I think the universe had to tell us to calm down after all the great music last week. Whatever you do, don’t listen to the new Snoop Dogg NFT album (no, that’s not a joke).

5.

For an album with three rappers (MED, LMNO, Declaime), completely proudced by Madlib its surprsing how short and unremarkable this album is. With 13 songs this album barley clocks in at over half and hour. This means none of the three rappers really get to have signficant or standout verses. This means the main highlight of the album is the Madlib production which is decent but not the peak of Madlib’s ability shown most recently on his solo album Sound Ancestors. This album is alot better on paper but it still worth checking out just for the names involved and hearing more Madlib beats.

4.

Truly one of the most unique and bizzare rappers and artists of all time. Viper has released thousands of albums and 8 so far this year. He accidently created cloud rap through his hazy and extremely lo-fi production. He gained noteriety for bizzare album titles like “You’ll Cowards Don’t Even Smoke Crack,” with equally bizzare and and low quality album covers. This album is his least interesting out of the three he released this week. It feautres his trademark cloud rap production and his unitelligble lyrics over the top. Despite how weird he is his style does work even when he pumps thousands of albums that are essentialy the same.

3.

A very unsubtle play on 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ this is another Viper album. His style is more interesting on this than Send it Up but the differences are all very minor. I really couldn’t name a single track of this song or a single lyric but he still knows how to creatly a wholly unique and experience. This also feels more cohesive than Send It Up though I couldn’t say why.

2.

That’s right a third Viper album and this is defintely the weirdest out of the three. He sounds like he’s sampling death metal frequently throughout somehow flipping it into his hazy sound. He somehow becomes even more unintelligible angrily rasping over most of the tracks. Considering I was listening to Viper I was impressed that I was even more weirded out than usual. It it difficult to figure out how self-aware this man is but he’s making something interesting regardless. This also has to be my favourite album cover from the three albums, looking like he’s having a competition with himself to make the most awkward face.

1.

While researching this album I was saddened to find this was released after his death in February 2022 at the age of 39. I discovered Walter DeBarr because of his signature, deep voice and listened to his first EP. Listening to this, his first full-length album you can really tell the experiences and pains he’s been through. Growing up black and without a father in West Virgina means he faced his fair share of trials including and addiction and stints in prison. Through music he made a recovery channeling his pain into guitar ballads with soul and experienced songwriting. After finding out about his death the storytelling on this album hits even harder with songs like Blackened, Eyes to the Sky, and I Come in Waves. Ultimately, this a heartfelt collection of songs from a beautiful soul. Rest in power Walter.

https://polingstclair.com/tribute/details/2770/Walter-DeBarr/obituary.html