Category: Quickspins

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Jaden Smith – The Sunset Tapes: A Cool Tape Story

Jaden Smith wants people to express their love to their crushes with the help of his new album The Sunset Tapes: A Cool Tape Story. While the album is a pleasant listen, it doesn’t hold nearly enough emotional weight to provoke deep sentiments. The album’s production is rich and lush, and Smith can hold a melody even if there’s a lot of auto-tune and reverb, but he fails to rap about anything that’s worth remembering. From corny lines and recycled melodies on the intro cut “SOHO,” to watered-down dancehall on “Yeah Yeah,” The album never quite decides in which direction it’s headed. There’s good intention on Smith’s part and the songs are listenable, but the album never amounts to anything greater than his influences.

Trial Track: FALLEN Part 2

Star Bar: “The mic froze over ‘cause he know I’m Frozone / Everything I wear on the air is the wardrobe (whoa)” -Jaden Smith on SOHO

5/10

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Kirk Knight – IIWII

IIWII, the second album from Pro Era member Kirk Knight is a dark affair. His debut, Late Knight Special, experimented with hazy production and thoughtful bars, but Knight fleshes it out in his newest effort. “Leverage” and “Downtime” are standout tracks that have great verses and sticky hooks. Knight’s lyrics are often self-reflective. He raps about struggling with his rising career on “Not For Nothing,” and reminisces about old flames on “Never Again.” It’s a lyrically-focused album that does require some patience, but Knight succeeds at telling a gripping, gritty story.

Trial Track: Leverage

Star Bar: “I’m a star now, shit I gotta keep my distance from shitty propositions / Same eyes, lookin’ at me different / Oh, now you hungry, you need a taste of my living, huh?” -Kirk Knight on Not For Nothing

8/10

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Anderson .Paak – Oxnard

Dr. Dre protege and neo-soul-rap alchemist Anderson .Paak is at his most ambitious and vigorous on this vibrant portrait of southern California. His hyper-masculine energy bursts through Dr. Dre’s massive drums and synths to create a tape that trades the smooth, meditated crooning of his previous Malibu for wild, boisterous charisma. Weaving sometimes thin, political musings and Los Angeles colour commentary into his tight braggadocio, .Paak’s character is solidified. His formidable confidence makes his message convincing, even if it can be superficial at times. It is so easy to get lost in his world, and accompanied by a trophy case of features from Pusha T to Snoop Dogg, .Paak is on fire.

8/10

Trial Track: “6 Summers”

Star Bar: Trump’s got a love child and I hope that bitch is buckwild

I hope she sip Mezcal, I hope she kiss senoritas and black gals – Anderson .Paak on “6 Summers”

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Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: 88GLAM – 88GLAM2

88GLAM’s eponymous 88GLAM2 reminds the world of the Toronto hip hop duo’s role in solidifying Canada as a superpower in the hip hop world, alongside fellow Canadian artists such as Jazz Cartier, Killy, Nav and Drake.

The project comes one year after their successful debut mixtape 88GLAM, which unveiled the newly formed duo to the music scene.

88GLAM is the journey, and 88GLAM2 is the fame.

In 14 tracks, the project dives into the recent life events and success of 88 Camino and Derek Wise. “I can get used to the treatment, designer got bought every stop on the tour,” raps Wise on the opening track, “Blue Faces.”

While the tracks shift between moody and uplifting vibes, each song demonstrates the duo’s vocal capabilities—an aspect of their sound highlighted by the limited guests on the mixtape.

“Wet Dreams,” produced by superstar producer and fellow Canadian Sevn Thomas, demonstrates the duo’s uncertainty with their newfound fame. “Who did I become? I’m spending 80K on my wrist and that’s for fun,” sings Wise.

With only two features, Toronto rapper Nav and Atlanta rising star Gunna, 88GLAM2 is assertively carried by the project’s hosts. The two guests, with their melodic, slightly autotuned, and often melancholy mood can be compared to the similar, silky singing style of rap displayed by 88GLAM, as well as by many of today’s most popular hip hop artists. Their performances on “It’s a Flex” and “Racks,” respectively, add a spark to the project, while allowing 88GLAM’s talent to shine through.

88GLAM co-signed with one of Canada’s biggest superstars, The Weeknd, after he signed them to his record label, but it’s clear that they’re not stopping there.

8/10

Trial Track: “Purple Baguettes”

Star Bar: Rather be out on the road makin’ figures, ask me how / All the years I scraped the plate, can’t afford to fuck around – Wise on “Lil Boat”

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Metro Boomin – NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES

After a month of silence, Metro Boomin tweeted “METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS: NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES.” Less than 48 hours later, the album popped up on streaming platforms everywhere.

Metro Boomin has made it clear that he is here to stay after announcing his retirement in April. In his first release of the year, Metro grabs the likes of Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Young Thug and many more of rap’s top talent to collaborate on a trap album with enough features to satisfy any hip hop head. Gucci Mane’s intro blends flawlessly into Scott’s  Astroworld–esque track “Overdue,” yet this smooth transitioning can be heard between every song on the album. Gunna and Swae Lee’s singing voices provide appreciated downtime from heavy trap verses by the album’s more aggressive rappers. And of course, an essential Drake feature to send us off.

Rating: 8/10

Trial Track: Space Cadet (feat. Gunna)

Star Bar: “At 17, I wanted everything that was in store. At 23, I bought it all just to make sure.” – Drake on “No Complaints (feat. Drake & Offset)”

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Smino – Noir

Smino’s sophomore album, Noir, can be described as musical soul food. The newest project from the St. Louis native is filled with the sing-songy flow that he mastered on his debut project, blkswn. Smino’s voice transitions eloquently from Future-esque falsettos on “KLINK,” to his hard hitting flow on “KRUSHED ICE.” The production is handled mainly by Monte Booker, Sango and Smino himself. The beats mix funk, soul and trap together to create a sound that stands out at the end of a year crowded with new releases. “TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD” also sees Smino experimenting with Spanish-influenced sounds that could make for a fantastic single. While a bit long, Noir is certainly worth listening to in its entirety. It’s an album crafted with care and originality and should not be overlooked.

Rating: 8/10

Trial Track: TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD

Star Bar: “Who dat boy? He from the Lou’, he is a animal / Keep me some ice in my hands / Yeah, I got a burr wrist, think I’m Hannibal” – Smino on “VERIZON”

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs – Fetti

As of late, collab tapes between two rappers are known to be more about quantity than quality, MC’s often deploying the B-team of hooks and flows for a product that floats by without catching the ear. This is absolutely not the case with Fetti. The tape has Freddie Gibbs and Curren$y bringing top-notch flows over some of The Alchemist’s most polished soul-sampled grooves in recent memory. While sometimes thematically limited and rhythmically repetitive, this is a case of three hip hop heavy-hitters punching in the echelon of both MCs’s finest: Gibbs’s Piñata or Curren$y’s Pilot Talk.

Trial Track: “The Blow”

Star Bar: “Bout to take a trip I got coke and dope on my grocery list

Oxycontin pack I be switchin’ rackets like Djokovic.” – Freddie Gibbs

8/10

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Vince Staples – FM!

FM! is filled with short, straight-to-the-point bangers. As soon as the intro cut “Feels Like Summer” starts, the madness of Vince Staples begins. The tracks are filled with his nasty hooks and signature sharp flows. The production is eclectic and doesn’t sound like any other rap album released this year. Songs like “Outside!” and “FUN!” are wildly energetic. The features are also a nice touch as Jay Rock, Ty Dolla $ign and Kamaiyah add personality to their respective tracks.There’s even an Earl Sweatshirt feature. Overall, FM! stands as a strong entry in Staples’s already great discography.

Trial Track: “FUN!”

Star Bar: “Same way since summer school baby J

Either imma make the news or I’ll make a plate.” – Vince Staples

8.5/10

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Open Mike Eagle – What Happens When I Try to Relax

Indie hip hop messiah Open Mike Eagle may have perfected his esoteric, self-dissecting style of nerd-rhyme on this new album. Eagle is for people who keep meticulous agendas and wish rap had more lines like, “I don’t wear a monocle, I don’t know which sequels are truly canonical.” Beneath the wordiness are plenty of clever, quaint meditations on the self that are a joy to hear. The beats are quirky, electric bounces that, while ear-catching, often come off as thin. They generally lack a certain punch that would be exciting to hear Eagle take hold of. This is Open Mike Eagle at his most potent, over production that is less so.

 

7/10

 

Trial Track: “Southside Eagle”

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Empress Of – Us

Lorely Rodriguez’s second album, Us, celebrates friends, family, new relationships and new beginnings. She dabbles with more R&B and less dream-pop and sings in Spanish on some tracks, reflecting back to her family roots. Her signature raw, honest lyrics are consistent throughout the album and work as her marker. This sophomore album is happier than her debut, and a pop album at its core but does not break any new musical barriers. Rodriguez’s debut, Me, which came out in 2015, was contemplative, bold and experimental, reaching much critical acclaim. Us is a bit bland in comparison, making it much less stimulating. Although this album contains some catchy songs, as a whole, Us sounds like every other pop album that came out this year.

6/10

Trial Track: “Everything To Me”

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPINS: Khalid – Suncity (EP)

Yearning, reminiscent and comforting, Khalid’s sudden release, Suncity, acts both as an ode to his hometown of El Paso, TX, and as a staple of his unprecedented talent. The seven-track EP includes two instrumental numbers and five songs. It is consistent in sound, rarely veering away from the urbanlike, soft-toned R&B Khalid has become widely known for, to the exception of “Saturday Nights” and the eponymous track “Suncity.” The former includes a guitar hook that gives it a slight indie pop touch, while the latter follows an addicting Latin beat, featuring Spanish lyrics and vocals from Empress Of. As a whole, Suncity works incredibly well, acting as an hommage and a story of growth for the 20-year-old singer. Overall, it makes for the perfect bridge between Khalid’s solid 2017 debut, American Teen, and whatever he has in store next.

Trial track: “Suncity” feat. Empress Of

8/10

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Music Quickspins

QUICKSPIN: KOOL A.D. – NADA MANE

Former third of irreverent alt-rap trio Das Racist, Kool A.D. is a funhouse mirror pointed at hip-hop’s different forms on NADA MANE. A.D.’s flow is a stream of consciousness that is as incoherent as it is well-read. He rides the line of satire, veering into mocking territory, as he attacks tropes of the traditional hip-hop MC. A.D. spits vaguely conscious, blatantly incongruous epigrams with intentionally laptop-mic-sounding vocal quality. He’s a struggle rapper that doesn’t take himself seriously. The result is a cult flick that fans of the genre will get a kick out of, and that casual listeners will likely want to turn off immediately.

Trial Track: “SPIT IS A FACT OF THE MOUTH”

7/10

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