" quickly became one of my favorites from the album "The Sun's Tirade". On that very same shuffle, I found "Stuck in the Mud". I could honestly listen to him and Sza go back and forth with the hook all day long. One of those truly soul touching hooks, especially, and I say again, ESPECIALLY if you're going through something. Which leads me to "Silkk Da Shocka". Hands down my favorite song from the album that introduced me to Isaiah. As a person who has dealt with depression multiple times in my life, I cannot tell you how much the ending bridge alone means to me when he says "I don't wanna be here if I don't gotta/my weed habit so close to snorting powder". It made me reflect on my own usage and avoidance of the things I felt like were wrong in my life. So no, I really can't tell you when I got into Isaiah Rashad. What I can say, is when I found him, he quickly became one of my favorite artists and I looked forward to anything he was doing from there on. Enter "The House Is Burning"

Id like to start this album review a little different, with a quote from XXXtentacion. "So, ill offer this warning and set of instructions; if you are not open-minded, before you listen to this album, open your mind. If you don't listen to the alternative sound and you've never been into the alternative sound and have not been open to trying new things; open your mind before you listen to this album". This to me, says everything I would need to say to somebody who's listening to Isiah Rashad for the first time, or even more specifically the people reading this alternative review

When "Darkseid" opens, it feels like a time machine back to when I was a kid with the sound of the cassette turning over. Im talking about nostalgia era, the time when mixtape where the place to find your favorite artist performing at their best. The feeling I get from this track is one of jubilation and introspection. I feel introspective because this album dropped in the summer of the second year of COVID-19. At this time I was running around buying and reselling things from stores constantly. So the words "what am I supposed to do outside but get rich" could not have felt more true to my life, because since the beginning of the pandemic I had either been door dashing or buying things from the store to sell, so it embodied exactly how I felt. There is also a feeling of jubilation because of the same pandemic, that made all of us adjust differently, made me wait on new music and new movies with even more anticipation. Regardless of how good TENET was, it was AMAZING to me because I had been in the house dreaming of the day I could trip acid and go to the movies again. Same concept here. This track gave me a feeling of hope that one day things could get back to some kind of normal, although my favorite lyrics from the first track would never truly fade and would give me a sense of new purpose and ambition. Truly, "what am I supposed to do outside but get rich??"

Imagine the shootout scene thats usually at the end of a lot of "gangster" movies at the beginning. Thats the feel I got when "From the Garden" starts. Like I've skipped to the last scene in scarface and all I see is bullets flying, famous sayings and property damage. As an artist myself I can't help but think that this track was put in this order for that reason. To open up with one of the most action packed scenes of the album. Im not sure about others, but before I knew the lyrics I was bobbing my head to the beat because it just feels so great paired with the lyrics of the hook "came out bussin". While lil uzi isn't the artist I would generally pick in a lot of scenarios, his additions to this track are appreciated. Adding that extra layer of bragging makes this feel like the perfect track to open any fashion show with

Your roots are obvious. They may not be as obvious to you, but people can always tell once you begin to speak or show your creative side where you got influences from. For me, it would be hard to listen to my music and not find influences of Lupe. For Isaiah, its hard to listen to his southern drawl and musical tendencies and not think of an Outkast or a 3 6 Mafia, so the sample at the beginning of the song fits perfectly. As a person who was never cool in high school, the lyrics "they say I'm a cool cat, fuck that I'm a top dawg" felt like home for me. What I took from those words is fuck what they say that I am, I am whatever I say I am. This truly feels like the type of track that you would ride around after dark in Houston with, wearing sunglasses watching candy paint change colors in the passing lights.

Track order is important. I didn't feel this way as a youth, and even as recent as a couple years ago I've had arguments with friends about how it doesn't seem to impact my listening experience. This is an album that could easily prove me wrong. It may be just me, but at this point in the album I felt fully invested. Sure I had heard an album from him before, so true to my nature and trying to be a legit fan, I always listen all the way through at least once even if I don't like the music. In this case, its the opposite. I knew at this point I would be replaying this album at least a few times. I already had a specific bop that I came up with just for all the times Ive bobbed my head this far in the album alone. "Lay Wit Ya" is placed perfectly. After the last song, this feeling of riding around yet again with a crazy baseline was the perfect song to play next. If I felt like I was watching candy paint drip from others cars on the last one, this legit made me feel like I had joined a group of car enthusiasts in the same town, and this music is the soundtrack to us showing off the modifications we've all made to our cars. To further push this point, I won't chose any favorite lyrics for this song because I would have to list every word, every cadence and every adlib. Being a writer I usually chastise my friends for not being descriptive, but this track truly is just a VIBE

Have you ever had a significant other be on the way? I won't even go that far. Just somebody who you knew was down for anything and everything. For me that was a girl I met in the pandemic that was down to take acid etc. For you that may be talking to the girl you love until 4am about the rapidly declining state of society. Whatever that feeling is, if you could take that feeling, bottle it in 3:05 seconds, it would be this song. It feels like the perfect interlude from whatever you have been dealing with, to whatever experience that comes next and has you excited. Maybe thats Horizon Zero Dawn for you or a new strand of medical. But the feeling is something we can all relate to. Filled to the brim with anticipation. So when you listen to "claymore", just close your eyes and embrace the feeling of being on a hip hop elevator, taking you to the top floor

Something that Isaiah does well, is also a point of peoples critique about him. I recommended a friend his music, telling him my high opinion of this album and his work beforehand. For some context, me and this friend were arguing about Russ not really being that dope. He goes and listens to this album, and comes back with the opinion he didn't like it because, and I quote, "he isn't saying anything" on this album. If I wasn't already exhausted that day, this would have been my answer. He doesn't talk about "anything", he talks about EVERYTHING. I have not met him, but the general feeling I get from his music is not that of an artist who is telling you about a specific event, or even trying to teach you something. With tracks like "Headshots(4 da locals)" especially, my view is that he is making music for YOU to live to. He's not recanting the serendipitous terms under which he made it where he is now(Kendrick-Duckworth), he's not detailing a beautifully tragic story that he feels like he must pass on to others (J.Cole- 4 Your Eyes Only), he's giving you music thats just ambiguous enough that it could be about the guy you knew in high school, or your cousin Earn, or YOU. Thats what makes his music great to me, is that his greatness is used to get out of the way and let you be great. "You caught me by surprise, in my brand new whip/peep me in the scope, if I'm gone don't trip/bringing back the strong, up the bat, all hits baby"

Im not sure that anybody really makes rolling p music. Well, at least when it comes to rap it seems most songs are geared to the act of smoking itself. While I could be wrong, this song feels like a much closer version of what you would want to hear when you're rolling up. Whether its the tone and singing abilities of Amindi, or the almost brainwashed chanting sounds of Isaiahs words, but this is one of my favorite songs to roll up to

By the song "Hey Mista**"** I'm reminded of two things. One, he is one of the best at having an interesting opening line. "Bitch you a fever/bitch don't sweat me when I'm hot you want some leisure?" It probably doesn't even do it justice by just reading it, just like some of lil Wayne, Nicki or Kendrick's lines, its about how he says it. The second thing I'm reminded of, and honestly I'm not even sure if this is a thing when it comes to people reviewing albums, is that one of his great strengths could also be considering a weakness. The last 2 songs by themselves aren't bad by any means. But when you put these 2 one after another on an album, it sounds like 2 interludes back to back. While "All Herb" and "Hey Mista" are actual songs, they give off much more of an interlude feeling to me even for Isaiahs standards. So having them back to back make them a general area I skip when replaying the album as a whole

One of the standouts, or maybe one of the songs that Isaiah got the formula exactly right is "True Story". With lines like "can't make it to Atlantis on a jet ski mane" its easy to see Isaiah is in his purest form. Lines that hit like its just another dope phrase over the beat but when analyzed proves that truthfully he does have something to say, its just that you may not hear it. Its evident here that if every rapper has a superpower, his would be the music that incorporates his lyrics. Like a steak burrito with handmade wrappings and extra accouterments, its just as much about the presentation and whats around it. Any fans of Jay Rock would definitely feel appreciative of the bop he brings to this track, chopping up his flow to match the bass, and Jay Worthy opens his verse to some of my favorite albeit direct lyrics, "Bailing through the hood the other day/I ran into my older brother Dre/he told me keep that toolie on your waist/you know I do it, do it for the gang". While these lyrics may not make the most dedicated Griselda fan feel anything on paper, I encourage you to hear these words over the aforementioned beat and not nod your head.

"What You Sed" just feels like the perfect track to drive down the Las Vegas strip with your windows up and the music blaring, while all the bright lights pass by and reflect off your windows. It reminds me of the feeling that i got from Saint Jhns Ghetto Lennys Love Songs album because it truly feels like something you wouldn't enjoy nearly as much without money in your pocket. Without some feeling of freedom or ability to just go out and get into some shit. Not one to hide his influences, when Isaiah says "All the hoes with the shorts in ya ass/and you got the D'USSÉ falling out your glass/oh man, I don't want ya in the club/cause your pussy popping start fights in the club/come through in your new rental car/bitches all in your face 'cause you a star/and you come with 'bout four-five hoes/down to fight anything straight out the door" its makes me feel like this is the type of bridge Pimp C would be proud of. While he does sound directly like him, you can tell its in an unconscious and paying homage way versus ripping off a dead man just for the love he got to be yours

"Southside said you aint got nothing to live for, so you aint got nothing to lose (DONT SHOOT)" have to be some of my favorite lyrics by far. I feel there are many ways you can take this. From face value with everything that had went on this year and the year before, it felt like a cry out to stop police violence against minorities. I felt so at home watching cops roll by and reciting these lyrics as if they could somehow get them to understand I'm human just like them. But you could also take it as a cry out against the violence inflicted by your own people. The kind of violence that makes me think of the kendrick lyrics from "Blacker the Berry", "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street/when gang banging make me kill a n***** blacker than me?? Hypocrite". Whichever way you take this song, its equally important because this is Isaiah's anthem to whichever cause you believe in, be it one or both. This is what makes him great, his ability to make a great song that you can fill in the blanks. Good superheroes make you feel safe. Great ones make you feel like you can be one too

"Chad" has got to be not only one of my favorites, but one of the main highlights from the album. Its undeniable that he has a certain bop when it comes to his flow and the beats he picks to bend corners and phrases on. So, with anything so unique, there are going to be times when everything hits just perfectly. I argue that this song is one of those examples. When I first heard this song I was excited for the literal meaning. The confidence it would take to say, even if I wasn't doing the thing I'm known for, the thing that most people would argue I'm the best at, I would still be living well. While everybody might not see Mercedes as a symbol of success, the idea of wanting to be successful no matter what situation we are placed in is something everybody can relate to. I would imagine thats why there have been characters like McGyver or Inspector Gadget over the years, because the of the idea of being able to handle anything thrown at you. Part of this track's strength is that he always chooses the right person for the job, but in this scenario the perfect pick even wrote a perfect verse for the song in the idea that it didn't take away or distract from what Isaiah did, but it added to it.

"The way you suck a dick you get a B plus/the way you suck a dick you get a Prius" are also some of my favorite lyrics, even being on a track I don't generally find myself listening to much since the original play through. Nothing is exactly wrong with this songs, he even has one of the more interesting flows on the song, but something about it doesn't connect for me. When you master the ability to bend your flows and do music the way he does, you end up competing with yourself because there will be songs you will be able to do that better on, and songs that it won't hit as hard on. So in that regard, id rather hear "Headshots (4 da locals)" or another similar track instead of this one.

"Score" is the last track I felt somewhat uninterested in. As a fan of all 3 artists (Isaiah, SZA, and 6Lack), this song also didn't really hit for me. While on paper I thought this might be as enjoyable as "Stuck in the Mud", it turned out to just be an okay track from 3 artists I really like. Nothing truly worthy of a quote here, but it doesn't make this a bad song. I think of a great movie that had a slow beginning or odd scene here and there. It doesn't take away from what the album meant as a whole, but when I'm excitedly brining up the movie to my friends, this isn't a scene I would recant for them

"THIB" is either my favorite or my second favorite because I can never narrow down my picks. "Who's that creeping in my window/whos that fucking with my conscious" felt like the perfect anthem to ride around smoking to. "My niggas know I loco/dont tell Rashad he's a star on the low-low/and raising bars like Lamar on the pogo/im selling art, selling souls by the BOGO, at the dojo" alone made me excited to hear this song again and again just for the way he delivers those lyrics. As I've said before, these aren't the lyrics of a Black Thought or a Conway that make you feel like every punchline comes with a gut punch. But these are the perfect slices of the finest steak accompanied with the best ingredients which in this case, is the hook and everything said in the verses before this line. I can't say that I've ever soul searched to Isaiahs music the same way that I have to Ghostface Killah's "All That I Got is You", but isn't that the point? I can't imagine how boring life would be if we were all philosophers and mathematicians looking for exact measurements.

"HB2U" is my favorite track. Until I move "THIB" above this briefly because of the feeling I get sitting at the light to that song. Almost as if he's aware he gave you the most action packed scenes earlier on, instead of reaching for something to send you out of the theaters in awe of the carnage, he delivers this song. The opening sample says "Is there a heaven?///Yes////How do you know that??//You don't". I couldn't imagine a better opening that would show you within a couple seconds, he has something specific to say on this song. This won't be one of the songs he makes thats a soundtrack to your daily life, whether thats excitement or monotony. On this song, he displays some of his more deep thought ideas such as "if not these n****s, bet your senses betray ya", and honestly in 31 years I've only recently truly understood what this means. Some type of downfall is inevitable, even if its brief. It will almost certainly be caused by someone you trust, or something you trust like your own judgement. "I hope it all makes sense to ball like this, the large address" is a line I think of constantly as I grow in my career. Hoping that I'm doing the right thing by going after more money and more status in spite of the years that have taught me money isn't everything. "Ay baby, I have no reason to stay baby, my dreams too big for this city and Myrtle Beach aint vacation" drills home that sometimes you have to leave where you are comfortable. Outgrowing where you know and the cage you're accustomed to can definitely be a good thing, as long as you find new ways to elevate your freedom and remove the ceiling to your growth. The final lyrics I want to quote are a different kind of lyric. Maybe not something you would generally think and deep dive on, but something that caught my ear immediately when I heard it "I pray for many thanksgivings, I pray that tifa don't cook/you know her momma put, sugar in her greens thats that shit I never seen befo'" Honestly, I think these are the only important lyrics. Why? Because they are so unique to Isaiah Rashad that you couldn't really imagine anyone else saying them. Because they show the comfort that he has to be who he is instead of dying to be as lyrical as Jay Z or as street as a Pooh Shiesty. Because they aren't something you can really describe or put into words in any way that would come close to hearing and experiencing yourself. In a way, they are exactly like this album. Love it or hate it, you have to at least respect that he doesn't seem to care one way or the other because his bottom line is doing what he loves.

Thank you for reading! I did not review the bonus version, I heard it once and didn't really like what it changed the album into personally. Also a different type of review for me, as I did the Off Season review the normal way I enjoy with a heavy inclusion of lyrics, I felt this time it would be cool to do a review almost solely based off my feelings from the music, the feeling the music itself carries, or using analogies to connect how I felt with a description without describing the sounds of the music itself. I hope you enjoyed and I look forward to writing you again!

Question 1. How did this album make you feel?

Question 2. Is this type of music something you are interested in? Why or why not?

Question 3. (For people who enjoyed this album) What are your favorite lyrics and why?

Edit : please excuse any spelling errors I was tripping acid yesterday and was supposed to write this but didn't so I woke up, wrote this and posted without proof reading :)

submitted by /u/freshsupreme_acist
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Yahoo Finance: Entertainment Icon Snoop Dogg Acquires Death Row Records Brand from Blackstone-Controlled MNRK Music Group

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 01:16 PM PST

The Cave - Season 3 Episode 12 : Benny the Butcher (Friday 2/11 @ 12P PST)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 10:22 AM PST

Just saw it on Kennys IG: this should be nuts.

Twitter

IG

submitted by /u/SemiAutomaticSlurs
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Vince Staples single dropping this Monday 2/14 titled “MAGIC”

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 03:45 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Injury Reserve - Outside

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 09:27 AM PST

[Now On Streaming] Kanye West - Late Orchestration

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:36 AM PST

Squarespace's Superbowl Halftime ad starring Zendaya and Andre 3000

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 11:21 AM PST

Token - Boom ft. J.I.D (Official Video)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 10:04 AM PST

Future - Cuddle My Wrist

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 06:57 AM PST

Gucci Mane - I Get The Bag ft. Migos

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 02:35 PM PST

The PHARCYDE - I’m that type of nigga

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 09:05 AM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 02/09/2022

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 07:22 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

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:

This Week's Drops (2/10 and 2/11)

10th: Lil Bean - forever grateful (featuring Larry June, Rexx Life Raj, ZayBang & Mike Sherm) [Bay Area Trap, EMPIRE]

11th:

Full Calendar

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
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death grips - bubbles buried in this jungle

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 09:08 AM PST

Earl Sweatshirt - Fire in the Hole (Alternative Intro)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 09:20 AM PST

Cannibal Ox - A B-Boy’s Alpha

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:37 AM PST

[FRESH] Omar Apollo - Invincible (feat. Daniel Caesar)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST

Trailer for ‘The Big Hit Show’ on ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ Released, Series Will Feature Exclusive Kendrick Interview

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:49 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] King Von & 21 Savage - Don't Play That

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 10:10 AM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Pusha T - Diet Coke

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 08:59 AM PST

Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin - Tha Divide (feat. ZelooperZ, MAVI & Koncept Jack$on)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 01:43 PM PST

[LEAK] Lil Uzi Vert & Future - Would You

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 05:13 AM PST

Bay Area Producer DJ Fresh Updates Fans On Upcoming "Tonite Shows" with Ramirez, Eligh & More

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 12:52 PM PST

Bay Area Producer DJ Fresh Updates Fans On Upcoming "Tonite Shows" with Ramirez, Eligh & More. As you can see below he mentions Ramirez, Eligh, RBL Posse. As well as a Tonite show Compilation. Ans upcoming instrumental tapes.

​

https://i.imgur.com/bCnrcTe.png

https://i.imgur.com/uzf2sje.png

https://i.imgur.com/T3Pn7jg.png

submitted by /u/ThyLordYoda
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Solange - My Skin My Logo (feat. Gucci Mane)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 11:22 AM PST

Pete Tosiello reviews Ivy Sole's Candid for Pitchfork: The Philly rapper examines growth and longing with a mature assuredness, imbuing her latest album with moments of modest warmth.

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 08:15 AM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Marlon Craft- The Happy (Official Video)

Posted: 09 Feb 2022 10:44 AM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Dave - In The Fire (ft. Giggs, Ghetts, Meekz & Fredo) (Live at The BRITs 2022)

Posted: 08 Feb 2022 05:26 PM PST

at
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