Home Archive for June 2013

I was gonna do a review on this album but my homie done his thing and gave you another track by track review. To be honest i had already made my mind up bout this album before Wale even started recording but i gave it a chance and yeah, there are some good tracks on here but i still think Cole's Born Sinner is a better album(thats my opinion though). Enjoy! The Gifted out now on iTunes

The Gifted Album Review by Dom Chibanda

So after his last mixtape which boasted one of the hottest singles so far this year ‘Bad ft Tiarra Thomas’ I personally have been looking forward to his album new ‘The Gifted’. The self-proclaimed “Maybach poetical genius” did not disappoint as well on this and lives up to his self-given title.

From the beginning a clear difference to normal hip hop emerges with ‘The Curse of the Gifted’ a track with a soulful feel and catchy hook is a nice start to the album, ‘Love Hate thing ft Sam Drew’ the next track another soulful beat giving Wale a chance to showcase his lyrical skills not talking about the same thing every other rapper in game is on. ‘Sunshine’ an instant head bumping two stepping track with clever word play on how success will come and leave just as quickly.

‘Heavens Afternoon ft Meek Mill’ one of the weaker tracks on the album but saved by a verse from Meek his energy and lyrical content bring a different dimension to the otherwise plain track. ‘Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece)’ a clever track where he raps from the perspective of a Jesus Piece pendant and pulls it off really well. ‘Vanity’ a track that has Wale written all over it, initially thought he was on the bragging thing but he is stating how people will surround themselves with unnecessary things to impress other people. I would say my favourite track the hook is extremely hypnotising as well.

‘Gullible ft Cee-lo’ a great combination between the two artist with Wale not letting down lyrically speaking on the brain washing power of the internet and TV a lot of views which I personally I agree with. ‘Bricks ft Yo Gotti & Lyfe Jennings’ speaks on the dope game an industry he not saying he can from but how some people have just that option, Yo Gotti impressed with a view of a dope boy which gives a different perspective to the track. ‘Clappers Juicy J & Nicki Minaj’ a track that feels out of place on the album, a typical Maybach Music Production but still impressive and can see this being his club banger. ‘Bad ft Rihanna (remix)’ a track which I felt didn’t need a remix if so should have been a lot better that what is on here a step down from the original, disappointing. ‘Tired of dreaming ft Ne-Yo & Rick Ross’ brings Ne-Yo out of his hiding place for a great hook accompanied with Ross and Wale delivering decent verses would say everyone’s favourite track on this album.

‘Rotation ft Wiz Khalifa & 2 Chainz’ thought this was going to be the track that let me down knowing 2 Chainz track record, but he didn’t do badly and Wiz on his usual smoking BS delivers a steady verse and Wale tops it all of eliminating both previous verses. Hands down the best track. ‘Simple Man’ an old skool beat gives Wale a chance to bring his A game and bring it he does almost reminds me of a DMX hook and couldn’t compare his rap style to anyone a unique flow. ‘88’ & ‘Black Heroes’ a great way to finish the album both strong tracks both musically and lyrically.

I would say this is a great album and a must have for everyone as I see this as a new classic which will stand the test of time to come, a breath of fresh air to hear someone not talking about the same old shit that the game is over saturated with.

4.5 Out of 5

Update After bringing Drake out for a surprise performance during Dollar and a Dream show at the Irving Plaza in New York, J. Cole and Drake headed straight to the Best Buy in Union Square to purchase Born Sinner. Album out now, Cop your copy on iTunes and check out the review after the video.

So after two years J.Cole has returned with his follow up album to Side-line Story. Admittedly he had set the bar high from his first album and I like most, feared after he had told his story on how he got to fame he would not impress 2^nd time around, but I can comprehensively say he has not let down on his sophomore Born Sinner.

From the first track ‘Villuminati’ you can instantly tell he has had a lot more creative input and speaking a lot more freely, with an addictive beat and a Biggie sample companied with references to most of the artists in the game he draws you in to the album.

The next two tracks ‘Land of the Snakes’ and ‘Power Trip ft Miguel’ both feature clever word play about women and his past although not the most powerful tracks on the album and do seem to slow the momentum from ‘Villuminati’ they set the pace for the album and again showcase that this album is lyrically strong.

After an interlude ‘Mo Money’ and then ‘Trouble’ another track which has a compelling beat and he tells 3 stories about women and how they can be ‘Trouble’ one of my favourite tracks on this album. ‘Runaway’ the next track which starts off with a Mike Epps cameo has got deep reality in the lyrics which I am sure everyone can relate to something said in the track. I see it being a favourite for most people. ‘She Knows ft Amber Coffman’ with a catchy chorus and a head bumping beat ups the tempo to the album but Cole manages to maintain the level of lyricism he has already show cased.

‘Rich Ni**as’ undoubtedly the best track on the album in my opinion, would write a lot about this track but needs a listen and I am sure most people would agree with me. ‘Forbidden Fruit’ the biggest disappointment on the album. It's not because the track is not good but for the fact its featuring Kendrick Lamar and he does not do a feature verse, he is just on the hook (yes its true he features the best artist in the game now and lets him do just the hook) Shame on you J.Cole.

From then on ‘Aint that some shit’ a really good track although just an interlude could have seen that being his club hit as it boasts a hypnotic beat and catchy hook. ‘Crooked Smile ft TLC’ what seems like a feel good song if I can call it that. Very similar to ‘TLC’s – Unpretty’ basically a song stating to people don’t change yourself, I am sure a lot of the ladies will have this on repeat.

‘Let Nas Down’ what I would say the worst track on this album, a remake of Kanye West's Big Brother (which I didn’t like) the track is an explanation to an issue which no one knew off and gives a shit about. None the less shows the creative freedom he had on this album to feature such garbage. I am sure he had his reasons for it though.

All in all a really good album which you can have on repeat without getting bored of. Born Sinner I would say is almost a new classic album which I would recommend for a listen for both Hip Hop heads and music lovers.

Give it a 3.5 out of 5

Due on June 18th, pre-oder your copy on iTunes and in the mean time stream the album here

Previous Post: J.Cole 'Born Sinner' Album Stream

Thought we’d do something a lil different this time round. We’ve given you two different perspectives of the album. We understand that music is like meat, we all like it served differently and some stay away completely. We are all about equal opportunities but really if you ask me you’d be a fool not to try it. Enjoy!

Yeezus Album review (The Real Deal) by SeanDJ

Been two days since the album has been out and to be honest first time i listened i was like, “this dude has gone mad, who does he think he is.” Truth be told thats the exact reaction Kanye was looking for. This album is not like your average hip-hop album, matter of fact i don’t even think you can call it hip-hop. Its a work of art. You could say Kanye is like the Picasso of the rap game. Started off doing what everyone else was doing (His first Three Albums) then he moved away from the norm and started show casing his artistry a lot more. Its like he came out of his shell. Its very abstract and starts off with On Sight which has a distorted beat which makes u think there is something wrong with your stereo, not to mention it might pop your ear drum. Production is very minimalist and stripped down but it works a whole lot. Yezzy comes through with his usual egotistic lyrics which are very evident on I Am A God. A track that sparked a lot of talk on the internet as it features God himself (way to go Kanye). I could go on about this album all day but I’d rather you listen for your self and make your own opinion about it.

4 Out of 5 (Only because nothing is perfect and there is always room for improvement)

Yeezus Review (Used be a fan of Kanye) by Dom Chibanda

To be honest didn’t know where to begin with this review, a difficult one for me because Kanye lost his appeal to me a few albums ago. None the less I have had a good listen to his new album Yeezus, a massive shock to my system is the kindest words I can say about it.

From the first track ‘On Sight’ you get bombarded with a techno/disco tech type beat which makes you think you might have got the wrong album on you player. A bad start of things to come, at least that’s what I thought. Next track ‘Black Skinned’ a bit less out there with a up tempo beat something I could see Big Boi (OutKast) doing justice but instead there is Kanye talking about how amazing he is which goes on through the whole album and gets a bit mundane .

‘I Am A God’ the next track I was immediately hooked on this, the foul 808 and a Sizzla sample gets your head bumping and lyrically a decent effort from Kanye but repetitive. Initially thought is that it’s blasphemous but he states that there is a God above him and he is a God amongst other rappers. Would have been a the best track on the album but normal is not a word I can use for the end of the track (have a listen)

‘New Slaves’ from this track I gave up on the production and focused on his lyrical content, which in all fairness was half decent and a rare track without him talking about himself. From ‘Hold my Liquor’ the next track I lost my patience with the album a track that is an instant skip for me.

‘I’m in it’ starts of a bit slow but its saving grace for this track was the hook and again I was depressed with Kanye lyrical content even the beat. From this point ‘Blood on the leaves’ was my favourite track on the album a 808 accompanied with a sing a long hook was a would be the easiest to listen to for most people. ‘Guilt Trip ft Kid Cudi’ and ‘Send it up’ are both not bad tracks on the album not anywhere as weird as the rest of it.

‘Bound’ a good way to end the album a taste of what Kanye is about an over sampled beat and humbled lyrics reminds me of his older stuff.

In conclusion I would say this album is for the person who go in a gallery and admire a painting of a red dot and see beauty in it, unfortunately all I see is a red dot there is nothing beautiful about it. He has tried to push the boundaries of music again but I would say was a massive fail, if he could do an album anywhere near to the quality of his first three I would be a Kanye fan again but this was a big miss and not even a grower for me.

1.5 Out of 5 (that’s being generous)