Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [Review]

Dark Fantasy
Who would think that Kanye's 5th studio album would open with narration from Nicki Minaj?  The orchestrated entrance is brilliant, building up to one of Ye's smoothest instrumentals EVER...the plan was, to drink until the pain over, but whats worse, the pain or the hangover... (5/5)

Gorgeous (ft. KiD CuDi & Raekwon)
Cudi is the perfect fit for this hook.  Upon listening, the beat becomes very repetitive, but believe me when I say Kanye's flow keeps your interested for about four of the five minute song.  (2/5)
Power (ft. Dwele)
The first single, the number one single, and the hottest thing Kanye's given us since Graduation.  Quote me.  (6/5)
All Of The Lights (ft. 11 Artists)
Ya know sometimes things just weren't meant to be.  It's an incredible accomplishment for all eleven artists to collab on something and have it sound this good, but too be honest, it's just to much.  I mean, I didn't know this song was mainly Kanye West ft. Fergie.  (3/5)
Monster (ft. Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, & Bon Iver)
Damn does this one bang.  If Nicki Minaj wasn't on this cut, I would say it is a top 3 song on the album, but this girl---i dont even know what to say.  Nicki fans love the song, everyone else thinks its been ruined.  Aside from that, Kanye absolutely shreds his verse and Hov obviously delivers. (3.5/5)
So Appalled (ft. RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, & CiHi Da Prynce)
Oh there it is, the banger of the album.  I have had this one on repeat since its G.O.O.D Friday debut.  The hook couldn't get more annoying by the last verse, but its catchy as hell in the beginning.  Awesome song for CiHi to be featured on. Fuckin ridiculous.  (4.5/5)
Devil In A New Dress (ft. Rick Ross)
Who knew the first G.O.O.D Friday leak would be the centerpiece of Ye's album.  This song right here is why Kanye West should produce every song he is ever on.  No one in the game is capable of a sample like this.  And the flow ontop of it?  Rick Ross holds his loads ofweight.  (5/5)
Runaway (ft. Pusha T)
Never really got sucked into it.  Its a masterpiece in itself but after seeing it with so many intense ballet visuals, the audio sounds kind of dull after a while. The honest fact is that I'm just never going to request this song on someone iPod.  The hook is so ironically perfect and that is what makes Kanye the shit.  (2/5)
Hell of a Life
I want to know what song he sampled here or if its just a nasty little riff.  Either way, this song has me hooked.  Speaking of the hook, it needs work, but I still dig it.  This is one you'll forget about but love it when you remember it years to come.  (4/5)
Blame Game (ft. John Legend)
If this album was Graduation, this one would be Everything I Am.  Smooth as anything you've ever heard.  Its definitely long but has some funny Chris Rock editing toward the end.  In the middle there is a panning of deep voices.  Through laptop speakers it might sound bizarre, but with headphones on, the effect is impressive.  I really like this song.  (4/5)
Lost In The World
This one just doesn't do it for me.  Can someone turn the autotune off? (1/5)
Who Will Survive in America
Simple Outro.  Beat is hot. (3/5)
Overall
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is unlike anything Kanye has ever done.  As we saw with 808's & Heartbreak, Kanye can really go wherever he wants with him music.  I would say that many of these songs would sound out of place alone, but the cohesiveness as an album is remarkable.  Kanye never disappoints, and I obviously stamp my sign of approval on this one.  Go buy it and support hip hop music!

Asher Roth- Asleep In The Bread Aisle Review

As I Em (ft. Chester French)- This is Asher’s tempo in my opinion.  Kind of a whack hook, and the beat definitely gets repetitive.  2/5

 Bad Day (ft. Jazze Pha)- I know Mr. Roth loves these kind of “Brittney Spears” beats.  He kills them on his “The Greenhouse Effect” tape.  Another really weak hook.  2/5

 Be By Myself (ft. Cee-Lo)- This is more what I’m talking about.  Cee-Lo does his job, and Asher changes up his flow a little bit.  Definitely more toward rock then hip-hop, but real mellow.  3.5/5

 Blunt Cruisin- I don’t know if I like this song just because it’s the first song I’ve heard about an L Cruise or because its just real funny.  I can fuck with this no doubt.  I remember hearing this live over winter break at his show in Brooklyn.  Definitely one of my favorites.  “Don’t roll the windows down…” 3.5/5

 Fallin- I know everyone does one or two of these meaningful piano songs per album, but like, I don’t like them…haha..continue to the next song…1/5

 His Dream- Ok.  Asher if your reading this I understand that not everyone wants to make club bangers and an album, especially your debut, is usually everything you have.  You don’t talk about the girls and the money.  You talk about things like, your dreams, your ambitions, etc.  So I understand why these songs are here.  I just don’t in particularly like slower songs…1/5

 I Love College- Everyone has heard it…4/5

 La Di Da- I remember hearing this one at the Brooklyn show also.  Just a real catchy song.  Asher does his thing for sure, definitely one of my favorites.  4/5

 Lark On My Go-Kart- This beat is just nasty.  It’s the perfect fit for him.  No one could have killed this like Ash does.  Ash Roth be the king of the blumpkins.  BUMP THIS. 5/5

 Lion’s Roar- It sucks that Busta is on this song just because he absolutely destroys it and just makes Asher’s verse’s seem…mediocre.  Still- this is a cool song.  It reminds me of B.O.B by OutKast.  (If you don’t what that song is go on youtube immediately, listen to it, and then never listen to hip-hop again haha) Asher- 3/5 Busta- 5/5

 She Don’t Wanna Man- A new feeling.  Nothing impressive, but I listen to a lot.  Asher needs to work on his hook….2/5

 Sour Patch Kids- One of the best on the album.  Real up-tempo and a great fit for Asher’s flow.  Asher also kills it acapella in the 2^nd verse.  3.5/5

 Overall- I was a little disappointed.  I hate to start this overall review with that phrase but it was.  I don’t know what I was expecting from Asher but this just isn’t doing it for me.  Sure there’s some good songs on here, but there is also a lot of “not-good” songs.  I will give Ash this.  This album is NEW.  It is a breath of fresh air for hip-hop.  His personality is what I like to see in the hip-hop world. I am still an Ash fan and I’m still going to bump this in my whip.  We goin blunttttt cruuuissssin…

 

Asleep In The Bread Aisle: 3/5

The Pink Lavalamp Review

Charles Hamilton: The Pink Lavalamp

Music (Intro): When this beat hit I knew this album was going to be something special. This beat is absolutely crazy, maybe his best besides Stutter. The message behind this song is real powerful, especially when Mr. Hamilton spits, “if you would rather sing then breath…” (4/5)

Loser: The flow for this song is real tight. It fits the “whale-like” orchestra in the beat (they sound like whales to me lol). The hook doesn’t quite do it for me but it’s still pretty straight. (3/5)

She’s So High: The beginning intro is way too long but when the quiet synths hit, you can tell this song is going to be a chill flow. This is the Charles Hamilton I’m more familiar with from Outside Looking and Sonic The Hamilton. I don’t think this song would ever be played on the radio but sometimes those are the best songs… (3/5)

Voices: Out of the first four songs this song is the best lyrically. The airy guitar in the background really ties the song together. I’d say this is one f the top songs on the album. (4/5)

Boy Who Cried Wolf: I wish that this song wasn’t so…symmetrical. That word doesn’t even make sense for this but it’s the best way I can describe it. It’s like the same thing over and over again, not lyrically but flow wise. I do think the trumpets in the back are hot though. Just too slow for me.(2/5)

Let Me Live (ft. Bagdad): This beat is crazy. It’s like mellow yet upbeat, and the hook is straight. It’s nice to see someone featured since it’s just him in the first five songs. (3.5/5)

Brighter Days: This song sounds like it should be on Outside Looking. The jazzy riff is real soothing and it’s just a straight smooth track. Nothing else really to say lol. (4/5)

The Cookout: Just a real mellow song. It gets kind of boring to me after a while. Just real slow and sluggish. (2/5)

Sat(t)elite: This is a totally different sound then anything so far on the album. This song is just as slow as The Cookout but it’s a totally different sound. The guitar is just real mellow and real relaxing. The hook is real catchy. I’m diggin this. A lot. Chill. (4/5)

Live Life To The Fullest (ft. Yung Nate): Best song so far. It’s nice to hear some more up-tempo stuff on this album and I really like Yung Nate. When I saw Charles and Nate at Ithaca they both killed it. I wish there was more music like this on this album for sure. I could defiantly rock to this. (5/5)

Come Back To You: When I first heard this I didn’t like it. After listening a few more times it really is well done. Mr. Hamilton raps with more attitude and passion on this track then any of the others in my opinion. Really, really relaxing… (3.5/5)

Latte: I enjoyed it for the first minute but after a while it got kind of boring. Just nothing too special… (2/5)

Shinin: I think I only like this song because of the cool beat but there is something in this song that I do really like. Charles Hamilton is a lot different then other rappers. What I love is that in every few songs is that he talks a little bit and makes a few jokes, and enjoys himself. It’s one thing to always rap, its another thing to change it up a little bit. (3/5)

I’ll Be Around (Outro): This song does kind of wrap up the album (to me at least). It’s mellow but a different kind of mellow then everything else. What I like about the lyrics in this song is how Charles actually kind of “yells” at the listener. It’s what I was talking about before about how he doesn’t just rap. Something as simple as cutting off the beat and saying, “don’t make me interrupt this verse again” really creates the image that he is talking to you personally, just one small thing that a lot of rappers don’t do. The passion in this song is crazyy. (4/5)

Writing In The Sky (Bonus): This is my favorite song on the album. The sample is crazy and the hook is so dope. This is the kind of song that I could listen to on repeat and never even notice that it ends and starts again. It’s a powerful song that is very well produced. (5/5)

Pink LavaLamp is defiantly a dope tape that I suggest downloading. Charles has some powerful messages and the production value on this album is fantastic. I will say that there are a lot of mellow tracks but the few bangers that there are are pretty ill. I would say that this is the best product that Mr. Hamilton has put out since Outside Looking to the internet world. Remember this. Charles Hamilton will be a rap superstar soon enough. Overall: (4/5)

*If your reading this thanks for signing my shoe at Ithaca haha

Album Review: Kanye West’s- 808’s & Heartbreak

Album Review: Kanye West’s- 808’s & Heartbreak

Say You Will- This is a very interesting opening. I would have chosen to open the album with Welcome to Heartbreak but that’s a different story. It’s very slow but does the job. Nothing is really too catchy until the hook comes in with Kanye screaming “Hey Hey Hey.” (3/5)

Welcome To Heartbreak (ft. KiD CuDi)- This is a much different track then what leaked on Nov. 11. This is one of my personal favorite songs on 808’s & Heartbreak. It is an extremely powerful song with a fantastic hook by KiD CuDi. If your looking for a banger this isn’t the song. This track is a straight masterpiece. (6/5)

Heartless- This was my most anticipated track off of the album and Kanye did not disappoint. I would say that this is one of Kanye’s best songs just because of the hook. It is so catchy and so explosive that it makes his verses seem very dull. There are two separate songs here. The chorus is its own. I wish Kanye could have made his verses more exciting. The drums in the bridge are dope. (5/5)

Amazing (ft. Young Jeezy)- Its Amazing. Amazing is the one song that has rap on it with Jeezy killin it. What I love about this song is how the beat goes dead before Jeezy’s verse. It really sets the tone for the rap and kind of excludes the rapping verse from the rest of the song. This is brilliant by Kanye. (5/5)

Love Lockdown- I have a theory about Love Lockdown. If Kanye hadn’t performed this song on MTV with all of the hype, I would like it a lot better. In my opinion Kanye made a poor decision debuting this song first. Everyone was expecting a dance banger from Kanye. I understand why Kanye chose this song first; showing the rap audience that this album is going to be very different. Don’t you agree? (3/5)

Paranoid (ft. Mr. Hudson)- When I first heard this song I couldn’t stop singing along. It is very catchy and very futuristic. If you were to describe how Kanye’s album sounds in one song I would pick Paranoid. It is a pretty dope track that is completely different then anything I have ever heard before. (4.5/5)

RoboCop- This is one of the most insane beats that hip-hop has ever seen. There is so much going on yet Kanye finds a way to make it work. This song is absolutely dope. Tell me that everytime you hear this song you don’t sing along. (5/5)

Streetlights- Streetlights takes the album back to where it started with the slow heavy autotune sound. It is a striking song that really catches you. Streetlights is one the few songs that I can put on repeat and not even realize that it has been repeating. (think about that one and you’ll understand) (4.5/5)

Bad News- Interesting. Fast beat slow singing. If I had to choose my least favorite song, this would be it due to its repetitiveness. (your probably reading that saying aren’t all of the songs on this album repetitive? Yes. This one just isn’t as good) (3/5)

See You In My Nightmares (ft. Lil Wayne)- Best song on the album. Fact. Lil Wayne makes the intro interesting. When Kanye comes in “I got my life. And its my only one.” You know the song is going to be dope. Extremely powerful for a song without any drums. Wayne does everything I expected and puts on a solid performance. See You In My Nightmares is a fantastic work of art that really shows what Kanye West is capable of. (6/5)

Coldest Winter- This song is just to depressing. It is wonderfully done but just doesn’t do it for me. If you feel like being depressed then throw this one on your speakers. In all seriousness what happened to Kanye’s mother is terrible and more power to him to be able to write songs about a tragedy that happened to him. Just doesn’t fit the album to me…(3/5)

Overall- 808’s and Heartbreak is dope. (4.5/5)