Chesstown King's Reviews and Thoughts

 While this is probably the most easily digestible Kendrick album yet....I didn't wanna rush my review. This is an album that got better the more I listened to it. Kendrick really spits well here. The album is mostly banger songs with few concepts. The production is really good...as good as any he's rapped on. "Wacced Out Murals" is an excellent intro....and who isn't feeling the major banger that is "Squabble Up". Kdot and SZA showcase great chemistry on the Luther Vandross sampling "Luther". "Reincarnated" is another highlight as he tackles an old 2pac beat. I didnt like every song as the title track is kinda lackluster. I love how we tells his story on "Heart Pt. 6.". The album closer, "Gloria", is strong too. Ultimately I feel this is a weaker album in his discography but its still a terrific album.  Lyrics 24 Beats 24 Depth 23 Tilt 23 Verdict 94

  Wow there is a lot to be said about this new album from Kendrick. This is definitely his most introspective album yet. The album is pretty mellow sounding mostly which may put some listeners off. I really like most of these songs on both sides of the album. "N95" is a lyrical assault that we. normally get from him. I really like "Die Hard" too. It's so melodic. I found the addition of Kodak Black to be a little odd but for the most part Kodak actually does well. The song "We Cry Together" is jarring and can make you feel uncomfortable...but if you look past that I think its brilliant in its execution. Kendrick and Taylour Paige go at each other in toxic couples argument. "Purple Hearts" is another highlight with features from Summer Walker and Ghostface Killah.  I found "Crown" to be somewhat boring. The production on the album is good but nothing spectacular. Lyrically Kendrick does well tho, even after five years off he's st...

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...

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...

Section 80 (87)- Before you cry foul, hear me out. This is Kendrick’s first real TDE project (I think). The mixtape is good, but the production is pretty basic. You cannot debate me on that. I really like his lyricism tho. “Member’s Only”, “Rigamortis” and “A.D.H.D.” are great songs. I like how deep the album is too. This really was just a flash of greatness we know today as King Kendrick.  Top Songs: Poe Man’s Dream, HiiPower, A.D.H.D., No Makeup, Members Only. Untitled.  Unmastered(92)- Kendrick dropped an EP/Bonus Track type project on us in 2016. It’s a really odd album that sounds very similar to the excellent TPAB. Overall its really interesting and soulful sounding. He raps about the world’s end in Untitled 01. All the tracks are good but Untitled 07 is too long. Overall I’m not sure what the top songs are… DAMN (97)- Kung Fu Kenny as he calls himself, gave us a very accessible album recently in 2017. It’s dope as f*** but it’s not as complex or as well r...

Kdot’s first album is really good. The beats are the lowpoint, but they aren’t that bad. Lyrically he shines on most tracks. The album is also deep and well-constructed… I love how the tracks fit together: Some songs talk about the vices for a man and woman, and others are their evils. That is a dope concept. Members Only might be my favorite song. Ab-Soul shines on his interlude, and Kendrick kills it on Rigamortis. All in all this is a good album. It’s one that you shouldn’t skip. Verdict: 8.7/10

NEW KUNG FU KENNY! K.dot has returned with an album I was really hoping he would make. I mean, strong narrative albums seem to be his forte’ but this one, I just an album….and a damn good one. The singer assisted songs Love and Loyalty (feat. Zacari and the latter feat. Rihanna) are great tracks. Humble, the lead single is f***ing fire. The production is really great, which you may or may not expect. His lyricism, is great, but not up to his usual standards. Hey a 9.5/10 is nothing to complain about! Overall the album feels refreshing and is a very very accessible, something that TPAB was not. Verdict: 9.7/10

The latest work from Kdot is pretty good, if not really up to his incredible standards. Lyrically its very solid. The beats are pretty good also. The first song starts out oddly but immediately talks about the end of the world. The 2 nd song is also pretty interesting. I absolutely love the 3 rd  and 5 th tracks too.This isn’t really an extremely cohesive album as the songs are just bonus cuts. It’s damn good tho. I liked most every song. I prefer TPAB but this will do till his next full length LP. The Verdict: 9.2/10. 

Final Result: An incredibly tough battle. Kendrick’s albums stack up in all categories, except singles. I just found GKMC’s singles to be a tad bit better. Legacy is a tie as well because on TPAB Kdot avoided the sophomore slump…stay tuned for more disc battles! Album GKMC TPAB Result Singles B+ B GKMC Lyrics A+ A+ Tie Beats A- A- Tie Cohesiveness A+ A+ Tie Legacy A A Tie

I was going to give you my thoughts on Kanye, but I decided to do this post first. Kendrick is basically a breath of fresh air to a oversaturated, watered down rap industry. I remember in 2011 when Section 80 came out. I listened to it around that time, and did like it, but I didn't think K.dot was all that.  Things would change dramatically later. in 2012 i heard the single the Recipe. It was a simple track with Dr. Dre, but it was really catchy. When Good Kid Maad City came out, i was floored. Kendrick's lyrics and delivery were really on point. It was the creativity tho, that really shined. I was hooked. in 2015 i was pretty impressed with To Pimp a Butterfly, even if it was a slight step down from Good Kid Maad City. Going forward i think Kendrick will do fine. He's gotten past the sophmore jinx and he will continue to make good music. WEST COAST! #Pac'ssuccessor ?

Kendrick Lamar has returned after the incredible Good Kid Maad City. This album is a lot different than that album, but it still tells a story, albeit in a different way. This album is “black” as in really African American. That may sound odd but it is. Kendrick displays incredible lyricism all over the album. Theres a poem he recites at the end of various tracks. Each time you get to hear a little more of it. On the song, Mortal Man he interviews none other than his idol, Tupac Shakur. The album is great, but the songs are complicated, and require some deciphering. I didn’t feel the beats were perfect, but they are very good. I really like Blacker the Berry. I feel the album needed one more song like that. There’s also not too many guest rappers…there’s just Snoop Dogg and female rapper Rapsody. There’s a live version of the popish song “I” which works well. King Kunta is a nice song too. This is a tad bit below Good Kid Mad City, but hey it’s a terrific album in its own...

Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City[Deluxe Edition] Album Review Seeing is this is the rap album of the year[2012], it was only tradition that I do a track by track breakdown of this work of art.     Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter’s Daughter- The album starts with the “homies” & Kendrick Lamar giving their lives over to Jesus threw prayer. This part of the story is revealed later in the album. This song is pretty good.   Kdot talks about him being seduced by a gurl named Sherane. The song ends with Lamar’s mom and dad calling his voicemail. The album is off to a good start. 8.5/10 B*Tch, Don’t Kill My Vibe- This song has a pretty mellow feel to it. However Kendrik raps pretty well on it. “I am a sinner and I’m prolly gonna sin again” goes the chorus. The female voice on the chorus makes this track a winner. 8.5/10   Backseat Freestyle- This isn’t relevant to the album’s story, but this is one hot freestyle. Kendrick raps a...

Kendrick Lamar burst on the scene in 2011 with a very good debut album Section 80. While Section 80 was really good, this album outdoes it in every aspect. The album is very well excuted as Kdot tells a story throughout the album. Yes after this there will be comparisons to 2 Pac, and rightfully so. The thing is the Game might not be the best rapper out west anymore, as this album is better than Game’s albums. He’s done it with decent beats and great   lyrics.   This album has some real bangers like The Recipe, Swimming Pools(Drank), Money Trees, good Kid, and the infectious Backseat Freestyle. Every song is good or great. Its great to see another great rapper come out of the Westsiiide. I really will be listening to this album for quite a while.  I give this album 9.75/10. Its almost perfect.....the beats weren't phenomanal but otherwise incredible effort Kdot.