Review: For Mark, Your Son by @lando_chill

Mello Music’s artist, Lando Chill, has just released his first album entitled For Mark, Your Son. When I first heard about the album, I have to admit I was skeptical. I heard his sound before, and while I was impressed with his talent as artist, I had doubts about an entire album filled with grief. The album is a tribute to his father who passed away when he was a boy. But the music that he creates is much more than sorrow. Yes, there is pain and struggle, but there is also the sound of hope and surprisingly fun intertwined through the album. We really see Lando’s range of emotions and encounters throughout his work.

Intro: Chill takes type to explain who the album is for in spoken word form.  He tells the listener that it is for him and also also everyone one else who has had of grief or hardship, which is most people.

I’m Awake: If you combine freestyle Fridays with the piano sounds from a formal event in swanky hotel… and you have this song. It’s short and sweet.

Early In The Morning: Similar to the previous track with its simplistic slow beat, but less of a jazz feel and more of a 90’s reminiscent beat and rhyme.

Rock Love: This is one of my favorites. This bluesy track is intense, and something you can rock out to (no pun intended). While it’s a break up song, it's not sad, its more pensive and angry.

Proud: This track is dedicated to Chill’s late father. and he contemplates whether or not he is making his ‘pops’ proud.

Save Me:  One of the shortest and simple songs on the album. This track was released as a single with a video, check on my thoughts here.

Floating to Nowhere: One of the more upbeat songs on the album. The keys mimic the melody of the chorus lyrics, which make you feel giddy.

Gospel of Chill (feat. Runt of Jivin Scientists): This song-turned-prayer, is a  benediction to all people of color.  Runt spits bars as he imitates a Pentecostal preacher, but to the congregation of oppressed people.

Find A Way: This track is takes a turn from the previous track. It is a song for all people who have lost hope. It balances the rage in Gospel of Chill, with eager hope.

That’s Real: “Right now it’s a struggle to be glad, but what your worth is, is worthless, even though my should knows its purpose” pretty much sums up most millennials' feelings, especially ones who are following their dreams.

Unenamored: This track just shows Lando Chill’s dedication to his music, and his mission is to meet and surpass his potential as an artist.

Coroner: It is an unusual ending for this album. It has an indie style to it, which is contrary to the entire album, and he doesn’t rap in it. Even though the style takes a plot twist, I like it.

Even though the album has many different faces and it may seem sporadic at first, it does come together nicely, and it is evident of Lando’s eclectic range of musical inspiration. We also see the different shades of him as a man behind the art. He doesn’t feel the need to confine himself to one style and he shouldn’t, because all are done well. For a debut album he has set the standard fairly high, which is good for now. However, to keep raising the bar in his music will be the real challenge.

Rating 3.8 out of 5.0

Purchase Lando Chill's album (via Bandcamp) here

#ICYMIMonday: Whole Food - @gensudean & @DenmarkVes {Written by: @Natural_Nation}

On July 29th producer Gensu Dean and rapper Denmark Vessey released an album called Whole Food. These two came together and through Mello Music Group collaborated to make their first debut project as a unit. Although the two are not a group, Whole Food manages to escape sounding like something that was thrown together by two separate artists. Instead the artists manage to find a cohesive sound that compliment each other rather well. Denmark Vessey is an MC who hails from Detroit; still managing to escape the public ear of the masses but talented nonetheless. This MC does not shy away from social issues or feel too far removed to speak on political opinion. He was rightfully paired with Gensu's style, a producer who is known to  do some serious crate searching through his extensive collection of music to find the right sound. A sound that typically embodies hip-hop in its truest and most classic form.

After making my way through the entire album several times there were some songs that I took to and others I did not. There were three songs off the album that I tended to gravitate to and those were Ode to XX Chromosome, Saturday, and Black Love. I am sure that it is not a coincidence that in some shape or form they all seemed to have an old school feel to them. Ode to XX Chromosome jumped out at me from the rip with its blatantly funky sound. It's as if it was pulled directly out of the 70's. I'm not too mad at the theme either; it feels great to be appreciated. The song has a soap boxy echo and call sound to it. The track also feels more like a long interlude than a song, lacking the classic composition you would tend to hear in a song. Hints of the 70's style sound carries over into Saturday, the next track on the album, giving it that old school feel. It really does have all the vibes of a great Saturday so I'm all about that. It feels like waking up on a Saturday morning at 11:00am without any obligations.

Black Love is a love song with soul, good vibes, and simplicity with a drop of social justice trickled in between the lines. There's an electric guitar playing throughout the sound with a grainy filter overlaying the track. These simple features give the song a texture and character not heard anywhere else on the album.

 "My ego was bruised like/ I don't wanna fight, I just want you to feel the way I feel right now" - Denmark Venssey (Black Love)

Whole Food most certainly has some promise. Albums with this type of sound aren't for everyone and its not something I would go out of my way to listen to on a regular basis multiple times a week. For listeners who are in love with that early hip-hop sound this will be another album geared more towards you. I felt the album to be a bit slow and monotonous. No, it was not because the lack of up beat songs or drill beats. There are plenty of albums that do not posses these qualities which manage to keep hold my attention through the entire album. Overall Gensu put together some real gems and Denmark followed up with lyricism to match. You can find Whole Food on bandcamp.
Rating 2.5 out of 5

Watch: Save Me - @lando_chill

The new song by Lando Chill will give you chills. Save Me is the newest release by the Chicago rapper. The song is short, like six lines short. But even though there aren’t that many words, it carries a lot of weight. In the video he is driving down a country mile with his younger self, and he ends of at a church. He discusses his father’s death and expresses his doubt in religion saying “who’s gonna save me when this god ain’t enough”. Even though the words are faithless, it is reminiscent of a southern hymn, but with less instruments. The structure of the song is simple, but the tone is complex. The music is comforting yet eerily somber, and the video is artistic and thoughtful. Check out Save me, below.

Review: AlWasta - @Oddisee; A Niles P. Joint

In my humble opinion, MMG is the best record label in Hip Hop, edging out TDE.  And no, I don’t mean Ross and them, I’m talking Mello Music Group.  They fired their latest salvo in the form of a free EP from DMV born & Sudan bred rapper/producer Oddisee.  AlWasta, roughly translated from Arabic to English, means the plug/middleman who uses social currency.  In this case, Oddisee’s social currency is his music.  Far from a turn up king or lyrical miracle rapper, dude has substance in his bars and counterbalances it with some of the most unflappable beats around.  So join me as I continue to expand this Mello Music Group - WTM pipeline and tour through AlWasta.

Oddisee skips an intro and elects to start with a full song.  Asked About You has a solemn tone.  The violins creep into a minimalistic yet well formed beat that also has the twang of a loan guitar after the hook.  The tempo picks up quite a bit via the frenetic drums on No Reservations.  The topic is all in the title, which becomes a running theme.  This time it’s how he lives in the moment and doesn’t look too far in front of him.  On Strength & Weakness, Oddisee continues to find himself as he realizes that the things in the title are the same thing.  What makes him great is also a hinderance.  The percussion on this song is BEAUTIFUL, especially the cymbals & handclaps.  Even if you're not a drummer, you’ll notice it immediately.  

The only downside of the album comes in the next track, Wouldn't Be Surprised.  And it’s not in quality, because it’s a funk and soul fusion that sounds like it could've been composed by D’Angelo.  The instrumental is vivid and the verse, hook, and moaning ad-libs complement the track.  It’s an issue with quantity as it’s too damn short, clocking in at a hair over 2 minutes.  I so wish this one was longer.  The subject matter becomes even more serious on Lifting Shadows.  Speeding up his flow, Oddisee takes a political route and talks about living and traveling in post 9-11 America as a Muslim with African roots.  It could possibly be distressing for those not in the know but the authenticity is palpable.

Catching Vibes is exactly what you wind up doing when you listen to the penultimate track.  It’s a song that’s meant to be played at an underground lounge in the Meatpacking District in NYC (or another place of that nature.)  The keyboards are so damn soothing, there’s no way you can listen to this track and be irritated at all.  Finally, Slow Groove is the last in the aforementioned line of apropos song titles.  Reworking Intimate Friends by Eddie Kendricks, Oddisee eschews traditional rap drums and delivers a new and warm spin on a classic we all know and love.  

If you're late to the game with listening to Oddisee like I was, then you’ll walk away from listening to this EP and declare that he’s easily one of the most talented dual threat emcees/producers walking the planet right now.  Lyrically he gets his point across sufficiently without going over anyone’s head.  Musically he creates some of the most vibrant and lush aural playgrounds you could hope to hear, constantly throwing you different hooks along the way.  Despite one song in the midst of the project being too short (yet still brilliant) this is a perfect project.  It’s a free EP, but I gladly would've paid for it.  It’s said that Oddisee is also working on an instrumental album and a full length EP for this year.  If you don’t listen to any of my other recommendations this year, listen to AlWasta and take your seat in the isle adjacent to me.  It’s going to be a hell of a 2016 for this dude.

Rating: 4.9 out of 5.

Download AlWasta on BandCamp for free here.

Listen: Check To Check - @Mike_Eagle & @paulwhitemusic

Open Mike Eagle and Paul White just released a new single Check to Check for their upcoming album Hella Personal Film Festival.  The song speaks on the oh-so-familiar theme of going back and forth between checking your phone, twitter, and emails.  Open Mike Eagle ruptures the stage in terms of his lyrics.  I started counting how many times he said “check” but lost count after he said “My laptop don’t sleep/ open and shut case/ I’m checking for mail while it’s checking for updates.”  The thunderous clashing of the cymbals and subtle use of the eclectic piano combo in the instrumental by Paul White calls for a repeat listen.  Be on the lookout for Hella Personal Film Festival from the LA emcee and UK producer on March 25th via Mello Music Group.  Until then, listen to Check To Check after the break. 

Review: Home Sweet Home by @RapperBigPooh & @NottzRaw Written by: @Natural_Nation

Working with Mello Music Group for his second release this year,  Rapper Big Pooh brings us his latest album in the form of a collaboration with Grammy award winning producer Nottz.  As a person with a vivid imagination, this CD was like a godsend.  I’ve always enjoyed albums with concepts and this album stayed true to its title. Home Sweet Home easily joins my list of pleasant surprises for the year. Maybe it’s their Virginia roots that have them in sync but the two blend seamlessly together and without Nottz, I don’t think the duo would have nailed the delivery in way that they did.  So, without further ado let me take you through MY experience of Home Sweet Home...

In the Intro we get a taste of Big Pooh’s lyrical talent. We are presented with a simple beat and hook that are successful at keeping the emcees message at the forefront. The transition to Welcome Home is smooth. It feels exactly what it sounds like, comfortable and warm.  Rapper Big Pooh arrives home where he’s greeted by his family and begins to take in everything that he’s missed.

Preach is like the Sunday after you have a family gathering. All the elders insist that everyone gets together to go to church. Later you will all gather for an early Sunday dinner. This of course always turns into a late dinner because a hymn goes on for 8 verses too long. Whoever you caught a ride with knows everyone at church, so it takes them an hour and a half before they can get out the door. That’s the same person in charge of cooking the meal. Dinner don’t start till 10:00pm.

Jesus! You’ve finally gotten away from your aunties and uncles. Now you get to kick it with your cousins. These are those cousins that never left the area. You’re riding around with them in the passenger seat and they spend their time talking about all the things they’re “finna do”, but all they’ve been doing for the past few years is working the same fulltime job, blowing their money, and smoking cigarettes. (I wrote about 300Z recently and it still holds up and fits in with the flow of the album.) Homemade is like the first time you take that walk by yourself in your old neighborhood. You say "hi" to the people sitting on their porch. You stop at some of the old stores you used to go to, just to see if they’re still the same. You take in everything you used to be. It’s been a while but it’s good to be home.

Alone is that girlfriend you used to date back in the day. She stops by the house because she hears that you're home. She’s still a friend of the family. Everyone loves her and you know she’s a great girl but you know that she's not for you right now. You have too many things you want to do and refuse to be tied down by another person. So, you choose to be alone. During Memory your homies finally come through for the evening. You go up to your room put some music on and smoke as you reminisce about how you guys used to rip and run in the streets. You talk about girls, schools, and old jobs. You laugh, and wonder where the time went.

Prom Season, Home Sweet Home, and I Don’t Know come through and curb stomp all of the warm & fuzzy family vibes felt early throughout this body of work. The lyrics are hard, the beats are hard and so is Pooh’s delivery. It shows the juxtaposing realities in all of our lives, the good and the bad. It’s the reality check, the reminder that as great as our lives are, there are still daily struggles from our past and present that cover up the sunshine and rainbows. Fries brings us back to a lighter feeling. Rapper Big Pooh is spitting game to a couple of women who seem like they could be interested. Pooh’s flow and the instrumental blend perfectly together similar to the other tracks on the album.

The album ends with El Fin. Big Pooh tells a story of a young man going off to school looking for a fresh start. He stumbles upon a girl who he thinks is in to him. In the end she ends up embarrassing him and in his shame he ends up killing himself. Although delivered in a solemn way the overall message is how important it is to love yourself.  I really appreciate the way this album was put together. This is what a conceptual CD sounds like. Although the album ended on a colder note than it began it was still an experience I thoroughly enjoyed. I think it’s always important to remember where you came from and that’s what this album does.
Rating: 4.4 out of 5.                                      

  Take a trip down memory lane and listen to & buy Home Sweet Home.

Listen: 300z - @RapperBigPooh @NottzRaw by @Natural_Nation

It’s the kind of song you think of when you think of the word hip-hop. This was my first time listening to Big Pooh and Nottz  and I was a bit surprised. Immediately, it took me back to a time when I used to stay up all night siting in my room, listening to Nas on repeat. The beat is fairly simple but still carries enough weight and impact that it makes you want to nod your head in unison. Instead, the beat draws your ear towards the lyrics and makes you place more focus on the words . If you're looking for a classic hip-hop tone and sound this track will give you what you need. There is absolutely no reminisce of the type “hip-hop” we have grown used to hearing today. No trap queens in sight.

Review: Grandeur - @ApolloBrown; A Niles P. Joint

Think of producers in Hip Hop as offensive coordinators in football. You have to run an offense that scores as much as possible. In doing so, do you stick with what you're comfortable with and what works? Or do you employ a new trendy scheme for the sake of keeping up with the joneses? These questions arise for all producers, including Apollo Brown. He’s put out a lot of quality music in a short period of time and is back with Grandeur. A litany of underground emcees make guest appearances, jumping at the chance to drop bars over Apollo Brown beats. As per usual with a producer album, you the reader will be treated to a track by track review.

Finally - The title to this intro makes sense to me, as I finally get to hear an album I’ve been waiting on.  You literally hear the needle drop and a round of applause.

Neva Eva (feat. Barrel Brothers) - Skyzoo a& Torae get things started.  They build well around a vocal sample on a head nodding track.  Pay attention, as this becomes a theme on the album.  

What You Were Lookin’ For (feat. Oddisee) - This song floats from the speakers into your ears by way of some lovely strings.  Oddisee was a rapper that i wasn’t familiar with before now but he shows and proves.

Detonate (feat. M.O.P.) - The lead single is still as fresh and sinister as it was when I first heard it in August.  Might be the toughest song on the album.

Brass Tracks (feat. Chino XL & Finale) - Chino XL was one of my favorite rappers when I was a kid so it’s cool hearing his witty and nasally bars again.  Finale provides the thunder to XL’s lightning (who takes shots at modern rap culture on the hook) over violins and snapping percussion.

There’s Always Radio (feat. Evidence) - I’ve admittedly never been a fan of the Dilated Peoples’ frontman’s brand of monotone.  All that aside, he’s spitting over a beat that has similar violins and percussion as the last one.  The former is better than the latter, as this is one of the few missteps on the album.  The beat switch during the outro is cool though.

Still Standin’ (feat. Rasheed Campbell) - Violins appear again here but they're more fully layered.  Rasheed Campbell introduces himself well and gives a lyrical backstory.  He bares vocal resemblance to Q-Tip but is different enough that he will be one to watch for.

The Hard Way (feat. Saga & Ty Farris) - Two emcees who I honestly hadn’t heard of prove their mettle and make an attempt to school the young fuckin’ jerks of the world.  It can be a futile attempt but these guys sound damn good trying.  The trumpets on the hook are almost announcing their arrival to your musical conscious.

Gettin’ By (feat. Rapper Big Pooh & Dynasty) - Brown does an amazing job in chopping samples and it shows here, although I wish I knew the origin of the lovely one used here.  Pooh’s aggressiveness is counterbalanced by Dynasty baring her soul.  This is a dream collaboration between an old and new emcees whose work I love.  Appropriately enough the beat gives off a ethereal aura.

Enemies With Benefits (feat. Ras Kass) - More evidence of Apollo Brown’s production genius can be found here as he takes a Lenny Williams sample that’s been used before (Twista’s Overnight Celebrity by Kanye West amongst others) and freaks it an entirely new way.  He manages to give it a West Coast flavor for regional legend Ras Kass, who’s another childhood favorite of mine that is fresh off a 2014 collaboration album with Brown.  The magic continues.

Walk With Me (feat. Vinnie Paz & Blacastan) - Brown somehow makes a song about relationship adversity (prime material for tenderness) into a head nodding joint.   Vinnie Paz and Blacastan take a gruff approach to what would be a sensitive subject for others.  Everyone involved makes it work.

Not That Guy (feat. Your Old Droog) - This is a somber change of pace song that serves as a cautionary tale.  The snapping snares are still present but the beat’s framework is more melancholy and suitable for the subject.  Droog still has undertones of Nas in his voice and flow but he does a great job speaking on the perils of drugs.

Money (feat. Masta Ace & Wordsworth) - Money is the root of all evil but here it’s the topic of this excellent song which stands out the more I hear it.  The crashing piano keys provide a marvelous playground for the lyrics of the veterans of Juice Crew & Lyricist Lounge respectively.

Who’s That (feat. Maffew Ragazino & Freddie Gibbs) - Brownsville and Gary (Indiana) collide on a malicious track that sounds like it should be played in a dive bar in a dark alley most would be afraid to walk down.  The vocal sample in the chorus ties it all together although take note of the piano as well.  Apollo Brown makes keys the focus of two consecutive tracks but is able to use them two completely different ways.  That’s talent.

In The Moment (feat. O.C.) - This song reunites Brown with O.C. three years after they collaborated on the sublime joint LP Trophies.  They pick up where they left off, as O.C. drops more jewels over a harpsichord-laden beat.  The chemistry is still there and will make you pine for a sequel LP.

Triple Beams (feat. Westside Gunn & Planet Asia) - Apollo Brown takes a popular Wendy Rene sample (previously used by Alicia Keys, Dynasty, and most famously Wu Tang Clan) and chops and flips it into a gritty playing field for this New York and California musical alliance.  He shows a real knack for repurposing samples in order to create gems.

Each Other (feat. Eternia) - We had an article about relationship issues, this one is about straight up breakup.  Eternia tries to answer the question “Why Did He Leave Me?” posed in the sample within the hook.  She looks to provide an excellent alternative to a certain Australian that’s been in the public eye.

Yesman Shit (feat. Sean Price & REKS) - DAMN.  Those blaring horns are some of the hardest I’ve heard in awhile.  They’re perfect for the late great Sean Price, who completes the trilogy of Brownsville guest appearances and spits with his usual tenacity.  He’ll be missed.  REKS holds his own rhyming opposite a legend and will have you open and wanting to hear more from him.  The track overall is a banger and one of the best on a great project.

Checkered Flag (feat. Ugly Heroes) - This is another continuation of sorts, only this time with the indie supergroup Brown is a part of along with Verbal Kent and Red Pill.  Even with a self titled LP and EP this makes you want more.  Mellow yet head nod inducing.  Great way to end the album.

Getting back to the football offensive coordinator metaphor, you see how Apollo Brown gets down.  He sticks with his offensive system no matter what is going on around him.  But the thing is you can’t chastise him for being too stuck in his ways because it works extremely well.  Musically many of these songs are sample heavy seem to be in the same tempo.  But he can take this concept and to it umpteen different ways, and with a plethora of different emcees to boot.  His use of this scheme makes him a kingmaker because he can make anyone shine when they're on his production.  Even better, he makes you want to hear more from a rapper that may have been unknown to you previously because they sounded so good under his beats.  He put me on to a bunch of people that just might be featured on this blog in the coming months.  The only real misstep on this album was the 5th and 6th tracks sounding inordinately similar, which is a tough sell when they're back to back.  But this isn't uncommon on producer albums for whatever reason and therefore can’t be too much of a deterrent.  Grandeur wedges itself into the conversation for best album of the year and further cements Apollo Brown’s status as one of the most exceptional beatsmiths in Hip Hop.

Rating: 4.8 out of 5.