2015 Best of the Rest; A Niles P. Joint

 

As What’s The Movement gets closer and closer to our Album of the Year extravaganza, I have the arduous yet fun task of looking back at all of the dope ass music that came out in 2015.  Since my own personal criteria for AOTY dictates that only hip hop LPs can be included, that leaves a few EPs, official mixtapes, and other projects on the outside looking in.  So I decided to make a list before the AOTY list.  I wanna be clear and say that THIS IS NOT AN HONORABLE MENTIONS LIST.  While there was a ton of quality hip hip to be heard, not everyone can realistically get a trophy.  But instead, I can write about the stuff that didn’t fit my top 10 criteria but was still a great listen.  Projects are listed in no particular order.

iSweatergawd by Jean Grae - I’m not sure if she’s in the twilight of her rap career or nah, but either way Jean’s musical stylings age like a fine wine.  Produced by Quelle Chris, the EP is only six tracks long but tackles everything from love to loss.  Of course Jeannie has her trademark humor and even has a posse cut feat. Tanya Morgan

The Nehruvian EP by Bishop Nehru - Fresh off of a joint album with DOOM, Bishy Bish drops an EP which functions as a starter set for anyone who was curious about his music.  Dude can’t even legally drink but raps/produces excellently.  No wonder Nas signed him for his Mass Appeal label.

GEMS from the Cubicle by Lyric Jones - Jones comes through with her second EP in as many years, only with a little more of an edge.  Dirty Diggs laces her with sample-laden beats on a project that has an Office Space theme, dialogue clips and all.

More Than A Game by SoulFULL - This is a project that I was lowkey mad I couldn't review since Rams beat me to it.  Franklin, NJ’s finest waxes nostalgic and spits over some dope beats from yesteryear.  This was a quickie joint of sorts but was still wildly entertaining.

CMPLX by Chelsea Reject - This falls into official mixtape territory as we get what some have labeled “holistic raps” from one of the new young Brooklyn elite.  Earthy yet accessible, Reject gets a Duck Down co-sign and proves she’s ready to move from AAA ball to the big leagues.

Solace by Earl Sweatshirt - Technically this is one 10 minute long track but it’s like multiple tracks rolled into one, alternating between instrumental and three separate verses.  The Odd Future alum basically makes an avant garde project on wax that perfectly captures the haze of depression.

Griselda Ghost by Westside Gunn & Conway - Elegant NYC grime is back on this project that has been produced by internet persona Big Ghost.  This shit is the musical epitome of taking the razorblade out from under your tongue so you can eat a filet mignon.  Championship combination.

Eight Million Stories by Maffew Ragazino - Speaking of the Big Apple, the Brownsville native crafts a retro-sounding EP that reads like a love letter to the greatest city on earth.  I feel like this one was way too slept on when it came out, so I recommend rectifying that by giving it a listen now.

Surf by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - OK so technically this is a full album by Chance The Rapper & friends (and by friends I mean a ton of guests in addition to his group.)  I put it here because it’s not strictly rap but it’s just so fun, whether giving 80’s pop vibes or instrumentals.  Replay value is crazy on this one.

Words Paint Pictures by Rapper Big Pooh - The former Little Brother emcee does the impossible and captures the Black American experience in seven tracks and two remixes.  Apollo Brown provides soulful instrumentals that are incredibly fitting for such a timely project.

P.O.M.E. by MostDope - On the local scene, Asbury Park native son MostDope put out a great debut mixtape and managed to become the best emcee in his city immediately.  Whether it’s original beats or already established ones, dude can rhyme over anything.  He’s just scratching the surface of his potential.

Sailing Gear Series by Benny Francs - This dude put out a loosie every other week as a part of a series inspired by 90s sportswear (think Tommy/Nautica.)  Collected in one place, they form like Voltron and make a smooth debut project.  Francs will go the traditional route next and release one cohesive mixtape at once but this was a novel idea for an intro to the game.

Songs in the Key of Price by Sean Price - We lost a titan in the game when Sean Price passed away on August 8th.  At the time he was preparing for the release of his official mixtape.  The 8 track version is dope but the 30 track version plays like an old school mixtape.  PF Cuttin does an excellent job blending all of the tracks together into one seamless medley.  This would be excellent as a career outro but P was always working and has some things in the vault.  Thanks to a good relationship between Duck Down and his widow Bernadette (rap unfortunately has been littered with stories of posthumous power struggles and thankfully this isn’t the case here) we’ll get more Sean Price material in the future.  R.I.P. Ruck.

  Now this list is incredible as far as music goes.  Think of it as one of those appetizer platters at a restaurant where you get a little of everything before the main course.  It also should be noted that Cin and Keys Era had projects that are scheduled to drop after this article is published that could possibly be worthy of spots on this list.  While not in time for that, expect articles on both of those projects individually.  I hope you check out everything on this list if you haven’t already.  Be on the lookout for my AOTY list soon.

Listen: Where I'm From - @ALaSOLE_ ft. @DamierGenesis

If you want to be successful in baseball, you need to have a deep pitching rotation. This principle can be applied to rap crews, in this case Pro Era and Odd Future.

Both have their well known stars (Joey Bada$$/CJ Fly & Tyler, The Creator and Earl Sweatshirt respectively) but now some of their emcees deeper in the rotation are getting more shine. This is the case with Pro Era's A La $ole, who puts out a smooth banger in Where I'm From. Assisted by Odd Future's criminally slept on wordsmith Domo Genesis, the track sees these young dudes from two of rap's best crews speak on where they're from.

A is from Flatbush, Brooklyn and Domo is from Inglewood, California. This easygoing track shows that despite their geographical differences, they can find common ground in shared experiences and how they manifest in their artistic talent. Not sure if this song is a loose or off of A La $ole's upcoming project Elixir but either way it's perfect for warm weather and riding out.

Listen: Warlord Leather - @Alchemist feat. @EarlXSweat & @ActionBronson

Every once in awhile you can find some gems from great artists that don’t really appear on any albums. Dubbed throwaway tracks, they are anything but trash. Sometimes they were songs that couldn’t make the album due to sample clearances or other label bullshit and were put out as a free gift of sorts to the fans. Other times they were just recorded for fun and put out as such. In any case, we just got a gem.

To commemorate the release of the new albums by Earl Sweatshirt and Action Bronson, super producer Alchemist released Warlord Leather on his SoundCloud. If seeing those three names involved on one track doesn’t get you amped, I don’t know what to tell you. Also, get the fuck out of my face, duke.

Alchemist laces the two rappers with a minimalistic beat that initially banging gong that reappears throughout the song. The drums give off a jungle type vibe without being too gimmicky. The overall song is punctuated with periodic guitar riffs that have a smoky and vintage sound. Earl starts it off and winds up naming the song when he says “Now I’m at the Waldorf stressin’/ Fidget with the zipper on my warlord leather.”

His verse seems to paint a picture of assassins that feels like a Tarantino film. He ends with a basketball pun that sets up Action Bronson’s verse. In true Bronsolino fashion, he uses a stream of conscious flow that builds creative lines with witty and random references to anything under the sun.  You can’t go wrong when you have these three dudes collaborating. Not sure why it didn’t make it to someone’s album, but I’m glad it got released as a freebie. Check Warlord Leather below and look for Simone's review of Earl Sweatshirt's new album as well as my review of Action Bronson's new album coming soon.

Watch: Grief - @earlxsweat

I've always felt Earl Sweatshirt doesn't get enough love. Maybe that's why he's so hurt.

I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside: An Album By Earl Sweatshirt released today. He also blessed us with a visual for the single he dropped last week, Grief. The mood of the video reflects his tone. Mellow, melancholy, and deep. The camera uses monochrome and inverted color filters to create a blacklight kinda look. As deep as the song and video are, it's equally confusing and lowkey creepy to me. Make that decision for yourself, Grief by Earl Sweatshirt below.

#TBT Channel Orange - Frank Ocean by @RamseySaidWHAT

You know I was just sitting here today like, where's Frank?

Since I'm sure most of you have been asking the same question I figured I'd review an old piece, Channel Orange by Frank Ocean. Sometimes it's hard to believe we haven't heard new music from Francis Breaux since July 2012. I'd like to consider this a classic. It finished 2nd in the R&B Albums of the Year 2012 back when What's the Movement was just a tumblr page. Couldn't top Miguel that year but still Channel Orange was equally deep and really could have been interchangeable as far as lists go. Let's get to it.

Thinking Bout You was a smash single for that spring and summer. I swear everyone with a youtube page made a cover to it. That song and it's covers even made some artists as big as they are today like Tori Kelly, Bridget Kelly, hell even Bieber made a cover with Jaden Smith. Anyways songs I also enjoyed were Super Rich Kids and Pink Matter featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Andre 3000 respectively.  Forrest Gump was a super deep song at the time. He came out about his sexual orientation days before the album and Forrest Gump touches base on how his lover runs through his mind. "Love's between Love and Love" right? Crack Rock hit me the deepest on the album. Lyrics were a testament to what's gone on in the last generation of blacks in this country and our own. "Crooked cop dead cop, no good for community. Fuckin pig gets shot, 300 men will search for me, My brother gets popped, don't no one hear a sound. Don't no one hear the rounds." I could take this article somewhere else but I already went there before. Crack Rock blends right into Pyramids perfectly. It was one of those two part (Timbaland style) songs that starts as a stripper jam and ode to Cleopatra. It ends with John Mayer and an electric guitar solo (we know how I like those).

Channel Orange was a hit, still is. Amazing songwriting and vocals for a debut album. There was not one skip on this album. As amazing as it was it kinda left us wondering...Where's Frank? You can't just drop something like that on us and disappear. Prayerfully we'll be hearing from him soon enough.  Maybe he's going for a surprise Beyoncè kinda release, who knows but he.
We wouldn't want another J. Holiday on our hands (no pun intended, I hear he's dropping something this year too). Anyways enjoy Channel Orange below until you get to hear what's next. When that happens peep What's the Movement.

#AOTY 2013 Honorable Mentions

This year's voting was so difficult we had to include a list of Honorable Mentions that were not far off from making the countdown. In fact some of them missed out by one or two deciding votes from the panel. This group includes some of my favorites but favorites doesn't make the list now does it (sorry to Pusha T Mac Miller & Big Sean). Here's a list of the albums in no particular order:

Childish Gambino's Because the Internet:
Perhaps this album could have gotten a higher spot on the list if it had dropped earlier in the year. The December 10th date gave him just about two weeks of time to listen and review it. He put more feeling into this album and it shows. He dropped the chip on his shoulder rap and just gave you everything he had. Less geeky but same clever punchline rapping with the accompaniment of his own singing. Possibly my favorite album this past year, Ramsey Rating Scale gives this 3.6 of 5 Stars.

Jean Grae's Gotham Down:
This album is without a doubt the most underrated project that is and will be mentioned on all of these lists point blank. Because I'm sure you didn't listen its on her bandcamp. Maybe one day female emcees will just be known as emcees, especially when they have the skills she does. I enjoyed listening to Kill Screen and Before the Summer Broke. This was one of the best projects in all of music this year and thats word to Niles Cavanaugh. Ramsey Rating Scale gives The Phoenix 3.2 of 5 Stars.

Earl Sweatshirt's Doris:
I understand that many people aren't into his monotone flow or the fact that he is plain odd. Regardless this album was pure dopeness (Yes it is a word, because I added it to the dictionary of Microsoft Word on my cpu). Hive with Vince Staples and Chum were my favorite cuts on this album. I had a hard time keeping it off the top 5. The Odd Future member got 3 out of 5 stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale.

Kid Cudi's Indicud:
He drops an album then a week later leaves G.O.O.D Music. This was one of my favorite albums this year. I've always admired how musical the production on Kid Cudi's albums were. That didn't cease on this album. Unf*ckwittable, Solo Dolo Part II feat. Kendrick Lamar, and Girls feat. Too Short. Indicud received 3.4 stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale.

Wale's The Gifted:
Before I start I would like to apologize to the emcee personally in hopes he doesn't spazz on me the same way he did to Complex Magazine on their Top 50 album of 2013 list (You have to listen to this) (All jokes, look forward to interviewing you one day and enjoyed when you came to WPUNJ). The Gifted was awesome, I enjoyed it personally but it was a Top 10 album this year, not top five. His choice of singles were great with LoveHate Thing with Sam Drew and Bad feat. Tiara Thomas. I also enjoyed the remix with Rihanna and Tired of Dreaming featuring Ne-Yo & Rick Ross. This album got 3.8 of 5 stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale.