We back for the June 2018 Music Rap Up.
Best Album
KIDS SEE GHOSTS – KIDS SEE GHOSTS
The self-titled album of the Kanye, Cudi tandem is the third album release in a short span by Good Music. Ye and Daytona were both top 10 albums of the year so far. Given this, there were a lot of expectations on this project, and it didn’t disappoint. Everything it attempts it does with a grandeur that feels larger than life.
The melodies are uncanny, the beats ever evolving, and the vocals ran through multiple filters. In turn, it creates one of the most experimental albums I’ve listened to in a while (Veteran by JPegMafia also comes to mind). But it’s the story the album creates that makes it truly special. The story of rising past each of their individual struggles and being “Reborn” into a new place. The songs show a complete transformation in the character of both artists. In the early tracks, they both take on the caricature they’re made out to be; Kanye West being crazy and Kid Cudi being a grizzled singer. As the album progresses, these facades fade and leave what we should remember each artist for.
9/10
Most Surprising
Kanye West – Ye
The musical genius himself returns after the multiple controversial statements by Mr. Yeezy himself. After his fan base threatened to stop listening to him, and the controversy surrounding him, the message around this album would have to be sound both morally and logically. A counter-argument to the complete demolition of his character that millions have partaken in for the last months. Yet Ye doesn’t take that approach at all and banks on his flawed mindset to create relatability, to paint himself as a man with flaws, something he has tried to avoid for much of his career. This openness is refreshing to hear sonically as well.
This album is experimental in many places, including the yelping synthesizers on the track “Ghost Town,” or the serene “Violent Crimes.” “Wouldn’t Leave” is a reflection of Kanye’s statements on his marriage with Kim, which shows that each track shows both the unique and wrong way he approaches situations with. It frames all his judges statements to fit his perception of the world. It’s the openness of the album that makes the project special and gives it a rightful place in Ye’s already amazing discography.
8.5/10
Up-and-Coming Artist
Jorja Smith – Lost & Found
English RnB singer Jorja Smith has been featured on multiple songs in the last year and this project indicates a possible move towards stardom. The album is laced with jazz influence, moody instrumentals, and personal thoughts. Thoughts that questions the loyalty of those around her and the safety of her own self-identity. These propositions are delivered with powerful vocals that seem endless in depth. This strength in her voice carries no matter what topic she’s discussing, even in her most vulnerable points. This forces her to use vocal inflections to show emotions, which she does with flying colors. Even so, it doesn’t exploit the full emotional range of the lyrics.
There are no bad tracks on the album. A couple of songs don’t stand out in any way, as the songs’ instrumental or vocal performance doesn’t try to differentiate itself. But there are for sure a couple stand outs. “Blue Lights” questions why people feel guilty if they haven’t done anything. “Don’t Watch Me Cry” describes the extreme emotions experienced after breaking up with someone, as she questions whether the other person feels anything. The great strides she makes in this album show her talent, but the moody tone that carries through the project doesn’t evolve.
8/10
Most Disappointing
Drake – Scorpion
Musical juggernaut Drake has been in some heat this year. Between the Pusha T beef and the Rihanna comments, his character has been in some question. This album was an opportunity to patch that hole up, and Drake tries his best. But it’s in this attempt that he exposes his biggest weakness, his insane ego. He lacks self-awareness or the willingness to talk about his flaws. This album is a collection of singles that have similar inky, banging beats on the A side, and heart-tugging RnB tracks on the other side. It makes for a decent listening experience, but it feels like another “More Life.” You can’t simply split the album into two very different parts of music, jarring the listener as you switch between A and B side, then act like it’s supposed to be a cohesive project.
I also don’t feel like Drake addressed much of anything pertaining to what I was excited for. Yes, he responded to things Pusha T said and took multiple shots at other people, but I wanted to hear where his mindset was at. How the attacks on his character and brand made him feel. It’s just another Drake product with good songs that keep you entertained, but doesn’t serve a purpose outside of a vibe. “If Your Reading This It’s Too Late” is very similar in that aspect, but it was packaged as a mixtape so fans knew what they were getting into. This didn’t feel like a complete album at all and feels like another collection of singles like “Culture II” or “More Life.”
5/10
Other Notable Projects
Jay Rock – Redemption
Jay Rock, one of the featured members of TDE, released his third album. The introduction of this album to the public was much more fleshed out than previous projects of his. The whole TDE team donated to the hype, which made me feel an excitement I wasn’t anticipating. I was wrong for doing so. Jay Rock seems to surrender his raw nature for melodic choruses and mainstream beats. Not to say all the songs do, because some do stick to his strengths, but most try to be something Jay isn’t.
If he wanted to make his sound more mellow he could have chosen slower beats, changed his flows, or just ask others to deal with choruses/bridges. But no, he feels the need to auto-tune his voice for parts of multiple tracks. It just feels like he wanted to make a project that reaches more than the West Coast audience but instead makes something that doesn’t feel like his. There are still a couple bangers here due to his energy and lyricism. Also, “WIN” is definitely one of the worst songs I’ve heard this month.
6/10
Teyana Taylor – K.T.S.E.
Teyana Taylor is a featured artist on the last Kanye West-produced album that was made in Wyoming. On the project, Teyana displays an elastic voice that contours to whatever instrumental is put in front of her. Through unannounced explosions of fast cadences or randomly reaching for the delicate higher octaves in her voice, she keeps the songs sounding fresh. At no point does the project feel static (static is the arch nemesis of an engaging project).
Most of the songs on the project are about her sexuality, and she understands this enough to lighten her voice to show tenderness. She understands what feeling needs to be exploited to best push the idea she’s expressing. Through it all though, she sometimes struggles with finding something new to say. Your ideas don’t have to be new to make an album conceptually amazing, but you have to provide a new angle.
8/10