Keep It On Airplane Mode

The ceiling is very high for a lot of new up and coming artists from the west coast these day. Names like YG, Dom Kennedy, Nipsey Hussle, ScHoolboy Q and more notably Kendrick Lamar have all splashed and made a lane for themselves. Ty Dolla Sign is no exception to this west coast renaissance. The rnb artist; who is signed to Wiz Khalifa's TGOD label has often got comparisons to the late great Nate Dogg. Fans have been anxiously waiting for this debut album "Free TC" to drop for the better part of 2015. Constant delays have plagued Dolla Sign so in the meantime he dropped off a ten track mixtape called Airplane Mode. The tape has no features listed but has production from Dj Mustard, Mike Will Made It, and Ty's group D.R.U.G.S..

The first track is called Airplane mode and starts off with a very nice violin and instrumental blend. This song like pretty much all the songs on here are about money, sex , and drugs. He explains that he has to put his phone on airplane mode to dodge the various females in his life. Back In The City follows this track as Ty reflects on the amazing things in his life while drinking. Some of these include his porshea, kush,  and white girls with big butts. This song like others on the album are very short or cut off midway through. As a matter of fact 5 out of the ten cuts are under two minutes leading me thoroughly unsatisfied. Granted, the content overall is sub par at best. Ty doesn't seem to capitalize on the amazing productions on the songs. There are some bright points. Violent, One Thing, and All are good solid songs that showcase why Ty Dolla Sign is so popular in the first place. Dj Mustard provides another fire beat on money ruins friendships but again the song or snippet (only 1:18) just misses the mark. 

My favorite track is Violent. Dj Spinz & Southside provide a club banging beat. Ty Dolla Sign swags on song and hops in his Snoop Dogg bag; "I was rolling down the street smoking endo/Sippin on that gin and juice like its 92" he sings. 

Overall this one hopes that Free TC blows this tape out the water because this sincerely underachieved. Ty Dolla Sign needed to give the fans something but this will keep them happy for all but a couple days. Hopefully the production is just as good though.

Production Rating: 10 out of 10

Overall Rating: 3 out of 10

Documentary 2

The Game has been in the rap industry for quite some now. Ten years removed from his debut classic "The Documentary", he is back with the mega project that is "The Documentary 2". The Game had recently announced that this will be a double disk album. The first installment is peppered with 19 tracks with features from everyone to Kendrick Lamar to Q-Tip.

From the jump we get the feeling we are going to get an in depth view of life in Compton California which is notoriously known for the origins of Bloods & Crips. The first track On Me features Kendrick Lamar, who also grew up in Compton but unlike the Game he was preoccupied in other endeavors. The Game explains how back in the day he was "blooding like a menstrual" (gang reference) while Kendrick on the other hand was "recording portraits in front of sirens". The biggest surprise is how well the Game lyrically bodies the song over a mesh Erykah Badu On and On beat. You see the old school influence throughout the album. You get a real 90's feel at times especially from cuts like Don't Trip (ft. Ice Cube), New York, New York, The Documentary 2, and Step Up. Standing on Ferraris continues this 90's trend, sampling from the 1997 Notorious B.I.G. track, Kick In The Door. Being that its only right that The Game recruits Bad Boy founder Diddy. The game shows off an impressive biggie flow rapping "Rick Flair phantom/All red flannel, niggas don't hit me though/Spit on models, R.Kelly, piss on the center fold/Ever since Doc showed me a billion in a envelope/Love Jimmy, fuck Interscope". Dollar and a Dream and Made in America are lyrical exercises for Game as he delivers very compelling verses. Ab-Soul also had a very good verse on DAAD. The Game mentions his gang stories and affiliations all throughout the album. He is very proud of where he came from and to be a blood.

There are low points. He stumbles in the middle w/ songs like Bitch You Ain't Shit and Circles. BYAS just completely bashes females and circles just loses me.

notable other tracks on the back stretch of album: 100, Mula

My favorite track is On Me. I just love how both the Game and Kendrick lyrically paint a picture in this song. The On and On sample tssss producer Bongo 'The Drum Gahd' outdid himself on the beat.
Check it out below...

As we wait for the second disk to come out its obvious that The Game put his all into this album and it shows. Whether through the lyrics or the beats.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Half Way To The Dime Trap

T.I. is clearly one of the better known rappers in the game. In preparation for this tenth studio album "The Dime Trap", the recently independent artist released "Da' Nic" in preparation. A nic is five which is half of ten (dime) meaning we are half way there from hearing his album. I'm sure you didn't need to be a math major to put those together though. The EP Only has five songs (Peep the reoccurring theme?).

Side Note: The cover art is brilliant

For people who listen to T.I. you know your getting a well rounded artist that is absolutely going to give you that street feel. To further emphasize this he even went back to his trap moniker T.I.P.. Look no further than Broadcast Live to find what I'm talking about. The self proclaimed "King of the South" harmonizes "You keep your face card good and your nose clean/never trust the word of a dope fiend/keep a strap at all times run them numbers up/if that ain't what you want you ain't one of us". The king does a Migos like flow mixed with his vintage style on the lead single off the EP, "Check Run It". TIP has quite some chemistry when collabing with Young Thug. You may recall the 2014 smash hit "If it aint about the money". This unlikely pairing (with an assist from Young Dro) continues on the song Peanut Butter Jelly. I hate the hook with a passion but the song and beat itself saves the track. Project Steps is just gritty, point blank. "I'm just a project nigga on the front steps/getting money is the concept".

My favorite song has to be Ain't Gonna See It Coming.The song is only 2:26 seconds. It has no hook, no bridge, but all bars. Rarely do you hear TIP rap like this anymore so it is refreshing.

This EP reminded me of old T.I. from when I was back in middle school. If this is any indication of whats to come "The Dime Trap" should be very impressive. Da' Nic served its purpose as a warm up for the forthcoming album.


Rating: 8 out of 10

"Don't You Open Up That Window"

The anticipation had been at an all time high for the 23 year old Houston native Travis Scott. The artist who often will go by La Flame has gotten high praise in the rap game by notables such as T.I. and Kanye West so the first album comes with a lot of expectations. His first two mixtapes; Owl Pharaoh, and Days Before Rodeo were solid efforts which only added to the appeal of his first album.

Rodeo  is laced with 14 tracks (16 counting bonus songs) with enough features (13) to go around. The protege of Kanye West definitely shows some signs of his mentor with the heavy 808 kicks and futuristic crashing sounds. Very reminiscent to Yeezus in sound at times but also pulls from a page book in Kid Cudi's arsenal by way of a narrative. T.I. narrates throughout but honestly isn't needed and there aren't many memorable quotes from him while speaking. Scott starts the album off differently with the song Pornography. Scott raps "I'm way too antsy, cause my ambition's too frantic/
I might need to move to Atlantis, cause my mind's too outlandish. One accepts this but asks the question of why isn't there more verses? Like this song there are others (Flying High/Piss On Your Grave) on the album that only have one solid verse which irks rap fans at times. Wasted, I Can Tell, & Impossible are very forgettable tracks which could have been left off the album. Pray 4 Love, My Oh Dis Side, & 90210 serve as records that really show the in depth feelings of the rapper/producer. Drugs, as for most rappers is very prominent in Scotts life. "He might pop him a pill, pop him a seal, pop anyone,pop anything, pop anything to find that alley" he raps on 90210. Maria is Drunk is actually a pleasant surprise as Justin Beiber (Yes Beiber) absolutely kills his verse. The self proclaimed "Leader of the Youth" sounds almost like Ye himself harmonizing at the end of Apple Pie. The two hits off the album are 3500, and Antidote which honestly relay their purpose to turn the clubs up. The energy that comes from Antidote is amazing. Look no further than the live performance below...

As far as my favorite cut off the album it would actually be Night Crawler which features Swae Lee and Chief Keef. Not lyrically sound its more of a turn up party song. Very catchy to say the least and the beat is official.

Overall I genuinely like the album for what its worth and think for a debut it wasn't bad. I would've liked to here more rapping and less talking from T.I. but hey beggars can't be choosers. The rating would be higher but at times the album lacks direction as a whole.


Rating 7 out of 10...

What A Time

.In maybe one of the most out of nowhere and yet most intelligent moves all year, Drake and Future decide to treat the entire rap game with a surprise album. What A Time To Be Alive came on short notice and sparked immediate buzz on social media. The album cover consists of nothing but platinum diamonds which symbolically is reminiscent of the 2011 collaborative album Watch The Throne by Kanye West & Jay-Z. Though not as simplistic as that album, WATTBA continues the popular trend; FUTURE! Future literally is riding one of the hottest streaks in hip-hop (besides Fetty Wap). With the success of his last three mixtapes (Monster, Beast Mode, & 56 Nights) as well as his first number 1 album (Dirty Sprite 2) Future seems to be doing his best Steph Curry with the shot impression. All Drake bars  aside as his close friend is also running rap. Drake is coming off of the only platinum album this year in If You're Reading This It's Too Late. Mix that with the successful burial of Meek Mill's reputation with the summer hit "Back 2 Back", Drake is already prepping for his next album Views From The 6.

As far as this project goes though it seemed a bit rushed. The album doesn't nearly have the quality of DS2 or IYRTITL. I mean but then again this was a rumored 6 day recording session so not much was to be expected. The album sounds more like Future ft Drake anyway. Future feels more at home especially with his beat maker Metro Boomin the executive producer. Digital Dash serves as the intro to the album and as Future shines rapping "I slide on your ass in the 7 deuce/Come back on your bitch in a six trey/Chevy, Mercedes I keep em' coming/Fuck all these bitches I keep em' coming". Drake never seems to be in tune with the track with lines like "We just keep serving and serving again and again and again and again".  The very distant worlds that both artist come from resonates further on "Live From The Gutter". Future shows a glimpse of the rough life he once lived rapping he sees bales, girls, scales, and overall hell everywhere while Drake discusses girls tripping off cocaine and pillow talking. Even though Drake is clearly the better lyrical rapper out the two, Future seems to take charge through his delivery and  emphasis. The odd couple shows what it can do when it actually clicks. Songs like Scholarships, Diamonds Dancing, Plastic Bag, and Change Locations are great examples and also provides Drake with a cushion to relate more due to it concerning more about women.

By far the most popular club banger off the album and also my favorite song from it goes to Jumpman. In maybe the dab anthem of the year, the song essentially references Michael Jordan's brand and logo Jumpman which seems to catch everyone's tempo. Future raps "Bentley spurs and phantom Jordan fadeaway. Drake spits "Jumpman jumpman they gave me my own collection" referring to the OVO rappers collaborations with the Jordan shoe brand. The beat is absolutely crazy. It has recently become a pc game as well.

Overall this tape clearly shows the two artists at the top of there respective lanes but clearly isn't the best work from either rapper. For it being done in six days it still packs a punch.


Rating: 7 out of 10...