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Camp - Childish Gambino
by bhayanid
Childish Gambino also known by his real name Donald Glover, releases his debut album here on a major record label and you do not get much better than this. Gambino is a multitalented artist. Not only does he rap, but he is also a stand-up comedian and an actor having hard a starring role in the hit show Community. He didn't just get the ... major deal by luck, but has released many mix tapes and independent albums before this and has finally taken his chance here getting a crack at the big time. In the US this album reached no 2 on the top Hip-hop and R&B charts and has sold 168,000 copies in the US so far. Much like my other favourite artist Ryan Leslie, Gambino as well as rapping, also produced and writes his own tracks. As per usual I will review my favourite tracks in the album.
Bonfire
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This is the track that introduced me to Gambino and I was hooked from the moment he starting spitting his lines. He can rhyme and come up with clever puns like any other rapper can. I haven't seen many rappers that can swiftly move from one topic to another, and of course Nas is one of the masters at this, but Gambino isn't far off. 'I make the beat retarded so I'm calling it a slow Jam'. There are many more awesome lines like this one and it is by far his standout quality. It is also an awesome beat, and has a cool chanting voice in the background, but there is no hook here and it is all about Gambino showing off his words.
Heartbeat
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Another one of the tracks that was released from the album and it starts with him singing with electronic enhancements. This track definitely has a hook unlike Bonfire, and it is pretty cool, just singing about how he can't speak when the lady isn't around. It is more of a typical song about girls. But not disrespecting them like you might expect from Lil Wayne. His lyrics are also great here, but it is more aimed around the beat rather than to please the listens with the rhyming words so it is easy to see why this was released as a single.
Kids Keep Up
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Complete change of style here from Gambino and a very sweet track. I didn't even know Gambino could sing until the hook here and he isn't half bad at all. Look he is no Usher but then don't forget this is a rapper singing and fair dues on him trying. He sings about how other people give the girl he likes lots of things, but they are just trying to keep up with him. The rapping flows well with the beat which is effective and very light and has an awesome violin. One of the lines I think is awesome is 'Finding you is like finding Asians I hate'. Basically saying he doesn't hate any Asians so can't find any and hence can't find his perfect girl.
Sunrise
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I just love this track. It is the type of track I can just blast out after a long day at work. There is a heavy beat and Gambino goes at this rapping like it is the last rap of his life. The beat sounds like someone clapping, so I can imagine at a tour everyone clapping along. Of course lyrically he is at the top of his game here like the rest of his album. The hook is a mixture of him singing and rapping and is very catchy although is one of the rare tracks to contain some swear words.
Overall this is an awesome album, not five stars as I don't like to just dish out five stars out to all albums I like, unlike a lot of other people here. There are a few tracks that I am not as fond of, but it is a solid album and it has been a while since this album has been released. I hope to hear more from Gambino as I am a big fan of his rapping style and it is comparable with the likes of Nas and Lupe Fiasco. On 04/11/2012 he stated that he has been working on a new album and that it will bigger and better than anything he has ever done.
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Life Is Good - Nas
by bhayanid
Nas returns here with his best album since Illmatic and one of the best albums of the year. Now as a big Nas fan, for me it will be hard to ever top the Illmatic and this album although very good, does not do so. Don't let that put you off though, as this album is a turning point for Nas and after a few mediocre albums over the last few ... years has proved that he still one of the best rappers in the game.
The main subject matter revolves around his relatively recent divorce from singer Kelis and he has made a conscience effort to go back to his style from his early albums. His rapping had become slightly more commercial lets put it, and I for one never thought he would go back to this sort of rapping. Old school beats with the Nas swerve from Illmatic. I heard someone else say that this has a very nostalgic feel to it and I couldn't describe it better myself. As usual I will review my favourite tracks from the album.
Life is Good
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The first track I heard from the album, and the moment I knew Nas was back with a bang. It features Mary J Blige who is as great as ever. Vocally she is excellent and nails the hooks whilst Nas nails the flows in the raps. It is the catchiest track on the album and very upbeat. The lyrics are also very thought provoking and he talks about how rich he is which makes it hard to maintain his routes. Also he spits another awesome liar, about how it's awkward that he has become greater than the legends he grew up looking to. I highly recommend youtubing this track.
Cherry Wine
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This track stands out the most as it features the late Amy Winehouse. They recorded it a couple of years ago and it is great to hear Amy's voice again. I can't say I was her biggest fan, and definitely not of her drug fuelled lifestyle, but she has a unique voice. With the 80's style beat you cannot ask for a more complementary voice. Nas hits the ground running here, and whilst the flow isn't as smooth as Life Is Good, it is still equally as effective.
Roses
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This one has a bizarre hook, with a slightly electronic sounding woman. Clearly they have added some effects to the voice, but it all adds to the track. This track I love due to the lyrics, rather than the beat. He raps so many puns and rhymes everything together with topics ranging from tax brackets, going to hell, relationships. It is like a million topics all rolled in to one song, but essentially it relates to Kelis as most of the album does. I could be wrong though and it could be another woman. The beat is quite mellow and simple at the same time. If anything I would describe it as haunting, especially with the hook. Definitely not one to lighten your mood.
Overall this is a solid album, and has a number of great tracks. Even some that could have made the cut for Illmatic, but that album is one of the greatest albums of all time, so nothing was really going to compare, and I can't even compare this album. However it was great to see Nas back to his old school flow and long may it continue. He needs to forget about making tunes that appeal commercially and continue to make tracks for his true fans that have stuck by him through the 18 years since his debut album.
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Hell: The Sequel - Bad Meets Evil
by bhayanid
It is rare to see Eminem do a collaboration album outside of the music that he made with D12, however he has done so here with Royce Da 5'9 to create Bad Meets Evil and their hit album Hell: The Sequel selling 171,000 copies in its first week and topping the US billboard charts. It is a very short album with only 9 tracks. ...
This album works for two reasons, and that is that firstly they are both excellent rappers. Of course Eminem is that much better with his flow but then he is up there with the greatest commercial rappers, and I can freely admit I hadn't heard of Royce before but he is also very good. Second reason is they have great chemistry. Some rappers just know how to bounce off each other. My personal favourite collaboration is Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg and their flow in the chronic and similarly Timbaland in the early days with Magoo. It usually works if the rappers are quite different and that is the case here. As usual I will review my favourite tracks
Fast Lane
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This is the track that introduced most people to Bad Meets Evil including me and is their first single release. I am a massive fan of Eminem as it is, so always love when he creates new music and this was right up my street. A hard beat, well produced and collaborating with an excellent rapper. As you can expect especially when singles are released Eminem is all over the lyrics and puns. A lot of it cannot be repeated here. To be honest a lot of it doesn't make sense, I think they are just trying to show off with how well they can rap with each other. The hook is pretty cool and just singing about living life in the fast lane. They flow off each other very well, singing half a verse each.
A Kiss
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This is one of my favourite tracks on the album and is a lot closer to the underground rapping style that I enjoy. A soft beat with smooth percussions and rapping that works. The hook is a little random just a girl singing I want a Kiss, but it is very short and all about the rapping. Eminem sings about he is a jigolo and has no time for a relationship and just wants a one night stand as his bedroom has two lamps and one night stand so he needs another stand. Also about how Gaga can quit her job at the post office but is still a Male lady. Very subtle lyrics and Royce is pretty cool as well, but Eminem shines the most here.
Take From Me
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This is one of those tracks that you will either love or hate. For me it is one of the highlights of the album and as usual Eminem shines the most but Royce holds his own. Instead of being like most of the other tracks where they share a verse, here Royce takes the first serve and then Eminem simply owns the second verse. They both rap about how people want to just take from them and never give back. Even though the lyrics is similar for both, when Eminem raps them it just adds extra weight that Royce cannot provide. Even the hook symbolises this saying that they give and give and that everyone takes and takes without disregard.
Overall this is a very strong album, and not one of my favourite albums, however hearing a bit of Eminem instead of waiting years for his albums is always a welcome change even if he decides to share the stage with Royce. I wasn't a fan of all the tracks here like Lighters, which was his second single. I am sure most people will like this track, but it is far too commercial. I mean they even collaborate with Bruno Mars. This really softens the track and turns it into a pop song and Eminem is most definitely not a pop star but one of the illest rappers alive.
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