Retail Release in Spring 2012
Summary: Deluxe Edition of Micki Minaj's sophomore release
Overall Rating: Decent
Rating Comment: Nicki uitilizes top notch production, but overall, it's not the type of album I'm usually looking for. How much you like this album will depend on your feeling about auto-tune and the like. Nicki Minaj could probably make a pretty good straight hip hop album, but this one is 60% club/dance/electronica.
1. Roman Holiday: D
2/3/3 - Irritating start and at various parts during.
2. Come On A Cone: D
2/3/3 - Solid flow over a decent beat. Don't like chorus.
3. I Am Your Leader feat. Rick Ross & Cam'Ron: B
3/4/4 - Good verses all around. Interesting beat. Odd chorus.
4. Beez In The Trap feat. 2 Chains: B-
4/3/2 - Love the beat and chorus. Verses are average at best. 2 Chains did little to entice me to buy his album.
5. HOV Lane: D
2/3/3 - Don't like the beat/chorus. Solid verses though. I could see a fan liking this more than I.
6. Roman Reloaded feat. Lil Wayne: B+
4/4/3 - Strong verses, especially Lil Wayne's. Fierce production as well.
7. Champion feat. NaS, Drake & Young Jeezy: C-
3/3/3 - Nicki and NaS have the better verses. Drake and especially Young Jeezy underwhelm and wouldn't be missed if they were absent. An over-long song.
8. Right By My Side feat. Chris Brown: B+
Nice duet. Really an R&B track with an oddly explicit short verse thrown in at the end. This song and the next mark the transition of this album from rap to pop
9. Sex In The Lounge feat. Lil Wayne: C+
N/A
10. Starships: D
Thus begins a barrage of club tracks that fills out most of the rest of the album. This particular song is ok, but one section of it has a noise I can't stand.
11. Pound The Alarm: C-
Another dance track. A little more palatable than Starships. Has some decent rapping in it.
12. Whip It: D
Thumbs down.
13. Automatic: B-
Club track that separates itself from much of the rest of the album with its song lyrics and singing.
14. Beautiful Sinner: C-
Like the song lyrics. Music is a mixed bag.
15. Marilyn Monroe: C
N/A
16. Young Forever: B
Has a ballad-ic aspect that I like.
17. Fire Burns: B
Nice lyrics, solid music.
18. Gun Shot feat. Beanie Man: C
Not bad, but not my particular cup of tea.
19. Stupid Hoe: F
Just terrible.
20. Turn Me On: D
N/A
21. Va Va Voom: B-
Seems like an attempt at recreating the magic of Super Bass. It's not entirely unsuccessful.
22. Masquerade: C-
Strong production values along with some musical mis-steps.
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Monday, December 17, 2012
NaS: Life Is Good Review
Retail Release in 2012
Summary: 3rd Def Jam release from NaS, after Hip Hop Is Dead and the Untitled/Nigger Album
Overall Rating: Very Good (4.5/5)
Rating Comment: Clearly, a lot of care was taken in making this album. There is a lot of variety in themes and production. Arguably, it's the best produced album of NaS' career since Illmatic, if ever. A stellar album with the weakness of lacking a lot of all time great tracks. "Daughters" is the only one for sure. "The Don" is second best thanks to a unique beat flowed over quite well. However, there are a ton of good songs, and they're good in a variety of ways. After Illmatic, this is probably the most "recommendable" album in NaS' discography.
1. No Introduction: B
3/4/4 - Solid intro track.
2. Loco-Motive: C-
1/3/3 - Not bad. Weak background helped by above-average lyrics.
3. Queen's Story: D
1/3/3 - Sick flow but the song is otherwise unremarkable. Perhaps the worst song backing on the entire album. Doesn't work.
4. Accident Murderers feat. Rick Ross: B+
4/4/4 - Cool concept. Strong guest verse by Rick Ross. I like NaS' first verse more than the second.
5. Daughters: A
3/5/5 - Best track on the album. Personal lyrics overcome a suitable, though not awe-inspiring beat.
6. Reach Out: B-
3/4/3 - Beat includes a well known sample, but NaS flows well over it.
7. World's An Addiction: C+
3/4/3 - Good vocals (by Anthony Hamilton), and good lyrics to support the concept.
8. Summer On Smash: D
2/3/2 - Not a fan of Swiss Beats' production style. And the chorus is poor. Nice verses by NaS though.
9. You Wouldn't Understand: B+
4/4/3 - Smooth beat with a nice interspersed Rakim sample.
10. Back When: B
3/4/3 - N/A
11. The Don: B+
4/4/3 - Grew on me. Different from most NaS beats. Strong verses.
12. Stay: B+
3/5/4 - N/A
13. Cherrywine feat. Amy Winehouse: B-
4/3/2 - Singing and rhyming both sound good, but don't mesh well into one track.
14. Bye Baby: B+
4/3/5 - One of the most interesting and unique song on the album.
BONUS TRACKS
15. Nasty: B+
4/5/3 - Made You Look style track. Wicked flow over a stripped down bangin' beat.
16. The Black Bond: C-
2/3/3 - Interesting concept. Incomplete execution.
17. Roses: D
2/4/2 - I like the musical backdrop, but the song doesn't quite work for me.
18. Where's the Love: C+
3/3/3 - N/A
19. Trust: C
2/3/4 - Solid theme and lyrics. Wish the chorus and beat were better.
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Summary: 3rd Def Jam release from NaS, after Hip Hop Is Dead and the Untitled/Nigger Album
Overall Rating: Very Good (4.5/5)
Rating Comment: Clearly, a lot of care was taken in making this album. There is a lot of variety in themes and production. Arguably, it's the best produced album of NaS' career since Illmatic, if ever. A stellar album with the weakness of lacking a lot of all time great tracks. "Daughters" is the only one for sure. "The Don" is second best thanks to a unique beat flowed over quite well. However, there are a ton of good songs, and they're good in a variety of ways. After Illmatic, this is probably the most "recommendable" album in NaS' discography.
1. No Introduction: B
3/4/4 - Solid intro track.
2. Loco-Motive: C-
1/3/3 - Not bad. Weak background helped by above-average lyrics.
3. Queen's Story: D
1/3/3 - Sick flow but the song is otherwise unremarkable. Perhaps the worst song backing on the entire album. Doesn't work.
4. Accident Murderers feat. Rick Ross: B+
4/4/4 - Cool concept. Strong guest verse by Rick Ross. I like NaS' first verse more than the second.
5. Daughters: A
3/5/5 - Best track on the album. Personal lyrics overcome a suitable, though not awe-inspiring beat.
6. Reach Out: B-
3/4/3 - Beat includes a well known sample, but NaS flows well over it.
7. World's An Addiction: C+
3/4/3 - Good vocals (by Anthony Hamilton), and good lyrics to support the concept.
8. Summer On Smash: D
2/3/2 - Not a fan of Swiss Beats' production style. And the chorus is poor. Nice verses by NaS though.
9. You Wouldn't Understand: B+
4/4/3 - Smooth beat with a nice interspersed Rakim sample.
10. Back When: B
3/4/3 - N/A
11. The Don: B+
4/4/3 - Grew on me. Different from most NaS beats. Strong verses.
12. Stay: B+
3/5/4 - N/A
13. Cherrywine feat. Amy Winehouse: B-
4/3/2 - Singing and rhyming both sound good, but don't mesh well into one track.
14. Bye Baby: B+
4/3/5 - One of the most interesting and unique song on the album.
BONUS TRACKS
15. Nasty: B+
4/5/3 - Made You Look style track. Wicked flow over a stripped down bangin' beat.
16. The Black Bond: C-
2/3/3 - Interesting concept. Incomplete execution.
17. Roses: D
2/4/2 - I like the musical backdrop, but the song doesn't quite work for me.
18. Where's the Love: C+
3/3/3 - N/A
19. Trust: C
2/3/4 - Solid theme and lyrics. Wish the chorus and beat were better.
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday
Retail Release in 2011
Summary: Nicki Minaj's debut studio release
Overall Rating: Good (?/5)
Rating Comment: A consistent album with good production throughout. However, the lack of a real classic track aside from the very polarizing bubblegum track Superbass is unfortunate.
1. I'm The Best: B
Very personal lyrics; Good flow; Solid music
2. Roman's Revenge f/ Eminem: C+
Good verses (I prefer Eminem's); Not a fan of the Busta-Buss-inspired hook; Swizzy B rarely makes a beat I really dig; Backing music is a mixed bag
3. Did It On'em: C
Mediocre beat and hook; Good verses, though
4. Right Thru Me: B-
Cool concept; Smooth chorus; Actual verses are nothing special; Barely a B-
5. Fly f/ Rihanna: B
Great hook work by Rihanna; Good music; Nicki's second verse is much better than the first
6. Save Me: C-
The kind of song you have to take for what it is; Nothing special, but an enjoyable listen
7. Moment 4 Life f/ Drake: B
Drake verse is very good; Nicki's is also good; Good music
8. Check It Out f/ will.i.am: D
Not terrible, I suppose.
9. Blazin' f/ Kanye West: B+
Truly blazing beat with wicked flows by both principles. Murderous Kanye verse.
10. Here I Am: 3 Stars
11. Dear Old Nicki: 4 Stars?
12. Your Love: 4 Stars
13. Last Chance: D
Nice music but mot much else appeals to me.
DELUXE EDITION TRACKS
Super Bass: A-
Dope concept; Solid lyrics
Blow Ya Mind: N/A
Didn't get deluxe edition
Last Chance: N/A
Didn't get deluxe edition
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Summary: Nicki Minaj's debut studio release
Overall Rating: Good (?/5)
Rating Comment: A consistent album with good production throughout. However, the lack of a real classic track aside from the very polarizing bubblegum track Superbass is unfortunate.
1. I'm The Best: B
Very personal lyrics; Good flow; Solid music
2. Roman's Revenge f/ Eminem: C+
Good verses (I prefer Eminem's); Not a fan of the Busta-Buss-inspired hook; Swizzy B rarely makes a beat I really dig; Backing music is a mixed bag
3. Did It On'em: C
Mediocre beat and hook; Good verses, though
4. Right Thru Me: B-
Cool concept; Smooth chorus; Actual verses are nothing special; Barely a B-
5. Fly f/ Rihanna: B
Great hook work by Rihanna; Good music; Nicki's second verse is much better than the first
6. Save Me: C-
The kind of song you have to take for what it is; Nothing special, but an enjoyable listen
7. Moment 4 Life f/ Drake: B
Drake verse is very good; Nicki's is also good; Good music
8. Check It Out f/ will.i.am: D
Not terrible, I suppose.
9. Blazin' f/ Kanye West: B+
Truly blazing beat with wicked flows by both principles. Murderous Kanye verse.
10. Here I Am: 3 Stars
11. Dear Old Nicki: 4 Stars?
12. Your Love: 4 Stars
13. Last Chance: D
Nice music but mot much else appeals to me.
DELUXE EDITION TRACKS
Super Bass: A-
Dope concept; Solid lyrics
Blow Ya Mind: N/A
Didn't get deluxe edition
Last Chance: N/A
Didn't get deluxe edition
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3
Retail Release in 2009
Summary: Jay-Z's 11th Studio Album
Overall Rating: Very Good (?/5)
Rating Comment: N/A
1. What We Talkin' About: C
3/3/3 - Decent intro song.
2. Thank You: D
2/3/3
3. D.O.A. (Death of Autotune): B
3/4/4 - Unique (for Hip Hop) music that fits the song thematically.
4. Run This Town ft. Kanye West and Rihanna: B-
4/3/3 - Strong Kanye verse helps make up for Jay-Z verses I don't really dig.
5. Empire State of Mind ft. Alicia Keys: B+
5/3/3 - Jay's verses have their moments, but they go on a bit too long.
6. Real As It Gets ft/ Young Jeezy: B
3/4/3 - They are kinda sampling Hip Hop Hooray here.
7. On To The Next One: A-
4/4/4 - Mostly liked the music, but it has some weird quirks I didn't like.
8. Off That ft. Drake: C
3/3/3 - Drake is only on the chorus.
9. A Star Is Born ft. J. Cole: B-
3/4/3 - Some of Jay's best verses of the album. J. Cole's verse is forgettable
10. Venus Vs. Mars: C+
1/5/3 - Best flow/verses on the album semi-ruined by weak musical backing and an irritating chorus.
11. Already Home ft. Kid Cudi: C-
3/2/3 - What is this, 22 Alreadys?
12. Hate f. Kanye West: C
2/4/3 - Interesting collabo.
13. Reminder: C-
2/3/3
14. So Ambitious ft. Pharrell: D
2/3/3
15. Young Forever: B
4/3/3 - Don't like Jay-Z's flow here but the lyrics are solid.
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Summary: Jay-Z's 11th Studio Album
Overall Rating: Very Good (?/5)
Rating Comment: N/A
1. What We Talkin' About: C
3/3/3 - Decent intro song.
2. Thank You: D
2/3/3
3. D.O.A. (Death of Autotune): B
3/4/4 - Unique (for Hip Hop) music that fits the song thematically.
4. Run This Town ft. Kanye West and Rihanna: B-
4/3/3 - Strong Kanye verse helps make up for Jay-Z verses I don't really dig.
5. Empire State of Mind ft. Alicia Keys: B+
5/3/3 - Jay's verses have their moments, but they go on a bit too long.
6. Real As It Gets ft/ Young Jeezy: B
3/4/3 - They are kinda sampling Hip Hop Hooray here.
7. On To The Next One: A-
4/4/4 - Mostly liked the music, but it has some weird quirks I didn't like.
8. Off That ft. Drake: C
3/3/3 - Drake is only on the chorus.
9. A Star Is Born ft. J. Cole: B-
3/4/3 - Some of Jay's best verses of the album. J. Cole's verse is forgettable
10. Venus Vs. Mars: C+
1/5/3 - Best flow/verses on the album semi-ruined by weak musical backing and an irritating chorus.
11. Already Home ft. Kid Cudi: C-
3/2/3 - What is this, 22 Alreadys?
12. Hate f. Kanye West: C
2/4/3 - Interesting collabo.
13. Reminder: C-
2/3/3
14. So Ambitious ft. Pharrell: D
2/3/3
15. Young Forever: B
4/3/3 - Don't like Jay-Z's flow here but the lyrics are solid.
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Thursday, March 11, 2010
NaS - Stilmatic
Released in 2001
Purchased In Stores
Summary: NaS' fifth album; first since 1999
Comment: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Stillmatic (The Intro): A
Ether: A
Got Ur Self A Gun: C-
Smokin': D
You're Da Man: B+
Rewind: C-
One Mic: A+
2nd Childhood: B
Destroy And Rebuild: B
Flyest f/ AZ: C
Braveheart Party f/ Jungle, Mary J. Blige: F
Rule f/ Amerie: B
My Country f/ Millenium Thug: D
What Goes Around: B-
Every Ghetto f/ Blitz: D
Grades Updated 9-14-2010
Grades Dated 3-12-2010
Purchased In Stores
Summary: NaS' fifth album; first since 1999
Comment: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Stillmatic (The Intro): A
Ether: A
Got Ur Self A Gun: C-
Smokin': D
You're Da Man: B+
Rewind: C-
One Mic: A+
2nd Childhood: B
Destroy And Rebuild: B
Flyest f/ AZ: C
Braveheart Party f/ Jungle, Mary J. Blige: F
Rule f/ Amerie: B
My Country f/ Millenium Thug: D
What Goes Around: B-
Every Ghetto f/ Blitz: D
Grades Updated 9-14-2010
Grades Dated 3-12-2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
NaS - It Was Written
Released in 1996
Purchased In Stores
Summary: NaS' second album
Comment: NaS is still in top ('Illmatic') form, but this album sees content of his lyrics devolve with more emphasis on mob and gangster themes.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Album Intro: N/A
The Message: B
Street Dreams: B
I Gave You Power: A+
Watch Dem Niggas: C+
Take It In Blood: B+
Nas Is Coming: C-
Affirmative Action: C+
The Setup: D
Black Girl Lost: B+
The Suspect: C
Shootouts: C+
Live Nigga Rap: D
If I Ruled The World: A
Grades Dated 2-23-2010
Purchased In Stores
Summary: NaS' second album
Comment: NaS is still in top ('Illmatic') form, but this album sees content of his lyrics devolve with more emphasis on mob and gangster themes.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Album Intro: N/A
The Message: B
Street Dreams: B
I Gave You Power: A+
Watch Dem Niggas: C+
Take It In Blood: B+
Nas Is Coming: C-
Affirmative Action: C+
The Setup: D
Black Girl Lost: B+
The Suspect: C
Shootouts: C+
Live Nigga Rap: D
If I Ruled The World: A
Grades Dated 2-23-2010
NaS - Illmatic
Retail Release in 1994
Summary: NaS' debut studio album.
Overall Rating: Great (5/5)
Rating Comment: A Masterpiece. The best album I've ever listened to. No one has ever rapped better than this.
1. The Genesis: N/A
Interlude
2. NY State of Mind: A
4/5/4 - Brilliant writing.
3. Life's A Bitch: A+
5/5/5 - A pair of very dope verses.
4. The World is Yours: A+
5/5/5 - N/A
5. Halftime: B+
3/5/3 - Murderous flow.
6. Memory Lane: A
4/5/5 - N/A
7. One Love: A
3/5/5 - N/A
8. One Time 4 Your Mind: B-
2/4/3 - N/A
9. Represent: B-
2/4/3 - N/A
10. It's Ain't Hard to Tell: A-
3/5/4 - N/A
Grades Dated Fall 2012
Summary: NaS' debut studio album.
Overall Rating: Great (5/5)
Rating Comment: A Masterpiece. The best album I've ever listened to. No one has ever rapped better than this.
1. The Genesis: N/A
Interlude
2. NY State of Mind: A
4/5/4 - Brilliant writing.
3. Life's A Bitch: A+
5/5/5 - A pair of very dope verses.
4. The World is Yours: A+
5/5/5 - N/A
5. Halftime: B+
3/5/3 - Murderous flow.
6. Memory Lane: A
4/5/5 - N/A
7. One Love: A
3/5/5 - N/A
8. One Time 4 Your Mind: B-
2/4/3 - N/A
9. Represent: B-
2/4/3 - N/A
10. It's Ain't Hard to Tell: A-
3/5/4 - N/A
Grades Dated Fall 2012
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