Chesstown King's Reviews and Thoughts

The categories are the same but if not a tie, then a category can be split 7-3 or 6-4 also. Bracket C The Notorious B.I.G. vs. Nas- Another predicted matchup and a rematch…Nas won last year…lets get it! Flow: Tie. There’s no way I can give leverage to either rapper here, flow wise. (5-5) Creativity: Biggie was very creative, but I’ve got to give Nas a 6-4 edge here. (9-11) Storytelling: As a great a storyteller as Nas is, Biggie was also that great. Tie. (14-16) Impact: Ooo sh** that’s hard to call. Both are all time greats for sure. I’d have to say Biggie has meant a lil more to the game, but it’s close ie. 6-4 split. (20-20) Collaboration: Biggie wins this category 7-3. He literally always gets the job done, but not enough to give him all 10 points. (27-23) Versatility: Biggie is really really versatile. But so is Nas…tie….f*** it. (32-28) Albums: This is where having more albums comes in handy. Nas wins this category decisively. (32-38) Commercial Success: B

The categories are the same but if not a tie, then a category can be split 7-3 or 6-4 also. Bracket A Kanye West vs. Kendrick Lamar- These 2 should be a tough matchup. Flow: While both rappers are great…I’m giving this one to Kdot. He’s a savage on the mic like all the time. Kanye is a little inconsistent sometimes. (0-10) Creativity: I do not feel this is a tie tie…so its actually Mostly Mr. West. (7-13) Storytelling: I feel kdot is an elite storyteller but Kanye is decent too. (11-19) Impact: This is where it gets tough. Kendrick is a west coast rapper, but honestly he hasn’t been too much of a WC mc. Kanye’s influence can be felt all over the game giving him the full 10 points. (21-19) Collaboration: Tie. Clean split this time. Both rappers are legit here and outshine other rappers when they guest feature. (26-24) Versatility: Tough to call. Both are versatile. I’m giving a 6-4 split to Mr. West tho. (36-28) Albums: Oh sh**! Hmm. Both rappers have great disc. MB

Verdict: 9.2 AB has dropped one of the more entertaining albums of 2017. He is a jokester, that’s the vibe I got from his last album, Mr. Wonderful, and its true here again. AB is a potent lyricist. Noone outshines him here…not even a veteran like Rick Ross. I really like “Let Me Breathe” and “Let It Rain”. The album has a high level of cohesion. The beats are also really fresh. “The Chaiman’s Intent” is also dope. Ultimately I think AB can make a classic, but no disrespect he may need more guest spots. I’m talkin an album 97 rated or higher. He’ll prove me wrong maybe lol.

This just might be the best 2 Chainz album of all time lol. I’m not knocking him, this is dope. He’s come a long way lyrically too. A LONG WAY. I was impressed with these bars. The production was also good. Not every track was great but hey….The guest spots are well used, but I didn’t really like Quavo. ( I never really like that n**ga) lol. Other guests include: Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, Drake, Ty Dolla $ign, and Pharell. 2 Chainz called himself the king of the trap….well maybe he is. He calls out mumble rappers as garbage too. You tell him Tity boi. Verdict: 8.8

S1)2pac vs. S4)T.I.: T.I. called himself the hottest rapper since Pac but lets see if he’s hotter lol. Flow: These are 2 very different rappers. I feel Pac is great, but so is TIP. So Tie. (5-5) Creativity: I feel T.I. is pretty creative, but only to a certain degree. Pac wins here. (15-5) Storytelling: Pac destroys T.I. here. T.I. is a dirty south rapper where they don’t storytell much. (25-5) Impact: Pac again!!!!  (35-5) Collaboration: T.I. is really effective as a guest rapper, I’d have to say even more so than Pac. (35-15) Versatility: Tie. Both rappers are very very versatile. Yes T.I. makes more than club bagners. (40-20) Albums: Believe it or not, T.I. has the edge here. King and Paper Trail are really good. While Pac has Me Agaisnt the World, and All Eyez on Me. Its close but the King of the South has more going on in his discography. (40-30) Commercial Success: This is where Pac distances himself. It’s not close. All Eyez on Me went 10x platinum by itself. (5

Rapsody’s 2 nd official album is really dope. She raps about relevant issues to the black community and love, not sex etc. Her lyricism is top notch here, and that should surprise no one. The production is really good too; very soulful and cohesive. I liked every song. She’s got a good guest list here like Kendrick Lamar, GQ, Anderson.Paak, and Busta Rhymes. The album met my expectations but didn’t really blow me out of the water. We need more rap albums like this one. Verdict: 9.4

S1)The Notorious B.I.G. vs. S5)J.Cole : I think it will be a close battle but Biggie should win. Flow: Hmm. This is so tough. Both rappers are fairly flawless here, but I obviously think Biggie is more so. (10-0) Creativity: I give Biggie a lot of credit for being a dominant rapper in his day, however I feel Cole’s music is a little more creative for his career. This may sound a little bias as when Biggie rapped most rappers were…actually good lol. (10-10) Storytelling: Tie. I don’t really need to explain it either. (15-15) Impact: Biggie wins this category by leaps and bounds. However in 20 years idk what I would say..but this is 2017 bro. (25-15) Collaboration: Hmm. Not too sure as neither rapper…wait nah its Biggie. Hahaha. (35-15) Versatility: Tie. I feel both rappers are pretty damn versatile. Biggie had club bangers, dark mafioso songs. J. Cole has everything else like conscious rap. (40-20) Albums: This is tough. Biggie has 2 classics…undeniable too. However Cole

This is not a great album. In fact Wale is barely passing at all. He sings too much. His lyricism is really bad. I didn’t think it could get worse than The Album About Nothing. Well no, that album had some substance, this one doesn’t. It’s like he just didn’t put any true effort into this. The beats are good yes, that’s about it. Ok ok the hooks are catchy true, but this is almost trash! Verdict: 7.1/10

S1)Jay Z vs S5)Kid Cudi: It wont be easy but I think Jay will win by a at least 30 points! Flow: I like Cudi’s flow, but Jay has arguably the best flow in any bracket….(10-0) Creativity: Kid Cudi gets a slight nod here. He’s incredibly creative. (10-10) Storytelling: Jay wins here. It’s not really that close….at all. (20-10) Impact: I’d like to tell you it’s close, but nah. Jigga wins by a mile. (30-10) Collaboration: Tie. I know sounds nuts, but Kid Cudi does well on any feature too. (35-15) Versatility: Tie. Both rappers are really really versatile. Jay can make any kind of song, but so can Cudi. (40-20) Albums: Do I need to go into this? No I don’t! Jay wins this cat. Too. (50-20) Commercial Success: Its not really close. Jay wins again mane. (60-20) Jay Z wins here with a wopping 60 points. S2) Eminem vs. S3) Ice Cube- This should be very close. Eminem is slated to be influenced by Cube. Lets get it! Flow: Hmm. I say tie. Why? Both rappers have grea

Round 1 here: http://maxreviewsandthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/09/best-rapper-ever-tournament-round-1.html Seed 1)Kanye West vs. S5)Common: These 2 rappers worked together a lot and this will be a tough battle! Prediction, Kanye by 10 points or less. Flow: I love Kanye’s flow….but I think overall, Common has been more consistent. (0-10) Creativity: While I love Common’s creativity, a lot of that has been due to K.West production. Its close but I think Kanye wins this category. (10-10) Storytelling: It’s a tie. I don’t consider Common an elite storyteller, but he’s certainly a good one. Kanye is too. (15-15) Impact: Tough one. Both rappers have influenced the game a lot. However Kanye has the edge here. (25-15) Collaboration: We all know both of these rappers bring heat when featured. So it’s a tie. (30-20) Versatility: Another tie. Common is very versatile in his own right. And we all know Kanye is about as versatile as it gets. (35-25) Albums: OOo this is tough. Let’s b

Transformers Movie Review                 It’s time to review where it started, Transformers numero uno. In fact some say this is the best of the movie saga. The movie has great pacing and great story. However there isn’t a lot of action(For a Transformers film) and that’s to be expected.                 Our saga begins with Optimus talking about, “The Cube” aka the AllSpark. The AllSpark creates life or Energon(as explained in TF2). Optimus says he tracked it to Earth but that he was too late. The next scene is really good. In retrospect you have to remember that we humans don’t know anything about Transformers(so you think-major continuity errors in later movies).  So when Blackout takes out an American Middle Eastern base its like oh sh**!. I love the special effects, which in 2007 were groundbreaking.                 Then we meet Sam Witwicky, the main human character in the first 3 movies. Sam buys a car which turns out to be Bumble Bee. I really like Shia Lebeo

4. Cole World: The Sideline Story (88)- This is a strong debut album, but in Cole’s discography its actually quite weak. The production is the major culprit. “God’s Gift” and “Rise and Shine” are great non singles.  I love “Work Out”. The guest spots aren’t really used that well except for Trey Songz and Jay-Z. I found the Drake assisted song to be boring as is “Breakdown”. However I do like this album, but his 2013 Born Sinner was soooo much better. Top Tracks: Dollar and  Dream III, Can’t Get Enough, Cole World, Rise and Shine, Work Out. 3. 4 Your Eyez Only (96)- Cole’s third offering is not his best but its really solid. The album gets off to an incredibly strong start. The first 4 tracks are fire. “Déjà vu” is really dope as is “Immortal”.  “She’s Mine” 1 and 2 are kinda boring, but meaningful. The album is more of the same as 2014FHD but it’s a tad below it. The lyrics are powerful and the beats are subtly great. I’m not sure what we can expect from him next.   Top Tracks: D

S1)2pac vs. S8) Rick Ross Flow: Now Ross is a much-improved flower but, come one Pac wins this category (10-0) Creativity: Ross is a creative MC but Pac takes it again (20-0) Storytelling: Need I repeat myself. Pac tells a story rather is easily and effortlessly. Ross has work to do in this category. (30-0) Impact: Pac wins this one too sheesh! (40-0) Collaboration: I gotta admit Ross is more potent guest mcing than Pac. I mean let Ross win something sheesh! LOL. (40-10) Versatility: Tie here. Both rappers are really versatile. (45-15) Albums: Tough one. Ross has a lot of good albums, Pac not so many. Im giving another tie. (50-20) Commercial Success: Pac wins again. Hes sold more than most rappers(If not all) in this tournament. (60-20) With 60 Points Pac advances easily over Ross. S2)The Game vs. S7)50 Cent Flow: Game wins but not by much here. (10-0) Creativity: I’m going to say tie. 50 Cent is more creative than people realize. (15-5) Storytelling: 50

Bracket C Seed 1) The Notorious B.I.G. vs. S8) Snoop Dogg Flow: Close, but Biggie is one of those elite flowers. (10-0) Creativity: I’m giving this a tie. Both rappers are pretty creative. Snoop has always been pretty creative. (15-5) Storytelling: Biggie but not by much. Just listen to him on songs like “Niggas Bleed”. Snoop was also a good storyteller. (25-5) Impact: Tough one. I say Biggie again. He’s just too iconic. Snoop isn’t far behind tho. (35-5) Collaboration: I’m giving this one to Snoop. I might sound crazy but hey, lol. (35-15) Versatility: Tie. Both rappers are very versatile. (40-20) Albums: This is where it get tough. Biggie only has 2 real albums but they’re excellent. Snoop has some good ones too. And there’s tons of them. (45-25) Commercial Success: I’m gonna have to give this to Biggie. Life After Death sold 10 mill by itself. (55-25) Biggie wins here but not as easily as you’d expect with 55points. 2)Nas vs. 7)Missy Elliot Flow: Not as

This young guy’s debut makes me believe he’s the next big thing! The album is solid, and introspective. Lyrically its pretty good, as is the production. I love “Gorgeous”, “Homewrecker” and “Down for Some Ignorance”. The bonus tracks are good too like “Omg” feat. Pusha-T. I didn’t mention he sounds a lot like J.Cole. Cole debut wasn’t this good! But hey he’s got a ways to go to catch Cole. I mean the comparisons will be there (Roc Nation!). The album was just so impressive. I gotta listen to his EP now! Verdict: 9.2/10