i know this album was mentioned itt last year, but i don't think it's gotten anywhere near the recognition it deserves here or elsewhere. didn't get around to listening to it until this year, but it's been in steady rotation for months now. it's just so good it's almost miraculous. a "conscious", "abstract" rap album that is exhilarating to listen to both in terms of production, lyrics and flow. when was the last time something like that happened? musta been the cold vein or madvillainy. and this is better than both. so yeah pretty much a miracle
i've always liked billy woods, but imo a lot of the time he's not been able to make engaging songs. on this album that is certainly no longer the case, the production by kenny segal and the mixing is beautifully layered (while still having that knock) and brings out a new focus in him both in terms of writing and flows. the first half of this album is perfection, heavy-hitter after heavy-hitter after heavy-hitter. it does dip a little bit after the centrepiece, a day in a week in a year (which contains two of the best rap verses i think i've ever heard), but the album has a very cohesive mood and the quality remains very very high and engaging to listen to, and he ends the album on a high note with the standout red dust.
i take back my previous statement that (the still great) bartier bounty is my fave from 2019, because this is not only better but one of the absolute top albums of the whole decade regardless of genre. so, check it out if you haven't (and listen on good speakers or headphones)
If anyone is interested - I've been doing my own remixes / beats recently (2 MF DOOM, 1 Pop Smoke). Mostly because I hate the thought of not hearing new DOOM stuff - but also because I play way too much Apex Legends and need to something else.
Kanye has had a lot going on. His family fell apart. He was homies with the most hated man in America. He got on stage in a bulletproof vest at a ‘campaign’ rally and told the world Kim thought about getting an abortion. He now works with the Gap and comes out with so many shoes that are so expensive. He made a weird religious opera and released a gospel album that made me worry his musical career may have been over.
But Kanye’s not famous for being famous. Kanye is the musical genius of his generation. All that ****, the pandemic, his madness, this new album is like ‘I’m forty years old what do you want from me, this is what I do’. And what he does is make great great music. Jail, Off the grid, Hurricane, Ok ok, believe what I say, Moon, a few more and a bunch of part 2s, and
Heaven and Hell where his flow is on some college dropout Jesus walks ****. The production is so tight on the whole thing, he borrows Doo Wop by Lauryn hill, this album is money. Artists don’t put out classic album after classic album like Kanye did from college dropout to life of Pablo. Then this, going so strong after damn near 20 years.. Kanye’s the greatest of all time
Another classic G-Funk track from ATL. 2Pac opening with a great reference to his Same Song verse is one of my favorite things. The music video has some great cameos, too.
Solid track from some of his newer stuff. Disposable Arts is still one of my favorite albums so I should probably check this. Marco Polo is an insane producer, too.
I have been completely obsessed with this whole beef since it started. I'm a massive Kendrick fan and a huge Drake hater, so it's been a blast in that regard. The whole thing has been thoroughly entertaining, but the discourse around it has been fascinating. The two people I've been watching the most are FD Signifier (probably the best YouTuber in the game right now) and another named lil' Bill and both have had a lot of important things to say about it.
This video just came out, and was recorded right before all hell broke loose. It was when Kendrick dropped Euphoria (and won) and before the response. Next week is the follow-up where they talk about everything afterwards, so that will be fantastic.