MEDIA_as_an_expression

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

5.

Mach-Hommy’s first release on Spotify this year. This is also the 4th edition of his Dollar Menu series with Tha God Fahim. While not anything spectacular especially for Mach-Hommy this is still a solid edition to his catalogue. It features catchy, looped beats as is expected from Mach-Hommy. Gastronomie is a pretty standard opener for Mach and Fahim but Smokin’ Kiki is real highlight. With a great beat, Mach and Fahim spit two great verses and Your Old Droog gives a great feature. It transitions smoothly into Shukran Don another great track which shows great back and forth between Mach and Fahim. The album also has great hooks with Juju Gotti standing out with his raspy voice. Overall, a good album but doesn’t feel like Mach-Hommy’s full talent especially lyrically considering what we’ve seen on his other albums.

4.

First Stella Donnelly album I’ve listened to and it’s pretty much what I expected. Very relaxing indie singer-songwriter music. In comparison to other modern indie pop singers like Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy I enjoy this album alot more. It’s got much more interesting and varied instrumentation and good singing and songwriting all round. Overall very good album that doesn’t overstay its welcome from an exciting newcomer in the indie scene.

3.

This the debut album from a really interesting and unique soul trio. This is seriously an amazing soul album that sounds like it could have come from directly from the 1970s. All the vocals are so powerful and passionate. The first song, “Can I Call You Rose?” really sets the mood and perfectly shows their style. It was released as a single first and has already been sampled in multiple hip-hop songs. This album really sets them apart from much of the soul and R&B scene truly embracing the 70s Philly Soul sound. Really excited for whatever they do next.

2.

Another album by one of the most unique and influential artists in the hip hop underground, Roc Marciano. This album really stands out in his discography as its fully produced by The Alchemist. He makes much more physchadelic and jazzy beats than he usually makes suiting Roc Marciano’s descriptive and memorable rapping perfectly. This album is full of amazing Roc one liners. In the first song alone he drops lines like, “if it’s trouble, then we shooting it’s troubleshooting”, “throwing all these subs, what that makes you? Subhuman,” and,”just me and my uzi, we looking like a couple spooning.” He continues this specific and dense wordplay throughout the album. The few features on this album also work well with Action Bronson, Boldy James and Knowledge the Pirate all dropping memorable verses that contrast well to Roc Marciano’s specific voice and flow. The only dissapointing feature is the short, spoken word verse from Ice-T. Overall, while Roc Marciano does what he usually does, this album stands out in his discography for its consistency and its unique production.

1.

One of my most anticapted albums of the year this completely surpassed what I thought JID could make. His two previous albums showed his immense talent in not only rapping but also being able to write an interesting song. Despite this it still felt like he hadn’t reached his peak. With this album he really shows who he is, taking a major focus on family. Throughout this album he shows an amazing ability to write specific and meaningful songs but still make them insanely catchy. He has his most interesting and varied production going from sampling Jewish folk music on Dance Now, to the raw energy on Can’t Punk Me, to the introspective feel on Sistanem, to jazzy perfection on Stars, and finally to trap production on Just in Time. He also picks his features perfectly with two great choruses by Kenny Mason on Dance Now and Just in Time, Earthgang matching his raw and wild energy on Can’t Punk Me, Lil Durk fitting perfectly with the themes of brotherhood on Bruddanem and, LIl Wayne and Yasiin Bey spitting great verses on Just in Time and Stars respectively. This is by far JID’s most introspective album describing getting into fights together with his family, growing up as the youngest of seven and being thankful to those who have supported him to where he’s gotten. Defintely check out this album as it going to be one of the standout albums from this year.

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Enjoy (or don’t).