My Favorite Underplayed Hip-Hop Albums of 2015

            Welcome back to the Star World, today we will be talking about some of my favorite underplayed hip-hop releases of the year. While 2015 may have officially come to a close, looking back and reflecting on good music will always be timeless, and these albums represent some of the best creativity I have seen in Hip-Hop this year. There will be a bigger list with the more major releases coming soon, but I wanted to do something just for the stuff I know may not get much love outside of hardcore fans or Hip-Hop Hipsters. With Hip-Hop being at the forefront of popularity I think now is the time for listeners to really branch out and find some new stuff, because who knows, that rapper with no name may be the one who resonates with you most.

THE LIST

9. Smyle- Kyle

Recommend song: Don't Wanna Fall in Love

            When I first heard the rapper known as Kyle on the song “Wanna Be Cool” off of Surf, I thought he was kind of annoying. In a voice more nerdy than early Gambino and a semi-awkward deliver I figured this was his first real feature. However when I saw that his album was coming out I learned that this 22 year old artist was more experienced than I originally thought. So after a friend of mine listened to the album and told me it was fire, I decided to check it out. What I found was one of the year’s most colorful and fun rap projects that a lot of people may just ignore. With a distinct mixture of bright electronic melodies and pop like synths this album is as soulful as it is upbeat. Lyrically Kyle tends more to the nerdcore genre, referencing video games and pop culture while at the same dealing with issues of love and intimacy. It is an album any young 20-year old can listen to and relate to, the struggles between growing up and being free all contained within a chipper album that never loses its positive vibe.

8. Soul Glitch- Daye Jack

Recommended song: Easy

            When I heard “Easy” off the newest release by Georgia born rapper Daye Jack, I was hooked. It is one my favorite songs of 2015 and the represents that unique place that this artist holds in the rap game. Singing has become more of a trend with rappers in the last few years, however the seamless way that Daye mixes his vocals with metaphorical bars and bits of wisdom through this whole album is amazing. With smooth production that is perfect for sitting under the stars and letting the key changes and basslines take you away. Daye strikes me as a rapper who is about to blow, as the specific way that he creates this silky sound just strikes the same point that Nujabes did when I first heard him. Granted with Daye it is more modern and does not rely on a emphasis on Jazz, but with the way the later electronic chords fill in the holes just create this perfect world of a cyber soul sound. Daye is defiantly a child of the internet, and it is clear that he has found a way to fuse the trends of today with the classic sounds of a lost era.

7. All We Need- Raury,

Recommended song: Forbidden Knowledge

            Atlanta based singer/musician/rapper Raury is a bit of an oddball. You would think that being selected as part of the 2015 XXL freshman class would get him some decent exposure, yet when his album dropped he was mostly ignored. To me however, I think his album is fantastic. An eclectic mixture of folk music, Hip-hop, and indie rock, this album pushes what it means to be a rapper in the modern era. In a sense that is probably most people’s problems with this album, it is not just a Hop-Hop album, while he does rap he also sings and focuses more on the holistic process of the album’s sound rather his lyrical delivery. But even so his lyrics are not weak; in fact there is no real weak part of this album. It has features from greats like Big K.R.I.T and RZA, amazing interludes with a smooth jazz atmosphere and touches on topics of breakups, love, and even the racist oppression present in America. If you want something different then look no further. I personally think artists like Raury represent a future of Hip-Hop that could not be predicted 5 or 6 years ago. A fusion of the culture with other aspects of music that help create a new type of art, all of the sake of expressing oneself and making something new and unique.

6. Jade Amulet- A.S.M

Recommended song: Masking

            This is a bit of a random release, that I only really found because there is a MF DOOM feature on this album, but nevertheless I am glad I found it. Penned as a concept album, this is meant to be experienced as a cinematic story. Each song tells a piece of the story and as it progresses you get the whole picture. It revolves around a hero born out of tragedy and given a Jade Amulet at birth. Through trials and tribulations the hero comes to find out his destiny and the secret of his amulet. It is like a musical comic book, which I can tell you from experience is one of the hardest things to do. It is one thing to make a thematic album, but to write a 15 part story and have it not feel repetitive or forced is one of the greatest lyrical feats I have ever seen. Not to say this project is perfect, but it smashes its goals and sounds good doing it. The production is done by a chamber orchestra and sounds like an actual movie score, while still incorporating that golden era sound that may remind you of a Ghostface album. The fun of this album is learning about the character as the music evolves and grows. It is impossible to get it all in one take, and each time you listen you will learn to love it more and more.

5. Wave[5]- Mick Jenkins

Recommended song: P's and Q's 

            Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins had one of my favorite projects of 2014 with his mixtape The Water[s], so when I heard he was set to have another release this year I was pumped. Although I was a bit disappointed by the length of this album at first, it is packed with dense production and lyrical gold spat by one of my favorite young MC’s in the game right now. While this is still retains the theme of water that Mick is known for, it expands more with this album, appealing to the idea of freeing your mind and yourself. With more aggressive production than I expected, Mick takes on a more mainstream oriented sound, but uses it as a platform to tell his own story. There are even tinges of love and affection sprinkled throughout this album that wasn’t found in his other projects. The songs flow well into each and in less than 30 minutes, Mick criticizes the rap game, preaches about his own experience in the trap, and comes off as more mature than ever before. Mick seems to almost come off as something more than a rapper, for whatever reason the sound of this album just shows a demonstrate of master over the kind of music and message that he wants to send. If you love rap that sounds good and also makes you think about yourself and the world around you, check out this album.

4. Lucky 7- Statik Selektah

Recommended song: Beautiful Life

            To put it simply, I love the way that Statik Selektah produces. While he himself is not a rapper, he produced a collection of 21 amazing beats that a multitude of rappers then destroyed to make this heavy tape of dope songs. The downside of that of course is that it may be hard for people to listen to all of this in one take, it is a bit jarring to have so many different rappers all on one project, but it is really Statik’s touch that holds it all together. To his soul driven production that puts a special emphasis on keys and jazzy trumpet improvisation, it just hits the ears in such a good way. Each song stands alone and some of the verses on this album are just unreal. If you want some good ol’ fashion Hip-Hop than this is probably one of the best things of last year to listen to. It touches on everything from Alcoholism to Black Power and is just a beautiful project to jam to.

3. Evermore: The Art of Duality- The Underachievers

Recommended song: Chasing Faith

            The second album by the rap duo consisting of Issa Gold and AK, Evermore is an experience. A concept album that changes its sound halfway through, it is a combination of shifting production and awakening one’s spirituality. The album revolves around the idea that we all have choices in the world, as these two young rappers up about their dark past and us it as a method of teaching. They talk about drug addiction, suicide, and dropping out of school, and how all of that lead them to a point where they had to find a new way to go about things. About 8 songs it the album turns to show the influence of the music of the younger generation, including trap snares and more heavy bass. In comparison to the wavy chord driven melodies we had been getting before that it is a nice change and poignant distinction between different approaches to rap. It is an album that is not afraid to explore the environment that a lot of youth are growing up in, warts and all. But the point of the album is that you have the power to pull yourself up out of the mess, the power to see a better future for yourself, the power to see through to duality of life and come out on top.

2. Preacher Son- YG Tut

Recommended song: Highs and Lows

            Another sleeper hit that I just happened to catch by luck; this album impressed me to no end. This Chattanooga based rapper may remind you a bit like his fellow rapper from the same town, Isaiah Rashad, but the instrumentation and Jazz elements album make this a new refreshing sound to get lost in. The concept of this album is that YG Tut is the son of a preacher, and balances a life of being in the streets doing whatever with being in church every Sunday. It is about how that relationship affects him as a person, so often times the juxtaposition of his harsh lyrics to the smooth music is just the perfect fit. It is always good when a rapper uses their personality shape the themes of their music, it makes it feel so much more genuine. Like you know that this rapper does one thing, but morally feels a certain way about certain situations, which make you want to get into the music more because the storytelling and tone is just sublime. The music was apparently done by live musicians that YG Tut lives with, and this album is the brainchild of live jam sessions and building off the relationship they have with each other. So while it is about the concept of a Preacher Son, it can also extend beyond that and that makes it click more. We are all conflicted and hypocrites in some way, that is what makes us human. It is finding out about these conflicts and using them to learn about ourselves and the world that helps us grow into better people

1        1. Live From The Denist Office- Injury Reserve

Recommended song: Washed Up

      This album took me on a wild ride. What I expected after watching a review of this was a weird indie rap album that was a bunch of kids being awkward on a track. What I found however was much much more. Injury reserve is a Hip-Hop trio from Arizona, and in their short time they have managed to create a sound that mixes early Kanye, Early Cudi, and the best parts of the indie Youtube Rap scene along with abstract production elements that give them something new. Coming off as a bunch of down on their luck dudes who are gifted in Hip-Hop, Injury Reserve is the underdog we all love to root for. Touching on everything from the monotony of being stuck in a small town to life after the part scene of college is over; this album is somber and realistic. Usually we are used to rappers painting themselves as heroes or larger than life figures, even in the case of them admitting their faults it is under the guise of them having moved past that. However in this album we get the viewpoint of the rappers who haven’t made it. We get the grime of living an average life but having the talent and drive to more forward and push past that. And with the wonky way that the synths, drum breaks, and odd hooks come together it makes for one of the most unique and enjoyable experiences I have heard all year. This album is the spirit of Hip-Hop, using what you have in combination with what you don’t have to make a unique work of art that other people can see and get inspired by. It is genuine art that comes from a place of ambition and forces you as an artist to re-evaluate how you see your own work. Albums like this remind me why I love and strive to create my own flavor Hip-Hop as much as I do.

My Favorite Non Hip-Hop Albums of 2015!

Welcome back to the Star World, where I have listened to more music than I ever thought I could just so I could not write about them as much as I wanted. 2015 was an amazing year for music of all varieties, and in my quest to never stop searching for good music I listened to 86 albums that came out this year. Not all of them were good, and some were even god awful, but others stood out so much that despite being released early in the year I never stopped listening to them. In the next week or so I will have a couple of lists coming out, but I wanted to start off with this non Hip-Hop list. I feel like I am known for my taste in rap music, which I do love, but I follow as much different music as I can, and I wanted the chance to share with you some of my favorites of what I have heard this year.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Beyond/ Where the giants roam- Thundercat

While short, 16 minutes to be exact, this EP is filled with colorful sounds and beautiful melodies. Thundercat’s voice hits smooth and the production of this small project rivals some of the most acclaimed releases of the year. It makes you feel as though you are taking a trip through a new world that is being created as you walk through it. Thundercat has been on his game for years now, working with musical Titans Kamasi Washington and Flying Lotus, and he holds his own in any conversation about the best modern musicians. With his unique take on soul combined with the electronic capabilities of the modern era; This small project has all of the sounds of a musical genius packed into a project that you could finish in the span of a long shower.

25- Adele

            I have been an Adele fan since I saw a dance video done to “Rolling in the deep”. Now, 4 years or so later, she has come back to give us 25, an album that fixes most if not all the problems I had with her previous releases. Adele seemed to going down the track of just singing about lost love, which is fine, but  I just wanted her to use her talent in more diverse ways. So while on this album she is still singing about people and her experiences with them, the production and sound of the album is much more mature. Adele has stated in interviews that she does not put out something unless she is inspired, and it seems like her inspiration lead her to take charge and help construct a wonderfully diverse but still familiar enough album that is finally a testament not only to her singing prowess, but her taste as an artist. Adele holds a special place in my heart because it is music I shared with my mom and grandma, because Adele’s appeal isn’t that she makes music for the charts, it is that she makes music that appeals to people’s hearts.

Reality show- Jazmine Sullivan

            While I was late listening to this album, it is still fantastic. There is something about Jazmine’s voice that is wholly unique, and her album builds off of Hip-Hop and blues to tell the story of a woman scorned. In similar fashion to Aretha Franklin, the power of her voice breaks through every track and the shockingly modern story turns this into an all too real concept album. It is about how poorly women can be treated and explores the reasons why they may stay in such toxic relationships, all while being backed by amazing instrumentation. This album is more than catchy, it is important. To have a black woman’s voice ring out as the voice of reason is such a satisfying listen, and while I could not include this in my top 10, I think everyone should listen to this. It is an album about courage in a time where a lot of music is afraid to take that next step.

THE LIST

10. In Colour- Jamie XX

            An eerie yet joyful mix of EDM and melodic production, this album took a second to grow on me. Being praised upon its release I had to see what the hype was about. I love The XX, which is a band Jamie is part of, and they are known for their mellow vibes and vibrant tones. This album pulls from that same musical dictionary, having long drawn out beats that do anything from pull you out of the world to make you want to dance, and the whole album feels like one song that is constantly evolving. Like it is just a representation of how Jamie feels as an artist, starting out with one idea and running with it for as long as he can. We get cameos from Jamie’s bandmates as well as the likes of Young Thug, whose style of rapping on the song “Good times” makes it one of the best singles I have heard this year. This is an album to listen to when you need to relax and enjoy yourself, with its layered production and abstract themes it is one of the most creative musical projects I have heard this year.

9. Vulnicura- Bjork

            This album is heartbreaking. Based on the breakup of Bjork from her partner of over a decade, this album will tear you to pieces. Normally when people think of break up albums someone like Taylor Swift may come to mind with her poppy upbeat takes her failed relationships. This album is not that. In the course of this LP, Bjork touches on all the dark and terrifying aspects of love and being in a relationship with someone that you never really hear about in vocal music. It is not just about how you miss the good times with that person, it is about how you miss the small details about them. Everything you cherished about a person from how they smell to the way you fought is now no longer part of your life. Bjork in her beautiful yet pained voice sings of how she is drowning in the overwhelming feelings that come with this emotional separation. All of this of course backed by some of the most beautiful instrumentation of the year. String sections and deep bass help create the dark canvas that Bjork uses to paint you a picture of her lost love.

8. Currents-Tame Impala

            This album is the love child of psychedelic rock and synth pop music. Through the kind of wavy vocals you would hear in the 60’s rock and the upbeat synth based pop music of the 80’s you get this unique abstract musical piece that is at the same time uplifting and mystifying. The whole LP honestly feels like a colorful acid trip down a rabbit hold you did not know was there, but through it all the trip never feels so far out that you cannot comprehend how you feel about it. It is joyous and spacey, but at the same time complex enough to make you want to listen again and again to comprehend how everything fits together. Guitar and key solos dominate the airwaves and the lead singers falsetto vocals float over the top of each song to create this trippy time capsule that can take you back to a time where music felt more free.

7. Sound and Color- Alabama Shakes

            Hailing from the state they are named after, this Southern Rock band came out with an album that uses a classic rock background to build a more modern sound that takes from the past to make a raw focused album about people, love, and life. The main singer’s vocals shout and ring over each song and hit the ear in such a different way, like she is not just a singer, but another instrument in the band. Each lyric is a small solo a meant to be part of the puzzle that each song creates. The album feels raw and powerful, and by the end of it you feel satisfied, which is a feeling that not a lot of music is able to help you achieve. Through their music the Alabama Shakes are creating a story that begins and ends, and you feel lucky for having been able to go along for the ride.

6. Have you in my Wilderness- Julia Holter

           

            This album took me by complete surprise the first time I heard it. To put it simply it is the most beautiful album I have heard this year. Julia Holter arranged and produced the entirety of this album, and it plays like one long musical. With the musical instruments coming in and out as characters would in a play this is arranged almost perfectly. It is a bright album, created to make you feel like you matter in the eyes of the artist. If it were a story you would feel like you are standing right next to Julia experiencing everything she feeling. It is a combination of classical composition, art pop, and the spice that is Julia’s touch to give this atmospheric feel that at this point in her career she is known for. This artist does not just make albums, she creates masterpieces that you could study as pinnacles of music theory or just play and appreciate as a fantastic album that carry you off into a fairy tale world that lives and breathes just our own world does.

5. Multi love- Unknown Mortal Orchestra

            This vivid, lo-fi rock album makes me happy whenever I listen to it. It is fast enough to make me move and catchy enough to haunt my mind when I am not listening to it. From the way it uses drums to the almost muffled way each song sounds, it as almost as if the message of the album is supposed to be some sort of secret that people are not ready for. The opening song explores the ideas of transgender love and relationships, while the latter songs talk about how our generation is hooked to the idea of checking our phones and the overpopulation of the planet. Granted these ideas are not thrown at you, making them less political statements and more artistic observations, but all of the contained within  this album makes it worth going back to again in again because nothing sounds quite like it. It got me through many long walks in the dark at school, because whenever I heard to opening notes of the keyboard in this album I knew I was in for a treat.

4. Choose Your Weapon- Hiatus Kaiyote

            Ever since my friend showed me this band over summer I have been obsessed. They are an Australian Neo-Soul band that, between their 4 members, has created such a full sound that it is crazy. In this album we get songs that do anything from show off a specific musical idea as an interlude, to 5 or 6 minute songs that explore the full range of what can be done when jazzy improvisation and vocal embellishments are pushed to their limits. The sounds feel complete but never lose their smoothness. While the album has an electronic element thrown into a lot of the songs, it does not feel synthetic or forced in anyway. Chiptunes and video game sounds are added to create the tone of this album, which is mysterious and wondrous at the same time. It feels like the music of the future while at the same time taking from the past. Also they have one of my favorite album covers of the year, just adding to what I love about this band.

3. Ego Death- The Internet

            The Internet is finally getting the praise they deserve, having been nominated for a Grammy for this very album. From the first song I was completely absorbed with this album. With a lot of the songs revolving around love of women, but being sung by a female lead sing, it provides a unique take on a love album. Not that this just boils down to a love album mind you, this young R&B band takes concepts like lackluster partners, drug and fame culture, and even socially conscious lyrics about black death, and uses them to create this funky yet smooth LP. With Syd the Kid’s vocals ranging from as deep as mind to falsetto, and the bands amazing playing, no song on this album feels week. Through staying true to themselves The Internet has come to find the sound that they always wanted, somewhere between atmospheric and soulful, and uses it to explore the lives of young adults growing up in this crazy disconnected society. I got to see them live this semester and it was so amazing to see all their players solo and play their hearts out on stage. At the same time though, they were having fun and putting on a great show, which is all of the signs of a band that is meant to last.

2. Surf- Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment

            The reason this is not on the Hip-Hop list is because at its core it is more than that. Donnie Trumpet makes music more akin to soul and smooth jazz, and while this takes a different turn, the turn is not serve enough to be put in the rap category. Through collaborations with his band which includes the ever popular Chance the Rapper. If you want to read everything I think about this album you can find it HERE. To cut it short this album makes me happy, and it’s a testament to what can be done when you defy conventions and just make good music with your friends

 1.      The Epic- Kamasi Wahsington

 I have also written about this album, but never by itself. This is a 3 hour jazz album constructed by the same man who arranged the majority of the music for Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”. Needless to say this man is a musical genius, and with the help of a ten piece band and choir he put together and ten hour recording sessions used to record this album, he made my favorite non Hip-Hop album of the year. This album not being included in any jazz category for this year’s Grammys is probably the biggest musical tragedy of the year, and just shows how out of touch our mainstream appreciation of music has gotten. It has everything you would expect from Jazz and does not limit itself to just one sub-genre. There are elements of Free Jazz Bebop along with the vocal melodies of the more laid back blues vocal aspect of older jazz songs. This album is a celebration of Jazz of all kinds, and its main method of celebration is just taking the old conventions of Jazz and doing it way better. The length of this album is a message; it expresses a love for music and a desire to inspire fellow players to keep this beautiful art form going. Some of the best Jazz musicians in the world are on this album, including Thundercat on electric bass, and they all came to together to make an album that is deserving of its namesake. I listen to this album as much as I can, studying its melodies and getting lost in the wild directions the music go in. This is more the just music, it is a part of a movement, it is artists collaborating to have their voices heard because people assume that artists of that caliber are a thing of the past. When people say “man music just isn’t good anymore” you show them this gem and tell them that music is coming back in a big way. The Epic has arrived and I believe it just the beginning of a huge Jazz revival. If you like Jazz you need to hear this album, if you like music you need to hear this album, if you want to hear what happens when masters of a craft all come together to make a work of art, then do yourself a favor and listen to this amazing album.

A Look Into The Mirror

 Sequel to 'A Night'

It had to be a dream. Not because the pain felt too intense to describe, the tears fell too much to dry, nor the sun never seemed to come up, but rather because it was all just too depressing. In the span of what seemed like hours but may have only been minutes, Kyle was walking down a hallway straight out of hell itself. Consistently and without missing a beat there were pictures frames lined up perfectly every two feet or so. In these frames were everything he was ashamed of, from breakups to breakdowns. All of this was on display for the world, and more importantly Kyle, to see.

It was hard to remember how he got here, but everything else he remembered perfectly. The pain of loss and the sting of remorse were as familiar as the clothes he was currently sweating in, but he could not trace his steps back. Did he kill himself? Maybe, if the pictures on the wall are any indication, he could be pretty reckless. Still this didn't seem like death, a bit dreary yes, but not the nothing he was expecting after he died. Another unspecified amount of time passed and the hallway just kept going. After forever had come and gone he stopped in his tracks and stared in horror at a particular picture that had caught his eye. It was him, much like the other pictures, but in this one he was huddled in the corner of his room just crying to himself. He remembered.

So much loss.

He had never had to deal with losing family before, all his life things had just fallen into place and stayed there. It was no paradise, but he felt like he had a support system if anything. Then one phone call later it all crashed down. His mother was destroyed, his father speechless, and he himself was thrown into a constant state of shock because without that he may have jumped out a window. Was the Kyle walking now the same Kyle that was in that corner crying? Could it be he was still there just trying to make sense of it all? Time had passed but there was no way to tell how much, all he could do was keep walking. Walk through the pain, walk through the memories, and keep walking until he hit something that wasn't just the wall that her death put around his mind.

Deeper still into the abyss his journeys brought him to another picture. This was him and a girl. He knew the girl, and cared for her, but in the end could not make her happy. He tried to blame it on the loss, blame it on the girl, blame it on anyone but himself because he knew how much he had ruined it. He could not help it for he was a dreamer, building fantasy was is life, and to admit it was anything but would crush him. Yet it crushed her...and them, while he still go to hold onto his sense of self like it wasn't his fault. He remembered. She tried to give him space because he was suffering a loss, but he filled that space with resent toward the both of them. He threatened to pull the trigger on himself, told her he needed him, and she left. Another picture showed his empty apartment. It was quiet like his mind never was and only told the truth, much like he hadn't.

And then the hallway ended. His trip brought him to a mirror. With the pictures still crying behind him Kyle figured the best thing to do was step forward, it seemed to work for him thus far. Then in the mirror he saw a figure start to shift. The lights that he didn't even notice were lit in the hallway went out and he was forced to focus on nothing on this creature now fully visible in the mirror. It was wearing a straitjacket, with chains attached to the limbs that connected to a stone wall behind it. The jacket was clean, spotless even, like someone had always come to make sure this being was cared for. It mumbled in a way that Kyle could not decipher, yet it was familiar. Then the creature raised its head and Kyle almost threw up at the site of it.

It was him.

Well...almost him. It had tiny yet pronounced horns and what appeared to be fangs in the mouth that spoke coherent mumbles. It was wearing a blindfold, yet tears were streaming down its cheeks. The thing was a monster, and Kyle hated every moment he was it its presence, yet he could not look away. It was locked behind this mirror in this word Kyle did not understand, but he still pitied it. He held out his hand, for whatever reason, to try and touch the mirror. As his fingers just began to touch what should have been glass, the being spoke.

“Worthless,” it said.

“W-what?” Kyle was in shock, despite him thinking the mumbles were familiar, he never thought it could speak to him.

“We...are....worthless.”

“I don't understand, what are you?!” Kyle's voice rose and fear was slowing sinking into him.

“We am you, you am we. We are nothing.”

“I can't be you, that doesn't make sense. Why are you here, why are you locked up? Answer me!”

The creature rose to its feet slowly, like it's body was broken, before answering. Kyle knew what it was going to say though, he could feel the the creature was connected to him somehow, and its pain was his pain.

“We are here because we want it.”

“No...why would I want to be here?”

“The world wants we here, we do what makes them happy. We know we are worthless so this is the safest place. We are safe here.”

Just then Kyle understood and dropped to his knees in a panic. This was him, no different from the him currently on his knees.

“Did I...make you?” Kyle asked, his brain felt like it was bleeding.

“We made us, we have always been.”

Kyle stumbled forward, through the glass that wasn't there, and into the domain of the mirror. Face to face with the thing now he could not break eye contact. Upon closer inspection he saw that on the straitjacket were names written. Names of people he had hurt, let down, or distanced himself from for their own good. They faded in and out of visibility, but never completely gone. The chains attaching the being to the wall were actually being held by the being itself. If it wanted to let go and free itself it could. The being looked at Kyle, and despite it's blindness could tell exactly where to focus its gaze.

“We hate us, we are worthless, we will never know love.” The being seemed sad now, genuine sadness hidden by its devilish appearance.

“No, I don't hate you...I never have. I am sorry.” Kyle hugged the creature. And it screamed.

“WE ARE WORTHLESS, WE HATE US, WE WILL NEVER KNOW LOVE!!”

Its fangs dug deep into Kyle's neck, and at the moment where death should have found him he woke up. He was in his empty, honest room. It was still and he had been sweating. He sat up in silence for a long time, long enough that he could replay the night's events in his mind again over and over. Each time things became more and more vivid until it seemed like the creature would burst out of his mind again. He got up and walked over to his desk. He saw on a notepad next to his computer was a message. It read, “Worthless, Unloved, Alone” over and over again until the ink started to fade at the bottom of the page. Disgusted he ripped the page up and threw it away. He no longer believed what the message said, which did not mean it wasn't true, but he no longer believed it. On that same desk was a charm that the girl had gotten him on a trip she took. It was a keychain, the only souvenir he would accept. The charm was handmade, and meant something like good fortune or love. Neither of which he considered himself to have a lot of. Still, it was there, and that meant something. He got up to go to his bathroom and after about 10 mins of fear, turned on the light to face his mirror. It was him. No blindfold or horns though, just bags under his eyes and messy hair. He stared deeply at himself. There is no we, there was him. Just then he had an idea. He ran to his nightstand to get something he knew was there, a lipstick tube. She had left it, so saddened by his actions that it was not important. He went back to his bathroom and started writing. His hand was guided by a force that reminded him of his grandmother, no nonsense and supportive. He stepped back, gasping and looked at what he wrote. “I am not worthless, my past will not define me, I will forgive myself and more importantly, love myself”. It would become his mantra, it would break his chains, and it would silence the being from speaking its truth.

In that moment he was his own biggest fan.

Thoughts On: Rodeo

Recommended listening: Oh my Dis side, Piss on your grave, Maria I’m drunk

Welcome back to Thoughts On, where I always happen to time my breaks with thousands of albums set to drop in the coming weeks. In the past 3 weeks we have had 3 major releases, all of which I plan on covering…eventually. But this week we are talking about the dark lucid album Rodeo by Houston rapper Travis Scott (stylized $cott). In his highly anticipated debut album Travis manages to do what almost seems impossible to me. He fuses traditional production elements of Hip-Hop such as sampling soul or adding in jazz with the electronic and trap heavy sounds that have been dominating commercial Hip-Hop for the last year or so. A lot of people will generalize and talk about modern rap music as though all Hip-Hop is the same thing, but in reality there are sub-genres, different production styles, and different rap flows that mix and match to make up the diverse sound of modern Hip-Hop. So with this album coming out mixing two different worlds to make one coherent album (which is out of place for a trap project), we now get a chance for those familiar with the mainstream sound to see how commercial music can still be twisted to reflect artistic integrity.

So who is Travis Scott? Well Travis is a Houston producer/rapper that started out as a teenager making beats and collaborating with his friends to form rap groups in his high school. After putting music up on Myspace for a bit Travis had a falling out with one of his cohorts and left to move to L.A. In L.A one of his songs was heard by none other than T.I and he was brought into the studio to work. Eventually some numbers got dialed and cards got exchanged and Travis was able to meet the infamous Kanye West, getting signed to G.O.O.D music and appearing on the Cruel Summer album before putting out his first project Owl Pharaoh in 2013. With his mixtape getting quite a bit of recognition more people began to wonder just who this man was. In 2014 he released his second project Days Before Rodeo, which also received a fair bit of acclaim and served as the precursor to his debut album. In terms of style Travis mixes elements of heavy production (utilizing everything he has at his fingertips) with often auto-tuned vocals and lucid lyrics to create a dark sound not dissimilar to the likes of A$AP Rocky. However Travis is usually more aggressive both lyrically and in terms of his personality that Rocky.

So what does the album sound like? Well taking lessons from both Kanye and Kid Cudi (also on the G.O.O.D label) Travis is a storyteller, and attempts to do this not just lyrically but sonically as well. The album starts off with ‘Pornography’ with T.I narrating, telling a story about a young rebel who decides he is against the world. He speaks of the rebel leading an army away from the norm in search of something, what that something is not known but it has to be better than nothing. Then the beat kicks in with heavy bass and chords so distorted they sound like guitars wailing in the background, reminiscent of Kanye’s vocals on the beginning of ‘Monster’ and ‘All Day’. Travis comes saying that he is surrounded by pornography so get high with him, which may just be a metaphor for how messed up both he and the world are. T.I comes back in continuing the story of how Travis is a flame (one of his nicknames is La Flame) and is going against everyone who told him that he would never amount to anything. Now trap snares kick in and Travis becomes more lyrically aggressive just as the beat swells. Overall it is great way to start an album, establishing a motive and setting the tone that this project with beat switches and a rapper determined to get his point across.

This transitions well into the song ‘Oh My Dis Side’ in which we heard a simple progression of five notes going up and down supported by heavy bass and the sharpest snare possible. In this song Travis speaks on his parting habits and how the affects the rest of his life. Getting kicked out of the house, drinking lean, and eventually sleeping on couches in LA (presumably after he moves). After every line he says “Oh My” and it becomes the theme of all of his lyrics. Interestingly enough he moves from his failures to his successes (such as being able to buy his mom a house) and still retains the same two word phrase after his lines, showing that it can be used as a form of negative shock and positive reflection. The song then changes musically to include in jazzy keyboards and smooth chords in, eliminating the intense bass and snares, and changes to the “Dis Side” part of the song. Here we get reflections on everything Travis used to do on one side of the track so to speak, as he reflections on the harsh realities of hoods. He mentions making money on the same side that he got his first kiss and it is just an interesting duality that he is showing. Then Quavo of the group Migos comes in to do a verse about the same subject and seems sentimental in his looking back. Like he is fully aware of how dangers his life was and knows he still has friends back in it. It is a beautiful chunk of song that blends same of the most aggressive artists out there with a smooth track to make something new musically diverse.

Skipping ahead to 'Wasted' We get to hear Travis really coming into the auto-tuned sound, so much so that it no longer sounds like an effect to me but just a natural part of his persona. The beat of his song consists of what sounds like flutes (at least that pitch) ascending in pitch upward as heavy bass and snare pattern support it. It is important to point out that while this is not the most interesting beat, the pressure of the bass is still felt and adds weight to the lyrical content. The song is about how hard he works and how that translates to how wild he can get. In the middle of the son is a narrative about how many people can't handle their liquor and drugs, and only real ones can handle it. All this of course is said in a somber tone as the beat changes and chords are added and taken about before the second verse. It is an interesting take on the wild party culture of Hip-Hop that transitions well into the next song. '90210' starts with bouncy chords and tells the story of a girl from the valley, and the groupie culture that is commonly associated with that area (Beverly Hills). He then makes the story more personal and speaks on how these same girls are drawn to him. Halfway through we get a beat switch to a boom-bap style beat with soulful piano thrown in to sound like something that early Kanye might have done (again showing his influence). He raps about how his grandma calls to remind him not to work hard, a break from the heavy party lifestyle we have been exposed to so far, showing the more human side of this rapper that so far has just been hard. Again one of the production is just a beautiful mix of such heaviness with a light touch that makes it more musical.

Skipping ahead to 'Piss On Your Grave' we get a song that starts with a straight hard rock guitar with drums to match before menacing low chords and steady beat come int to replace them. Kanye comes in with a short verse about taking back what is his and shoving his success in the faces of haters. Pretty standard material, but the vulgarity and aggression with which he says what he means just makes the song hit that much harder. Likewise when Travis comes and talks about popping pills and going ape just because he made it big you can really vibe with the artists are going for. Kanye comes back in and is basically shouting obscenities and while it is kind of funny to here him do this style it really just makes the song distinct. Even though the song is short it is so direct that it remains memorable. The album then slows down into 'Antidote', going back to the partying themes but the tone and language sounds more personal then the previously mentioned songs. With bass and trap snares coming in and it it makes for a mix between a somber song and a lucid theme to get lost in on the dance floor. Travis proclaims that “anything can happen at the night show”, referring to the party he is currently reflecting on. Travis' party antics seem to play more into his lyrics and lifestyle more so than other rappers. Like his life revolves around the night show and rebelling (much like T.I's narration stated earlier). In 'Maria I'm Drunk' we get a more pop sensible ballad with Justin Bieber and Young Thug. Here Travis is crooning to an unknown asking them to call their friends to come get drunk. While haunting chords that sound like they belong in a horror song play Travis sounds literally drunk and lost in his own thoughts. Justin comes in with a verse appealing to girl to come and just get lost with him. His voice actually blends in very well with this pop-trap style and it adds to sad feeling this song puts forward. Young Thug's verse starts and he seems to confuse the feeling being drunk and being in love. Referring to a friend who he fools around with but wont get too intimate with him for whatever reason. The song also just fades out with the instrumental playing for another 30 seconds or so, letting the listener just soak in what they just heard. This is the saddest song on the album to be just because it highlights a lifestyle I could never personally imagine, but that's what makes it so good.

In the Penultimate song 'I Can Tell', we get Travis singing the song title in a manner that reminds me of 808's and Heartbreak. With a lavish beat the keeps evolving through the song that mixes a variety of snares with his signature bass that swells over time. Here he essentially talks about his own ability to foresee his own future, from his humble beginnings producing in a basement to his party culture, lifestyle, and come up. It is 3 minutes of straight bragging that feels good in the context of getting to the end of an exhausting list of well produced and introspective songs. Like of course he is proud of himself and boasts, look at his skill and repertoire. This of course leads into the final song, 'Apple Pie'. This song starts with a 3 note piano progression as Travis tuned vocals cut threw the chords. You can hear faint vocal chords filling in space in the background ad Travis states that he cannot feed of his moms applie pie anymore. He needs to break away from depending on her anymore and desires to make his own legacy. Recounting his feats as a steady snare hits this is the Travis that followers of his music since 2013 have been waiting for. A confident rapper and producer confident in his style and paving his own way. T.I concludes the album posing the question will Travis make it on his path of being a rebel. A question we all can relate to, can we make it doing our own thing?

If you have been looking forward to Travis Scott's major debut then this album will not disappoint. Getting lost in a world full of drugs, aggression, and passion it is easy to just conclude that Travis is insane. Which he might be. However in the madness lies sparks of genius that find ways to make trap not only suitable to an album format, but telling a story without sacrificing major elements of trap music. By taking parts of some you can make something whole that is unlike either parts but still carries the importance of both. Travis his aiming to bridge the gap between say conscious Hip-Hop fans and trap or more aggressive Hip-Hop fans and just make music that appeals to his life, a reflection of a man who sees himself as a rebel and cherish that. This is great album to vibe to and let yourself just feel. It hits hard but carries enough music to keep you interested past bass and snares. If you have the chance I recommend you: Listen Soon. Thank you readers for bearing with my long hiatus and I promise I will be back with more consistent posts and reflective thoughts. Long live good music.