Chesstown King's Reviews and Thoughts

The Verdict, 8.8/10 Ghostface has been one busy guy since late 2014. He released 36 Seasons, Sour Soul, and now this. This album is about as good as 12 Reasons to Die #1, but I guess I expected more. One artist that was absent from 12RtD#1 is Raekwon. There are other guests too, like Vince Staples. The album tells a cohesive story that I wont get into here. The songs are fairly short, but it flows together pretty well. Lyrically Ghostface proves he’s still one of the best rappers around. The production ain’t bad either.

This new Mackelmore makes me forget how much I almost disliked The Heist. This album really showcases Mackelmore’s storytelling skills.The production is great also. The album gets off to a great start with Light Tunnels. Downtown is a certified banger, as is the hilarious Brad Pitt’s Cousin. The album gets bubble gummy and sweet, but its tolerable here like on Growing Up and Kevin. The only songs I wasn’t feeling that much were the last 2. It’s a terrific pop rap album. Well done Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Ze Verdict is Ze 9.4/10 playa

Verdict: 9/10. Look for me! The first Posthumous 2pac album. TDKT7DT is better than I remember it was when I first heard it. It features a hardcore Pac, but he’s soft on some of the latter songs, like White Man’z World. Just Like Daddy is a song for the ladies…as is Toss It Up. Me And My Girlfriend is a terrific song. Its actually the song Jay-z sampled for 03’ Bonnie & Clyde. Bomb First and Against All Odds are great songs. To Live and Die In LA is a terrific anthem to the city of angels. The best song though, is Hail Mary. The production is really good, but the lyricism is great. I mean what do you expect from rap’s Greatest to ever do it?

Opening Opinion: 9.3/10                 It’s no secret that The Eminem Show, released back in 2002, is my favorite Eminem album. I actually only bought it about 3 years ago. I know, that doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I had a bootleg copy of the album before that. This is the album where Em seemed to come to grips with his superstardom.                 The album starts with a skit called “Curtains Up”. Nothing special. “White America” is a 5 minute shocker, not just from the punchlines, but also from what Eminem says about himself. “Let’s do the Math, if I was black I would of sold half, I ain’t half to graduate from Lincoln high school to know that.” At the end of the song he bashes various political figures, then apologizes jokingly.  Business features Dr. Dre briefly. The song has a terrific bouncy beat. Em vows to br...

The Verdict: 8.8/10 Ty Dolla $ign’s first official album is pretty good. Its not really what I expected though. The album has good lyrics, and matching production. I liked most every song. Ty sings mostly and raps (like the opposite of Future) lol. There’s a big guest list too: Kanye ,R.Kelly, Future, Wiz Khalifa, Fetty Wapp, Kendrick Lamar, and a few more. Some songs run a bit long but its an album you should check out if you like Ty’s features on other albums.

Alessia Cara is a very young artist, and honestly, she shows a lot of maturity on this album. The hit single Here is very antisocial but hot. She really shines on just about every song. The production is the low point, but its just below a 9/10.   The single Here is amazing and creative. Four Pink Walls is my favorite track, as is the next track, Wild Things. Vocally she sounds young (I mean she is) but her singing is really good and the choruses are great. The album has great depth and you don’t really feel like you needed more songs here; its just right. The Verdict: 9.2/10

The Verdict: 8.0/10, its pretty good, but not great Chris Brown’s 2015 effort is not an easy album to review like X was. A big issue isn’t his singing but the lyrics, the topics, its all so similar and repetitive. The production is on point. There are some serious highlights here like Zero, Liquor, and Picture Me Rollin. This is not a bad album, just a little disappointing. He shows no growth here, like he’s stuck in some kind of limbo lol. Chris needs a break from making music obviously; and that’s just fine. I mean look what a break did for his exes’ career.

The Verdict: 9.6/10 An incredibly strong album by all accounts. The beats are incredible and varied. They seem to fit her vocals really well. The songs are really extravagant sounding. Take the opener Bamboo Banga for example. Then the hits just keep coming with songs like Hussel and Bird Flu. Mango Pickle Down River is cute with these young boys it features. The album closes with Paper Planes (which Kanye sampled for Swagga Like Us) and Come Around which features Timbaland. Why is this not a 100? Well some songs are a little too weird sounding but those are few and far between.

Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx One is a monster of a rap album. Lyricism is just great here as Rae and company destroy every instrumental. The production is also very good. The album is varied and touches the bases of gangsta rap. Of couse Ghostface Killah is guest starring so naturally he’s all over the album. Nas also drops by on Verbal Intercourse. The album is really showcases what is so great about 90s East Coast rap and Raekwon of course. The Verdict: 9.9/10

Kanye West: The Life of Pablo Track by Track Review Ultralightbeam- This is an excellent opening track. It’s a gospel rap hybrid featuring Chance the Rapper and Kirk Franklin. The beat is nice too….Epic win. 9.5/10 Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1- The first part of a 2 part song. The first is better with an awesome hook from Kid Cudi. 9/10 Father Stretch My Hands Pt.2- Kanye is accompanied by a Future clone, Desiigner. Good lord hes a knock off. Nice song tho. Its more fast paced than part 1. 8.5/10 Famous- Rihanna accompanies Kanye on this banger. Swizz Beatz ad libs it; I’m assuming he did the beat. “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex….i  made that b*tch famous” raps Kanye. The end of the song with the sample is fire. 9.5/10 Feedback- This sounds like a song off of Yeezus. It has a chilling beat, and a choppy flow from Kanye. The end is so funny; I wont spoil it here. 8/10 Low Lights- The gospel theme continues here. This lady just talks the whole time. ...