The Ransom Report: Scorpion - @Drake (words by: Charles Ransom Polk)

Good evening (Even if it’s not evening where you are, I still bid you good evening), I’m Mr. Ransom, and welcome to “The Ransom Report: Drake’s Scorpion.” Thank you for reading. You have my gratitude. Before we get into it, I just want to take a moment and thank my brother Ramsey for giving me a shot to review the biggest, most highly anticipated album of the year. We have some big things ahead for the world, and this is just the jumpoff. I also would be remiss if I didn’t give the absolute biggest shoutout to the man with the cocaine biceps himself, Tony Starks aka Ghostface Killa. He provided me with the inspiration behind the format, prose, and vernacular in this review. You haven’t done one of your famous album reviews in a couple of years Starks, we need you to come back. I hope you approve of this. Peace to the Gods, bong-bong. Ok, that’s that, now let’s get to the proceedings.

Drake’s album and point in his career have reminded me of the movie Rocky III. If you’ve never seen it, I’ll sum it up: After Rocky started from the bottom (no pun intended) and grinded all the way to the top, he became champ. He was confident, comfortable in his position as top dog and in turn he got watered down. Basically he let the success blind him to the fact he wasn’t hungry anymore, and he wasn’t the same man who once drank 17 raw eggs and crushed up glass milkshakes a day and did 372 one-armed pushups every workout session. He lost the Eye of the Tiger. So Mr. T. comes along with his gold chains and feather earrings, hungry as a motherf****r. He was so hungry he was eating broken dreams for breakfast, anger for lunch and hate for dinner (with hostility for dessert). HUNGRY. Focused. Lang challenges Rocky and he takes the fight. Rock gets his a** handed to him and has to get the eye of the tiger back. He needs to dig deep, get focused to get his manhood and championship back. He does all of this, he gets his swagger back, he fights Mr. T. again and beats him. The moral of the story is, everyone takes a loss in life, you get knocked on your a**, the point is how you come back.

So in case you haven’t been paying attention in class, Drake is Rocky and Pusha T is Mr. T. The Story of Addidon is basically the first half of Rocky III, a clean knockout. Time for Drizzy take the loss, pick himself up off the canvas, embrace the situation, refocus and come back tougher than ever. Did drake do that? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Why? Because the problem is, success can be more dangerous than any drug. He’s high off success (don’t get me wrong, he completely earned his spot at the top: From So far Gone to IYRTITL, he put together a run of excellence that no one else in the music game can claim), and that can make you feel invincible. Well, NO ONE is invincible, NO ONE is untouchable, not even Drake. He took the first Loss of his career (Sorry Meek. Your mistake was you started a battle and weren’t fully prepared. You still had the hardest album of 2017 to me). Aubrey’s album is here. In light of the recent revelation that he’s kept a secret child hidden since last year, this is probably the most anticipated album of his career. For the first time in his musical life, the questions can’t just be minimized, whisked away, or shrugged off. Pusha showed that even the 6 God can bleed. The charming, affable crossover star isn’t so squeaky clean anymore. With that being said and the chips on the table, Drake gives us Scorpion; a double album to boot! But will it live up to the Herculaean hype?

DISCLAIMER: The opinions and thoughts expressed in this interview are my own, and don’t necessarily reflect WTM and their contributors. And for the record: I’ve always been a big Drake FAN, not a Drake STAN. You will see the difference demonstrated here. All you stan fans get ready to take your medicine. Consider the doctor officially IN. First things first, you’re not slick Drake with that bulls**t you wrote for you album description “oh Drake is this Drake is that” that shit worked for Eminem in 8 Mile trying to say all the negative s**t about yourself to minimize it, nice try buddy, all that stuff you wrote is all true. Oh and BTW Nelly was the first rapper to make the double album with one being more rap one being more smooth so you’re not doing anything new. F**k outta here. Ok let’s get this going.

Side A

Survival: If it’s one thing the Toronto artist does well, it’s a Drake intro. Real epic. Off the top he’s talking that cash s**t, that good old king s**t. Drake you’re cookies and creme stop it man. Not that you’re going to stop but sheesh man. Shocker: he’s still real narcissistic.

“My Mount Rushmore is just me with 4 different expressions”

Welp, he’s setting the stupid delusional bulls**t bar nice and high right away. Kudos to Drake for that. That being said, I wouldn’t have minded if it was longer, but it was stil good. Sounds like a sample: he’s always gotta have 40 do the intro. This time with No I.D., I’m liking the collaboration. “I had scuffles with bad boys that wasn’t pretending.” So I guess Puff really snuffed him huh? At least he's fessing up to it. The thing is Drake spent your whole career trying to be vulnerable then you turn around and make songs like this like he's untouchable. Make up your got damn mind. I like the song though. Not his best intro but not his worse, if that makes any sense.

Nonstop: This is the n***a that makes Blocboy JB’s beats. Would’ve been better if he used it and gave Drake the Look Alive beat. Oh well. I kept waiting for the beat to kick up a notch, but it never does. Not my favorite song. Drake talking out of both sides of his mouth as usual, he’s calling himself “king slime Drizzy”? Oh boy. And you “Hardly ever take offense” to shit? Oh word? That’s a bunch of peanut butter and jelly bulls**t and we all know it. Stop it. You have some of the thinnest skin in the galaxy and you’re the Prime Minister of Petty. BRUH did my ears deceive me? Did I just hear him say “Yea I’m light skinned, but I’m still a dark n***a/I’m a wig splitter” Homie WHOS WIG HAVE YOU EVER SPLIT?? I NEED ANSWERS. I WANT DATES AND TIMES AND WITNESSES. Of course you’re “dark,” we all saw the “Story of Addidon” Photos.“ He’s being Memphis Drake on this unsuccessfully. Does he claim Memphis yet? If he doesn’t guess it’s about to be added to the list. I like this s**t even though the beat sounds like the producer was making it and forgot to finish it and forgot about it and they called him the day it was due and he was like “Oh s**t it’s not done, eff it I’ll just send it” It wasn’t terrible to me.

Elevate: I like this beat. That buttersoft singing next to humble-brag rap will never not be a little awkward to me. If it’s one thing I can’t knock Mr. Aubrey for it’s the fact he took his whole crew with him and put them all on. Kinda like Lebron, they’re alike: both narcissistic sensitive passive aggressive superstars that took their crew with them. The difference is Lebron has more swag, where Drake's got the better head of hair. And then this happened.

So both he and Lebron are liabilities from 3. But yeah, I was kinda feeling the beat but not the song too much. Not his best but a not half-bad song. “Thank God for working harder than Satan” Amen Drake. God is good, all the time. Word life. Emotionless: I’m not gonna say much about this confession, if you even wanna call it that. But the very fact that he decided to name a track about something EXTREMELY emotional, Emotionless should tell you how out of touch Drake is. Digging the beat, who made it (*checks album credits*)? Ah No ID and 40 again, I like the Mariah Carey flip. He’s got a great ear for beats for the most part. Gotta admit. Drake loves these airy vocal samples with the hard kick and snares, It’s always worked for him (Pound Cake, The Ride, etc) there’s WAY too many stand-out lines on here to single out, but that “hiding the world from my kid” line has already been taken up as the official credo for deadbeat dads and f***boy fathers everywhere. So give yourself yet another pat on the back Drizzy. Also this s**t sounds real rushed, real topical. Like he literally recorded it dead last for the album. Not a good look. You had plenty of time to flesh this song out. This more than any other one on the whole album. This is a big deal, he needed to take more time on it instead of barely scratching the surface. Oh well. Guess we should all count ourselves lucky Lord Aubrey graced us with a song about the track at all huh? Smfh.

God’s Plan: I liked this song for about the first 11 times hearing it, then I was over it. Radio ran this s**t into the ground. As usual. All I'm going to say is don’t make videos helping other people like you’re a saint when you’ve seen your seed once since he was born. Also, don't try that “his mom won’t let me see him we’re beefing” you’re DRAKE dog. All you talk about all the live long day is how powerful and rich you are. There’s not a reason under God’s beautiful blue Heaven that would make me belive that you can’t see him. Get the f**k outta here with that bulls**t. Tell that to the Stans and d**k riders who will just blindly belive whatever s**t you’re shoveling. Not a bad beat and song though. I’m not even gonna front. In the video when that one kid’s mom was crying and then the kid was crying and then Drake was crying, that was some real sh*t. All jokes aside, I like that you did that for those people dog. Mixed mafia stand up. Now get the f**k outta here and go see your kid.

I’m Upset: I hated this song at first, but now I don’t mind it for some reason. Drake is on his tough mon ting here, but I have a question: you’re talking all that tough guy Teflon s**t one minute, and on this song you’re talking ‘bout you “got a lot of blood and it’s cold” but the song is called “I’m upset”? The f**k you upset about? That the world isn’t feeling the fact you handled the whole secret kid by an ex-porn star terribly? That people don’t buy your tough guy mafia don shtick? Golly the contradictory song titles are running rampant on this album so far. This is one of the worst songs he’s ever made but it’s catch to me for some reason, and he’s coming with the bars full of f*****y. “I can’t go 50/50 with no ho” but didn’t you......you know what? I’ll leave it alone. On to the next song.

8 Out of 10: This ain’t bad at all. This reminds me of some Thank Me Later era s**t. The bars aren’t too cotton candy soft s**t either. The outro was mad unnecessary bro but whatever. Here we go ”As luck would have it I’ve settled into my role as the good guy/I guess luck is on your side” Ayo my man, since when did the public view you as the bad guy?? Seriously you’ve been trying to paint the picture of yourself as the reluctant paranoid super villain/king since the Take Care era (which was your best work by the way). The problem is, the vision never did fit accurately. All in all a good song and verses though I’d replay this.

Mob Ties: I can't put my finger on what this beat reminds me of. It's like some late 90’s early 00’s keyboard beats. I like it though. This s**t doesn’t bother me, he’s on his mob boss: “I’ll get people to take you out” nonsense. You say you “hired some help to get rid of these n****s” does that mean you hired some ghostwriters to write some bars? I’m asking for a friend. “I’m not with that ra-ra I am a da-da.” That was suuuuuuuper basura. Like c'mon man. I still kinda like this song though. But the bulls**t piles up so fast on a Drake album you need wings to stay above it.

Can’t Take a Joke: This s**t is kinda whack. So far the production hasn’t been bad at all for the most part. A lot of these songs are short, almost like they’re not fully fleshed out songs. Some of these have gaps on the hooks. I wonder, did he throw this all together in a week like Kanye? The only artist to make a classic in 7 days was the Don Killumintati himself Tupac Shakur. Facts. But this song was good, I was kinda feeling it. But it was too short and felt like a random song that shouldn’t have made the cut. If it was on anyone else’s album that would be the consensus, but since it’s Drake people will revere it. Oh well (*shrugs shoulders*). Matter of fact I really like this song or maybe I’m trying to really like this song maybe it’s just a glitch in the got damn Matrix who knows.

Sandra’s Rose: I LOVE THIS BEAT. This the s**t I can feel. Who made this? Preemo? Ah mannn I’m not surprised. Hats off to DJ Premier man, one of the greatest producers of all time. This Reminds me of Weston Road Flows. Totally different beat, but the same real soulful feel. Drake is putting his all into the song for a change. A lot of the songs on here he sounds real lazy. That’s what success will do to some people. Success can be just as dangerous as any drug, to the wrong person it can rob you of your hunger. Got it, “Sandra’s rose” aka his mothers son, aka the rose that grew from concrete. Gottttttt it. Clever song title, awesome beat, Preemo is a savage and gold bars from drizzy the Drake cake man, nothing really bad to say about the song, Drake was talking some silly dilly s**t a couple of times but ima let it slide on the strength of this song being so hot.

Talk Up (Featuring JAY Z): AHHHHHHHH S**T now this s**t right here (*Katt Willams voice*)???? is THAT S**T. About damn time. This motherf****r is a banger. Now who in tarnation made this beat? (*checks album notes*) DJ PAUL???? You ugly sonofab***h, you MURKED this s**t. This makes me want to go see that little Asian gentleman down in Houston that makes the grills, what’s his name? Johnny something I think? Whatever the f**k his name is, or Paul Wall baby! I'll get an iced out grill, buy an old school Chevy that cost 5 grand, get rims that cost 25 grand and a giant subwoofer that cost 15 stacks and takes up the entire backseat and trunk. Then I'll go down south and become a promethazine/codeine conisour. DJ Paul with one arm made a hotter beat than other tracks on here with multiple producers and like 8 different sets of arms, for real for real. Big Shouts to DJ Paul, you did the diggity damn thing on this s**t. Matter of fact, while I’m on the subject of Three 6 Mafia, shout out to Crunchy Black, top 5 dancer in the music game all time. You don’t know who I’m talking about? go on YouTube and check the 3 6 Mafia Videos and you’ll see the man’s footwork on display.

Sidebar: Top 5 dancers all time 1)MJ, 2)James brown, 3)Usher, 4)Chris Brown and 5)Crunchy Black. Word. If you disagree your opinion is worthless and irrelevant.

Anyway, this beat is hard as all hell. Drake is talking that talk on this, and you know what? I’m not even mad at it. And here’s Mr. Beyonce Knowles-Carter on the track. Even though they had their pseudo-beef for years but I guess it got squashed. (*Shrugs*) I’m not gonna lie Hov sounds kinda sleepy as f**k on this track. Was he getting into character and had DJ Paul pass him the sizzurp before he got into the booth? His verse is good though by his late career standards. The line about Xxxtentacion and George Zimmerman is the truth though, I don't care what you say. If you disagree you gotta rethink that. Hot a*s song man. Not mad at it in the least. Play this song on some good speakers for maximum enjoyment.

Is There More?: I like this song. I like Drake’s lyrics on this. Nice to see his lyrics and content match the song title. “They say take the good with the bad I’ll take it without” here’s out of touch Drake again. Like dog, you’re not Jesus, Lazarus or John the Baptist, you’re a NORMAL PERSON for f***s sake. Everyone takes good and bad, stop it. Again, too much success, not staying grounded and having too many yes men around you will blind you and make you unrealistic. “As soon as the album drops I’m out of the deal” ........ somewhere Birdman's hands stopped rubbing together. Good song and lyrics. Can’t really hate. That much.

Side B


Peak: AH MAN, I LIKE THIS S**T SON. This sounds like something that would’ve been on So Far Gone/Thank Me Later. This is like some Shut it Down part 2 type s**t. Which is a HIGH compliment. This s**t is SUPER HOT. B side is off to a REAL solid start. Even the washed out reverb guitar at the end is real vintage Drake. Whoever made this beat got jiggy on this s**t. Question is, Who made this s**t? Did 40 make this s**t? Tell me 40 made this s**t. (*checks album notes*) OF COURSE 40 made this s**t. 40 you did your thug thizzle on it. you’re the man. This song is a certified PD. If you’re a guy reading this and you don’t know what a PD is, you’re a disgrace. But yea, this kinda reminds me of Cece’s Interlude. It’s got that vibe, need I say more? Straight fire.

Summer Games: Aaaaand just like that here comes the garbage truck backing up. This s**t is bad. I literally only listened to this song all the way through because I’m on the job doing this review, but that’s it. This beat sounds like they used one of the basic arpeggio sounds off Fruity Loops demo version and put some drums on it. That’s not to say you can’t make bangers off FL studio. 9th Wonder made Threats off FL studio, and that’s one of of the hottest Jay beats of all time to this day. So it can be done, but this isn’t one of those cases. I agree that as an artist you gotta experiment and progress, but not all experiments are successful ones. This sounds like Drake is trying to have a song played at Electric Daisy Carnival this year. Fail for this. That “breaking my heart” chopped part is painful to listen to. This didn’t have to make this album. Drake Stans will obviously rock this song but not I. Skip button with the quickness.

Jaded: Hot a** song, should’ve cut the last song and cut right to this. The Ty Dolla $ign vocals in the back work really well. Can’t really find much wrong with it. I f***s with it. Drake stays trying to hit up his exes in songs man, you’re a messy a** beige bastard, you know that Aubrey? Well who am I kidding? of course you know you are, you knocked up a chick you met twice who just happens to be an ex porn star/gold digger and you had a baby with her. You’re the Messiest muaf***a of all time. Another thing, BIGGEST shouts to Max B, the original wave master. Drake used the word “wavy” on this album a couple of times. So he should be cutting Biggavel a check. Shouts to Charlie Rambo, hold your head (pause) you’re coming home soon I hear. When Max touches back down it’s literally going to be a national holiday. Anyhoo good song overall, definitely high replay value if it wasn’t for that abomination right before It I would’ve said from Talk Up to Jaded the Toronto tearjerker would’ve been on a little winning streak for this stretch of the album. Ohhh well.

Nice For What: The other big Drake single. I love the Lauryn Hill sample, but I never loved the beat. Once again never feels like it never really drops. I felt like more could’ve been done with it. My sister lived in New Orleans for a few years and loves the city soo much. She told me it’s a real New Orleans bounce sounding beat and that’s how it supposed to sound, so ima leave it alone. Believe me, it’s f*****g FULL of quotables that you’ll see ratchet or wannabe ratchet chicks quoting on social media till the cows come home. If you like the song I’m not mad at you, it’s just not for me that’s all. To each their own.

Finesse: Another song that sounds like it’s a throwback, which is a really good thing. This is a real vibe out song. this is what you listen to when you drink, smoke, Knit a sweater or whatever you do to relax unwind and zone out . “I want my baby to have your eyes” well sir, does Adonis have Sophie’s eyes? Release the pics and let the world know! Another song chocked full of female quotables. I’m not mad at the song. People are saying there’s lines about the Hadid sister on here, but we’ll never know because drake is the Mike of subliminals. Jordan Jackson Tyson pick one. I like the song a lot though, it’s kinda short but that seems to be a trend here.

Ratchet Happy Birthday: This song is corny as f**k. Ok, if it’s one thing I can’t be mad at Drake at all for, it’s that he knows his audience. What did Funkmaster Flex say? “70 percent of your audience wears high heels”? I don't know if it’s that high, but it’s up there. He makes songs for women to apply to their life. He’s a genius in that regard. This song title will be the caption on scores of chicks’ social media posts on their birthdays for eons to come. He’s a smart guy. No one ever got rich being dumb. I like the sample but not the song, I’d even go as far as to say this is the weakest song on the album. Skip.


That’s How You Feel: Eh, not that great. Another short a** song that sounds like it’s not fully finished. A couple of the songs on this B side could’ve been cut. I don’t hate the song but I wouldn’t have been mad if it didn’t make it. The Nicki vocal sample is ok, but she said one of her rules is she f**k her man’s friends if he’s acting up. Nicki, that means you’re a thot where I come from, but whatevs. Different strokes for different folks. Song is ehhhhhh not really anything to go crazy about though. Lukewarm a** Drake song.


Blue Tint: The beat is cool, and I like the Future vocals, but he definitely should’ve had a verse on here. That would’ve made this song way hotter. He even said “What a time to be alive” on the track. You all remember that project right? That Future album with some mediocre a** Drake features right? I figured you all did. Anyways, so why didn’t Future get a verse? The song has a nice bounce on it, but I was 50/50 on it. Is it just me or do a lot of these songs sound unnecessary? I don’t think it’s just me.

In My Feelings: Kind of an ok song. I’m ashamed to say kinda grew on me. I didn’t want to like it. Anyway, it's another song with the New Orleans bounce and flavor. I guess Drake is gonna add the crescent city to the list of places he reps. This song is super ehh. Weezy got some ad libs and vocals on it. Sounds like Mannie Fresh made the beat. Especially the part at the end, sounds like some vintage Guerrilla warfare Hot Boyz s**t, and you all know I’m all for that s**t. A bunch of these B side songs are not great and short, which is concerning because quality control on albums has always been one of Drake’s strong suits. Ever since Views it’s been slipping. My question is directed at 40. You’re the executive producer extraordinaire, you should’ve cut some of these joints man. I expect you to be the man to save Drake from himself. I blame you for this f*****g mess 40. I don't know what’s with the female ratchet dynamic duo on the song either, super random. That being said I’m kinda feeling this track.

It Don’t Matter to Me: So the night before the album dropped, the track list released and I immediately saw this. Now anyone who knows me knows I’m a HUGE MJ fan, and a historian of his career. That being said, I don’t hate the song. I’ve talked to come other MJ enthusiasts I respect, and the opinions have varied. No surprise 40 and Nineteen85 handle production on this. As usual, Drake is pulling all the resources from the OVO sweatshop on this (PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, DVSN). I wouldn’t have been mad to see Jordan Ulman handle production on this. Majid Jordan is the truth. Anyway I’m loving the 80’s vibe 40’s got going here. The percussion in the background kinda sounds like the percussion on Africa by Toto. If you don’t know that song, take a long walk off a short cliff. Your musical knowledge is a joke. Drake was careful not to curse or talk too greasy on this track. He respected the late, great GOAT. I really like how 40 made the beat around MJ’s vocals and didn’t speed up or slow down his vocals. How did they did they clear MJ vocals?? Paris Jackson is probably a fan. That’s another thing I can’t take away From Drake, his clout in the industry is longer than Trump’s ties. Mike’s vocals are so stunning and flawless, he doesn’t ride the beat, his voice glides over it. To be completely real his vocals turn this from an otherwise generic Drake ballad into a great song. I really liked it. Once again RIP to the greatest artist of all time. You already know this is getting replayed mad times.

After Dark (featuring Static Major & Ty Dolla $): This s**t sounds like It should’ve been on Tha Carter 3 or around then. That being said, I would’ve liked it more if Weezy F baby (please say the baby) had done this song back in the day. Doesn’t really work for Drake. I’m loving the Ty $ part, Matter of fact, if this was a Ty song I would’ve like it way more as well. Basically, I would’ve like this song more if it was ANYONE besides Drake. Also Static Major is on here, I’m not mad at that either. RIP Static Major but tbh this is another ehh song off the b side but I’m not too mad at it. Drake’s on his creep s**t here, you should’ve chilled with that creeping after dark s**t. Man, that’s how you got into this mess in the first place.

Final Fantasy: When I was first listening to this song I was about to skip this s**t then the bass kicked in and I was like HOLD up, this s**t is hard. I got all the way into it this. It's is hot as hell, but then it cuts short into a whole different song. More of a singing Drake song, which I’m not mad at, but the overall trend yet again is that these songs are short or sound half don.e This one in particular he just combines two songs to make them one. I’m sure disciples of the church of latter day Drake’s will say this is the bridge or reprise of breakdown but na man, can’t get that. This isn’t the 20/20 experience, you can’t fool me. Don’t get me wrong the second part is super hot too, but it needed to be a song on its own. Just like the first part both songs would’ve been wayyyy better as full songs in their own right. He should’ve cut that summer games trash or ratchet birthday s**t or a couple of others on here and put two full songs on there. But hey it’s Drake’s world and we’re just living it right? Riiiiiiight.

March 11: Drake Intros and outros have always been real strongpoints of his albums. The baby was born in October, so maybe this is the date he got the paternity results. Just guessing. Alright so here it is. For all the tough love I’ve given Drake on this, I’m honestly loving this song. The fact that he handled the whole situation horrendously doesn’t change the fact that he’s a human being. He’s imperfect. He makes mistakes. From all his lyrics he would have you believe otherwise, but it’s the facts of life. It’s his child, and it was his choice how to handle the whole situation. Regardless of if it was a good or bad choice, it was HIS choice. It’s so easy to judge for the outside looking in. It took him 25 tracks but he’s finally opening up. This is the essence of what made Drake so marketable in the first place. That's his ability to bare his soul and feelings. He’s become more and more out of touch with that as time has gone on, but that can happen. People change, and not always for the better. However it’s rough to judge him being in such a high position financially and otherwise. Under such scrutiny and being in the public eye every second. The sad thing is as a fellow mixed kid who grew up with an African American father and a Caucasian mother who divorced, I kinda feel for him at times. It’s tough to find your way in the world that’s black or white and you’re both. Regardless of the s**t I’ve talked about you Drake it’s always mixed mafia for life. I was really feeling this song, and the lyrics. And the concept. And the beat. My only gripe (and this is nit picking) is that it was only one verse. It should’ve been longer, but maybe that’s all he needed to get s**t off his chest to his satisfaction. That faux gospel 90s singing breakdown at the end I could’ve done without for sure. You’re singing about you’re all alone? That’s by your own design buddy, and you’re changing from a boy to a man? You’re 30+ you’re changing NOW? Jeez man you really know how to f**k up a good thing. I was singing your praises finally and you go and do this f*****g s**t. Oh well, but again short but great song. Another worthy addition to his stellar intro/outro catalog he started on So Far Gone. This song just overtook Look What You’ve Done as the most personal he’s ever made. He closed the show on a good track. Short, but good.

And there you have it. 25 tracks from wheelchair Jimmy, it was a long one. A marathon of a listen, not a sprint. So what did I think: It was very well produced, the production sounded expensive on this one. Very immersive, very lush, expansive. He’s always had a golden ear for beats, but that I attribute more to 40 than to Aubrey. So 40, Another well executive produced album. Please make more beats on the next one. Your lack of production on here was noticeable. The overall sound of the album was really good, so high marks there. As far as writing goes, Drake has always had a habit for delivering some head shaking bars and cringe-worthy punchlines, and there are certainly no shortage of both on this album. The few times when he drops that nonsense Teflon don persona and actually acts “human” (Sandra’s Rose, March 14th, Is There More-sorry but Emotionless sounds rushed and saccharine) is when he shows his true talents as a songwriter. The problem is this: this album could’ve been a magnum opus, a Take Care 2, a follow-up to the REAL magnum opus of his career to this point. He could’ve broken new ground, taken his music to yet another level. He could’ve used this moment post-Pusha T loss to really refocus and turn in his best work. This was the perfect opportunity to really, REALLY open up to the world, more then he ever has in his discography. But instead, for most of this album, he pretty much sticks to the script he’s been on most of his career. He fails to even go into any real detail about his son, save one single verse on March 14th, and a couple of random half-hearted lines on Emotionless and scattered elsewhere.

Presented with a golden to opportunity to truly bear his soul, he opts to wow us with expensive production and all-too familiar subject matter. It would seem the more successful he’s become, the more isolated and insulated from reality he gets. The one burning question now is, how many times can you say the same things differently? I believe Drake has finally reached a plateau. When there are no more genres to conquer, no more records to break, no more peaks left to climb, what do you do? This is the crossroads Drake finds himself at currently. Only time will tell how he handles this, and what road he decides to take. The sound and style that made Drake arguably the biggest name in the music world is finally beginning to wear thin. Nothing lasts forever, and Nothing Was the Same. Still, despite the lows there were still the highs that remind you when Drake is hitting on all cylinders, he’s without equal in the rap game. Now that he’s a father, I’m hoping the monumental change in his life this will cause his music to change and evolve as well. I suppose the next chapter in his career can be summed up with one of his song titles. Is there more? Time will reveal.

Album Grade: 6.7/10

Editorial Review: #HERVol2 - @HERMusicx (written by @RamseySaidWHAT)

I have a friend who raps, who doesn't right? He once had this idea for a concept project. It was going to be called, Fame While Anonymous. That album never happened but this concept screams H.E.R. She's an up and coming RCA artist who's gotten co-signs from the likes of Alicia Keys, Wyclef, and Bryson Tiller. H.E.R. is a music blogger's wet dream. Anonymity meets R&B. I think she's one of the purest R&B acts in years. In a genre that is dominated by artists that use subgenre, pitch correction, and different crossover sounds she stands out for those that go back to the true roots of rhythm and blues. It's refreshing to hear someone that's only concerned with the quality of the music vs being a diva. Let's get to it.

Her songwriting prowess is top notch without going over the top. She's clearly someone that's seen some things and been some places that love has taken her. I think anyone that's ever wanted someone so bad it hurts could relate. I wasn't particularly blown away by the lead singles Every Kind of Way and Say it Again. Either way they are sexy as hell. In volume one she did have some joints for the sex set with Focus and Wait For It. You can add these new singles to the bunch. She's never been super vulgar with her lyrics but definitely in your face about what she's going to do and how she's going to do it.

"I wanna love you in every kind of way, I wanna please you no matter how long it takes." (Every Kind of Way)

From track three to track seven is the meat on this project. The rest is potatoes, no need for gravy this project it is seasoned well enough. The middle of the project takes us on a roller coaster of emotions from happiness to melancholy and remorse for failed love. The thing I like about H.E.R. is how vulnerable she is. She attacks the relationship and lets us in no matter what. I think most singers only show one side at a time whether it be happiness or sadness. We see it all. I'd love to interview her one day. I'm curious how much she lets the audience in and how her exes would feel about their most intimate moments being exposed.

Avenue and Gone Away are the standouts on this project content-wise. Avenue seemed like an extension of her remix to Drake's Jungle from the previous project. She mentioned she sometimes borrow her friends car and pull up on her man undercover. Avenue is about her confronting her man.  Gone away is one of those songs that hit the very soul of a lover. She addresses the relationship for what is was. She felt it was one sided and her man wouldn't fight for them. He only wanted to be around for just the good times, and wouldn't apologize for his part in it.

"We were much happier when it was always happy endings." (Gone Away)

The project ends with Lights On. Yes this is another one for the good ole "Get The Drawers" playlist we've all been building for years. I do enjoy that H.E.R retains her mystery and isn't ridiculously nasty. You don't have to wear headphones while listening to this. At the same time it's clear as day what she's talking about. This song is fire, period.

I think you would enjoy Vol 2 more if you listen to it directly after listening to Vol 1 (which I am already certifying as a classic). My only quarrel with Vol. 2 is it isn't as cohesive as the first. It's weird but with Vol 1 you can put the entire thing on shuffle and it sounds the same as if you started with track one. Vol. 2 is cohesive in it's own right but has to be played in order or it just won't work. If you want to like the sequel, you can't compare it to the former, respect it as it's own body of work. Her production is top notch and I love how her music is mixed. I can't really tell if she sings her own background reaching into tenor range or if she has a male vocalist. She's an alto who can falsetto into soprano and riff down the ledger lines into tenor. She doesn't do the most and trust me, a lot of artists do. I'm really only worried about one thing with her. She has released two projects now and both of them are EPs. The first was seven songs and 22 minutes, and the second was eight songs lasting 27 minutes. She held my attention for less than a half hour twice with great success. How well could she last on an LP? Would the overflow of emotion be overwhelming and boring or would she thrive with more time and possible skits? Could we expect visuals one day? Either way, I'm super intrigued by uncovering the mystery of H.E.R. I want to know if she's really this Gabi Wilson like the rumors suggest or if she's someone completely different. Ironic because H.E.R stands for Having Everything Revealed as she told the LA Times. H.E.R. isn't the first anonymous act out. The Weeknd, Sia, and even Goldlink have all adopted less visible monikers before they came out to the public. I wonder if this new tour with Tiller and Metro Boomin will lead to her walk to the spotlight. Only time will tell. H.E.R. Vol 2. gets 3.9 of 5 stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale. Listen to it in it's entirety after the break and leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

@Drake's #MoreLife One Listen Review by @RamseySaidWHAT

Damn Ramsey where ya been?

I'm sure that is the number one question you guys reading are probably asking. I used to be pretty apologetic about my hiatuses. In light of the influx of new music I had to write something. Well sort of. I think when my Views piece dropped in was a time of much conversation, ask Joe Budden. Well Drake brought me out of retirement I guess. I'm not going to do this the way I always do. I'm going to do a one listen review but in a thread of tweets. Enjoy by clicking below and scrolling down.

First Listen Review of #MoreLife (in a thread) pic.twitter.com/hFKjdmzELP

— Jonathan (@RamseySaidWHAT) March 20, 2017

Listen: 4pm in Calabasas @Drake {Written by @Natural_Nation}

It's safe to say I came in on the late tip with 4pm in Calabasas by Drake and honestly, it is still taking me a minute to really be convinced of the track's actual purpose. Currently, it is being labeled as a diss-track directed towards Diddy, Joe Budden, and a few other rumored names.  A friend of mine really had to break it down to me. It wasn't that I missed the Bad Boy references, the clear quoted lyrics, melodic bites, or the clear instrumental sample. I simply didn't take it personally, but then again why would I when it had nothing to do with me? Drake is smart and he is calculating; while the music industry is notoriously petty. I don't know how much of this is hot air being tossed up a helium balloon and how much of it is actually worth discussing. Either way he got us all talking once again, "ha-ha-ha-ha', got em."

For a break down of the lyrics and a thorough explanation of the beef click here.

Listen: twoAM - @sza {Written by @Natural_Nation}

Last week, to my wonderful surprise, SZA released a track called twoAM. The song seems to be in no way related to her third up and coming project A. Posting the link for the song on her twitter this past Thursday she simply added "Lol Just for shits and gigs." The track is a remake of PARTYNEXTDOOR's March track Come and See Me featuring Drake. SZA seems to be speaking from the side of the female, similar to the way Jojo did in her rendition of Marvin's Room (Drake) back in who ever the hell remembers 2000 and something. I'm just really ready for this, anybody else?   

Listen: Come and See Badu - @fatbellybella, @Partyomo & @Drake

I've never been on that wave of watching and listening to song covers, but Erykah Badu surprises us all with this twist on Come and See Me by PARTYNEXTDOOR featuring Drake.

This ballad was already dope but I love what she did with her verse. The problem is people sing the song exactly how it was in the original but she made the song fit her more than it already did. I guess that's why She ILL is and will forever be an R&B legend. I love her background vocals she put under PARTY's verses and hooks. Listen to the cover after the break.

Editorial Review: Views - @Drake - (by @RamseySaidWHAT)

Never have I ever seen so many opinions of a single project within hours of it's release. That's just the kind of hype our northern neighbor Drake brings.

I was especially hesitant to write this review. First and foremost I am a Drizzy fan. I'm sure a few of you are gonna close out your window upon reading that last sentence.  If You're Reading This was recorded on the tour-bus, in a hotel, or wherever. It was a collection of songs. Drake returned home for the entire recording of this album. Take Care was the last result of what was recorded at home. It's something about going home and visiting the places that molded you. You backtrack and think about the people around you. Views is just a little more together than that. There are gaps where it doesn't make sense but sonically it's all together better than the former. The project kind of goes in chapters. Question is, he hasn't yet, but can Drake miss? Let's get to it.

Chapter One: Reflection

I'm a wine snob so I like to crack open a nice red and a bottle of water to ensure my listening experience. The mood in the beginning of the project was made for the wine drinkers out there. Keep the Family Close starts things off. Drake intros have been fairly weak in my opinion since his first Fireworks with Alicia Keys. The trend continues. The ongoing debate has been "Does Drake sing too much?" since 2009. The first few tracks he trades spitting and singing throughout these tracks. 9 just doesn't do it for me. It could for you possibly but the beat wasn't entertaining enough for the verses to be so dull. The content and reflection was good but he kind of just rapped on one, two, and three and let the song play beat for then the next few bars for Drake to return in the following bar. We on the radio call this dead air.

The next song, U With Me? starts with a DMX sample of and boom-bap percussion. Synths get the tone in the classic 40 tone as expected. Kanye, Faith Evans, DJ Dahi & more also have production and songwriting credits on this jawn. This is the first track Drake sets the tone with his rap verses rather than singing. The second half of the song serves as a ballad of all the things he rapped about, his relationships. Feel No Ways heads back to singing but this time upbeat and bouncy. He's still reflecting on his exes and how they act towards him. Frankly, the 6 God feels no way like the song says, why should he.

Chapter Two: Don't You Know Who I Am?

Hype is as hype says. Drake is really in his bag. Let's think about it. Dude put his country on his back, put the label on his back, goes plat without effort, and is the new ambassador for the Raptors. Shoot he won a major beef and probably didn't write any of the words to the diss track (lol). Seriously, Hype is dope, this is the head knocker you guys were looking for. Weston Road Flows is probably one of my favorites on Views. Time and time again I say Drake's best songs are the ones he just raps on without a hook or any kind of song structure. He does well when he's just trying to spill all which brings me right back to my 30 for 30 argument a few months back. The sample is dope using Mary J. Blige's Joint record. I only knew this song because I always mixed it with I'm So Into You by SWV in my 90's sets. Redemption takes a page out of chapter one but still provides to braggadocios flow Drake gave us in the past few songs. Short mentions of women in his past life and how they eat their hearts out knowing Drizzy is one of the hottest things out. If you listen close enough you can hear Ray J's beginning of One Wish. This song is the perfect link to the next chapter or mood of this project.

Chapter Three: Climax

With You has the first feature on Views from the 6. Who better than PARTYNEXTDOOR? It's bouncy and doesn't have those dark undertones that we are used to hearing from either of them, to be honest. It's fun. Faithful serves as my absolute favorite on the project. It features a posthumous verse from Pimp C which was actually a quick 8 from the Tom Ford remix. Faithful kind of sounds like two different tracks when dvsn comes in and steals the show. I always enjoy being put on to new music and a good friend put me on with the Toronto singer/producer duo a few weeks ago. I actually just found out they are the newest signees to OVO Sound. Faithful is flat-out excellent all around. dvsn has this mysterious undertone much like the other artists discovered by Drizzy. Unfortunately, Still Here is another one of those songs that didn't keep my attention. This song may be the first actual skip. I think what makes artists like Drake and Jay-Z great is their ability to adapt to the times and the trends while adding their own flavor to a song. Drake succumbs to the trendy druggy, swag flow here and I'm not impressed.

Chapter Four: The Dancehall

I was just saying the other day to my friends that I wanted to go to a reggae party even if it's in the grimiest part of Queens. I did make my way to a bar last weekend and Controlla coupled with the next track were in heavy rotation. Controlla was my favorite track he gave up as a loosie before the album dropped. I was hurt when he took Popcaan off the album version. He did change the sound and production by Boi-1da is a little different than the single version. It's a nice change. He could have dropped an entire reggae album and it would have been A-OK with me.

One Dance follows up. You guys have heard this one kill radio waves and those basement parties where every girl is trying to listen to Drake. This is the singing Drake the thugs will compromise with their girls for. Wizkid and Kyla compliment and add to the song perfectly. I just wish I had like four more songs like these. I'll get one, but we'll talk about that later.

Chapter Five: Changing Flows

Grammys features Future. This very well could have been a track that didn't make What A Time To Be Alive. It's just another song that shows the versatility of Drake. From singing to the dancehall to gritty rapping. I guess all of his songs sound like Drake featuring Drake after all. Child's Play is kinda cool. This track flips from a house feel to a beat breakdown at the beginning of the second hook. Can't put my ears to where the sample without hitting up who sampled. It's an old New Orleans bounce track by Ha-Sizzle. Pop Style originally had The Throne involved. Jay didn't really rap but said two lines in the beginning and Kanye finished the other 14 to complete a 16. When he took them off it was almost unnoticeable. Too Good featuring Rihanna could have been placed in the Dancehall chapter earlier on. I really like this track between the West Indian percussion style to verses by Drake and RiRi. The duo have always flat-out made good music. If my math is right this makes their forth collaboration.

Chapter Six - Concluding the Six

Summers Over Interlude is pretty cool. It's retrospective like we'd expect. I wish it were a full song and will make the playlist I have of really good interludes that needed to be full-length with Girl With the Tattoo, 101, Lady in the Glass Dress and more. Majid Al Maskati from Majid Jordan sings throughout this Maneesh-produced track. Fire and Desire samples my baby Moesha, I mean Brandy's I Dedicate. Drake lets the slow interlude dictate the pace. I'd really like my hands on an instrumental of this one. The self-titled, Views samples one of my favorite Gospel songs by the Winans Brothers. The clip reminds me of my dad blasting gospel music to wake me up for church then the music changed to gritty rap like how I was when I put my headphones on playing Breathe by Fabolous while brushing my teeth. Views goes back to his hookless rapping. Drake's emcee skills aren't as good as I think they are and aren't as bad as you think they are. He just doesn't do it enough point-blank. Hotline Bling finishes up the project (Just click the link).

This album was long. It's twenty tracks and has a few songs we've heard beforehand. In some instances, they wouldn't have been missed. He did change at least one thing to all of the songs we've previously heard which gave us a different flavor. I was surprised Summer Sixteen didn't make the cut. I would have loved that over Hotline Bling. Summers Over was the only interlude and even that was almost two minutes. I only listened to this project all the way through once. I thought it lacked cohesion but I was wrong. It was meant to be listened to in pieces, thus the review was done in six chapters for the six God. Views is the first full-length Drake review I've ever written before AOTY time. My analysis: Views from the Six is 40's masterpiece and definitely his best work. I wouldn't call this album Drake's best but it's his best-produced project. Since people like Jay comparisons this is his Magna Carta Holy Grail. It's super-produced but not his best work as far as content. Not terrible, but not the best. I say this with love, Drizzy has enough life experience to give us more of him. That's what the true goal of an artist is right? Views from the Six gets a 4.17 of 5 Stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale.

Listen: Come and See Me - @PARTYOMO feat. @Drake

You know breaking up and seeing your old thing move on leads to a bunch of different emotions.

We can all pretend like we don't care but we at least feel it. Maybe not completely but only a little. I'm probably thinking too much into this new PartyNextDoor track featuring OVO labelhead Drake. Come and See Me is probably one of the best songs from the Canadian chorister in a long time. Sometimes emotions do bring out the best in the art. I need yall to feel this.
 

Listen: Work - @Rihanna featuring @Drake (Prod by @Boi1da)

In the past Rihanna has always impressed me with her workload. She usually drops an album annually and on one occasion two in a year. As of recently I thought she was turning into the new pop Frank Ocean.

That was until this morning she released a new song called Work. On this Boi-1da produced song she gets an assist from the north north, in Drake. The duo croon over this synth heavy, riddim beat. It's exactly what you'd expect from these two. My sources say her new album, Anti, may even drop this week making this the longest gap in between albums since her 2012 LP Unapologetic. Listen to Work featuring Drake below.

Staff Picks AOTY 2015 - @Natural_Nation

So first let me start off by saying that I find lists a bit silly. A majority of the time it's an inaccurate depiction of a vast sample size. I've heard a sliver of all of the music released this year and yet I'm supposed to judge who's music is better than the other. So I can only rate the work of rappers that I've heard.

Number 5: Barter 6, Young Thug/ Sremm Life, Rae Sremmurd

Yeah I'm cheating, but I can't help it. The Barter 6 and Young Thug are my guilty pleasures for 2015. I actually listened to the Barter 6 more than any other album this year.. I'll admit I didn't expect much from him at all. I summed him up to a two to three song fad. But honestly the overall production of the album was really dope. I blasted this album in my car all summer, all fall, and it's still hanging on. But, there’s really no denying the success of the shrimp boys. SremmLife is mainly making my list due to its popularity, it was too big to ignore. This is not an album you listen to if you want to be blown away by lyrical content. But the style of rap that we've heard in 2015 puts this album near the top and for many people in the top 3. I happened to absolutely hate the last song. I thought it was a lame attempt to appeal to the masses but that aside it was the party album of the year. When it comes to these two I am honestly not able to separate my bias so I’ll let you choose for me.

Number 4: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late

Drake has yet to disappoint when it comes to music, almost since the beginning of his career.  Whether it’s mixtapes, singles, albums, the man is currently one of the greatest. Period. And this is coming from an individual who has always found him to be a crybaby. The amount of music Drake has showered his fans with this past year was unmatched. It started to get to the point where it was hard for me to keep track of what he released and who's song he was featured on. The man single handedly made a word famous. How many of ya’ll ( outside of the south) knew what a woe was before Drake?...I’ll wait. Don’t lie, most of ya’ll thought it was a ho with a 'W'. This is the album all Drake fans will refer to when he decides to tone it down and sing a few more melodies again. It was an album you could bump in your car. It was Drake unapologetic, a man who spit with conviction and gumption. He definitely poked out his chest with this one. 

Number 3: The Incredible True Story

The thing I love and appreciate about Logic is that (so far) he always comes with great production, flow, and content. He is successful at creating exactly what an album should sound like; a collective body of music that flows from beginning to end.  This album was a story. On this sophomore project we again hear familiar references to Quentin Tarantino and Frank Sinatra. We also get insight on his issues with the way he is viewed in the rap industry based off of his race. Logic is solid and anyone who says otherwise is childish. The sample near the end on track 18 spoke to me immediately. The way the album phased out alone snatches the third spot from Drake.

"But its absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don’t like, and to teach our children to follow in the same track...therefore it’s so important to consider the question: What do i desire?"

Number 2: Dark Sky Paradise

Dark Sky Paradise!!! Let us address the thoroughness of this one. Big Sean once again brought his A game with the creation of his 3rd album. This is one of those artists where  took me a while to appreciate them. I remember hearing his voice on the radio allll the time. I was always asking, "who is that?”  Sure enough, every time I didn't know who the artist was, it was Big Sean. Eventually it got to the point where all I could hear was his voice and I had his music on repeat. Dark Sky Paradise is definitely some of  the best collection of work I have heard from him so far. It's awesome to see and hear the progression of his music up to this point. He's working hard and it shows in his music. And I don't care what anyone says, Paradise was one of the best rap songs of 2015. It will probably go down as one of the best songs in his career. The album does not disappoint in any area. I wouldn't feel right giving this spot to anyone else but Big Sean, not even Logic.

Number 1: To Pimp A Butterfly

Okay, I mean I guess this may be an argument to some people but uh...not to me. Kendrick Lamar grabs the #1 spot without question. To Pimp A Butterfly claims the throne because it was an instant classic...in hip-hop history. This album easily joins the likes of other great rap albums like The Chronic, Life After Death, All Eyez on Me, Aquemini, etc. etc. etc.. It's going to be timeless and for that, it automatically becomes best rap album of 2015. This is the product of a creative mind not stuck in the boundaries of the "2015 sound". This is what happens when you study your craft, pay homage to the oldies, and approach with a listening ear not consumed by ego and pride. The progression of the album was genius. The features were perfect and the musical influence of the album flowed from beginning to end. It was the only piece of artwork I listened to all year.... and I don't really see how he could top this album. If he retired now he would already have two of the best rap albums in the past 3 years. One of the greatest in my generation, album of the year goes to King Kendrick.

Honorable mentions

Travis Scott: Rodeo

Lupe Fiasco: Tetsuo & Youth

Wale: Album About Nothing

Staff Picks AOTY 2015 - @AQueens_Crown

2015 has been a crazy one for me, and I wouldn’t have gotten thru some it without music. So here is my top 5 of the best of the best in music this year.

Number five: Drake - If You're Reading This Its Too Late

Yes it’s a album!

As the kids would say, Drake’s IYRTITL went HARD! Drake was much more aggressive on this album compared to the others. Maybe he was tired of the jokes, who knows, but the Drake we have seen since this album dropped has been a beast. “Is that your world tour, or your girls tour” I don’t even have to say anything else, and I already know you’re picturing your favorite meme.You heard the aggressive tone on tracks 6PM In New York and 6 God. He spit raw bars into some of these tracks. He didn’t sing on this album that I know many expected. One of lines where Drake is letting you know how they feel comes fom Engery "I got rap niggas that I gotta act like I like. But my actin’ days are over, fuck them niggas for life." 

Number four: Ty Dolla $ign- FreeTC

I was honestly surprised with how much I liked this album. Granted Ty Dolla $ign leans more on the R&B side of things. He often crosses into the rap genre so I was expecting more rap. However, you get a nice medley of his voice and feels of old school R&B. Horses in the Stable is one of my favorites. Mirale/Wherever ft TC & d-Loc was another song that was nice to listen too. Even though you can tell the features were done behind prison walls, it doesn’t take away from TC’s amazing voice.

Number three: Chance the Rapper, Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - Surf

Overall, this was a fun album. Filled with great features such as Big Sean, KYLE, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, and many more. I know many look as this project as the work of Chance the Rapper, but its not. This comes from the great minds of Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment. Think of them as similar to The Roots if you need a reference point. It's hard to find a track that I didn’t like on this album. The whole thing is filled with smart lines, beautiful instrumentals, and uplifting messages like on Wanna Be Cool, about being yourself, or Sunday Candy, an ode to Grandmas everywhere.

Number two: Wale - The Album About Nothing

This is the album I have always wanted from Wale.  Going with the same theme as his most popular mixtapes  The Mixtape About Nothing and The More About Nothing. Wale enlists the help of stand up comedian  Jerry Seinfeld  to narrate the album.  They talk about love, drugs, and just life in general. I wish Wale was appreciated more as an artist. His viewpoint on all things life have always been expressed in his work, but with this album I felt like it was really delivered properly. The Girls on Drugs was a great song about, as the title suggests, girls on drugs. It describes a cautionary tale of a woman's battle with pills. I hope Wale continues to deliver and be received by old and new fans to come.

Number one: Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

Everyone is lying if they say Kendrick didn’t have one of the best albums of the year. To Pimp a Butterfly is a milestone in the history of hip hop. I cant descried the album anything less than beautiful. The theme of black empowerment, which ran throughout the whole album, heard clearly in Complexion. I cherished the poetry in These Walls, Kendrick speaking on different types of “walls” and what they mean for the person.  I know when the first single i was released, people didn’t really like it, but it set he tone of Kendrick’s mindset when making this album. In u he faces his own demons as a black man, that is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Feeling like everyone is changing, causing him to question his faith. A place I am sure people can relate to. If you haven’t already or even if you already listened go give the album a listen, make sure you listen carefully.

Staff Picks AOTY 2015 - @Maryyy_UK

It seems like we are getting hip hop back. We must be because it was actually difficult to pick my top five albums for this year. There were a lot of albums with a lot of different sounds. Sometimes I think music can blend so much that they're aren't specific genres any more. This can be a positive thing, because it enhances the community of the music world, but it can also make artists not stand out. The albums in my top five were able to find a way to stand out among the crowd, especially for their quality.

 #5 The Album About Nothing - Wale 

Wale’s Album About Nothing received some criticism when it first came out. it sold pretty well, but some people thought the piece was boring. I disagree. While it’s not trap music, and it doesn't have many club beats in it, is was very well-crafted. I love the way that even though it’s a album about nothing in particular, it has the common Seinfeld theme (which is a show about nothing, for non-Seinfeld watchers out there). His single, The Matrimony featuring Usher, was well received by audiences. He also had J. Cole in The Pessimist. This track was the realest sh*t he ever wrote to be honest. He and Cole list the reasons why our people are feeling hopeless, and most of them are pretty relevant to now. “If a nigga kill a nigga he another statistic, but if his skins a little different they gonna say it was self defense, a nigga feeling hopeless.” Sza, and Stokley Williams are also featured on the album. It’s definitely not the album that listen to before you go out Friday night, but like the show Seinfeld, it has classic moments that we can all relate too, and sometimes laugh about.
4.0 out of 5.0


 #4 If You're Reading This It’s Too Late. - Drake 

 WITH MY WOES! sorry, I had to do it.

Just when we thought Drake was getting too soft, he gives us this album. I’m not going to pretend that I wasn't a fan of his emotional pop stuff; Take Care was my album, but not everyone was on board with that. He gave the people who say, Drake doesn’t rap a reason to shut up. In No Tellin’ he says “Please do not speak to me like I'm that Drake from four years ago, I’m at a higher place/ Thinking they lions and tigers and bears, I go hunting/ Put heads on my fireplace." Yup its clear that Drake is in a different place now. He’s not all hard, but this more aggressive side he is showing is waking people up. This isn't the new Drake, this is the real Drake, and he is taking control of his own sound.
4.25 out of 5.0


 #3 Tetsuo and Youth - Lupe Fiasco 

As a Lupe fan, I was satisfied with this album. It was about a three year wait between this and his previous album, Food and Liquor II, but it was well worth the wait. His second track, Mural, is what had everyone talking. Eight minutes of rap; no chorus, bridge, or even another person featuring. It was just Lupe and the beat. Even if you hated what he said in the track, anyone would respect the ability to actually flow for that long. But I loved it. It was what a mural would sound like: different images that are seemingly independent, but in the end create a masterpiece. But that wasn't the only song that was great. There is this amazing religious imagery in songs like Madonna, Adoration of the Magi, and They.Resurrect.Over.New, that connect to faces you see in your neighborhood. Dots & Lines probably has the most intelligent and well crafted lines in a rap. This is a treat for you who like math and rap. I’m not even a numbers person, but I respected the hell out of it. Lupe also incorporated the youth in the seasons interludes, showing how kids would see each one. This was an intricate construction of an album, no wonder it took him three years.
4.4 out of 5.0


 #2 Summertime '06 - Vince Staples 

The up-and-coming Vince Staples surprised me with this album. “Man the sea’s been polluted baptism for the shooter." Damn. This guy has bars, I want to compare him to my number one spot holder (scroll down to see.) He just has a gift with words, building a distorted image in your mind like a twisted dream; somehow he makes the strangest comparisons make sense. He has a two disc album, and while all the songs are hearty in content, most of them are 3 minutes or less. These short vignettes aren’t scene of a warm and happy California, this album is picture of the Long Beach that most people don’t see. Lift Me Up and was a favorite of mine, other good ones were Dopeman, featuring his old group member Joey Fatts and Kilo Kish and Might Be Wrong featuring Haneef Taleb and eeeeeee. On this track Staples doesn't even rap. Its a speech followed by a phone recording. Rolling Stone called Staples “the most exciting rapper” this past summer. But this isn’t his first rodeo. This was technically his debut album, but he caught our attention with his EP Hell Can Wait. This album is just another stepping stone for him. I have a feeling he’s the type of artists that gets better with age.
4.5 out of 5


 #1 To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar 

I don’t know how there can be any dispute on this one to be honest. This album is what hip hop needed at the right time. I've been a Kendrick fan for a while and I think this is his best work yet. From the beat to the arrangement and of course the lyrics, Kendrick makes an album that is a perfect mix of rap, poetry, and ultimately art. The song that haunts me is How Much A Dollar Cost. The development of the story peeks inside the mind of every person who has walked by a homeless person who asks for money. This was President Obama’s favorite song in 2015 and the man has good taste in music. Even if you can’t relate to the content that he raps about, you can appreciate the way he conveys a message to his audience. The reoccurring character Lucy, short for Lucifer, comes and tempts Kendrick throughout the album with glitters that ultimately kill us all in the end. In “u” we get into K.Dot's mind. It is a dark track, where he battles with his own thoughts of despair and depression. However In “i” he combats that saying “I love myself.”  However this isn't just a celebration of him escaping the prison of self hate. This is a version where he breaks up a fight in the middle of a concert, reprimanding kids who say “fuck niggas” telling them to have respect of themselves and each other. And his interview with Tupac in Mortal Man was the icing on the cake, the greatest of our generation talking to his mentor is genius. The whole thing is raw. Good raw.
4.65 out of 5

This year showed me that we have real rap. One honorable mention was Big Sean’s Dark Sky Paradise, his third studio album. He is the one of the top MCs in the game, but he leans more to a commercial audience and hasn't reached his full potential yet as a lyricist. I always come in contact with people who always try to downplay rap. They tell me it’s disrespectful, mysogynistic, and violent. Before I would have to go far back in the crevices of my mind and find the most obscure rappers to prove that they were wrong, with this years productions I don’t have to do that. These rappers are making art and yes while the lyrics can include all of the aforementioned things, they are creatively and intelligently making beauty of the environment that surrounds us. Yeah it can be grotesque sometimes, but they have made it a true reflection of this world. Artists this year have held up the mirror to their audience and are basically saying just what Tupac said in Mortal Man “We aren't even really rapping. We are letting our dead homies tell stories for us.” In short, they're letting their lives and experiences motivate the message in their art.