Avelino- Fire In The Booth Part 3

Avelino is a grime artist that I feel is so underrated. I’ll be honest and say that I never gave him a chance when I first heard him. I was ignorant and focused more on the beat and the chorus when he is all about the wordplay. I first appreciated him when I saw his fire in the booth with Wretch 32 and I was blown away by Wretch but I also began liking Avelino. With the release of his album “NO BULLSHIT” Avelino again stepped into the booth and absolutely killed it. It is filled with amazing bars so I’m just gonna break down my favourites:

“Project mode, I’m ready to drop
Always been on fire but I’ve never been on
Inspired by Ready To Die, but I ain’t ready to stop”

He instantly goes in with the rhyming and what I love about the overall song is the beat. It uses Coldplay’s “Adventure of a lifetime” and it just fits so well. Avelino is referencing his new album when he says “Project Mode, Im ready to drop” He then references Notorious big’s album “Ready To Die” as one of his inspirations.

“Running the game instead of running from blue lights”

I liked this line just as it is kind of inspiring as avelino has made it from the streets and he is no longer running from cop cars

“I’m in a polo with some creed on, smelling like Rocky
Balboa, show me the money and I’ll show up
Pull up in a boat full of bitches, I’m Noah”

What I love about this part is the wordplay and it just goes together so smoothly. I also find the Noah part funny (yes that is probably an immature thing to find funny) and I don’t really think theres any hidden meaning behind it.

I could spend hours analysing every word but I feel the best thing is to put the link below for you to listen yourself. Enjoy!

Cozy Tapes Vol 2 – A$AP Mob

I must admit I was slightly disappointed when this album came out. As a fan of Rocky and Ferg I was really excited for this album however it just missed the mark for me. The album was mediocre. My favourite song was RAF which is kinda sad because that was one of the singles that was released before the album dropped and that means there was nothing new that blew me away. I liked “Wrong” which was also released prior to the album and it didn’t even make it on the album. The album to me just sounded too much like any other rap album at the moment. It didn’t have anything that really separated it from the rest. Yes if you want to listen to an album while at the gym or just chilling its good. It is just not enough for me to play on repeat and Ferg’s solo album “Still Striving” in comparison is so much better. The song “Plain Jane” is better than all the songs on this album combined. I think this again brings up the idea that you can have an all star cast of artists on a project but sometimes it can just flop. A recent example of this is “Feels” by Calvin Harris, it features Katy Perry, Pharrell and Big Sean. Sadly I have to endure this horribly composed song everyday I am working as my work has a radio station that loves playing the same pop songs on repeat. I feel this album was too hyped and it built my expectations to a point where nothing could fulfil them. I have hope though because there is rumours Rocky is working on a solo album…

Taylor Swift VS. Kanye West

In the past few weeks theres been speculation as to wether Taylor swift has been slandering and taking shots at Kanye west (metaphorically speaking, she hasn’t fired a gun at him). As a Kanye West fan I was interested to see if these accusations were true. So lets look at the facts-

Her latest album cover

At first glance it doesn’t seem like its slandering Kanye but the devils in the detail. For a start the font of “reputation” looks exactly the same as the one on Kanye’s Yeezy products. The text also overlaps like a certain persons album cover.

It also looks like Taylor is wearing a Yeezy sweater. Of course this could all just be a coincidence…

Her Latest Song “Look What You Made Me Do”

Controversy has also followed the release of her latest song and thats simply because of her opening lines

“I don’t like your little games
Don’t like your tilted stage
The role you made me play
Of the fool, no, I don’t like you”

This of course sounds like she talking about Kanye making a fool of her because he showed that Taylor agreed to be in the lyrics of his hit song “Famous” even though she was saying he did it against her will. Also the fact she says “tilted stage” which sounds familiar

Again this could just be a coincidence or she is talking about someone else who uses tilted stages.

Her album release date

Taylor is dropping her album on November the 10th. This date doesn’t sound like it has any significance but Kanye West super fans were able to work out quickly this is the anniversary of Kanye West’s mothers death. This would be low blow if this was meant on purpose, Kanye’s mum had an extremely big influence on him. You can see in his albums that they were happy in the beginning but after his mum died they almost got darker. His mums death has also been reported to have an effect on his mentality. We have seen this at his tour when he was having mental breakdowns. The real question is : Would Taylor be so savage enough to drop her album on this date.

 

Conclusion

This is all the evidence i found at the moment and so far it doesn’t look good for Taylor. I don’t think she’s as innocent as she once was and I’d like to think the album release date was an accident. It may be a publicity stunt which is like as it has brought a lot of attention on her new album. We’ll just need to see if her album takes more digs at Kanye!

 

911/Mr. Lonely – Tyler The Creator

Tyler the Creator is back and I’m so happy. He is probably one of the few unique rappers at the moment. He is probably one of my favourites just because of his sense of humour. He just doesn’t care what people think and its an attitude a lot of people wish they could have.  Anyway lets break down the chorus-

“Call me, my name is Lonely, nice to meet you
Here’s my number”

An interpretation of this line (Which I believe is the most accurate) and the overall message of the song is that Tyler answers his phone like an emergency operator (e.g someone answering a 911 call). He basically saying he is lonely and people only contact him when they need help e.g when the need money. Rather than contacting him to see how he is. The song is actually pretty sad although it seems upbeat. Frank Ocean also delivers some vocals which suit the song perfectly. Frank and Tyler are good friends and they even used to live in a suburb in Los Angeles together before fame. So it seemed a no brainer for the two to work together at some point on Tyler’s new album.

The song works well at showing the problems with fame and fortune. Although a lot of people can’t really sympathies with this problem it is quite sad to see it in a likeable person like Tyler. Although he has this problem, Tyler still has some real friends like A$AP Rocky and Frank. I thought this was a really well put together song and it gave me a sort of vibe like “Redbone” By Childish Gambino. So I won’t find it hard to hit the replay button on this song!

4 Your Eyez Only Review and Kendrick VS. Cole

This by far the album I have debated over most with my friends . To me this album didn’t live up to the hype and I was disappointed. Cole had some big shoes to fill after “forest hills drive” and I don’t think he filled them. To me the album was just to boring and bland. I felt like it was putting me to sleep. I think he should have just released some of the songs like “immortal” as just singles. I do like cole and I do feel he is a great artist but it wasn’t enjoyable. You know your albums going down hill when you start rapping about doing the laundry. 

Another debate I’d like to settle is Kendrick vs Cole. I would say  Kendrick definetly is better. He is more consistent than cole and that’s what makes him on a higher level. They are both great lyricists but to be the best you need to be consistent aswell. Kendrick’s past albums have been amazing and Cole has seemed a hit or a miss. 

Grateful – DJ Khaled

 

WARNING: This is my opinion and I’m not holding back

 

Wow. I’ll be honest I’ve never heard an album quite like it, and thats not in a good way. I don’t understand how an album with so many old artists can turn into a living hell for my ear drums. Don’t get me wrong their was only 2 songs (Im The One and Wild Thoughts) that I thought “Yeah thats alright”.  The rest of the album is just a mess, there are some good verses but it doesn’t compensate for the rubbish choruses.  Dj Khaled just shouts and after the first song you just want him to shut up. Chance the rapper is wasted and he literally sings the alphabet. Lets be honest if you have a grammy award winning rapper you don’t get him to rap the f***ing alphabet which most kids in nursery could sing. Beyonce and Jay z don’t do themselves any justice either. This album is a prime example of how it doesn’t matter what big artists you have, you’re album can still be s**t. I’ll be honest I didn’t like his last album but looking back, it wasn’t near half as bad as this. Khaled for the past 3 years has released 3 albums, this either shows commitment or that he’s rushing. I think he’s just releasing stuff too quickly, he could easily take his time and release 12 songs that have been perfected instead of 22 songs that are unbearable. Overall this album is the worst thing I have listened to this year (Maybe all time), it could have been so much more but instead it fell at almost every hurdle. Khalid also needs to learn that shouting ” We da best” isn’t going to make the song sound any better…

 

Damn. – Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is one of my favourite rappers and the news of his new album sent my brain into a frenzy. I was wondering: Whats he going to rap about now? Who’s it going to feature? Will it be the first Kendrick Lamar album I don’t like?

This album is amazing! I know their is a bandwagon that comes around whenever Kendrick drops something but I’m not part of it. I have been a fan since “good kid m.A.A.d city” I do not claim to be a fan of Kendrick since day one but I have been a fan for a long enough to pass a fair judgement on the album. I can honestly say I was not disappointed at any point throughout listening to this album.

The album starts with “Blood.” a song about Kendrick offering to help a blind women but she shoots him. The blind woman represents the consequences that lead to Damnation (where people are condemned to internal punishment in hell). This may seem confusing but the album is actually made up of two storys. The first where you listen to the album from start to finish. This is a story of kendrick being damned and killed for his sins.

Or if you play the album in reverse starting with “Duckworth”, its a story about Kendrick redeeming his soul from being cursed because of the actions of his father Ducky and Top Dawg.

This is what the intro is meaning when it says:

“Is it wickedness?
Is it weakness?
You decide
Are we gonna live or die?”

It is up to the listener to decide if its a story of redemption for Kendrick or its a story where Kendrick is punished fro his sins.

One of my favourite songs on the album is “LOYALITY.” which features Rihanna. The combination of Kendrick and Rihanna is nice to hear and it feels like was an obvious combination and I’m really glad it happened. Its just an overall good song to listen too.

I’m also glad the song “XXX.” wasn’t a disaster because I have never heard a U2 song I liked. I remember going through the struggle a few years ago of trying to remove their album from my iPod as iTunes decided to gift it to every apple customer whether they liked it or not. However this song is so intriguing and they are only in it a matter of seconds so they didn’t have much time to ruin it.

“GOD.” Is also a song, I just hit replay on. Its light hearted and its just a nice listen. The chorus of the song is also so catchy and infectious.

“Humble.” is one of the best songs on the album. The lines are so quotable and its just a catchy song. The beat produced by Metro Booming is also so different that its just fire. I’m always feel hyped when I listen to it.

Overall this album is solid and it will probably go down in history for being a classic. It has solidified the idea in my mind that Kendrick is one of the greatest rappers alive. It shows that he is consistent. He has released so many albums that are considered classics. Rappers can spend years working on an album and they can not come close to this one. He is a master lyricist and way too smart for me. I have spent hours reading the meaning to his lyrics and I’m amazed. The content in his songs is another standard of rapping that many can only dream of producing.  This album will probably be one of the best albums of the year and probably one of the best albums I will hear in my lifetime.

TEMPTATIONS- Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$ dropped his new album “ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$” on Friday the 7th. From the songs on the album I decided to review “TEMPTATIONS” Something about this song makes me want to replay it over and over. The song seems upbeat but the song has a simple message : why should someone’s skin colour and ethnicity have bearing on their  worth?

The song starts with an excerpt from a speech given by Zianna Oliphant:

“I come here today to talk about how I feel
And I feel like that we are treated differently than other people
And I don’t like how we’re treated
Just because of our color doesn’t mean anything to me”

Zianna is a 9 year old, who in September 2016 did a speech in a council meeting in North Carolina. This was just days after Keith Lamont Scott, a 40 year old African American who was killed by police after he was believed to have a gun however his family claim he was holding a book. Footage was released and there was no evidence of him having a gun in the footage. Her speech talks about the injustice that many black people face because of they’re skin colour and this song mirrors her message.

“And I really can’t take it no more
I’ve been fighting temptations, my Lord
I’m young and I’m restless
(And I really can’t help it)
I never felt selfish before
I’ve been living so reckless, I know
Tell me Lord, can you help me?
(I said Lord, can you help me?)”

The chorus is talking about how Joey is struggling to help fight the problem and spread the message: that people shouldn’t be prejudice to each other. He’s been tempted to give up and he’s asking god to help him on his journey. However this album shows that he didn’t give up and he fought his temptations of giving up.

The government been tryna take away what’s ours
It’s really all about the money and the power
I just wanna see my people empowered
Uh, uh, tell me how we gon’ shape this vision
Complainin’ all day, but in the same condition
If you wanna make change, it’s gon’ take commitment

In this verse he basically saying that to fight this problem people need to change the way they are dealing with it. He says complaining is not enough anymore and that conditions won’t change without commitment.

The song itself is really nice to listen to and it has the simple message: we should not have racial prejudice in our society anymore. I think this song is a good way to show this message. It shows it simply and it is effective at doing it. Joey should be proud of this song as it is perfect from start to end.

The Heart Part 4- Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is back and I am so excited. When this song was released i thought it must have been leaked on youtube but then I realised it was on Spotify (thanks to a friend telling me). I have never downloaded a song so quickly in my life. It has not disappointed me at all and has exceeded my expectations. What I love about this song is that it is made up of 3 parts (in my eyes as the beat changes slightly towards the end) but it flows so smoothly. This song contains tons of different meanings so I won’t go into loads of details as I could be writing this for hours. However here is what I found:

“Thirty millions later, my future favors
The legendary status of a hip-hop rhyme savior
Travel ’round the atlas in this spaceship
Candy-coated, my day shift’s
Been devoted to fuckin’ up bundles of paper”

Kendrick starts off by referencing his net worth which he believes is at 30 million and the future is looking better as its likely to rise with his new album and his headlining of Coachella. When he says he is devoted to paper he is referring to writing songs and how he will go through tons of paper to make the perfect song.

“My fans can’t wait for me to son ya punk-ass
And crush ya whole lil’ shit
I’ll Big Pun ya punk-ass, you a scared lil’ bitch
Tiptoein’ around my name, nigga, you lame
And when I get at you, homie
Don’t you just tell me you was just playin’
Oh, I was just playin’, K-Dot
C’mon, you know a nigga rock with you, bro
Shut the fuck up, you sound like the last nigga I know
Might end up like the last nigga I know”

The second beat begins at the start of verse 2. This verse is referencing big pun a rapper who died in 2000. Kendrick is threatening someone in this verse. He is either firing shots at Big Sean or Drake. “lil bitch” is used by Big Sean as one of his catchphrases. He could also be firing shots at Drake. Drake has made references to Kendrick in his songs but he has never called him out by name. On the song ‘For free’ by Dj Khalid, Drake says

“And like your boy from Compton said
You know this dick ain’t free!”

And Kendrick fans will notice this is similar to Kendrick’s lines on an interlude in “To Pimp A Butterfly”

“Yellin’, “One, two, three, four, five
I am the greatest rapper alive!”
So damn great, motherfucker, I’ve died
What you hearin’ now is a paranormal vibe”

My favourite part of the song begins when these lines are said and the beat changes for a second time. Kendrick is saying that he is so great its like he died. This is referencing rappers like Tupac who became legends after they died. Kendrick is claiming he is just as big as they are. I think he’s right, people believe he is overrated but we’re living in a time where mumbling has become common. Rap is needing lyricist’s like Kendrick and J Cole. Don’t get me wrong I do like some mumble rap but most my favourite songs have meaning to them and lyrics that have multiple connotations.

Ho, Jay Z Hall of Fame, sit yo’ punk-ass down!
(Sit yo’ punk-ass down!)
So that means you ain’t bigger than rapping (What else?)
So that means no more playin’ the back scenes (What else?)
My spot is solidified if you ask me (What else?)
My name is identified as “That King”

Kendrick finishes with these lines that also seem like shots at drake. Drake has been reportedly taken shots at Jay z and Kendrick is telling him to sit down as he is not as good as Jay. Kendrick is also talking about drake using ghostwriters when he says “no more playin’ the back scenes” Whats great about this part is he is using one of Jay-z’s motifs from ” I got the keys”

“My baby Blue (What else?)
I dream in color (What else?)
That’s too much flavor (What else?)”

This is quite funny but also smart on Kendrick’s part. The piano in the background of this beat make it seem so dark and I like it. Kendrick has returned and he is taking no prisoner’s. He has hinted at the end of the song that he is doing something on the 7th of April and I can’t wait. This song has reminded me of my love for this rapper. “Good Kid M.a.a.d city” was one of my first proper rap albums and I will always have a place in my playlists for his songs.

“Y’all got ’til April the 7th to get y’all shit together”

One final thing I would like too point out about this song is that it was believed to be written on the 21st of march just after 3 days of Drakes “More Life” release. This could be a coincidence or a big middle finger to Drake as this song has stolen the spotlight from him. Its also a bad sign when memes are being made.

 

 

 

 

All Of The Lights – Kanye West featuring Rihanna

This is my favourite song of all time. That is a bold statement and I stand by it. I have never listened to a song as much at this. If a gun was pointed at my head and I was asked to sing one song to save my life. This would be it. When I talk about this song I’m also talking about the interlude before it on “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” Many people hate Kanye West and I agree recently his ego has reached a new height. However no one can deny his music is amazing. The piano and cello to this song are beautiful and its one of the best intros I’ve ever heard.  The piano is actually played by Elton John and he is actually one of many famous artists that are featured in this song.

The piano is then cut off by:

“Turn up the lights in here, baby
Extra bright, I want y’all to see this
Turn up the lights in here, baby
You know what I need, want you to see everything
Want you to see all of the lights”

This is the main hook of the song and it is sang by the amazing Rihanna. Her voice fits perfectly with the beat and creates such a good sound. The hook is inviting us as a listener to the world the artists live in and also they are educating us in the “Ghetto university“. This represents the streets that rappers learn the lessons of life in some of the most brutal conditions. Kanye is teaching us a lesson he has learnt in life through the use of a protagonist. The persons life has fallen apart but they are trying to pull themselves back together.

“Something wrong, I hold my head
MJ gone, our nigga dead
I slapped my girl, she called the feds
I did that time and spent that bread
I’m heading home, I’m almost there
I’m on my way, heading up the stairs
To my surprise, a nigga replacing me
I had to take him to that ghetto university”

This verse is first referencing Michael Jackson because Kanye feels things are beginning to go wrong in the music world. He then describes the main protagonist who hit they’re girlfriend and they were arrested. They then come home to find that they have been replaced by another man.

“Restraining order, can’t see my daughter
Her mother, brother, grandmother hate me in that order
Public visitation, we met at Borders
Told her she take me back, I’ll be more supportive
I made mistakes, I bumped my head
Courts sucked me dry, I spent that bread
She need her daddy, baby please
Can’t let her grow up in that ghetto university”

The protagonist is now describing the fact he has a restraining order and the long list of family members who hate him.  He then raps about making promises and trying to be a better man to his girlfriend because he doesn’t want his daughter growing up like he did.

“Getting mine, baby
Got to let these niggas know
Getting right, babe
You should go and get your own”

Kid Cudi then continues by singing the bridge. It is the protagonist finally realising that to make his daughters life better he must sort his out first. This is one of the most emotional part of the songs and its good to listen to. We’ve heard this really sad story but the protagonist is making a come back and he is going to set himself straight for his daughters  sake.

To end the song there is a choir that sing the hook. Then Elton John and Alicia Keys sing a beautiful outro.

The first time I experienced this song I had goosebumps and through thick and thin I have listened to this song. Its about making a come back and standing up for yourself. It is beautiful from start to finish. I will always have a place in my heart for this song!