Chesstown King's Reviews and Thoughts

will.i.am’s latest isn’t a good album. The beats aren’t even all that to help the listen. There are some highlights here, but just like 2 Chainz album last year, an allstar cast isn’t enough to get this album a 7/10 from me. However I know that Will was going for a pop sound, especially when you recruit Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, and Miley Cyrus. There are other guests as well, but this album just sounds half assed. Well to be honest this isn't a good album, but its not horrible either. I give it a 6.75/10

This is a very laid back sounding, interesting mixtape. Chance shows lyrical creativity combined with goofiness. This album is just very well executed. I really felt the production on the album equaled   and fit perfectly with Chance’s raps. There is a great level of cohesiveness on this album, even if some songs weren’t all that. Overall I think the future is bright for the young rapper(he’s younger than me!)   I feel this album is a solid 9/10, but in real terms its close to 9.25 lol

Wale busts on the scene again with a “Gift” for rap. It seems like Wale has finally figured out his sound for the most part. Yes this album is better than most of Rick Ross’s albums. The album gets off to a decent start, and things only get better. Wale hasn’t really improved lyrically since 2011’s Ambition, but the production is better, as are the song’s concepts. Both versions of Bad are included, but I like the Rihanna version more. Wale also has Meek Mill, Ne-Yo, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, and Nicki Minaj. Juicy J is also up here, and of course there’s Rick Ross. So whats the final verdict? Its Wale’s best album to date. Its more interesting and catchy than his previous two albums. It's a solid 9/10.  

808’s and Heartbreak   Kanye West   In Depth Review Opening Opinion: 8/10   This isn’t Kanye’s best album, in fact the others are so good it’s his worst. However, this album is ambitious and creative. I didn’t like the Auto-tune sound at first, but this sound really helped him make his next album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy so great.               The album starts off with a very very slow and laid back song, “Say You Will”.   The song is good but pretty long. After hearing it, you know exactly what kind of album you’re in for. After all Kanye’s mother had just died and he had broken up with his girlfriend at the time. These Heartbreaks translated directly into his music.   On the positive side this album has some really good beats.               The next song, “Welcome to Heartbreak” is kind of like the unofficial opener. Its an awfully depressing song with a hot beat. Its got Kid Cudi on the chorus. At this time, this was the first time I had

Graduation   Kanye West   In Depth Review     Opening Opinion: 9.5               My hype for this album was very high. It’s kind of a hard feeling to describe. I had heard enough singles form the album to know that it was dope. However what wasn’t apparent to me is this going to be his best album, or not. Graduation certainly lives up to that hype….and it’s my favorite rap album ever.               The first 3 songs are all pretty different. “Champion” has a great sample, and Kanye shows improved lyrical ability on this song, as well as the whole album. “Good Morning”, the first track is a great opener. It’s laid back, but incredibly effective. There’s a Jay-z quote at the end of it. Stronger samples the Daft Punk song “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. The song isn’t that great lyrically, but the way it flows together just oozes creativity. I love the chorus also.               “I Wonder” is a really cool track. Kanye raps slowly over a very e

10)Lauryn Hill-The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: Its no doubt that this album is a classic. U may wonder why it’s so far back. Well technically it’s not; it made my top ten. Some consider this a rap album, but its really not. The songs are an incredible mix of mostly singing and potent rapping.   9)Janelle Monae-The ArchAndroid: Janelle is an incredibly talented artist. This album is a concept album, and its executed extremely well. Just about every song is very entertaining. Some of songs really blend together. She also raps here and there too. The production is also good, with some super futuristic beats.   8)Frank Ocean-channel Orange : Frank Ocean’s debut album is a new favorite of mine. The album has incredible cohesion between the songs. “Thinkin About You” is great, but I really like “Pyramids” and “Lost”. Ocean paints vivid pictures with his lyrics, and his vocals are no joke either. It also surprised me that Tyler, the creator, did not show up on any songs. Perh

Let the countdown continue 20)Amerie-Because I Love It: This album was barely released in the United States. However its still one of the best R&B albums ever made. The production is generally mid-tempo which fits Amerie’s style well. “Losing U” might be the best song here, but there are a lot of good ones.   19)Mariah Carey-The Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel: I feel this album was tainted by the (obvious) beef with Eminem. However this remains one of Mariah’s strongest albums. I picked this over The Emancipation of Mimi cause on that album she introduced a new sound, on this album she perfected it.s   18)Usher-Lookin 4 Myself: This is Usher’s best album since Confessions(which most likely is on this list). Every song is good, even if some are a little similar in the beginning. I really like this album cause it seems like Usher is in top form(still).   17) Toni Braxton-Secrets: Secrets is a terrific album full of groundbreaking R&B songs. “Un-Break My Heart”

My Favorite R&B Albums of All Time This is a ranked list of my favorite R&B Albums. If you think I need to check out another album not listed or you think an album I picked isn’t that great than let me know. I didnt include some albums, but only because i havent heard them that many times. I chose the following albums from a list of over 50 albums! ENJOY the countdown 30)Keyshia Cole-The Way It Is: Keyshia Cole’s debut starts off the list. Keyshia’s vocals are strong throughout. I really like “I Changed My Mind” which produced by Kanye West. I got this album in 2006 I think, but I liked K.C. just off the singles she put out at the time.   29)Usher-Raymond v. Raymond:I picked this album over Here I Stand because to me it’s a little flahsier, and more fun to listen to. The album’s first half is its better half. “Lil Freak” is a certified banger….   28)Alicia Keys-The Diary of Alicia Keys:This is the album that solidified Alicia as one of R&B’s elite art

Late Registration   Kanye West   In Depth Review   Opening Opinion: 9.25                   I was very very excited to buy this album when it first came out. I’m pretty sure everyone was wondering could Kanye hit a home run again. And the answer is a resounding yes; even though his lyrics aren’t improved from College Dropout. The beats are also different. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but this album has a glossier sound than his debut album.               The album starts off with that teacher(yeah the faculty guy from CD) telling Kanye to wake up in his class. Then there’s 3 great songs, Heard Em Say featuring Adam Levine(who was pretty popular at the time). It’s a really nice laid back song. Then there’s the explosive Touch the Sky which has Lupe Fiasco on it. Ah I had never heard of the Chai Town rapper before that song. Gold Digger is an anthem type song. Jamie Foxx is on the hook and the beat is very original.               After

The College Dropout   Kanye West   In Depth Review *Opening Opinon*-9.75/10   Before I was put on to this album by my friend Jay(Jimmy), R.I.P.; I had heard very little from Kanye(Like most everyone else at the time). After hearing the album for the first time I had concluded that Mr. West wasn’t just a good rapper and a great producer; but he was going to be in the game for a long time.   This album is just straight up fun to listen to. It starts with a “college faculty” telling Kanye to make a nice song for the college kids. Kanye starts his album off with We Don’t Care. It’s a funny song about college and drugs. The beat is very soulful, and with that colorful chorus you can’t go wrong. Afterwards the janitor tells Kanye he will not be graduating because of his “choice of song”. It seems Kanye has been kicked out of College( but in more dramatic form than it really happened).   All Falls Down isn’t Kanye’s first hit, but it put him on the map.Th

  Great Hova(No Longer Young) has returned from above the clouds to bless us with another dope rap album. His last solo album, Blueprint 3, had flashier beats than this one. This album has more replay ability than BP3 though. The album is also very very cohesive. Its comparable to Nas’s Life is Good album, but it’s not quite that good. The album is pretty much standard Jay-z. The guest list is short compared to BP3;Only Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Rick Ross and Frank Ocean accompany J. There aren’t any real “Whoa did he just say that” moments…but the album is a testament to Jay-z’s versatility and great execution. Every song is good, but there aren’t that many stand outs. On the plus side this is one of Jay’s finest works to date. Final Verdict: 9.5/10. Its a solid album with few flaws