Drake & Future - What a Time to be Alive
Arguably rap music's two elite players in 2015, who have already proven to have great chemistry on songs like "Tony Montana," "Never Satisfied," "Fo Real," "Where Ya At" and others, coming together to make a mixtape (or album, depending on how you look at it) together for the fans. Apparently this project came together at the beginning of this month and was finished in six days, which seems fast, and it is, but not as fast as one would imagine considering the 6 God's consistent output and Future Hendrix's reputation of making at least four or five songs in a single DAY! Either way, talk about spontaneity!
Some may critique this project as being too focused on Future rather than Drake, but sonically, it's somewhere in between Drake's If You're Reading This It's Too Late and Future's Dirty Sprite 2, both of which dropped earlier this year (and were both great bodies of work). Also, Future and Drake bounce off of each other as they have done in past works. Drake handles the lyrical side of things, while Future maintains the catchiness of the project as a whole. The next Watch the Throne? Nope, but it certainly is a worthwhile project from the two of them, particularly at parties, barbecues and other functions of the sort, and makes the world wonder just what is next for each of these two rap juggernauts.
Lil Wayne - FWA (Free Weezy Album)
After a few years of inconsistencies, at times putting out duds that even the most hardcore Weezy F. stan would find mediocre, Lil Wayne finally regained his footing lyrically sometime around last year, building hype for his long-awaited Tha Carter V. However, despite songs like "Believe Me," "Grindin'," "Gotti" and others being pretty well-received, and a rumored tracklist that looked promising (even including features from Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Big Sean and Mannie Fresh himself) Wayne announced his dissatisfaction with his relationship with his record label, Cash Money Records, and thus, the album was left in limbo.
Many lesser men would have succumbed to such hardships, but not the man known as Lil Tunechi. He upped his game lyrically even further in 2015, proceeding to release Sorry 4 the Wait 2, a mixtape which many described as a return to prime "mixtape Weezy," as well as DESTROYING features for Big Sean, ASAP Rocky, Juicy J, Turk, Curren$y, and others. And the crown jewel of it all? A brand new (free) album from him!
The album itself is criminally underrated, and shows Wayne at his best lyrically (see "Glory," "London Roads," "Pick Up Your Heart," "Post Bail Ballin'"), conceptually (see "He's Dead," "Without You," "Psycho") and just plain having fun with rap again (see "I Feel Good.") With this album, Wayne proved that he's far from washed up, and that if we thought we had seen his best a long time ago, we ain't seen nothin' yet.
Snoop Dogg - Bush
What do you get when Snoop Dogg and Pharrell team up? Well, you get songs like "Beautiful," "Signs," "Drop it Like it's Hot," etc. But what do you get when they do a full album together??? Apparently, something entirely different.
Snoop Dogg has always made it known that he's a child of the funk, and has always incorporated that in his music, ever since he and Dr. Dre first teamed up for The Chronic. But here, he takes this affinity to the next level with an album full of bona fide funk jams with Pharrell Williams. Opting not to rap on most of these songs, the two provide an atmosphere that both makes you want to relax and dance.
Songs like "Peaches N Cream" (which may be my favorite song of the year so far), "R U a Freak," "Run Away," and "So Many Pros" give us a sound we didn't know we wanted from Snoop, but those of us who heard it were more than glad to have it in our lives. This album is definitely his best since his first, and, in my opinion, in the top two or three of the best albums of the year.
The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death
You can't beat the classics, man...
Some vintage rappers and rap songs tend to sound dated as time goes by, but not Biggie. His super fluid yet lyrical, easy yet complex flow has only aged well in its years. Listening to the rap stars of today, such as Drake, Big Sean, ASAP Rocky and others, it's easy to see who they studied in terms of rap. Biggie was certainly a pioneer, and one of the greatest rappers of all time (arguably THE greatest) but few really realize how much impact he really had on the game as a whole. Not only that, but his songs themselves are STILL hot. (Except "Playa Hater," which I like to not think about.)
If you haven't, do yourself a favor and listen to this album and his first. (I put this album up here because I've been listening to it more lately, and I reviewed his 1st album elsewhere.)
Travi$ Scott - Rodeo
From the moment he stepped on the scene, and subsequently aligned himself with the god who is Kanye West, Travi$ Scott has been one of the most intriguing artists in rap. His production is top-notch, and his choices of flows are energetic. While his technical rapping abilities aren't as strong as some, his musicality more than makes up for it. With that being the case, many eyes were on him when it came to drop his debut commercial album, Rodeo.
And it sounds very off-kilter, but also quite beautiful as well. The sounds as a whole is a mix of ATL trap music and Kanye West's experimental Yeezus album, and it yielded to the most hectic album in a while. Scott shows moments of intensity throughout the album, as do his guest features on the album. Swae Lee (of Rae Sremmurd), Quavo (of Migos), Juicy J, Young Thug, Chief Keef, and even Paul McCartney (who plays guitar on "Piss on Your Grave" ft. Kanye West) and a rapping Justin Bieber (who actually holds his own on "Maria I'm Drunk") all show up to join in on the chaos of the rodeo. And, with Hustle Gang general T.I. narrating the album, it is given a sense of cohesion which lets it breathe for a bit amidst the wildness that this album emits.
So, if you want to experience trap music in a whole new light, or just want to turn up, this is the album for you.
J-Pegs - Year of the G (Side B)
Yes, this is my own album. No, it's not out yet. And yes, this part of the post is a shameless plug. But I'm working hard on it, and the music for it is amazing so far. I'll drop it when it's done, but I can't wait for you guys to hear it.
In the meantime, check out Side A right here:
https://j-pegs.bandcamp.com/album/year-of-the-g-side-a
So yeah, those are some of the albums I'm listening to right now. If anyone has anything they think I should hear, be it their own stuff or otherwise, let me know and I'll be sure to check it out.
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