Update (Lack of posts, future)

Greetings, any readers that I might have.
    I have been slacking with both writing and listening to new music lately. Call it a rut, but I've been more interested in reading and other things like video games lately. I haven't played many records the past week or so, none of which being anything that I should be reviewing. I apologize for my laziness to both myself and anybody who happens to take an interest in my little slice of the internet.
     As I try to ease myself back into a regular schedule of sorts you can possibly expect to see reviews for the following:

Nas - Life is Good
Childish Gambino - Royalty
El-P - Cancer 4 Cure
Ab-Soul - Control System
Rich Kid Sound System - No Cheers For Pioneers
Lushlife - Plateau Vision
XV - Popular Culture
   
This list will change and be expanded upon over the next days and weeks.

Top 5 Hip-Hop Releases of 2012 So Far

1. El-P - Cancer 4 Cure
2. Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva Na Day
3. Killer Mike - R.A.P Music
4. Madchild - The EP Collection
5. Childish Gambino - Royalty



This is more or less off the top of my head. I struggled to even find a 5th place spot. I don't absolutely love Royalty but it's a pretty good mixtape. Big K.R.I.T., Killer Mike, Madchild and El-P made the list very easily.  Check out all of these releases if you haven't already.
2012 doesn't seem to have nearly as many great releases as 2011.
I might update the list if I think of any other artists that have been forgotten.
Honorable mentions list will be updated as I think of them as well.

Honorable Mentions:
1. Tech N9ne - Klusterfuk ep

Thee Tom Hardy - "Guerrilla Broadcast" Album Review

     I've had quite a few albums sitting on my hard drive for weeks and sometimes months that I never got around to hearing. I try to play them whenever I can think of the artists in my queue, but many get skipped over and forgotten. I'm very glad that I ended up listening to the latest Thee Tom Hardy LP on a random pick today.
     Thee Tom Hardy is an independent rapper/producer from North Carolina. Tom, formerly signed to 9th Wonder's Jamla Records, began working independently after, obviously, leaving the label. I can't seem to find much information on Tom so I'll have to leave that at that.
     Guerrilla Broadcast is a highly personal record, but the lyrics are interesting. Some mainstream artists with personal albums tend to have lyrics a little on the boring side (I'm looking at you Kanye). Tom discusses anything from smoking weed to his adventures chasing women. And not just the sex.
     This album has a great smooth, laid back jazzy sound and feel to it. From the beats to Tom's flow this release is just made for relaxing. There really isn't a bad track to speak of on this LP, but if you don't like one track of his you won't like any of them. Each song, sonically, is very similar. But of course this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
     If you're not familiar with this North Carolina emcee you have to put him on your radar and expect more great material in the future.

Stream and free download here

Killer Mike - "R.A.P Music" Album Review

     On May 15th dropped one of the greatest albums so far of 2012. Killer Mike's R.A.P Music. This album was a collaborative effort between Mike and, one of today's best producers, El-P. I had never heard of Killer Mike before this album and hadn't yet bothered to check out El-P. R.A.P Music is Mike's 6th studio album but he hadn't blown up until now, but I'm glad he's getting the respect he deserves.
   
 Everybody has been hyping this record and at first listen I wasn't sure that I liked it as much as everyone else. After another play-through however, I realized it's appeal. Killer Mike is, and everyone will tell you this, similar to old Ice Cube on this release. His aggressive and passionate delivery, coupled with hateful lyrics towards racism and the government bring us right back to 1990's Amerikkka's Most Wanted.
   
 R.A.P Music tackles such issues as police brutality (Don't Die), politician's racist agendas (Reagan) and gang life (Big Beast). But Mike's latest effort isn't just politics. Songs like Jojo's Chillin and Southern Fried are funky and generally fun. El-P's production bumps in the whip.
   
 Every hook on this album is great, but I feel that sometimes the verses don't flow into them very well. That being said, nobody can downplay R.A.P Music's flow in general. El-P truly is brilliant at bringing every track together. El-P's beats are so complex and interesting that they almost overshadow Mike's rapping at times. You need a play-through for paying attention to Mike, and one for the beats to really absorb it all.
 
 R.A.P Music is worth whatever price you find it being sold for. Go buy it and support one of the hottest collaborations in years.

Preview
Digital Download
Order cd or vinyl here

Logic - "Young Sinatra: Undeniable" Mixtape Review/Download

Alright; Logic's latest mixtape. I have mixed views about this project; Undeniable jumps all over the bloody place. When I first heard that, I wasn't sure how much I believed it.It couldn't be that odd, right? Wrong. The flow of this release is very strange, to put it plainly.

  The first 4 tracks, of the 22, are just what one would expect from a Logic release, but tracks 5 and 6 switch it up. Track 5, No Biggie uses the beat from Kick In the Door, by, surprisingly, Notorious B.I.G. This is about the highlight of this mixtape. Following No Biggie is Disgusting, featuring a Big Punisher beat. Again, this track is excellent.

  Track 7 is where this project really slaps you in the face and basically just confuses the shit out of you. Tic Tac Toe is when Logic completely changes the feel of the mixtape, sounding like Mac Miller or something. The release takes a dip here and doesn't pick up again until track 13, Numbers. This is just a great track about money and the problems that follow it, particularly phoney people (I'm feeling a little Mac Miller vibe again).

  By track 15 I'm feeling a little shaky again. Now Logic is trying to be Drake instead of Mac Miller or a thug and I'm not sure I like it. Logic would be a better Drake than Drake, but Drake isn't good nonetheless. This track is not for me, but it will definitely be loved by some. The following track has the same vibe to it, and I don't dig it at all. The same goes for track 17 as well.

  Track 18, Young Sinatra III, is a step back in the right direction. It samples Nas and even feels like a Nas track. Young Sinatra III saves the end of the mixtape for sure; this one is fantastic. The following track is nearly as good, which surprised me after those songs about 3/4 of the way through the mixtape.

  The ending tracks of the mixtape are  more of what we came to Logic for. They allow me to overall, label this a decent mixtape. Its fault is that it seems to lack direction throughout, but can that be excused? After all, it's only a mixtape.

  By the way: if I actually have any readers I'd like to apologize for my prolonged absence.




Download