Chesstown King's Reviews and Thoughts

Eminem’s first official album is really good with no major weaknesses. His lyrics are the album’s strongest point however. The jokes are funny and no song is dull. The Dr. Dre production is great also.  The first 3 songs Brain Damage, Guilty Conscience, and My Name Is are terrific, albeit different kinds of songs. Theres not a big guest list, but Royce da 5’9 assists on Bad Meets Evil. This a great album to have, and certainly one of Em’s better albums. Chicka chicka slimshady! Verdict: 9.3/10

Janet returns after a long album drought. The album is good, filled with thoughtful songs. There aren’t many guests, but J.Cole and Missy Elliot deliver on their respective tracks. Black Eagle is a really interesting track. The album’s production is solid but nothing over achieving. Lyrically Janet does well, but I feel like she’s channeling MJ a little too much. No Sleep w/or without J.Cole is the best song here.Janet obviously wanted to make an album that sounded different than her 2008 outing Discipline, and the result is a win.  The verdict: 8.5/10

Ja Rule’s comeback album was released during the true realization that his popularity was fading. I really listened to this album a lot in 2004. I think I really felt sorry for Ja. He’s a good rapper and the true master of the R&B/Rap hybrid style. The album has some certified hits like New York, Wonderful, and Caught Up. Lyrically Ja needs work but the production is good. This album makes it really clear Ja excels with melodic songs, and not so much on the gangster ones. The last song is so SKIPPABLE its not even funny. Ultimately Ja has better albus in his catalogue but you shouldn’t SKIP this album. The Verdict: 7.6/10

This is a cult favorite of mine. Cassidy spits with intensity, but the lyrics could be a little better. The production is the same as the lyrics. The album has quality tracks like the opener where he battles himself again. My biggest beef with the album is that some songs are hard to tell apart, whether by subject matter or hook wise. There’s 6 Minutes with Lil Wayne and Fabolous which is a great track. I’m A Hustla and its remix are tight. The Message is a thoughtful track about the system oppressing black America. Then there are some effective love songs too. I feel this album could have been better but it stands as one of my favorites. The verdict: 8.9/10

I don’t know what’s with all the criticism to this album. I guess its just because this isn’t as good as the Black Album. Anyway this is a GOOD album, not great. The album has some really tight beats, but not on every track. The self titled track might as well be the best here, but Trouble and SMWYG are great also. Lost One is touching, as is the sorrowful Minority Report. Do You Wanna Ride is nice also, as is the almost out of control OMG. Some songs aren’t all that like I Made it and 30 Something, which are rather boring but have good subject matter. Nothing is worst than Beach Chair, one of the worst songs he’s ever made. The album is good, but Hov’s lyrics aren’t as excellent as I’m used to.  The verdict 8.4/10

Ice Cube’s 2 nd album is arguably better than the first. While very similar, I feel that Cube hit more topics this time around, and his lyrics are just as lethal. The album is a truly enjoyable thrill ride. He raps about social issues, many of which, are still relevant today. The album might be the DEFINITIVE west coast album. Given up the Nappy Dugout, My Summer Vacation, No Vaseline,and A Bird in the Hand are some of the stand out tracks.  The Verdict, u already know... 10/10

Mac Miller returns, and this time with perhaps more of the cheesy raps. No he’s nice on the mic but I don’t really feel its better lyrically than his 2 nd album. However this album is slightly superior. He seems to have more clever metaphors, and the production is also good. Much of the album has a laid back yet smooth feel to it. Mac has matured greatly. There’s a good amount of guest spots including  Miguel, Chief Keef, Lil B, and Ab-Soul. Ultimately tho it feels like it’s a long album which is to its detriment. Overall great work tho. 8.9/10

This album is slightly better than the first Documentary 2. It’s got some serious bangers on it, but I felt there wasn’t really any filler, besides the skits. Game continues to paint a tremendous picture of Compton. The production is also really good, but I wouldn’t say it’s any more stellar than the first disc’s beats. He’s got the other half of Black Hippy (Jay Rock & Schoolboy Q) on Gang Bang Anyway. Nas and will.I.am drop in on Ghetto. Other guests include E-40, King Mez, YG, Ty Dolla Sign and long time collaborator Lil Wayne. The album ends well too with Like Father Like Son 2 where his kids get some words in along with Busta Rhymes. This might be the album of the year. It’s certainly Game’s best. 10/10

Scarface comes out of a long retirement with a dope album. It’s really soulful and the lyrics are poignant. I didn’t dislike any of the songs, but some didn’t stand out much. The guest list is larger than you’d think just looking at the tracklist. The noticeable names include Nas, John Legend, Avant, and Rick Ross. The production is also solid.Scarface was honored at the 2015 Hip Hop awards, and an album like this is further proof of that notary accomplishment. 8.9/10

We get another Ricky Rossay album in 2014, and honestly it’s not bad. The album suffers from lackluster lyricism. The beats aren’t bad, neither is the guest list which includes: Yo Gotti, Snoop Dogg, K Michelle, Boosie Badazz, Big KRIT, and Jay-z. The songs with Jay-z and K Michelle are really good.Ultimately Ross just sounds like he’s going through the motions. It’s not his worst album but it’s a bit of a letdown. 8/10

This album is pretty good. From the first track you really get to know August and the struggle he’s been through. Lyrically its above a 8, but not a 9. No Love is a very catchy song. I didn’t find many weak songs here. The album’s production isn’t top tier, in fact more of a backdrop. This is very good for a debut album. He might have a long career ahead for him. 8.5/10

Game himself said this album was better than the 1 st Documentary. I was apprehensive at first, but it really is. The album has some really good varied production. Some beats have been used before by other artists but who cares. The album is highly addictive but not perfect. Some songs in the middle aren’t all that like Hashtag and B*tch you Aint Sh**. Otherwise it’s a really solid album. There’s a ton of features but I liked how they assisted Game in different ways. Don’t Trip is a banger, and the title track might be the best here. This is a little more listenable than TPAB believe it or not. The album is very accessible and Game’s lyrics are top notch. The verdict: 9.9/10

Known as Pac’s magnum opus. The album is a double disc. The album is a little on the long side, but there’s a lot of bangers on both both discs. The first disc is the better of the 2. It’s got Ambitionz As  A Ridah, How Do U Want It, I Ain’t Mad Atcha, 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, and a remix to California Love. I like the remix but the original is better. There is some filler here, but not much. It’s just a terrific album from arguably rap’s most complete rapper. Overall Rating 97(All Eyez on the G.O.A.T.) Grade A Lyrics 25 Beats 25 Depth 24 Tilt 23

I’m not a Weekn’d fan but this album is really good. The long lull of some of his old songs is pretty much nowhere to be found here. Weekn’d lyrics are decent, and you know the hooks are fire. Some of the songs sound rather similar, as you know this is both good and bad at the same time. A lot of songs sound like The Hills but they fall a little short of that stellar song.It’s like the beats are varied, but the way he sings is really too similar. Complaints aside, this is a good project that will no doubt propel the Weekn’d near the top of a very crowded Male R&B genre. There truly is Beauty behind the madness of this album. The verdict: a lil over  a 9/10

Joe Budden is a really good rapper, and this debut album surprised a lot of rap fans like it did me. He has no real gimics, but when you listen to the personal songs on this album you can feel his struggle and relate to him. It’s a really well balanced album. Joe spits fire and the beats are just as hot. There’s really only 2 songs that I thought were just plain average, but this is a stacked album.  The song 10 mins is just over that, and is a really good story. Give Me a reason is similar to UAGGH but they don’t sound exactly the same. This was actually one of the better rap albums a few years ago…debuts aren’t normally this good… The Verdict: 9.25/10 I can't wait for ALL LOVE LOST coming October 2015, this month!

Ah the Tree of Lyfe Jennings. The album artwork is weird, but the album is really solid. The topics are typical with Lyfe speaking about love and religion. It’s all executed very well. I’m a fan and I’d have to say this is one of his best flowing works yet, if not the best. I like his style of music which wasn’t always true. The veridct: 8.75/10

Opening Opinion: 10/10 As you may or may not know, this is, what I consider to be the best rap album of all time. I’ve had this opinion actually for a while now. Let’s get into the review. Jay-z aka Shawn Corey Carter dropped this album back on 9/11/01 a day that lives in infamy. He even brags on the Blueprint 2 that the terrorist attack couldn’t stop this album from being successful. So what really makes this superior to Reasonable Doubt? Let’s go! First there’s the lead single, Izzo (H.O.V.A.) , a great party track that just feels really damn good on the ears you know. The beat is infectious here. It’s one of the things that makes this album so damn good. Jay raps about his come up. Another single, Girls Girls Girls , is a classic. Jay raps about a variety of girls; Young, Project, African,Chinese ,Indian, Model, you name it. The thing is the sample is just beautifully integrated with a laid back beat. Back to the beginning of the album. Jigga runs through The Rulers Back w