Little Brother - ...and justus for all

Originally released: February 13, 2007
CD version release: July 1, 2008

Being a big fan of Little Brother, I'm kinda surprised that I haven't reviewed their projects in a while. I was expecting myself to have this album reviewed during the Autumn of 2016. But then again, I finally got around and listened to this album like late last year, ha.

Anyway, let's go through a quick recap. The North Carolina trio, consisting of Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh & producer 9th Wonder, released their sophomore album The Minstrel Show back in September 2005. Capitalizing off the acclaim they were receiving from the album, LB were continuing to be consistent with the new music, as they were working on their third album. March 2006 saw the release of the DJ Drama-hosted mixtape Separate but Equal, which was the last project from the duo/trio that I reviewed. However, just after the tape, LB turned from a trio from a duo, with 9th Wonder leaving to fully pursue his solo career.

In February 2007, Little Brother released what was basically their first project as a duo, ...and justus for all. Serving as another prelude to their then-upcoming third album Getback, the mixtape was hosted by DJ Mick Boogie, featuring a compilation of original tracks, freestyles, remixes and songs both Phonte & Rapper Big Pooh featured on individually and together. This was also the first project with no production from 9th at all, outside of the "Cross That Line" and "Let It Go" remixes. In July 2008, almost a year after Getback, the no DJ version was released to retailers, omitting the skits, freestyles and all that; also featuring two tracks that were released during the Getback promo run. I preferred to go with this version, rather than the original mixtape version, obviously giving a better first listen than if I were to go with the original. And you know what... it's actually pretty decent.

...and justus for all is one of the projects I'd rank almost at the bottom of Little Brother's discography, which says a lot because the mixtape is actually a bit decent, there are just a few more flaws. The lack of 9th Wonder production is definitely something that can put a lot of fans off, especially if they're going into Little Brother's later projects post-Minstrel Show. But the duo sure do hold their own over various production from those including Khrysis, Nottz, Oddisee, Focus... and DJ Spinna. Just like their last tape Separate but Equal, the mixtape is more strictly rapping, with no proper concept like their first two albums. "Can't Stop Us" is the opening track, which gets us straight into the point of the whole project's mood. Chaundon is a feature on this song, and he delivers pretty hard, while the instrumental from Young Cee is something real hardhitting but smooth. "Delusional" features both a guest appearance and production from Oddisee, and is more of a smooth radio-friendly groove, which sees all 3 rap about how mesmerized they feel towards the girls they're eyeing. Phonte brings out his vocals for the catchy ass hook, and he does his thing real smooth on that.

The bad moments are pretty much forgettable as hell, and these include the solo Pooh joints, "Lose It" and "Stylin", but damn, do the good moments hit real hard!! "Life of the Party" originally appeared on the Hall of Justus compilation album back in '06, but it's still such a banger on this tape as well. The song is remixed with a verse from underground rapper Skillz and he does his thing on it. Other than that, it's just a song you can easily groove to, thanks to the hard ass Nottz beat. "Cool as a Fan" and "The Pressure" are both two of my favourite songs on the mixtape, with production from the one and only Khrysis. both sees the duo touching on their new-found success since The Minstrel Show, especially Phonte's verses. "Never Leave" has actually grown on me a bit, and I enjoy it a lot more than I did the first few times hearing it. Both Pooh and 'Te were spitting hard on that song too. Phonte & Tanya Morgan member Von Pea link up for "A Word from Our Sponsors", which is a solid showcase of the two doing what they do best. Von Pea's verse was nice, but as usual, 'Te stole the show with his bars. "Do It to Death" is another highlight, which features Supastition & Rhymefest, and it bangs so hard at the gym too. All four rappers deliver pretty well, especially Rhymefest; and the beat is so mesmerizing, it's crazy! By track 11 of the tape, it does fall real flat though, with weaker moments such as "Fan Mail", "Lose It" and "Stylin'". The remix of "Cross That Line" with Kardinal Offishall wasn't necessary for me, and the original was one of my favourites off Separate but Equal as well. The last track, "Time of Your Life" was lowkey hitting though.

In conclusion, ...and justus for all fully marks the start of Little Brother's career as a duo, and makes for a decent prelude to their next album. The production was hitting most of the time (from track 1 to 10 though), the chemistry between Pooh & Phonte was still on point, and 'Te especially was definitely delivering some hot fire in his verses, just like he's been doing since the group's debut. However, unlike their past projects like The Chittlin' Circuit and even Separate but Equal, there are a few more weaker and forgettable moments, which does affect the project's replay value. Don't worry though, the actual album Getback is way better than this, but I do appreciate this mixtape being something for fans at that time to hold them over until Getback dropped. I'd rank this at the bottom tho, not only is it the weakest mixtape they've done, it's even their weakest project overall. But hey, it is what it is...

Recommended Tracks: "Cool as a Fan", "The Pressure", "Delusional", "Can't Stop Us", "Do It to Death", "Never Leave", "Life of the Party", "Too Late for Us", "Time of Your Life", "Best Kept Secret"

Mac Miller - Watching Movies with the Sound Off

Released: June 18, 2013

This week marks a whole 5 years since artist Mac Miller released his sophomore album. How does it still hold up in 2018?

June 18, 2013. It was a pretty packed day for hip-hop 5 years ago. Kanye West was planning to release his sixth album Yeezus on that day. J. Cole decided to push his release date for Born Sinner forward from June 25 to the 18th. And Mac Miller dropped his second album on that day as well. Quasimoto & Statik Selektah happened to have some overlooked releases, and while their projects were amazing, we can save that talk for another time.

When the Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller broke out in 2010, his music was known to be very laidback and chill. To me, it sounded like white college boy music and I didn't enjoy most of his work from then, apart from "Of the Soul" and "Nikes on My Feet". Other than that, it just didn't appeal to me. It was in 2012, after the release of his debut album, when Mac's sound took a slight turn with his mixtape Macadelic, featuring a more psychedelic and spacey vibe. Mac started to deal with depression and drug addiction, after criticism regarding his debut and struggling with fame. This helped to influence the sound of his next few projects. Watching Movies with the Sound Off was one of them.

Watching Movies with the Sound Off came out at a very dark time in Mac's career, ending up being his most introspective, serious and personal effort in his discography, along with his 2014 mixtape Faces. The 16-track effort showed a major shift in sound compared to the turn in Macadelic, tackling with issues such as depression, drug use and lost friends & relatives, incorporating psychedelic and alternative music elements, and even singing a little more in a few tracks on the album (Mac would later release The Divine Feminine in 2016, featuring slightly more singing than rapping throughout the album). In my opinion, I thought this album was the best out of the bunch released on that day. Born Sinner is decent, Yeezus was trash; however, Quasimoto delivered with his album and Statik Selektah's album was a great compilation of amazing talent. But this just took the cake with the sound and vibes throughout the album.

Mac Miller sounds a lot more mature on Watching Movies with the Sound Off, stepping up his game lyrically and sonically. The album starts off with "The Star Room", which sets up the depressing and psychedelic mood throughout the project. With Earl Sweatshirt providing production (under the alias randomblackdude), Mac happens to take us on a journey through his life, touching on his current state of mind and dealing with criticism. A new alter ego from Mac was also introduced as a feature on this song, named Delusional Thomas, who has a more dark tone in comparison to Mac himself, having a big horrorcore influence in his content. Mac uses this ego more as a subconscious on this cut, digging deep into how he feels; starting off with “Hallelujah, thank God I have a future/Praying I don’t waste it gettin’ faded /Cause I’m smoking [bleep], till I’m coughing up tar.” Mac also brings out his production side Larry Fisherman on a few tracks on the album. "Avian" is one of my favourite songs on the album, with Mac himself handling the ambient production. Its name deriving from his love for nature and wildlife documentaries, Mac kills his verses with a nice monotone but intriguing flow and impressive wordplay.

Some of the best songs on this album are the ambient, serious ones where Mac gets a little introspective and personal on us. "I Am Who Am (Killin' Time)" is the best song on the album, hands down! With a beautiful beat provided by AdotheGod, Mac touches on his struggles with drugs and depression, and mentions the criticism he has received overtime; while Niki Randa delivers vocals for a nice hook. "Objects in the Mirror" is primarily singing, where, over some excellent Pharrell production, Mac uses an extended love imagery of a female to personify his addictions such as drugs and music. "Somebody Like You" is another one of the memorable moments on the album, embodying juxtaposed messages, such as death, being motivated, reflecting on his career and drug addiction.

The features and production are something so immaculate. The line up for features are small but they still do their thing. Action Bronson murdered his verse over "Red Dot Music", which also is my favourite beat on the album, thanks to the one and only Alchemist. Earl Sweatshirt provides a little hook for "I'm Not Real", which features an ambient and alternative vibe with the instrumental. "S.D.S" and "Watching Movies" are some of the more upbeat songs, with "S.D.S." featuring some wavey production from Flying Lotus. "Watching Movies" is one of those songs you can easily bang in the whip, and shoutout SAP on the beat. Ab-Soul jumps on "Matches", where both he & Mac share verses over a banging beat. Soul spins the hell outta Mac on this song, but Mac still did a decent job with his verse. "Gees" features ScHoolboy Q, and is another upbeat cut, with Chuck Inglish on the boards providing a nice beat. Mac did his thing but Q absolutely killed it, with his bars and delivery. Can't forget Jay Electronica, who delivers an uncredited verse on "Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes", he came through on that, plus the beat is pretty interesting.

With 16 tracks and a great lineup of features and production, Watching Movies with the Sound Off features Mac Miller at his best musically, going very personal and introspective on listeners as he deals with drug use and depression. And five years later, it still remains the best album of the bunch released on June 18, with good replay value and hardly any filler. Mac is my favourite white rapper and shit like this is the main reason why, improving musically with every new project.

Recommended Tracks: "I Am What Am (Killin' Time)", "Avian", "Red Dot Music", "Objects in the Mirror", "The Star Room", "Matches", "S.D.S.", "Someone Like You", "Gees", "Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes", "Watching Movies"

Discography Review #2: Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Back in the early 90s, record label Elektra were apparently on a journey to sign more hip-hop acts to the label (as they were known for managing folk and rock acts at the time). They ended up stumbling upon a producer/MC duo under the name of Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Straight outta Mount Vernon, New York, the duo had been making music professionally since around 1989. Producer/DJ Pete Rock got a little kickstart that same year, producing tracks for his late cousin Heavy D (& the Boyz) on the album Big Tyme.
In 1991, Pete Rock & CL Smooth released their debut EP All Souled Out, featuring the single "The Creator" (which, unlike the rest of the project, featured Pete Rock primarily on vocals and CL managing the turntables). The next year, their debut full-length album was finally released: Mecca and the Soul Brother, which is regarded as a classic today. After releasing their second album The Main Ingredient in '94, the duo started to go through some creative differences, breaking up in 1996 after the release of the Searching remix 12". Although they later collaborated on each other's solo projects every now and then and even went on a little reunion tour, their relationship with each other was really complicated, taking jabs at each other during individual interviews. It wasn't until 2010 when they sorted out their differences and announced they had a new album in the works, touring for the 25th anniversary of All Souled Out in 2016.

Although unfortunately breaking up too soon (in my opinion), Pete Rock & CL Smooth eventually left a legacy on the hip-hop culture, with their 1992 single "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" being regarded as one of the best hip-hop songs of all time. Pete Rock went on to produce for a number of legendary artists, making a mark on the culture with songs like Nas' "The World is Yours" and AZ's "Gimme Yours", and influencing the one and only J Dilla.

So I thought it was only right to continue my series of discography reviews, going through Pete Rock & CL Smooth's catalog. Also, Season 2 of Luke Cage is releasing this Friday (June 22) on Netflix, with its episodes being named after the duo's songs. Let's get it!

All Souled Out

Released: June 25, 1991

Released around the Summer of '91, All Souled Out served as the duo's first project, featuring five tracks and a remix. Pete Rock & CL Smooth manage to take us through a majestic musical trip in under 30 minutes, with Pete Rock using both well-known and obscure samples on his SP-1200 and flipping them so well, while CL Smooth delivering his solid rhymes with a smooth and relaxing delivery.
"Good Life", the intro, builds from a scattered breakbeat to such a dense arrangement, consisting of funky basslines and catchy trumpet samples, as CL give us a gripping analysis of life's luxuries. "Mecca and the Soul Brother" (which would later be the title of their debut album) is my favourite song off the EP, with a runtime of 6 minutes; and CL was spitting HARD! "Go with the Flow" is a catchy and funky tune as Pete Rock laced the beat with a nice flute sample and the "Funky Drummer" drums, while CL floats effortlessly.
Pete takes over vocal duties with "The Creator", a main highlight on the album, where Pete, with his monotone, laidback delivery, raps about his skills on the boards and his expertise with the ladies. Yeah, he ain't the most skilled rapper and most of the time, he doesn't say much in his rhymes. But the delivery is a key aspect for him and he flows pretty well over the funky horn-driven beat. The title track was nothing special, and the Group Home Mix of "Good Life" is aight.
Overall, All Souled Out is an amazing introduction into the sound of Pete Rock & CL Smooth, which would improve so well overtime for the next three years.

Recommended Tracks: "Mecca and the Soul Brother", "The Creator", "Go with the Flow", "Good Life"

Mecca and the Soul Brother

Released: June 9, 1992

Now, this was the album that changed everything for Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Mecca and the Soul Brother was their long-awaited full-length debut, featuring 16 tracks with guest appearances from Heavy D, Grap Luva, Deda, Rob O & Grand Puba. A critically-acclaimed classic, the album features a large number of standouts, and it'd be hella long to go through each and every one.
"For Pete's Sake" is one of the first few songs to get us in the album very well, as both Pete & CL kick some dope rhymes over a funky rhythm, the scratches are tight and Pete Rock came through with the sample flips. "Lots of Lovin'" is such a relaxing joint, especially for Summer days, as CL raps an ode to his partner. "Straighten It Out" is a classic which sees CL touch on bootleggers and dealing with sample clearances.
"It's Like That" and "Can't Front on Me" are some absolute bangers and CL's delivery is immaculate on those songs while Pete kills it with the fire production and scratches. "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" is one of my favourite songs of all time, a touching dedication to one of the duo's close friends Trouble T-Roy (who sadly passed away around that time) and the beat is just beautiful. Pete Rock's rapping performances have improved a lot from All Souled Out, delivering solid verses on "For Pete's Sake", "Skinz" and "The Basement", and the latter is an amazing posse cut, with Heavy D, Grap Luva, CL & Deda coming through with exceptional contributions.
Mecca and the Soul Brother overall continues where they left off with their 1991 EP and improves on that, with more memorable moments: better verses and elite production which make for some wonderful songs. A classic album that everybody should listen to.

Recommended Tracks: "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", "The Basement", "For Pete's Sake", "Straighten It Out", "Lots of Lovin'", "It's Like That", "Can't Front on Me", "Return of the Mecca"

The Main Ingredient

Released: November 8, 1994

The Main Ingredient comes just two years after the release of the duo's classic debut Mecca and the Soul Brother, but would also end up being their final album together (although it's been confirmed they've been working on a new project recently, but who knows if that'd really drop). Another 16 track effort which was overlooked overtime, the album saw a more improved and polished sound in comparison to their debut album, especially production wise. CL Smooth's wordplay was still nice and all, but the beats definitely take the cake more than it did on M&TSB. Maybe that's the reason why I enjoy The Main Ingredient slightly more than the former. There's certainly a larger number of standouts, and again, it'd be long to talk about.
"Carmel City" is one of those smooth nighttime joints to vibe out to, as CL attempts to take us on a journey to the city of Carmel, where the most beautiful ladies reside. "I Get Physical" is a banger, and CL's verses deliver hard while Pete Rock comes through with the production & scratches. "I Got a Love" continues the "ladies-man" persona of CL from Carmel City and Lots of Lovin', as he attempts to get down with a lady and make some love.
"Escape" is a Pete Rock solo, and is one of my favourites on the album, the beat is just on another level, and Pete does his thing over the instrumental. "All the Places" is the most beautiful beat on the album, every time I hear the song, it's like I've been taken to another place. "Searching" is one of Pete's best beats, and the vibe is just amazing on that song, with CL rapping about how he has finally found his one girl who he wants to sex with. "In the Flesh" is another solid posse cut, continuing the vibe of M&TSB standout "The Basement", and Pete, CL, Rob-O & Deda spit some hot 16s over a chill beat. I still haven't decided on who had the better verse, but Deda & Pete Rock killed their verses.
The Main Ingredient is definitely an amazing follow-up in the small discography, and definitely deserves a lot more credit to this day. It is actually the one album in their discography I happen to really enjoy the most. The beats from Pete Rock are banging hard as usual, the wordplay is still intact, the smooth vibes are in full effect too. Too bad it ended up being their final body of work, as it ends up being an album that makes you wish they didn't break up too soon...

Recommended Tracks: "Escape", "All the Places", "In the Flesh", "Searching", "I Get Physical", "Carmel City", "I Got a Love", "Take You There", "Worldwide"

Buy the album here!

Rapper Big Pooh - Sleepers

Released: February 8, 2005

So out of everybody in Little Brother, I've been through a solo project from 2 of the members on this blog. I reviewed Connected back in 2015, a project from Phonte and producer Nicolay as the duo The Foreign Exchange. I reviewed 9th Wonder's Dream Merchant series just last Summer. But what about Rapper Big Pooh and his solo shit?

Although not really the star of the trio, Rapper Big Pooh is definitely not to be slept on. He definitely has his great moments on Little Brother songs, whether it's "Cross That Line" or "Tension", and he can certainly snap on beats when he's solo. In fact, he got a more consistent discography than Phonte (especially if we're not counting Te's Foreign Exchange work), dating all the way back to Sleepers, which is today's topic.

Recorded from late 2003 to November 2004, Sleepers served as Pooh's debut, coming a year after The Foreign Exchange's Connected and around the same time 9th Wonder released the first volume of The Dream Merchant. The 14-track album features production mainly from 9th and Khrysis, with Median, Joe Scudda, Phonte, O-Dash, Spectac and Murs providing guest verses.
Yes, Big Pooh isn't the best rapper out, of course, and was a little inferior when rapping with Phonte on Little Brother joints, but Sleepers is a nice 45-minute showcase of the fact that the Virginia native can really hold his own without his partner's presence, as he builds his chemistry with rappers like Joe Scudda & O-Dash over 9th Wonder and Khrysis production. The album title definitely does reflect most of the content, just some soulful shit to vibe out to, preferably during late nights. The album follows a theme of both insomnia and needing to wake up, with movie skits playing here and there throughout the project.

For me, the only forgettable track on Sleepers is the opening track "I Don't Care", my least played song and I always forget how it goes. No pun intended, but I actually didn't care about that song. But as soon as we get into "The Strongest Man", that's when the album gets real consistent from start to finish. Produced by the one and only 9th Wonder (and mixed by Khrysis by the way), it's a song that helps to set up the soulful knocking mood expected on the album; delivering bars such as "Got the whole game sprung, not fingers and toes/Everybody's all froze like heroin's in their nose/Addicts, I suppose say my product is lethal/My pen been compared to a hit of that diesel". Plus, it bangs hard as hell on my gym playlist, ha! "Heart of the City" is already one of the more introspective cuts on the album, as Pooh takes us on a trip to his hometown, painting a picture of the inner-city life struggle. "Just Friends" is a chill vibe, where Pooh tries to explain to a friend that he isn't looking for a relationship, and just wants to be friends with benefits. This line sums it up: "I just wanna be your friend with privileges/not talkin' on' the phone all night about, where I was or who unless we went out, don't fuss and pout/'cause you know how I do, always chill with the crew but make time for you". The song is pretty catchy, and I enjoy Pooh's delivery on his verses. Not to mention, the drums, courtesy of Khrysis, are harder than bricks.

Unlike Phonte's soulful, feel-good vibes displayed on his Foreign Exchange discography, Sleepers mainly consists of good old-fashioned hip-hop: straight bars and some good chemistry with most of the guest appearances on the album. It isn't that long into the album until Phonte jumps on a track with Rapper Big Pooh and "Every Block" is one of the funkier, feel-good joints on the album, beat courtesy of 9th Wonder. Both 'Te & Pooh deliver some solid verses, and although Phonte does his thing, Pooh slightly had the upper hand on this one, being one of his stronger Little Brother moments (yeah, I count this as a LB song even if it's on the Pooh solo project, haha).
O-Dash appears on two joints, which are some of the more introspective and personal cuts on the album. On "Live Life", Pooh, Dash & Spectac delivers some touching verses, with Pooh touching on his damaged relationship with his older brother. "My Mind" sees Darien Brockington provide a hook on the most beautiful song on the album, as Pooh & Dash rap about lost ones, whether family, friends or a partner. Dash even has his own interlude, appropriately titled "Dash's Interlude", where over Nicolay production, he provides a little 20 bar verse, which was pretty decent. "Scars" is definitely another highlight on the album as Pooh links up with Median & Joe Scudda for a slightly emotional cut to deliver some killer verses. Pooh did his thing but it's so hard for me to decide on who had a better verse between Median and Joe. Median was so amazing with his delivery, he floated hard on that beat. But Joe managed to hit deep with his verse, even letting the "Cut Me Deep" sample speak for him.

Sleepers is very notable for its production, carried heavily by 9th Wonder & Khrysis. Nicolay & Little Brother manager Big Dho both provide a beat each though. "Scars" is easily the best instrumental on the album, the way 9th chopped that Curtis Mayfield sample just amazed me. And then Rapper Big Pooh, Median & Joe Scudda's verses to top it off! "Between the Lines" is some feel good Summer type music, where Pooh keeps it simple, attempting to get his crush's attention with hints, but she's clearly not paying attention. Produced by Big Dho, "The Jungle" is basically just a sample loop, but it still remains such a smooth song on the album. The Murs- assisted cut "Now" serves as a 9th Wonder remix to an early song called "Keep the Bling", originally produced by Khrysis, and both Pooh & Murs do their thing on this joint, especially Murs. Speaking of Khrysis, he delivered hard with his production, with "Live Life" banging harder than a bitch, "My Mind" being the most beautiful song on the album and the drums on "Just Friends" hitting real good. The album finally concludes with "The Fever", where over a sombre instrumental from Khrysis, Pooh spits about him and his music being seen as the cure for the sick; coming with bars such as "They say the kid, yo it doesn't exist/I've been known to be prescripted, hand to hand to handle the fix/a contraband landed me on the list, want an issue, phlegm ripped tissue, I popped the cassette/diagnosed the disease that's been given to vets, I'm a hero outta town and come home to threats". It ends the album so calmly, adding on to the late night theme the album provides throughout.

Overall, Sleepers is a solid showcase of how well a rapper who was seen as the "weakest link" in the trio can hold his own on a full-length album for 45 minutes. No, it isn't as great as the feel-good vibes on The Foreign Exchange's Connected, and lyrically there are a lot more better moments on 9th Wonder's Dream Merchant series. And hell no, it doesn't hold up to most of Little Brother's projects from 2003-06. But Sleepers is still such a great album, consisting of good ol' regular hip-hop vibes and fire production. Pooh manages to show off much better moments solo than in LB, where most of the time, he completely pales in comparison to Phonte. But hey, at the end of the day, Pooh can still out-rap a lot of rappers. And this album is proof of that.

Recommended Tracks: "Scars", "Live Life", "My Mind", "The Strongest Man", "Now", "Heart of the City", "Between the Lines"

Playboi Carti - Die Lit

Released: May 11, 2018

In April 2017, ATL rapper Playboi Carti released his self-titled debut mixtape. The mixtape featured the hit single "Magnolia", along with the Lil Uzi Vert-assisted banger "wokeuplikethis*". Carti first got his breakthrough in 2015, with the singles "Broke Boi" and "Fetti" with Maxo Kream & Da$h getting a lot of buzz. The next year, he became an affiliate of the A$AP Mob after signing to the AWGE label, and appeared on the two volumes of the Cozy Tapes series.

Fast forward to 2018, and "Magnolia" was one of the biggest hits from last year, and fans are now waiting for his long-awaited debut ALBUM. It had been speculated by fans that he'd drop on May 11, after a number of songs started to leak. But the news came to a surprise for the rest of the mainstream audiences, when A$AP Rocky revealed Carti's album title and cover.

Die Lit serves as the 21 year-old rapper's debut album, following up his self-titled mixtape from last year. Mostly continuing the chemistry between Carti and producer/rapper Pi'erre Bourne (other producers also contribute including Maaly Raw and Don Cannon), the album is slightly longer, featuring 19 tracks with guest appearances from Skepta, Bryson Tiller, Chief Keef, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug and more. Apart from "Magnolia", "wokeuplikethis*" and maybe "What", most of the songs I heard from Carti wasn't really hitting for me (probably because trap isn't my go-to music most of the time), and his contributions on the Cozy Tapes from A$AP Mob were annoying, pointless trash. I'll give him props for his hooks on "Walk on Water" and "Frat Rules" though. So getting to this album, I was expecting a little better after hearing my Twitter timeline gas the album up (someone even said it was top 8 AOTY so far, ha!). However, it was... meh.

However, first of all, I gotta give it up to Pi'erre Bourne, cos that guy is actually real talented, seriously. Carti is a shit rapper but the chemistry between him & Pi'erre works so well, especially with his flow and sometimes melodic styles. "Choppa Won't Miss" and "Home (KOD)" were key moments on the album, in terms of production. I can even add "Right Now". But other than that, I don't even know why I had expectations for a trap rapper that isn't even lyrical or has big substance in his music. Die Lit was mid for me. Yeah, trap music isn't my cup of tea, but even in that genre, there are times a rapper has delivered (Modern example: Travis Scott's Days Before Rodeo and Future's Monster). For an album with 19 tracks, only like 6 or 7 tracks connected, especially during first listen. As for the rest... forgettable mediocre bullshit. "Love Hurts" was a disappointing single from Carti & Travis, I expected it to bang harder than that, but it just ended up being a trash forgettable joint on the album. "R.I.P." had a decent beat but I didn't enjoy Carti on it. Only the line "Fuck that mumblin' shit, Fuck that mumblin' shit/Bought that crib for my mama off that mumblin' shit" caught my ear (not that it was a mindblowing bar or anything). So far, "Shoota" is the weakest joint from Carti & Uzi, especially after "Lookin" and "wokeuplikethis*", but it's whatever though. And "Pull Up" was average.

But enough complaining, let's get onto the good moments. Carti happens to complement most of Pi'erre's beats so well, and most of the time he doesn't even rap about shit. "Choppa Won't Miss" is my favourite song on that album, from when it leaked a few days before release and even now when on the album. The hook is catchy as hell, and I enjoyed both Carti and Young Thug's verses, especially Thug. He killed that shit, man! The intro "Long Time" started off the album pretty well, reflecting on how things have gone for him since he blew up and dropped his mixtape. Well, that was just the hook, his verse is pretty generic but the flow is nice and the beat is so great! "Right Now" is another catchy joint, and Pi'erre makes an appearance, contributing a little verse. Both of them don't only work well together as a rapper/producer combo but also together as just rappers as well. Not only is the beat is nice, but the verses are pretty enjoyable. "Home (KOD)" and "Foreign" are some other solid cuts on the album, And Carti came through with a great flow, which makes for a very catchy and memorable listen on those songs.

The features, they're OK. Some do their thing, some others were mid. Skepta happens to provide a decent contribution on "Lean 4 Real" with his flow. Pi'erre Bourne works so well with Carti as a rapper, and "Right Now" is good evidence of that. Travis Scott's contribution on "Love Hurts" was disappointing. Chief Keef on "Mileage" made for a pretty good vibe. And maybe it's my bias against Nicki, but I wasn't feeling her on "Poke It Out"; her delivery came across as very annoying and the bars didn't make it any better for me. Yes, Carti isn't any better but his style managed to get me vibing to his verse more. It could've worked better as a solo Carti song.

Overall, for the most part, Die Lit manages to succeed at what it's supposed to be: a compilation of bangers with catchy deliveries and banging production. However, for my ears, it's not that great. Just like its predecessor, it falls flat here and there, but you're able to at least find something to vibe to. It's not supposed to be a deep, lyrical album and that's OK. But most of the tracks really don't engage me enough to go back to the album too much. The main thing I can say is... nothing really, ha. It is what it is. Check the album for yourself!

Recommended Tracks: "Choppa Won't Miss", "Right Now", "Long Time (Intro)", "Home (KOD)", "Lean 4 Real", "Foreign"

Discography Review #1: Skyzoo (Phase One)

Now here's somebody I've been trying to fit in my review schedule for some time now, ever since last Summer.

I knew about Skyzoo for a while, but never really got to his music fully. I remember him being on a Boondocks mixtape, but I skimmed through all of that. At the time, the only thing I heard was his feature on Little Brother's "Speed Racin'". Plus, I went through like 1 or 2 of his tracks. But I finally found the light last Summer after listening to one of his projects, Cloud 9: The 3 Day High for the first time. I was banging him out to the point he was my top artist on Spotify.

Sitting with his discography for a good 9-10 months, Skyzoo has grown to be one of my favourite rappers right now. The Brooklyn bred rapper has improved and matured so much as a rapper, and it seems that he doesn't get enough credit for that. From spitting some hard street shit on mixtapes like The City's Favorite to reflecting on being black and preparing to be a father on In Celebration of Us, Sky really has provided a consistent discography for over a decade. And I've really been sleeping on it for so long. But hey, it gets like that for everybody.

So it's only right to go on a little journey through his discography. Sky got a big discography, so we dividing this in phases/parts. This is Phase 1, going through the projects leading up to his debut album The Salvation. Phase 2 will drop probably... Lord knows when, ha. Anyway, let's get into it... the one and only S-K-Y-Z-O-O!

The City's Favorite

Released: 2005

This ain't Skyzoo's very first project, he had a few released before. But this is the one Sky counts as the start of his discography, especially one of the projects leading to his then-forthcoming debut. Released around 2005, The City's Favorite was hosted by DJ Absolut, featuring a solid mixture of original songs and freestyles over some of the hottest songs at the time. Sky was getting a lot more buzz around this time, getting cosigns from Cam'ron, Lil Kim and the late Sean Price. This also marked some of Sky's first official work with 9th Wonder, who provided production on "Let It Bang" (which would later be on The Dream Merchant 2) and the title track standout "The City's Favorite". Khrysis also came through with a banging instrumental for "Turn It Up", which Sky absolutely RIPPED! J Dilla even got a few beats on there, as Sky raps over "History" and Zeqway jumps on "In the Streets". Can't forget !llmind, who did "Sick wit the Slang", which is such a banger, one of my favourites; and Sky did his thing as usual. Zeqway is also on "Black Out" with Sky & Torae, and all three of them murked that beat. Sky jumps on a few popular beats including 50 Cent's "Window Shopper", Rhymefest's "Brand New", Jeezy's "Go Crazy" and Kanye West's "We Major"; and he came through with the rhymes. His flow was nice as well. Overall, a solid project which showcases Skyzoo's dope lyricism and delivery over some hot beats.

Recommended Tracks: "Sick wit the Slang", "The City's Favorite", "Turn It Up", "In the Streets", "Black Out", "History"

Download here!

Cloud 9: The 3 Day High (with 9th Wonder)

Released: September 12, 2006

This one happened to be Skyzoo's breakthrough project, entirely produced by the one and only 9th Wonder (or 9th Wonderful Tunes, as Sky liked to call him). The joint project consisted of instrumentals from beat CDs 9th gave to Sky and this was apparently made in three days, hence the name "The 3 Day High". Sky & 9th show great chemistry on Cloud 9, with no features to back the Brooklyn rapper up. This was also the first project I heard from him last Summer, I couldn't stop playing it. The instrumentals on here bang so hard, and Sky was really spitting, especially on "The Spirit", "Way to Go" and "The Bodega". He even gets to storytelling on "Extreme Measures", spitting such a long verse that it's so easy to miss the story. "You & Me" is such a relaxing cut, where Sky raps about how he and his girl are meant to be together. It's your corny lovey-dovey type shit, but 9th's instrumental is so beautiful, it really complements the verses and hook really well. Yeah, overall, this is a nice project, a great prelude to his then-forthcoming album, with high replay value, dope production from 9th Wonder and hard rhymes from Sky.

Recommended Tracks: "Way to Go", "You & Me", "Bare Witness", "Live and Direct", "The Bodega", "Stop Fooling Yourself", "Mirror, Mirror"

Corner Store Classic

Released: July 19, 2007 / 2008 (iTunes remix version)

Hosted by Mick Boogie and the legendary DJ Kay Slay, Corner Store Classic was released in Summer 2007, continuing off the recognition Skyzoo gained from The City's Favorite and his joint effort with 9th Wonder, Cloud 9: The 3 Day High. Like his previous mixtape, this is another decent mixture of original joints and freestyles over old and new beats. Skyzoo did his thing over the Nutmeg instrumental for the intro. "Like a Shotgun" is OK, but doesn't compare to the original Platinum Pied Pipers song. Same with "Straighten It Out", the Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth song is too much of a classic. Skyzoo does get Torae, Zeqway & Yatta Barz over a Dilla beat for "They Don't Want It", and they ripped that. The original cuts outshines the freestyles, as usual though. Sky & Tor also link up with DJ Premier for some bangers with "Get It Done" and "Click". "Hold Tight" is an absolute banger, thanks to the chemistry between Sky & Black Milk. And "Cop 'n Go" has insane replay value, an ode to the corner stores in Brooklyn, and what they normally purchase there; Sky, Maino & Sha Stimuli really delivered some heat. Skyzoo also remixes the Jesus Price Supastar cut "You Already Know" by Sean Price, providing a new guest verse (he was originally on the hook), in which he did his thing on.

There's a retail/remix version of the mixtape, available on iTunes, that was released the following year. This compiles mainly new songs and remixes of the mixtape tracks. The remix of "Bragging Rights" sounds a lot more better than the original one, produced by Khrysis. It's a lot more hardhitting and makes it more easy to appreciate Skyzoo's verses. Sky also sounds better over the remix of "Straighten It Out", I think the tape would've worked so better if that version was on there instead of the original freestyle. Black Milk jumps on the "Hold Tight" remix, with both of them sounding so great together, as Skyzoo proclaims in an entirely new verse: "You wanted Jigga and Dilla on a track, you got it". New songs include "I Shine" and "So Close", both of which could've worked on the actual mixtape. But yeah, nonetheless, Corner Store Classic is solid, Skyzoo does his thing on most of the tracks, but just a few things could've made this mixtape hit real harder.

Recommended Tracks: "Hold Tight" (both the original and remix), "I Shine", "Bragging Rights" (preferably the remix), "Cop 'n Go", "All Over the World", "Click", "Get It Done", "They Don't Want It", "Play Your Position", "Ride Out"

Download here or check out the retail remix version down below:

The Power of Words

Released: April 17, 2009

In 2008, Skyzoo went without releasing a single project, as he was working real hard on two projects he was planning to release the following year: another mixtape and also his long awaited debut album. The Power of Words served as a prelude to Sky's debut The Salvation, which, at the time, was scheduled for a Summer release. This project also marked his signing to 9th Wonder's label Jamla Records. Hosted by DJ Drama & Statik Selektah, the mixtape was slightly different from his previous two, featuring original production throughout and no freestyles over hot/recycled beats. Skyzoo is a lot more consistent on the mixtape, with hardly any skips. "Clearer Hearing" is a dope opening to the tape, as Sky comes through with a little verse to get us going. "Bells & Whistles" is a chill yet bumping tune, shout out to !llmind; and Sky delivered with the flow and verses. "No Pretending" features some headbumping production from Khrysis, which reminds me a little of DJ Premier's sound; and Sky rips the hell outta that beat. Sky links up with Big Remo, Rapsody & GQ for the Jamla posse cut "We Are Jamla". GQ & Sky killed that song, but Rapsody was alright. "Say What You Say" is a main standout on the mixtape, as Rapper Big Pooh & Naledge guest star on the song, providing some killer verses (in my opinion, Naledge was the best outta the three). I could name all the great songs on here, but yeah, this is probably better than Corner Store Classic. A really consistent mixtape, which served nicely as a prelude to The Salvation.

Recommended Tracks: "Say What You Say", "We Are Jamla", "Bells & Whistles", "No Pretending", "We Belong", "When I Rhyme", "The Don Cheadle Effect", "Left 4 Dead", "Alphabet Soup", "Clearer Hearing"

Download here or stream below:

The Salvation

Released: September 29, 2009

After the release of The Power of Words in April 2009, Skyzoo's long-awaited debut The Salvation got pushed back for a little while, from a Summer release to an Autumn release. The album was finally released in September. Unlike the previous tapes leading up to this very album, The Salvation is a lot more personal and introspective with no guest appearances, an album Sky has been planning to drop since he started rapping at 8. Not only was Sky signed to Jamla with 9th Wonder, but also secured a deal with Duck Down Records, home of the Boot Camp Clik (Sean Price, Buckshot, Smif-n-Wessun etc). This also saw a change in Skyzoo's sound overall, as instead of just aggressive and hard tracks, Sky continued to consistently make thought-provoking material on later projects including Live from the Tape Deck, Music for My Friends and The Easy Truth.

The Salvation features many highlights, which makes for a consistent debut from the Brooklyn rapper. "The Opener" sees Sky reflect on his goals, his area changing and what he writes in his music. "The Beautiful Decay" is where Sky touches on his upbringing in New York and also the state's hip hop culture since the South Bronx decay in the 70s. The culture is a beautiful art form yet a product of a damaged environment. "My Interpretation" is such a wavey cut where Skyzoo raps about having such a feeling like you can fly away from everything. The music video is a solid complement to the song too. "Under Pressure" is another relationship joint from Sky & 9th Wonder, with Sky dedicating the song to his other half, as he raps about wanting to be the best man and being under pressure while doing so. "For What It's Worth" is about Sky trying to make the most out of his life, but feels that time is slowly running out. "The Necessary Evils" is a powerful storytelling joint where Sky delves into the life of a hustler/drug dealer, and how you can make a lot of money out of this. This album is consistent with the content and production, and Skyzoo really delved deep into his life for a lot of great songs; hardly any weak moments. Overall, the best project out of the bunch so far.

Recommended Tracks: "For What It's Worth", "My Interpretation", "The Beautiful Decay", "Metal Hearts", "Easy to Fly", "Penmanship", "The Shooter's Soundtrack", "Dear Whoever", "The Necessary Evils"

Buddy & KAYTRANADA - Ocean & Montana

Released: May 19, 2017

When I first checked out Buddy and his music last year, I didn't have a great first impression on his debut project Idle Time. There was like one or two great songs on there, but the rest of the mixtape was just forgettable grade A mid! The 24 year old Compton rapper/singer (real name Simmie Sims) was discovered by the legendary Pharrell when he was 18, starting to work with him on new music. 2014 was the release of Idle Time, and I didn't like it. The two EPs he released last year, on the other hand... yup, this was it.

For now, let's focus on the first of those two, Ocean & Montana. We'll get onto Magnolia another time. Buddy linked up with Haitian-Canadian producer KAYTRANADA for this project, consisting of 5 tracks. Now I rate Kay heavily. His funky electronic sound has made hip-hop and R&B shift so much further, providing some dope production on upbeat Summer jams like GoldLink's "Meditation", The Internet's "Girl", Mick Jenkins' "Your Love" and Anderson .Paak's "Lite Weight". His 2016 debut album 99.9% was such a solid effort, featuring contributions from notable names such as Syd, Craig David, Phonte, Karriem Riggins and Vic Mensa. Now with this project? More fire production to add to his resumé. The whole project just screams SUMMER so much, you would've wished it was longer than just simply 5 tracks. Damn, at least somewhere between 6 and 10.

Ocean & Montana is just a 17-minute crash course, which is creative as hell and showcases some great chemistry between Buddy and the Haitian-Canadian electronic/hip-hop producer. You would've thought Kay was carrying this project heavy, but Buddy comes through with some wavey flows, catchy hook and some dope verses. Their sounds both seem to mesh so well, and it makes this project have so much replay value, even when it ain't the Summer.
The EP starts off with "Find Me", a relaxing opener when Buddy raps about spending his time smoking and drinking all by himself, as he hopes for someone to find him and love him. He also reflects on his family's words, rapping "My sister say I'm changing a lot/Someone by the water finally made it straight outta Compton/Father calling me like 'Son we hardly see you at all, Yeah I know you out here shining but you can't do it all by yourself'". While it features some reflective content, it still remains a nice and ambient cut you can easily vibe to. The second song "Guillotine" is my favourite song on the EP, and the one I play the most. Buddy delivers a hook which is a homage to the OutKast song "SpottieOttieDopaliscious", and his two verses are solid as usual, with a confident flow and a catchy bridge to make this song what it is.

"World of Wonders" is a chill and relaxing Summer tune, with a tropical Afrobeat/dancehall style added to it. Interpolating Nelly's "Flap Your Wings", there's nothing much to it other than Buddy singing and coming with a feel good vibe. "A Lite" continues the feel good, relaxing Summer vibes, as Buddy gets in the mood to smoke and party. "Love or Something" is such a great two-stepper, and a nice way to end the EP. It's probably my favourite song on the EP, with them feel good vibes. The hook is real catchy as usual, and it's been in my head so much recently. Buddy's verses were cool, and his flow was tight, but KAYTRANADA's instrumental is the golden part of this song. Makes you wish there was more songs.

Overall, Ocean & Montana is a solid body of work. It's such a wavey vibe from start to finish, suitable for the Summer. Buddy & KAYTRANADA really have some chemistry, and these 5 songs leave you wanting a lot more from them. Their sounds mesh so damn well! Buddy is now prepping for his upcoming debut album, likely dropping sometime this year. Hopefully, he and Kay link up again for some more wavey and laidback joints.

Recommended Tracks: EVERYTHING, including "Guillotine" and "Love or Something"