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Album of the Year #12: Las Ninyas Del Corro - Onna Bugeisha - HipHop

Album of the Year #12: Las Ninyas Del Corro - Onna Bugeisha - HipHop

Album of the Year #12: Las Ninyas Del Corro - Onna Bugeisha

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 04:52 AM PST

Artist: Las Ninyas Del Corro

Album: Onna Bugeisha

Release Date: November 19

Listen

Apple

Youtube

Spotify

Deezer

Amazon Music

Tidal

Artist Background

Las Ninyas Del Corro (or Girls of the Ring in English) is a rap duo consisting of two Spanish women, Felina Vallejo amd Laura Bonsai. They both met in 2015 at rap battles that were held on the streets of Barcelona. During this time, the two found that they were often the only women participating in these street battles/cyphers and decided to form a duo. They bonded over their love of 90s hip hop and gravitated towards that style in making their own music. While at first rapping was a side hobby, it was not until the death of Madrid rapper Gata Cattana in 2017 who was one of their biggest influences, that the duo decided to get serious and pursue music as a career. On Gata Cattana;s influence, Laura said "Rap is a world of men, but she left a legacy to all of us so that we are not afraid and we can say why not?"

In an interview Felinna reflects on those times when they were rapping in the streets of Barcelona and said she hated when she would show up and other guys' assumptions would be that she was dating someone who was rapping or was trying to get with someone there, and getting the "Who'd you come here with?" line.

Their earliest work dates back to 2017, with the group releasing a song titled "Intro" on their youtube channel, following up with a handful of songs named after Sailor Moon characters. One thing I thought was pretty cool to note was that their song "Mercury" featured the instrumental to Necro's "Beautiful Music For You To Die To" with a slight variation.

Next up was their first single "Letra Llegada", and the group stayed quiet for another year before dropping their next single "Salsa2". This is actually the song that put me and a couple of other people on as it had randomly popped up in a YouTube recommended one day and a lot of the comments on that video reference being there from the recommended tab. Las Ninyas continued to drop singles and work with other artists from Spain, frequenting collaborating with the all women rap collective FREE SIS MAFIA. It was not until earlier this year when the group dropped their first project, an EP titled #Skit2020 that featured some of their earlier singles. Before Onna Bugeisha dropped, the duo got to take part in one of the most ambitious collaborations to come out of Spain when they were invited to take part in the posse cut Rap Sin Corte 50, hosted by Foyone and featuring 17 rappers and one singer, from various regions and styles. I posted both their verses below.

Quick Listening Note

Now when I listen to a group for the first time, I often have trouble with differentiating one artist from the other off the bat, and I know others might feel the same so I thought I'd through in a mini reference on here using their cypher verses so I can save you the guess work and you can tell which is which on the album

This is Laura Bonsai (Fun fact, Laura Bonsai was born on the same day Tupac was killed, which she references in this verse)

This is Felinna Vallejo

Thought it was important to make that distinction to help you guys familiarize yourselves with their voices and how each one compliments the other.

Review

(Note: I will do my best to translate some of the Spanish lyrics into English, though it won't be perfect, I will make sure I get the point across) The title not only serves as reflection of the Japanese aesthetic for the album, but also a reflection of Las Ninyas growing up and gravitating towards a male dominated world in hip hop, as they explain that they felt a connection to the idea of Onna Bugeisha, the woman warrior. One who fought alongside men instead of conforming to gender duties of being a housewife.

The album starts with an intro featuring Japanese dialogue before kicking off with a great opening verse from Felinna, who draws references to peace, death and the afterlife.

Hoy me siento Psique, Antonio Canova (Ah)

Reanimada por el neo-soul the Ocean (Frank)

Laura Bonsai follows it up with her verse that builds on the Japanese aesthetics and themes of the album, making references to Amatsu Tatara and Sasuke from Naruto losing his arm.

On L.N.D.C., the apparent influence on 90s hip hop is apparent within the first few seconds as it opens with a sample from Big Daddy Kane's "I Ain't No Joke", and the callbacks to that era don't end there, as the instrumental briefly cuts to "Shook Ones Part II", and Felina continues, referencing U-God, Prodigy's song "Keep It Thoro", and Bigge. On top of that the duo interpolates "C.R.E.A.M". at the end of the song. This one is easily my favorite song on the album as both the production by Yeke Boy and Las Ninyas vocals sound like it came straight out of the 90s.

Thought they don't sing a lot on this album or in general, Las Ninyas Del Corro treats listeners to their singing on Santorini, both of them singing in English, with Felinna singing the intro and Laura the outro, with their verses sandwiched in between. Thought it was neat to structure it in that way, especially with the contrast in both flow and language in verse vs. intro/outro Following that is "Mediterraneo", which samples Prodigy's "Throw Me on a Havoc beat" line from Uncut Raw, which seems fitting since the beat sounds like Esse Delgado wanting to channel Havoc when he made this, and I think he did a pretty good job of doing that.

After an instrumental interlude, the album takes us to its title track, "Onna Bugiesha", which released as an animated music video. This song continues the theme of Onna Bugeisha by painting a portrait of the calm before a battle, while also Las Ninyas also it in the context of the streets of Spain through their choice of words.

Next up on "Perdon De Dios" is my favorite feature on the album, from Moneo, who also made an appearance on Rap Sin Corte 50, and was the lone singer featured on the posse cut, which is cool because his folk singing style makes for a unique blend on a hip hop song. "Tomeo Gozen" features more of a 90s west coast style beat, courtesy of producer Tensei One. This one features a chorus in which Laura and Felinna trade bars, which I wish they did more of on this album, because they pull it off so well here.

"La Fallite" has Las Ninyas Del Corro speak of topics regarding interpersonal relationships, I included a passage from the song in the favorite lyrics tabs so users can get a sense of what they're saying, but the song plays on themes of being vulnerability and communication the idea of whether each person is putting in the work for the right reasons, as the chorus tells the listeners, "For me or for you? Is it for you or for me? Tell me" "For My People" features an extended verse from Laura's Rap Sin Corte feature with features from Jon Manhattan and Cristo Romero of rap group Giada Longo. Next up is the song "Sassy", the best flows from the duo on the album over what sounds like a flipped sample of C-Bo's 357. Laura's verse is especially great

Lastly the album closes out with "Temple", which I thought was the perfect closing song. It's hard to put into words, but the multi-part beat combined with Laura's crescendo into aggressive delivery and Felinna's lax flow made for that feeling of closure. Duku from Free Sis Mafia also makes an appearance in the second verse and sings the chorus in unison with Laura and Felinna.

In short, this album is my favorite to come out this year for a number of reasons. This is one of the first groups that I got to see grow early on before their debut, and they delivered with this one. This album in particular brought me back to when I was just learning about 90s hip hop and listening to this gave me the same feelings of listening to duos like Black Sheep, Showbiz & AG, Capone-N-Noreaga and Ghostface and Raekwon for the first time. Las Ninyas Del Corro fit into the style with ease as if they grew up in it, and their love of classic hip hop that I've seen from them in interviews and social media reflects in their music.

Favorite Lyrics:

Sudor y lagrimas son enseñanzas

Mis geishas son kunoichi disfrazadas – Laura Bonsai on Dharma

Translation:

Sweat and tears are teachings, my geishas are ninjas in disguise

El exceso caprichoso supliendo faltas de gusto

En la puerta de las Casas Bajas rezaba un rosario

Pa' los que nacen sin futuro

La fe mantiene atento a los que viven esperando

Y yo, dеsde la plaza estudiando el campo dе juego – Felinna Vallejo on Onna Bugiesha

Translation:

Capricious in excess, supplying lack of pleasure

At the door of the bottom houses, prayed on a rosary

For those born without a future

Faith maintains focus for those that live waiting

And I studied the field of play from the square

El pibe tenía rasgos que eran como de otro country

Quiso enseñarme sus armas, joven Mitsurugi – Laura Bonsai on Perdon De Dios

Translation:

The kid had traits that seemed of another country

He wanted to show me his weapons, young Misturugi

Red wine and dirty dishes, skinny bitches issues

Te dije que hoy cambiaría la trama y still en crisis

Betta 'u don't fuck wiz me, yo!

Felinna Vallejo a.k.a No Free Therapy – Felinna on Tomoe Gozen

No puedo entrar en ti si las paredes son opacas

Si pregunto y escapas

Lo peor de la depresión es su resaca

Si una cosa funciona, déjala tranquila como estaba

¿Pa' qué tocas si to' iba bien?

Intento estar arriba, pero no siempre se está al cien - Laura on La Fallite

Translation:

I can't enter you, if your walls are opaque

If I ask and you escape

The worst part of depression is the hangover

If something works, leave it how it is

Why touch it, it was going good

I Intend to be up, but not always at 100

Questions:

Favorite references/samples on this album?

With the group's adoption of 90's boom bap in mind, is there other examples of artists adopting the sound of both a different country and decade that is not their own?

Where do you see this group's ceiling, is there potential for crossover appeal? Will they gain prominence enough to be featured on such series as Tinydesk or Colors as other international artists like Santa Salut and Nicki Nicole have done?

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Wiki - Grim (feat. Lil Ugly Mane & Denzel Curry)

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 02:00 PM PST

Brand Nubian legend Sadat X is now working a 9-5

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 05:50 AM PST

Per his IG, Sadat X is now living in North Carolina, working in the medical field.

https://instagram.com/sadatxwildcowboy

Nothing but respect for a working person and even more so for this Hip Hop legend for what he has contributed over the years, but I can't help but feel sad to see his posts about getting up early and clocking in for work. He commented that rap don't always pay the mortgage. Brand Nubian was one of the most influential groups of all time. They were international superstars. I wish someone would help Sadat out with a better gig.

submitted by /u/CPSux
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[FRESH] Pooh Shiesty - Federal Contraband (freestyle)

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 12:40 PM PST

Madonna Calls Out Tory Lanez for ‘Illegal Usage’ of ‘Into the Groove’

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 05:34 PM PST

Divine Council - P. Sherman (PS42WW$)

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 05:25 PM PST

The Alchemist - Rookies of the Future (feat. Riff-Raff & Action Bronson)

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 03:40 PM PST

Boston rapper Token is dropping "PINK IS BETTER" album on 1/14 – features Rico Nasty, Benny the Butcher, JID, Lil Skies, Digital Nas + more

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 09:04 AM PST

Westside Boogie Talks NEW Album, Mental Health, Relationship w/ Eminem ...

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 02:09 PM PST

Doja Cat says she wants to make a double-album with one side strictly hip-hop

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 08:18 PM PST

Aesop Rock - The Gates

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 10:08 AM PST

Nas - The Truth

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 12:21 PM PST

Yeat - Monëy so big

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 07:18 AM PST

Killer Mike's Barbershop Vandalized with Graffiti

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 11:19 PM PST

[FRESH VIDEO] Pink Siifu - Gumbo'! 4 tha Folks, Hold On (feat. Big Rube, Liv.e, Nick Hakim, VCR) [prod. DJ Harrison]

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 07:09 AM PST

[DISCUSSION] Common – The Dreamer/The Believer (10 Years Later)

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 09:42 AM PST

When Common dropped the single Ghetto Dreams in July 2011, his fans were expecting another late-career classic by the Chicago MC. The later singles, Blue Sky, Sweet and Celebrate (for some reason no videos of this album are available on youtube, so these are dailymotion and vimeo links) didn't make much noise so expectations settled to a solid veteran album, which it ultimately was. Produced exclusively by No ID and featuring James Fauntleroy on 7/12 tracks, we get rich and opulent sounds for the most part.

Highlights being The Believer with a standout John Legend performance and tracks Gold and Windows which are very good songwriting.

Common did a whole commentary series on each track of the album which goes into more detail.

submitted by /u/flyestshit
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Juelz Santana - Shottas

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 07:09 PM PST

Chief Keef - Whatchamacallit

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 05:23 PM PST

Daily Discussion Thread 12/27/2021

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 08:46 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:

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Isaiah Rashad - Dirty Sanchez

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 08:12 PM PST

The Cool Kids - Connect Four

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 02:22 PM PST

Salt-N-Pepa - None Of Your Business

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 03:58 PM PST

Top 50 Chicago Projects of 2021

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 10:41 AM PST

38 Spesh & Benny the Butcher - Intro

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 12:20 PM PST

City Morgue - So What

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 12:34 PM PST

2000 MTV Clip of Memphis Bleek vs Nas

Posted: 27 Dec 2021 03:32 PM PST
at

Album of the Year #11: JPEGMAFIA - LP! [OFFLINE] - HipHop

Album of the Year #11: JPEGMAFIA - LP! [OFFLINE] - HipHop

Album of the Year #11: JPEGMAFIA - LP! [OFFLINE]

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 07:37 AM PST

Artist: JPEGMAFIA

Album: LP!

Listen:

YouTube (Offline Version)

BandCamp (Offline Version)

Spotify (Online Version)

Apple Music (Online Version)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Background

JPEGMAFIA (a.k.a. Barrington Hendricks, b. 1989) is an American rapper, producer, and singer born in Brooklyn, New York. At 13, he moved to Alabama where he experienced a significant amount of racism that influenced much of his preceding work. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force at 18 and was honorably discharged after a tour in Iraq. He initially made music during his time in the military under the alias Devon Hendryx before moving to Baltimore in 2015 and assuming the moniker JPEGMAFIA.

Following the release of his critically acclaimed 2019 album All My Heroes Are Cornballs, JPEGMAFIA began to dispute with his music label over how his songs should be handled and processed by industry regulations and obligations. This led to a frantic release schedule, as JPEG repurposed and quickly released material from his back catalogue as a way of fulfilling the requirements of his label contract. This fast-paced schedule led to the release of EP! in November 2020 and its well-received follow-up, EP2! in February 2021. After these two releases, he only needed one more project to fulfill the conditions of his contract.

Peggy began teasing the album on August 31, 2021 with the release of its first single, "TRUST!." He then released the second single, "HAZARD DUTY PAY!," on BandCamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube due to sample clearance issues on October 1, 2021.

His fourth studio album, LP!, was released on October 22, 2021 following delays due to sample clearance issues. Because of these legal issues and his balking from Republic Records, two versions of the album were released. The "online" version released on streaming platforms and featured a reduced tracklist, while the "offline" version, deemed "the true LP!" from the corresponding BandCamp description, was released on BandCamp, SoundCloud, and YouTube. For the purposes of this review, I have used the "offline" version. Beyond the argument of artistic intent and the "offline" version being the true version according to the artist, I found this version to be a more fulfilling and representative musical experience than the "online" versions on the grounds of a more original and better arranged tracklist, more diverse samples, and better mixes. These differences are certainly noteworthy, but I feel as though they are both beyond the purview of this write-up and better explained by other Redditors. Attached is a post comprehensively detailing the differences between the two versions. My review does not cover tracks exclusive to the "online" version ("CUTIE PIE!," "BALD!," and "BALD! REMIX"), as they are tracks released earlier amid the two entries in the EP! series.

It is also worth discussing the beef between JPEGMAFIA and Elucid, one of Armand Hammer's members. Peggy had produced the beat for Elucid's "Oblivion Reflex," which initially appeared on Elucid's February 2018 album Shit Don't Rhyme No More. However, a reissue followed with "Oblivion Reflex" missing and an additional track added to replace its position at the end of the record. The "Oblvion Reflex" beat then resurfaced on January 7, 2020 in a video posted by London rapper IDK, titled "HELLO FREESTYLE (PT. 4)." The beef intensified in June of 2020 on Armand Hammer's album Shrines. In its track, Leopards, the lyrics imply that JPEGMAFIA sent Elucid a cease and desist letter for unauthorized uses of the beat, "I should've listened when they told me you wasn't folk no more/Siccing his white lawyers on your boy/Season of the vic, cease and desist, real n****, I think not/I'm rehearsing for a world where you don't exist."

Elucid then goes on to credit Peggy for his production ability on "Oblivion Reflex," but blasts him for engaging in performative politics and going silent instead of resolving his issues directly. He even goes so far as to parodize JPEG's discharge from the military and his 2018 album, Veteran: "Just when you think n***** is on the level/Performative rebel rhetoric, but the beat's incredible/Fuck it, riddle me this, lay it to rest, wait for the hex/I ain't ask for you to talk to me nice/But going silent when shit really ain't right/Veteran dishonorable, vaginal discharge comical/Stripe, stripAttitude don't reflect the action, tight bitch."

At last, JPEG responds on LP!, and on two separate tracks. First, he responds on album highlight "REBOUND!" with his trademark inclination for 2010's pop references, "He told me to stop dissing his kin/Oops I did it again," before finishing the verse by poking fun at their stage name, "N***** named after baking soda/But ain't never touched no fucking coke in your city."

He then fires more shots later on with "THE GHOST OF RANKING DREAD!," first by criticizing Armand Hammer's beats, "Choppa don't jam/It's like one of y'all beats/Stay in the lab/Get the fuck out the streets," referencing the cover art for their March 2021 album Haram, "Off beat shit ain't gon' make you a living/Teach you something since you think I'm kidding/Woke 3rd eye rapping ass n*****/NOI flows with pork for a image," and mentioning "Leopards" by name, "But lions and leopards/Ain't meant to be jiggy/Tyrone Hill, this ain't meant to be pretty.

The beef continued past LP!'s release and into the following tour. On October 23, Armand Hammer had a performance in Baltimore the same night that Peggy had a tour date in North Carolina. JPEG called out Armand Hammer for performing in his hometown and posted his reminder of the tour date that night on his Instagram story featuring an Arm & Hammer box of baking soda,

https://imgur.com/a/hSnWRqW

(Source at https://www.reddit.com/r/jpegmafia/comments/qeh4vw/i_hope_all_my_enemies_are_real_careful_tonight/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)

On October 28, JPEGMAFIA tweeted that the beef had been squashed,

https://imgur.com/a/DUt1mYi

(Source at https://www.reddit.com/r/jpegmafia/comments/qht1pv/armand_hammer_beef_over/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Review

LP! opens in a bright place with "TRUST!." We're treated to a light cut beginning with a quickly whispered "You think you know me?" tag. Then a lighter is struck, a match is lit, and the song begins with a peppering of bright synths leaping around in a way simultaneously digital and liberated. Peggy's first vocal entrance is momentarily alone before the percussion begins with light snares. The bass begins at the end of his last line on the emphatic second syllable of "conniving," and the first of many great instrumentals on this album enters full swing. In the lyrical matter, Peggy is distancing himself from toxic people in his life, "These hoes is conniving/I won't even try them," and simultaneously acknowledging the difficulties of these separations, "Ok I'm fucked up/Yeah I been fucked over." Following instrumental breaks with long tones accompanied by bells and a sampled drum pattern, his voice takes the energy before the vocal processing seems to distance himself from the mic while he speaks from the viewpoint of those he is distancing himself from, "They looking like 'Peggy/let's see some receipts,'" before returning to his original energy level the next line, "Everything I say I do/Gon' get did." This could all be taken together to view JPEG as distancing himself from those who would take his words, actions, or products and distort them beyond their intended purpose. Examples of this can be seen anywhere from his beef with Elucid of Armand Hammer to how his deteriorating relationship with his record label led to a frenetic 2021 release schedule.

After opening with a slowed and reverbed sample, the roiling bass enters on "DIRTY!." Riding this aggressive undercurrent of low frequencies, Peggy surfs on the beat. On this track he does everything from reference past influences, "Momma used to bump Luther, no Beatles," to following the same themes of keeping all of his musical work in his own hands, "Pull it out they be mumbling like sims/and I don't need twenty n***** tweaking synths." He also takes time to criticize the rappers surrounding him in the industry of following uninspiredly in his footsteps, "Who you gon call when the trends all die/N***** follow I been walking my path the whole time."

"NEMO!" begins with burbling keys that sound like an 8-bit game booting up. They then settle on a stable lead line as the vocals begin with a bold verse against Peggy's opposition, "I don't back down." He stays in a low vocal energy level, which makes the chorus hit that much harder when it enters with a near-shouted, "BUCK!" like a gun going off. He goes on to acknowledge the confrontational style of his music and label himself as better than the competition, "All of my songs a diss/I might just ghostwrite a hit/They know that's money well spent." Between the two final choruses, a reverberant round of synths spells out warm chords underneath the existing keys pattern before the chorus returns, this time following with glitched-out hits for contrast. After a distorted vocal passage during which the keys drop out, they come back at the end, flimsier and more reedy as they outline one more lead melody.

"END CREDITS!" opens with a sample from AEW Dynamite in which an announcer screams in reference to being carjacked, "You know what I do? I pull out the Glock, put it on his forehead, and spill his brains all over the concrete!" As this sample plays out and the aggression is ramped up, a distorted sample of "Monomyth" by Animals as Leaders slowly enters and grows in volume. By the time Peggy enters, this track is a cacophonous, punky rager. The vocals follow this direction, as the lyrics mirror the same punk-informed attitude of flouting convention and personal trauma, "Bitch I write a scene on your life/And I only rap out of spite/Loss is the theme of my life."

*With a beat this good, you start with the producer tag. That's exactly what JPEGMAFIA did on "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" before gorgeously flipping "Ain't No Need to Worry" by Anita Baker and the Winans, and in so doing creating something equal parts soulful and braggadocious. Hampered by sample clearance issues, this tracks is the first of many improvements over the "online" version made available on streaming platforms. Over constantly shifting flows, the lyrics go in on his label, "Labels like burners/Just use em' and toss/I took a shot and like Moses they part," flexing his hard-won status, "Stocked up on weapons and pussy and cars/Just thought you should know," furthering the intimidation against those who would beef with him, "These veggie grill n*****/Don't really want beef," and criticizing those performatively supporting Black artists, "Why does your Black feel like business to me?/Industry lies never line up on screen." When the song ends with a lingering hollow tone taken from the bass, it only leaves you wanting to click repeat.

*Serving as a smoother cut after the previous track, "GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY!" opens with a sampling of "Psalms" by Thomas Whitfield. Among its twinkling keys and cymbal rolls, Peggy's rapping joins the backing vocals as if to place himself inside the sample itself. The track takes the time to assert his creativity, "I'm a young Frank Zappa/Y'all Sarah Palin," and following a glitchy and quietly frenetic outro, this interlude flows into yet another album highlight.

"WHAT KINDA RAPPIN' IS THIS?" opens with a chilled-out intro before transitioning into a psychedelic and swirling collection of keys and tones. The drum pattern solidifies almost a full minute in before undergoing a slight tempo change and pitch shift as Fred Hammon's "More of You" materializes. As the vocals from the sample begins, JPEG asks the question all his fans asked after stumbling on his music, "What kind of rapping is this?" He then proceeds to ride the shit out of the beat as he proclaims his ambition to rattling snare rolls, "Now I'm looking at this one/Now I'm looking at that one/Now I'm looking all over the world." He takes the time to acknowledge the engagement of his fanbase, "Make em follow the script/Like LL when I'm back in the house," and makes references all the way back to the beginning of his discography with The Ghost~Pop Tape, "My pop was a ghost/And my partners ain't shit," to show us that he has, in fact, been this good the whole time.

JPEGMAFIA is an unabashed fan of pop music. Whether it's on "living single" from earlier this year where he interpolates Mariah Carey, or the self-explanatory cut "Call Me Maybe," some of his best tracks include the occasional sudden reference to left-field musical influences. "THOTS PRAYER!" is no different, but its introduction and construction around which the interpolation happens shows his growing creativity and freedom as an independent artist. At the beginning, we are led to believe that this will be another soul-based cut with the sample "Thank You" by Richard Smallwood. However, this doesn't last long before launching into the soundtrack of an 80's anime (Genesis Climber MOSPEADA's スターダスト (Stardust)). Only now, after combining such already disparate musical influences, does the interpolation of Britney Spears' "…Baby One More Time" begin. Through heavy Autotune, JPEG sings the same lyrics with minimal changes to the wording as the bass slinks in at the beginning of the chorus. The next verse is buoyed by a plush drum pattern over restless lyrics, "I ain't relaxed yet/Taking a break from these albums I'm gassing." During this, he describes how he sometimes recalls the difficulty he has suffered in his life before remembering what keeps him alive: his music. "I get stuck in the past, get to crying/Then remember my path, get to rhyming."

As this album continues, it's as if JPEG is continuously trying to outdo himself. In his restless creativity, "ARE U HAPPY?" contains varied samples from The Beach Boys, Galaxy 2 Galaxy, and "Explode" by The Cardigans in just the intro. When his verse begins, we are treated to another sample, this time from Gangsta Boo's "Hard Not 2 Kill" as he wryly spits, "All of my music is mission impossible/I made the normies believe in a vet." He then notes how his music is still influenced by underground hip-hop and pays his respects to its great artists, "These off-ass beats/Got me blue in the face/Rip DOOM/Through the villain I'm raised."

If "HAZARD DUTY PAY!" showed what JPEGMAFIA can do with a sample, "REBOUND!" shows what happens when he uses his original material. Following a clattering in the drums like a huge machine creaking to life, rolling percussion comes to the fore as Peggy ad-libs, shrugging off the imminent diss track as simply "the truth." While this track is not only directed at Armand Hammer's Elucid, the undertones and aggressive horns accompanying the beat make for a cold-blooded diss track. Drawing ideas from abstract vocalizations from the last few years of rap, JPEG begins with the now-iconic, "When I look at your shit I'm like 'huh?'/When I look at my shit I'm like 'AHHHH.'" After a savage chorus and verse, "D-0 N-O-T fuck with me," "Last n**** tried me broke and lying/Baby I heard this man got grilled," one of the album's two features surfaces in the form of DATPIFFMAFIA. With precise and fluid flows, "Full Metal Jacket rappin smackin harder than soap in a sock/Key be to lock, I'm meaner than most/I cleaned up the flow with a broom and a mop," he is able to hold is own against JPEGMAFIA and keep up the energy level amid a more toned-down instrumental passage. When Peggy returns, it features everything you'd want out of a verse from him: pop references mixed in with disses, "He told me to stop dissing his kin/Oops I did it again," and unambiguous slams directly toward Armand Hammer, "N***** named after baking soda/But ain't never touched no fucking coke in your city." As if that weren't enough to make for a classic among JPEG's discography, the track ends with an outro in the form of a funky bass line perfectly contained in a way similar to the earlier "NEMO!." While this song has aged due to the recent resolution of the JPEGMAFIA/Elucid beef, the hard instrumental and pure rage that energizes the track makes for a cutting highlight on an album already full of standouts.

*DJ Copyright Violation is at it again on "💯." This track serves as an interlude and heavily samples Young Dolph's (RIP) track "100shots" amid glazed, glitchy synths and slowed and reverbed vocals.

"OG!" samples Just Ice's "Original Gangster of Hip Hop" with some tinny vocal processing and a hard-hitting 808 before JPEG skips onto the beat with a stilted flow and celebrating his freedom from his record label and those that would waste his time and talents, "And when this album over/Work for nobody for free/And when this album over/Work for nobody but me!"

*Disparate influences continue to inform LP! on "DIKEMBE!." Drawing from a Stan Getz sample, this track features more precise and staccato verses before launching into an intermediate melodic passage in which Peggy gets honest about his distress over people manipulating him and altering his work, "I been struggling, babe/Not with money/Not with fame/All my bitches control me with shame." After an extended outro featuring the guitar from Getz's "Saudade Vem Correndo," another highlight follows.

TIRED, NERVOUS & BROKE! - Much like "HAZARD DUTY PAY!," "TIRED, NERVOUS, & BROKE!" starts with the producer tag. This instrumental is derived from Board of Canada's "Roygbiv" and accented by woody percussion as JPEG careens from further referencing past albums, "She bumping Brent/But she black as Ben Carson," to throwing further shots that would go on to inform the boxing imagery of the live tour, "Hit em hard/Swing it left/And get em gone/Pick him up, dust him off/Give him some more." In an extended outro, JPEG and Kimbra discuss an unnamed album before setting up to record a verse of their own in the form of a voice memo.

By simultaneously drawing on Tommy Wright III's "Me Against Da World" and Number Girl's "Num-Heavymetallic," "🔥" contains one of my favorite instrumentals on the entire album. The latter sample enters partway through the first verse along with clattering percussion as Peggy distances himself from mainstream artists and flouting his production ability, "Black man can't depend on sympathy/I feel like hip hop tried to put a hit on me/Pussy n***** put me in a box, belittling, repoed/These beats keep coming like kilos." He then takes the time to note the devotion of his fanbase and their engagement during his rollouts and live shows, "I stay feeding my kids, I'm they government/Baby Reagan, I'm crack on the case."

Between "NICE!" and the following "BMT!," JPEGMAFIA draws samples from Army training cadences. This track takes the role of an interlude with an attributable sample from The US Marine Corp's "1, 2, 3, 4." The sample is paired with an uncredited shamisen line, perhaps in reference to Peggy's previous interactions with Japanese culture and language in his samples and merchandise.

As mentioned previously, "BMT!" is based on a sample of an Army training cadence. While one of the shorter cuts from the album, its brief runtime is filled by one of the nastiest beats of the album. The mix is sludgy, distorted, and hard-hitting, which is paired effectively with staccato-style flows, "Back in this bitch/With a c in the case/All in the gram/But don't be in my face." This track also features one of my favorite lyrical moments as Peggy rattles off criticisms and threats towards his opposition, "All them threats sound fake/A/N***** get shot every day/B/I can't peek yo face/C/This price make him pay."

"THE GHOST OF RANKING DREAD!" opens with a conversation between Tyron Woodley and Jake Paul, in which Woodley states that Paul could go big with "training." JPEG likens this to himself as the beat comes in immediately after with a guest verse from the album's second featured artist, Tkay Maidza. Her smooth vocals form the basis for a digitized and laid-back beat, over which Peggy takes more shots at Armand Hammer, "Chop don't jam/It's like one of y'all beats." The track ends with an instrumental outro featuring a distorted guitar and harder trap percussion before continuing on into the final tracks of the album.

"DAM! DAM! DAM!" derives its sample and title from a clip of season four of Good Times. After an unmeasured synth intro, the rhythms begin in the beat with a familiar sound to some: the percussion from Drake's "Hotline Bling." This is quickly replaced by a boom-bap pattern as JPEG takes this quieter cut to motivate himself to continue working hard for himself, "Keep taking them shots/Till the rim bleed/Till I succeed/Work like little Steve/Working all day, I don't take no sick leave/In my sleep I hear click beats."

*"UNTITLED," JPEG looks beyond the obligations to record labels and anticipates the prospects of his career and taking over the rap game, "Industry done let a wolf in the pig pen." Over a shadowy sample from Floating Points' "Bias," Peggy takes this last track to shade his contemporaries through the lens of pop culture, "These n***** Grey Worm/Straight Unsullied," and embracing a more genuine stage persona, "Boy you scared and you weak plus you dress bummy/I be twerking on stage like I'm Bad Bunny." At the end of the track amid one more abrasive dusting of digitized percussion, JPEG leaves us with the warning, "Don't play with me/Bitch, play PlayStation/It's safer."

* - "Offline" version exclusive tracks

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Favorite Lyrics:

"Styles so slutty/Even you gotta try it." - "DIRTY!"

"Floated right through the pandemic, no limits/Stunted creatively/Don't got a vision/I die for my pride/You be hiding in gimmicks/Glock with a switch/Turn a vegan to spinach." - "HAZARD DUTY PAY!"

"Full Metal Jacket rappin smackin harder than soap in a sock." - "REBOUND! (ft. DATPIFFMAFIA)"

"He told me to stop dissing his kin/Oops I did it again." - "REBOUND! (ft. DATPIFFMAFIA)"

"All them threats sound fake/A/N***** get shot every day/B/I can't peek yo face/C/This price make him pay." - "BMT!"

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Talking Points:

  1. How do you feel about this sample-heavy style from JPEG? How does this compare to when he makes instrumentals using his own/hard to identify material?
  2. In tracks like "GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY!," Peggy almost produces himself into the sample he is using. What do you think about the possibilities of this production style, and how do you think this will (or will not) be explored in JPEG's future work?
  3. In tweets following the album, JPEG has expressed interest in working with the likes of Earl Sweatshirt. Who are some collaborators you would want to see rap with or on one of JPEG's instrumentals?
  4. How do you think the rap industry will be affected by JPEGMAFIA's forced exit from his record label? Would other underground or even mainstream artists follow suit?
  5. What kinda rappin' is this?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

** - Music criticism has always been something I have been interested in, but never had the chance to explore. I appreciate having the opportunity to work on this review by being selected for this year's AOTY write-ups. Since this is new to me, if anyone has any comments or criticisms about my review, I would be happy to look through them! Thanks, and Happy Holidays!

submitted by /u/bassclefharry
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Top 100 Most Streamed Rap Songs of 2021 (Spotify)

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 04:44 AM PST

  1. Lil Nas X - MONTERO 1.189b
  2. Lil Nas X - INDUSTRY BABY (ft. Jack Harlow) 868m
  3. Doja Cat - Need To Know 509m
  4. Polo G - RAPSTAR 493m
  5. Cardi B - Up 410m
  6. Lil Tjay - Calling My Phone (ft. 6LACK) 409m
  7. Saweetie - Best Friends (ft. Doja Cat) 329m
  8. Drake - Wants and Needs (ft. Lil Baby) 323m
  9. Sleepy Hallow - 2055 272m
  10. Drake - Way 2 Sexy (ft. Future & Young Thug) 244m
  11. Doja Cat - Ain't Shit 237m
  12. Drake - What's Next 221m
  13. Drake - Fair Trade (ft. Travis Scott) 216m
  14. Doja Cat - Get Into it 214m
  15. Trippie Redd - Miss The Rage (ft. Playboi Carti) 210m
  16. Drake - Knife Talk (ft. 21 Savage & Project Pat) 204m
  17. Russ Millions x Tion Wayne - Body - Remix (ft. ArrDee, E1, ZT, Bugzy Malone, Buni, Fivio Foreign & Darkoo) 195m
  18. Kanye West - Hurricane (ft. The Weeknd & Lil Baby) 179m
  19. Drake - Girls Want Girls (ft. Lil Baby) 177m
  20. Playboi Carti - Sky 173m
  21. Post Malone - Motley Crew 170m
  22. Megan Thee Stallion - Thot Shit 165m
  23. Cochise x $NOT - Tell Em 162m
  24. Lil Baby - On Me 159m
  25. Jack Harlow - Way Out (ft. Big Sean) 155m
  26. Lil Tjay - Headshot (ft. Polo G & Fivio Foreign) 154m
  27. J. Cole - m y . l i f e (ft. 21 Savage & Morray) 150m
  28. Baby Keem - family ties (ft. Kendrick Lamar) 149m
  29. J. Cole - p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l (ft. Lil Baby) 147m
  30. Juice WRLD x The Kid LAROI - Reminds Me Of You 145m
  31. bbno$ - edamame (ft. Rich Brian) 144m
  32. Kanye West - Praise God (ft. Travis Scott & Baby Keem) 142m
  33. Young Thug x Gunna - Solid (ft. Drake) 138m
  34. Juice WRLD - Bad Boy (ft. Young Thug) 137m
  35. Lil Tjay - Run it Up (ft. Offset & Moneybag Yo) 131m
  36. Kid Cudi - Show Out (ft. Skepta & Pop Smoke) 130m
  37. DJ Khaled - EVERY CHANCE I GET (ft. Lil Baby & Lil Durk) 120m
  38. Internet Money - His & Hers (ft. Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert & Gunna) 120m
  39. Kid Cudi - Tequila Shots 118m
  40. Roddy Ricch - Late At Night 117m
  41. Lil Tecca - NEVER LEFT 112m
  42. Kanye West - Moon (ft. Don Toliver & Kid Cudi) 109m
  43. Kanye West - Off The Grid (ft. Playboi Carti & Fivio Foreign) 109m
  44. J. Cole - a m a r i 107m
  45. Drake - Lemon Pepper Freestyle (ft. Rick Ross) 106m
  46. Drake - Champagne Poetry 105m
  47. Joyner Lucas x Lil Baby - Ramen & OJ 104m
  48. A1 x J1 - Latest Trends 104m
  49. Tyler, The Creator - WUSYANAME (ft. Youngboy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign) 104m
  50. 24kGoldn - Coco (ft. DaBaby) 103m
  51. YBN Nahmir - Opp Stoppa (ft. 21 Savage) 101m
  52. DaBaby - Masterpiece 100m
  53. J. Cole - i n t e r l u d e 96m
  54. DaBaby - Ball If I Want Too 95m
  55. Lizzo - Rumours (ft. Cardi B) 92m
  56. Pop Smoke - AP 91m
  57. 42 Dugg - 4 Da Gang (ft. Roddy Ricch) 91m
  58. DaBaby - Red Light Green Light 89m
  59. The Kid LAROI - Not Sober (ft. Polo G & Stunna Gambino) 88m
  60. Polo G - GANG GANG (ft. Lil Wayne) 86m
  61. Lil Durk - Still Trappin (ft. King Von) 85m
  62. Drake - No Friends In The Industry 82m
  63. Moneybagg Yo - Time Today 82m
  64. Juice WRLD - Real Shit (ft. Benny Blanco) 80m
  65. Migos - Straightenin 80m
  66. Young Thug x Gunna - Ski 79m
  67. SpotemGottem - BeatBox 3 (ft. DaBaby) 78m
  68. Kanye West - Jail (ft. JAY-Z) 77m
  69. Drake - In The Bible (ft. Lil Durk & Giveon) 76m
  70. Lil Baby x Lil Durk - Hats Off (ft. Travis Scott) 76m
  71. Dave - Clash (ft. Stormzy) 75m
  72. Jack Harlow - Already Best Friends (ft. Chris Brown) 75m
  73. Moneybagg Yo - Wockesha 74m
  74. Lil Tecca - REPEAT IT (ft. Gunna) 72m
  75. Machine Gun Kelly - DAYWALKER! (ft. CORPSE) 71m
  76. NF - CLOUDS 71m
  77. Central Cee - Commitment Issues 71m
  78. Central Cee - Obsessed With You 70m
  79. Smiley - Over The Top (ft. Drake) 69m
  80. Mooski - Track Star 69m
  81. Drake - TSU 69m
  82. Rod Wave - Richer (ft. Polo G) 69m
  83. Lil Baby - Real As It Gets (ft. EST Gee) 68m
  84. Meek Mill - Sharing Locations (ft. Lil Baby & Lil Durk) 68m
  85. Lil Baby - Errybody 68m
  86. ArrDee - Oliver Twist 67m
  87. Eminem - Gnat 67m
  88. Drake - Papis Home 67m
  89. DJ Khaled - I DID IT (ft. Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby & DaBaby) 66m
  90. BIA - Whole Lotta Money 65m
  91. Drake - Love All (ft. JAY-Z) 65m
  92. J. Cole - 9 5 . s o u t h 65m
  93. Skylar Grey - Last One Standing (ft. Polo G, Mozzy & Eminem) 63m
  94. Juice WRLD - Already Dead 62m
  95. Polo G - No Return (ft. The Kid LAROI & Lil Durk) 62m
  96. Baby Keem - durag activities (ft. Travis Scott) 61m
  97. Jack Harlow x Pooh Shiesty - SUVs 60m
  98. Lil Durk - Hellcats & Trackhawks 60m
  99. Nicki Minaj - Seeing Green (ft. Drake & Lil Wayne) 60m
  100. Migos - Having Our Way (ft. Drake) 60m

Heres the playlist (Safe Option if you're Hosting NYE): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0sM190jg3gKyZrVZA9NF43?si=b51d21367a254344

Additional Stats:

Most Songs on the List:

  1. Drake 13
  2. Kanye West 5
  3. J. Cole 5
  4. Lil Baby 5
  5. Juice WRLD 4

Most Features on the List:

  1. Lil Baby 7
  2. Travis Scott 4
  3. Polo G 4
  4. Drake 4
  5. Lil Durk 4

Rappers who appeared in last years list who didn't this year;

Powfu

Lil Mosey

StaySolidRocky

6ix9ine

NLE Choppa

Mac Miller

S1mba

G-Eazy

G Herbo

Lil Yachty

Tory Lanez

Bankroll Hayden

$uicideBoy$

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie

CJ

Aitch

AJ Tracey

iann dior

Money Man

Rappers appearing in the list for the first time;

Cochise

$NOT

ArrDee

Baby Keem

42 Dugg

Moneybagg Yo

SpotemGottem

Central Cee

Smiley

Mooski

BIA

Pooh Shiesty

submitted by /u/Trenticus7
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[DISCUSSION] /r/hhh predicts 2022 in hip-hop

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 09:00 AM PST

It's that time of year again! It's been exactly 365 days since last year's edition - what's going to happen this year in hip-hop?

[EASY MODE] The Forever Story is yet another critically acclaimed album by JID, but his newfound exposure via Enemy means it'll also sell more than his previous works. Following the album, JID goes on a lengthy feature run and establishes himself as significantly more of a household name.

[HARD MODE] Kendrick Lamar actually drops the album... but, to the surprise of many, it's his foray into Baby Keem-style art trap. It's critically slammed on release, but ends up on most people's AOTY lists - this one's a grower, Carti-style.

[NOSTRADAMUS] I will keep on predicting Kenny Mason blowing up every year until it happens, y'all better not make me do it again. Also, SAINt JHN lands a top 10 hit with one of the singles off Collection Two thanks to a TikTok trend (NOT for the obligatory Imanbek remix either) and firmly establishes himself as a household name as he really should be by now.

[WISHFUL THINKING] Pushlib. Or, even better, PushGibbs (with production from Ye, Pharrell, Madlib, and The Alchemist).

[GOD PLEASE] Once again, I ask that Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan finally reconcile and start working on Tha Tour Pt. 2.

submitted by /u/shitcanget
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Sunday General Discussion Thread - December 26th, 2021

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 07:44 AM PST

what's the deal with eggnog

hope you all had a good Christmas

submitted by /u/HHHRobot
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Philthy Rich Gives Away Toys & Bikes In His Hood For Christmas!

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 05:44 AM PST

On the Metrical Techniques of Flow in Rap Music

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 07:55 AM PST

GOOD Music - Christian Dior Denim Flow

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 10:13 AM PST

[LEAK] PARTYNEXTDOOR x Young Thug - Stop Calling The Cops

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 09:26 AM PST

LIL WAYNE - Gossip LIVE Performance

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 10:10 AM PST

Eminem - Ricky Ticky Toc

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 09:10 AM PST

[FRESH] AnkhleJohn – Lordy Season

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 05:37 AM PST

Who are your favorite female lyricists?

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 10:00 AM PST

I don't know if it's my personal internet echo chamber or what but I really don't get introduced to enough hip hop by women, I know there's some legend shit out there but don't know where to look.

Elements of female empowerment, positive message (couched within struggle for sure makes it even more intense, I mean just real shit) ideally please. Not particularly tryna hear paint by number ghostwriting about another sexual perspective or that saccharine bravado or how alluring someone's genitals are lol

Personally love Lauryn hill obviously, chika is the shit, like I want the Kendricks/Coles of female rap not the T.I./futures. I'm sure more will come to my brain that I'll edit this paragraph with, I'm just waking up now so it's all escaping me.

Thanks so much!!!! We have the best words my doods

submitted by /u/roeravid
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[FRESH] Monday Night - CAN'T STOP THE RAIN FREESTYLE

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 05:46 AM PST

Tor / Sufjan Stevens - Dumb I Sound / ATLiens (f. Outkast) (remix)

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 10:55 AM PST

Mello Music Group compilation Mandala coming 1/21 – features Quelle Chris, Apollo Brown, L'Orange, R.A.P. Ferreira, Oddisee + more

Posted: 26 Dec 2021 10:43 AM PST
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