Good thing I don’t write for a living. A mid-June publishing that consists only of releases from the first quarter would leave me stupid hungry and probably in need of a new jobby-job. Yeah, so anyway, my present work situation is actually the reason why this took me so long. I’ve been out pounding the pavement for some new work and grinding out every possible hour I can get from my part-time jobs. It blows.
However, there is a positive side (no there isn’t) of having no real job. I’ve been able to grunt while I get my swell on, shower in Jager Bombs, and be in the fuckin’ zone all the time. But really, I mostly just look for jobs better than the shit I’ve worked the last seven years, and listen to an abundance of music. Here’s my brief and genius opinion on the releases I’ve heard from the first quarter…
Esoteric — Serve or Suffer: Esoteric’s latest LP, and debut instrumental project, Serve or Suffer, is one of the best to come out during the first quarter. The album has superb production and top-notch craftsmanship of samples that are as fresh as they are obscure. Eso’s talent and originality truly shine through on this release, which, in my opinion, is his best work since Speaking Real Words EP. Serve or Suffer will surely end up on the positive end of my “’09 Year in Review.”
Cradle Orchestra — Velvet Ballads: The album, filled with lush compositions and insightful lyrics, is a great listen for any fans of last year’s Jazz Liberatorz release, Clin d’Oeil. Stand-out cuts from O.C. and Talib Kweli, as well as a Raaka Iriscience track that will leave all the Dilated junkies fiending for his long overdue solo debut.
Blueprint — Sign Language: Although Print’s second instrumental release is a quality listen, it certainly isn’t my favorite from his catalog; but that’s not to say I wasn’t impressed by the subtle cinematic tones and overall laid-back aura found throughout Sign Language. Buy it here.
B-Real — Smoke N Mirrors: As a long time Cypress fan, and out of respect for rhyme-legend B-Real, I won’t be elaborating on the trashiness of his solo debut. Too Short’s verse on “When We’re Fucking” is ill, though, for real.
Illogic & Ill Poetic — Diabolical Fun: Illogic is nice as usual on the microphone, but it’s the Ill Poetic production that makes this collaborative effort so successful. Keep an ear out for this kid on the boards…and stop sleeping on Illogic. Buy Diabolical Fun — with free instrumentals — here.
Madlib — Beat Konducta Vol. 5&6: There have been a number of J.Dilla tributes, but, seriously, who can do it better than Madlib? Like volume’s 1-4 of the Beat Konducta series, Vol. 5&6 feature Madib at his weeded-out best.
Reks — More Grey Hairs: The pen-to-pad game of Reks is tighter than most, but, for some strange reason, his album’s are never able to keep my attention on lock down. Especially when most of the material on More… sounds like the leftovers from last year’s Grey Hairs.
Brother Ali — The Truth is Here EP: I can’t think of many others that are capable of depicting their rhyme-narratives as clearly and consistently as Ali. He is truly one of the best lyricists in the history of hip-hop, and his performance on The Truth is Here — accompanied by some of Ant’s best production to date — easily supports my claim.
Kegs One and Jeff Jabz — As Fate Would Have It: Kegs One and Jeff Jabz deliver a surprisingly cohesive instrumental project with a funky and spaced-out vibe from beginning to end. Definitely worth the purchase.
Saigon & Statik Selektah — All in a Day’s Work: I think Saigon’s aight, but this shit just sounded like filler to me. A Kirk Franklin diss? Get the fuck outta here. Plus, too many chipmunk vocal samples laid down from Statik. Oh yeah, and “lick all the guk up” is quite possibly the worst way of saying “she like the way the dick taste” I ever heard in my life.
P.O.S. — Never Better: Lyrically, Never Better is pretty impressive and — for the most part — the production is quite fitting…a little different, but fitting, nonetheless. While I’m not particularly in love with the album, Never Better has done well under review and seems to be cherished by a variety of demographics. However, the album will most likely stay clear of both the positive and negative ends of my year in review.
Stay tuned for “The Second Quarter of Hip-Hop ’09″ sometime in 2010. Peace.
Filed under: Album Talk/Review, Hip-Hop, Music | Tagged: B-Real, Beat Konducta Vol. 5&6, Blueprint, Cradle Orchestra, Diabolical Fun, Esoteric, Ill Poetic, Illogic, Madlib, O.C., Omar Credle, Raaka Iriscience, Serve or Suffer, Sign Language, Smoke N Mirrors, Talib Kweli, Too Short, Velvet Ballads
Eso’s joint was good. And I’m a hater for instrumentals. But I’m also a sucker for samples, and home boy was clearly on point with them. I’ll also echo (chamber?) your feelings on Brother Ali’s EP. Dope. Dude is nice. I love how his songs have a whole shit-ton of messages/meanings, but he doesn’t put you to sleep, like say, Rob Dylan, he rocks the shit out of the mic in the process. My only real first quarter NEW release was Welcome to Bucktown. Should have been titled, Welcome to Sucktown. Nah I’m kidding, it wasn’t that bad. But it was bad. I fell for the critics who had early copies of it and said it was the next best concept album. I really liked the idea of the concept but who’s ever idea it was to have the corniest hooks ever needs to be euthanized. I’m not certain, but I don’t think Loud Mouf Choir made an appearance, I’d do my journalistic due-diligence and get off my ass and check or simply open another window in my browser and search for it, but I think I just shat myself. Also I already spelled euthanized wrong so why stop now. In any event, Loud Mouf Choir is gay, they helped ruin Smif-N-Wessun’s “The Album” and were also part of Sean Prices over hyped and over rated Jesus Price “I CAN’T FEEL MY FAAAAACE” those dudes suck. <—Talk about a tangent. That Cradle Orch sounds dope and I want to peep that Illogic joint. Everything else I could take or leave… Summer of 09 better be good… Wu Tang anyone? 16 Diagrams?
yeah the eso and ali joints were easily the best of the first.
i heard the first single off that bucktown shit, heard what you thought, and decided it’s not worth the listen…along with the new az and new c-n-n that frow copped and said were mediocre.
“In any event, Loud Mouf Choir is gay” classic. gayer than local h?
i’ll let u get at the cradle orchesta and that illogic/ill poetic. both real nice.
i talked to calzone about that new wu shit. im convinced it will be all leftover poop-snot. i’ll still listen.
I forgot to mention Freeway’s Philadelphia Freeway part II. It was supposed to be a sequel to his first joint with Roc-a-fela. This was his first indie release and he clearly misses Just Blaze and Kanye (from his first shit) and Bink and Jake One (from his second). The Production is garbage. His flow and rhymes seem lazy at times. he still has one or two tight verses through out the whole thing. Any freeway fan should cop it just for the collection but dont let this be your only or first freeway album. Im def buying the collabo album with he and Jake One though. Mully just thinking about that. And as far as Local H, no one is gayer than they are. And to touch on the new Wu joint. It will suck. I will listen. I may not buy.
i’m excited for that freeway/jake one album too.
lmao, i seriously think you’re tripping with all this hate for local h.