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

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

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

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

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

Jay-Z - American Gangster - Review

Released December 2007
Purchased In Stores
Summary: Album Inspired by movie "American Gangster"
Comment: 'Roc Boys' is clearly the best track on the album. As with the rest of the album, it is steeped with drug dealing references but the music is excellent and the main theme is celebrating one's success whatever the business itself may be.
'Ignorant Sh*t' is one of the other highlights of the album. But, having said that, I think Jay over did the crassness. It was part of the point he was trying to make, but the result is a song that those that don't relishing excessive cursing may find hard to listen to for entertainment.
'Success' grew on me, especially Jay's verse, which I initially thought was terrible. It still don't think it is very good, as there just isn't much to it. NaS' verse is clearly the better one, and even it isn't very good.
The music on this album is excellent, and a number of the album quality cuts suffer from weak concepts and average (for Jay-Z) lyrics. But I'm not a Jay-Z superfan, so, to some, those album cuts may be considered much better.
The odd 'Hello Brooklyn 2.0' is the only real dud and even it has a hot beat.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (Solid but Miss-able unless a big Jay-Z fan)

Intro: N/A
Pray: B-?
American Dreamin': B-?
Hello Brooklyn 2.0 feat. Lil Wayne: D
No Hook: C
Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...): A-
Sweet: C+
I Know feat. Pharrell: C-
Party Life: C+
Ignorant Sh*t feat. Beanie Sigel: B+
Say Hello: C+
Success feat. NaS: B-
Fallin': C+
Blue Magic: C
American Gangster: B-?

NaS - The Nigger Tape [Mixtape] - Review

Released June 2008
Downloaded from NaS or DJ GL Website [Promotional]
Summary: Pre-Album Mixtape
Comment: As I understand it, the original songs on this mixtape are tracks that didn't make the "Untitled" album. I think Nas made the right choice leaving them out. Thematically, they fit, but the beats aren't up to par (somebody please remix Cop Keep Firing). "Be A Nigger Too" remix doesn't work for me at all. The highlight has to be Black President and there are some other decent highlights.
Rating: No Grade (NaS Super-Fans Only)

The Nigger Tape Intro: N/A
Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It (NaS Verse - GL Remix): C
Cops Keep Firing: D
Black President (GL Mix): B+ (almost the same - album has supperior quality)
Association feat. Stic-Man: C
Legendary (Mike Tyson): D
Ghetto feat. Joell Ortiz (GL remix): D
Seen It All (GL Mix): C
Esco Lets Go (GL Mix): C+
Be A Nigger Too (GL Remix): D
Surviving The Times (Original Cool and Dre Version - GL scratched): C+
Nas Timeline: N/A
The Nigger Tape Outro: N/A (Very Appropriate)

NaS - Untitled - Review

Released July 2008
Purchased in Stores
Summary: NaS' 2nd album on Def Jam
Rating: 5.0 Stars
Comment: NaS continues to embrance musical experimentation (and therefore the risk of having beats that people hate) with this release. NaS has always talked of evolving, of not trying to retread what he has done (or, with Stillmatic, explicitly and intentionally retreading to make a point), but early in his career, he often "experimented" by following musical trends and doing collabos with existing artists. Beginning with the "God's Son" album and then especially the "Street's Disciple" and "Hip Hop Is Dead" albums, NaS got serious about having his albums creatively stand out in both in music AND lyrics.
NaS also challenged himself thematically, as he did with his last album, in naming it (originally titled "Nigger", then changed to nothing, which I am told should be interpreted as "Untitled"). This time around, he really came through, successfully discussing and exploring the racial and political themes the original title suggests, throughout the album.
Looking at the album song by song, there are number great songs (N.I.G.G.E.R., Hero, Sly Fox , Black President), more than either of his last two albums. After that, there is a drop off to a small set of very good songs ('You Can't Stop Us Now','Breathe' & 'Fried Chicken', the last of which grew on me) and then a large chunk of solid album cuts, some of which I particularly enjoyed despite their flaws ('Testify', 'Queens Get The Money', 'Y'all My Niggas').
In my opinion, there is only one dud track: 'Project Roach'. Weak beat that the concept/lyrics don't overcome. 'Make The World Go Round', 'America', 'We're Not Alone' and 'Untitled' are decent album cuts, but I just didn't really dig them.
Comment Update (10/06/08): I think this is Nas' best album since Illmatic. I'd put it ahead of Stillmatic. What he accomplishes with beats and rhymes is impressive. He makes an album unlike anything I've every listened to.

Queens Get The Money: C+
You Can't Stop Us Now: B+
Breathe: B+
Make The World Go Round: C+
Hero: A-
America: C
Sly Fox: A-
Testify: C+
N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master): A
Untitled: C-
Fried Chicken feat. Busta Rhymes: B
Project Roach: D
Y'All My Niggas: C+
We're Not Alone: C
Black President: B+

Bonus Tracks
Be A Nigger Too (Left Off Album Due To Sample Clearance Issue): B+
Like Me (iTunes Exclusive): ? (Never Heard It)

Grades Updated 9-14-2010
Grades Given 8-29-2008

NaS - Hip Hop Is Dead - Review

Released December 2006
Purchased in Stores
Summary: NaS' debut on Def Jam
Comment: TBD
Rating: 4 Stars

Money Over Bullsh*t: D
You Can't Kill Me: D
Carry On Tradition: B-
Where Are They Now?: B-
Hip Hop Is Dead: A-
Who Killed It: B
Black Republican ft. Jay-Z: B+
Not Going Back: B-
Still Dreaming Ft. Kayne West: B
Hold Down The Block: B
Blunt Ashes: C+
Let There Be Light: B
Play On Playa: C
Can't Forget About You: C+
Hustlers Ft. The Game: C
Hope: C-

Jadakiss - Al Qaeda Jada [Mixtape] - Review

Released in Early 2008
Purchased from iTunes
Summary: Mixtape of snippets, freestyles and short songs from Jadakiss' career
Comment: Couldn't give snippetts better than C+ - They're just too short and usually part of better full songs (i.e. the full song would probably get a better rating). I felt more free to give any grade to freestyles and short songs.
Rating: TBD

Look In Your Eyes: C
Reebok Commercial 1: B-
Freestyle Diss of Beanie Sigel: B
Who Want A Problem: F
Problem: C-
Flow: D
Yayo: D
New York: F
Reebok Commercial 2: C+
New York (remix) (snippet): C
Happy To Be Here (snippet): C+
I'm Not You (snippet): C+
Can't Leave The Block (snippet): D
J.A.D.A. (snippet): D
Still Feel Me: C
Put Your Hands Up (snippet): D
Ms. Jackson Freestyle (50 Cent Diss): B-
Diamond In The Rough (remix) (snippet): C-
Bring It Back (remix) (snippet): D
Just Wanna Please You (snippet): D
It Can Get Ugly (snippet): D
Day and Night (remix) (snippet): D
Checkmate (50 Cent Diss): A-
I Don't Give A F**k (snippet): F
Back To Life 2001 (snippet): C
Rap City Freestyle: C-
Cruisin (snippet): F
I Want A Girl Like You (snippet): F
It's Personal (snippet): D
Jada's Got A Gun (snippet): D
Show Discipline (snippet): D
Oh No (remix) (snippet): C-
The Setup (remix) (snippet): F
Just Wanna (snippet): C
It's Jumpin' (remix) (snippet): D
Blackout (snippet): C
Hot 97 Freestyle: C
Let's Go (a freestyle): C+
Fightin' Over Me (snippet): F
On My Way (snippet): F
Why (snippet): C
Family Affair (remix) (snippet): C+
Throw Back (snippet): C
Summers Over (snippet): C
Ni**as Done Started Something (snippet): C-
Ruff Ryder For Life (snippet): D
D-Block for Life (snippet): F
It's Time I See You (snippet): D
More More More (snippet): F
Keep Your Head Up (snippet): C
All That Counts (snippet): F
Heat (snippet): D
Last Day (snippet): D
Made You Look (remix) (snippet): C+
Resevior Dogs (snippet): C
Welcome to D-Block (snippet): F
John Blaze (snippet): C-
D-Block (snippet): C-
It's A Party (snippet): F