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Underground > Radio & Music >

Late 2006 rap album round-up

  
  

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Jackie Susann
06:10 / 28.11.06
I thought I would start this as a general topic, because while a few people have expressed interest in starting a Jay-Z thread (without going so far as actually clicking the 'new topic' button) but other recent or forthcoming albums probably won't sustain their own threads. I'm thinking especially of the Clipse, but also, what, the Game, Diddy, and Jay, with Nas, UGK and maybe even Styles P still to come. And did the new Eminem just come out? I forget. Apologies for whatever I'm forgetting.

The Clipse album is a little - well, it could have been better. I had kind of figured if it was all Neptunes beats it would kinda suck, and it is, and it kinda does. The beats all sound like fake eight bar loops - the problem not being that they're fake (they may be actual samples for all I know) but that they sound like it. It doesn't work, like the Neptunes had the idea 'this is what real street hiphop sounds like', didn't quite know how to execute it. Needless to say, the Clipse verses are routinely amazing.

This album would probably sound better if a) it hadn't taken four and a half years to come out and b) you hadn't gotten used to these dudes riding the hottest beats around on their mixtapes.

Otherwise - I am not super excited about the Jay album, but will probably get it tomorrow just cause I have some spare cash and I might as well. I keep meaning to get the Diddy. The Game album is okay musically, and he can rap, but his attitude to women strikes me as genuinely unpleasant (maybe it's his whole attitude - there's nothing playful about it.) I am cautiously optimistic about the UGK after average solo records from both the guys, and even more cautious in my optimism re. Hip Hop Is Dead.

What are you guys liking, disliking, anticipating, etc.?
 
 
Harrison Ford, in a battle suit, wheels for feet, knives and guns
09:53 / 28.11.06
"MacReady Heeeeeeelp!"
 
 
Dxncxn
12:17 / 28.11.06
The beats on the Jay-Z album really haven’t impressed me at all - a number of the people involved have done much better work on other recent LPs (like Just Blaze’s “Tell Me” for the Diddy album or Dre for Busta Rhymes). It’s surely not a good sign that the Chris Martin track is, to my mind, amongst the two or three best productions on there. It’s only been a couple of days, so it may grow on me, but it’s been a real disappointment thus far.

I wasn’t expecting much at all from ‘Doctor’s Advocate’ - I find his NWA obsession a little tiresome, and you’re right that “Wouldn’t Get Far” is extremely depressing (and is it just me, or does anyone else think that Kanye West gets an easier ride than most where his gender politics are concerned?) It’s possibly telling that the two tracks I do like - “One Blood” and “I’m Chillin’” (which I think might only be on UK copies) are fairly indebted to other, better records: the same Junior Reid sample as “One Blood Under W” in the first instance, and a somewhat out-of-character & relatively deft “Drop It Like It’s Hot”-rip off from Will.I.Am in the second. There’s a mildly amusing diss somewhere on ‘Kingdom Come’ - I don’t know it well enough to remember where yet - about respecting the guy who gets shot less than the guy doing the shooting, which I’m assuming is aimed at The Game and/or Fiddy.

Again, I only got it yesterday, but my early impression would be that the Clipse album is the best of the lot - although not as good as ‘Lord Willin’’, or as some of the reviews were suggesting. I like “Key Open Doors” and “Wamp Wamp”, and I think “Mr. Me Too” is the best Neptunes beat in years, although Pharrell’s rap is really poor. (I’m not as down on him as a rapper as I know a lot of folks round here are, but in this case I couldn’t argue).
 
 
Harrison Ford, in a battle suit, wheels for feet, knives and guns
12:31 / 28.11.06
"Aaaaghh, MacReady, MacReady, please for the love of..."
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
14:50 / 28.11.06
What is it you want MacReady to do, Harrison, that you are unable to do yourself?
 
 
Harrison Ford, in a battle suit, wheels for feet, knives and guns
15:26 / 28.11.06
Oh no it's already too late!!!
 
 
The Falcon
15:54 / 28.11.06
Harrison, we've shared a few laughs in the past, but you are trolling this thread which is otherwise being conducted in good faith. It's really irritating, please stop.

Anyhow - I never even knew there was a new Clipse album, not that it'd matter esp. given my lack of disposable cash. 'Lord Willin', along with 'Kaleidoscope', is prob the Neps finest hour for me, so it's disappointing to hear this doesn't mark any return to form.
 
 
The Falcon
16:10 / 28.11.06
Hum, yeah, youtube shows me that 'Wamp Wamp' and 'Mr. Me-Too' are both basically, despite being about the best & hardest productions since 'Drop It Like It's Hot' kinda... boring. Like one loop. Found the video for 'The Funeral' off the unreleased debut 'Exclusive Audio Footage', and that shit's miles in front.
 
 
nighthawk
16:58 / 28.11.06
It’s only been a couple of days, so it may grow on me, but it’s been a real disappointment thus far.

Yeah, this about sums up my experience so far. After a few listens, none of the beats stand out. Not that they're awful or anything (although I really don't like the last Just Blaze track, 'Show Me What You Got' - it just sounds messy to me); but, as other posters have said, these producers have all done better stuff elsewhere. What's bothering me more is the fact that none of Jay-Z's verses are grabbing me at the moment, which is totally not what I expect from his albums. Hopefully it will grow on me though.

I like what I've heard from the new Clipse album though. Again, nothing incredible, but I've had 'Dirty Money' running round my head all day today, and most of the other tracks I've heard have been decent (not sure about 'Trill' yet though - its a bit...weird, I guess). Lyrically, at least, they're as sharp as ever.
 
 
illmatic
18:13 / 28.11.06
This is off topic, but might be of tangential interest to those reading. Where do you hear/hear about new Hip Hop? I ask 'cos I don't really have a clue about the music anymore as I don't keep up with the music press, or listen to much Hip Hop radio anymore. I wouldn't even know where to start - any comments? I keep on thinking about Westwood but I don't know if I want to go there...
 
 
Char Aina
08:55 / 29.11.06
go there, bro.
he is a wickitti-wank, but his tunes are good and his guests are often blinding.

havent listened in a while, mind you.
it could be that he's gone to shit.
 
 
Jackie Susann
21:00 / 01.12.06
respecting the guy who gets shot less than the guy doing the shooting, which I’m assuming is aimed at The Game and/or Fiddy.

Probably about Cam'ron, no? Cam and Jim Jones have both aimed diss tracks at Jay recently.

The beats on the Clipse album have been growing on me. I listen to them and think, boring, but then I realise they're pretty much all stuck in my head. I still think it would inevitably be a better album if there was a variety of producers - this is practically a universal rule in rap.

On a tangent, has anyone heard the new Gwen Stefani song where the Neptunes flip a Lonely Goatherd sample? It's kinda cool, basically the chorus from Goatheard plus the drums from Hollaback Girl.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
22:15 / 01.12.06
Apparently the original Neptunes version of 'Wind It Up' didn't include that sample: Gwen or another producer added it later. Both versions are on her new album, The Sweet Escape.
 
 
Dxncxn
23:50 / 01.12.06
Probably about Cam'ron, no?

I’m sure you’re right. I seem to remember reading somewhere that there was supposed to be tension between G-Unit & Roc-A-Fella as well, but I’m nothing like as up to speed on this sort of stuff as I could be.

With regards to “Wind It Up”, I find it absolutely mind-boggling, although I’m not sure whether I mean that in a good or a bad way. The “Army Of Me”-ish bass noise in the middle I certainly like. But the sample (or interpolation, or whatever) is just confounding me: every time I’ve heard it thus far, I’ve found myself just kind of stopping whatever I was doing, and standing there, like ‘Huh?’. Am I allowed to agree that it’s “kind of cool” while also suspecting it might be one of the worst records ever made?

Back on topic, the Jay-Z album really hasn’t grown on me at all. I do like the single - I know what you mean, nighthawk, about it being a bit of a mess, but I quite enjoy that fifteen-things-competing-for-space feel. And, while there’s not a lot to it lyrically, it’s one of the few tracks where Jay sounds like he’s actually enjoying himself - it has that effortless charisma which was still there a few months ago (cf. “Upgrade U”) but I’m struggling to locate on much of ‘Kingdom Come’.

The Game album is the one I’ve been listening to most in the last couple of days. It’s odd: I don’t find him particularly likeable, and I can’t help but think that parties at Shady/Aftermath HQ back in the day must’ve been rather spoilt by everyone’s embarrassment at him constantly running around after Dre begging to be told more stories about Eazy and then laughing just that bit too eagerly at all his jokes. But listening to it, I’m put in mind of athletes pumped up on steroids: while there might not be much natural talent involved, and while the whole thing might not be a particularly edifying spectacle, there’s no doubting the effectiveness of it in patches. Everything’s buffed up and polished to within an inch of its life, and more and more tracks - in addition to the two I mentioned, I’m also coming around to Just Blaze’s G-Funk pastiche “Remedy” and Swizz Beatz making up for the Dre-sized hole with “Scream On ‘Em” - are kind of pummelling me into submission.

I had more, but it’s way past my bedtime...
 
 
The Natural Way
10:12 / 02.12.06
Just to add, in Macready's defence, because, you know, there might be a guilt by association thing going on here, that he doesn't actually dislike popular Hip Hop and I've never heard him get snooty about it. So, Mr Ford, I'm not sure what kind of help you were after, but...
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
23:27 / 04.12.06
I still haven't copped the Clipse album, but what I've heard of it so far is fantastic - taking their heartless supervillain personae even further. Springer Bell to the power of infinity. Anyway, just stopping in to suggest that everyone goes and downloads the Pistol Pete remix of 'Wamp Wamp (What It Do)' over at Fluxblog immediately. I love the original as well, but this turns it into a total electro dancefloor stomper. WE GOT IT FOR CHEAP, THAT'S THE RE-UP ANTHEM.
 
 
Harrison Ford, in a battle suit, wheels for feet, knives and guns
08:21 / 05.12.06
SSSSHHHH !MARRIAGE! back in yr box.
 
 
Char Aina
13:46 / 06.12.06
doble-plus-yes on that electro-tastic remix.
the vocals manage to sound even more swung and lazy when the beat rolls hypey.

i just got the trill album by bun b,and i would have to say i wish i hadnt.
i'm getting really bored of the production genre that seems to have caught a fair few of the american hip hoppers. it sounds so shiny and metallic, and i just can't get into the constant trebley clickity clack that can accompany even the mellowest beats on some albums.

i didnt mind when there was some of it, but the ubiquity's really getting in the way of my enjoyment of some good verses.

luckily bun b's delivery sucks donkey ass through a dirty fifty cent hose, so i could delete the files without a care.
this is a big deal for me, as i keep everything.

i even have a 'sad scoiety' album and the first 'limp bizkit' one, somewhere.

i don't like to throw shit away, but man.
bun's album and it's consumate wackness has offended my ears.

(if y'all think i am being too harsh on the thugged up wee rap-chancer, care to recommend a track or to? i had heard such good things. the album's still in the recycle bin, so all is not lost.)
 
 
Jake, Colossus of Clout
16:55 / 06.12.06
The new Ghostface has been leaked, and it's really good. Not as good as Fishscale, and you can definitely tell that it was put together quickly, but there are some instant classics on there- "Ghost is Back," "Good," "Alex (Stolen Script)" and "You Know I'm No Good" are worth the price of admission alone.

Stylisticly, it's a bit of a departure from the soul-heavy tracks Ghost has been doing the past few years. A lot of the beats are more reminiscent of Ironman than Fishscale. There's a heavy Theodore Unit presence, which is fine, I like those guys (Shawn Wigs is really fucking good, and I just realized it on listening to this album), but it's kind of a bummer that there are no Wu-guests at all. There are a couple of other minor disappointments- The MF Doom beat on "Guns N' Razors" is like five years old, and Ghost's 17-year old kid, Sun God, is not ready for prime time, but it's hard to knock Ghost for putting his son on a couple of tracks.

Overall, though, it's a great album despite the hurried production. No Nastradamus syndrome here. Ghost's flows are on point as always, and there is a refreshing lack of skits. Only one or two, I think, which is nice. Have a listen to two excellent tracks here.
 
 
Jackie Susann
21:17 / 06.12.06
toksik, that bun album is like a year old! Yeah, it was weak. You'd do better with classic UGK albums (i.e., Riding Dirty) or any of the more recent mixtapes that collect Bun's guest verses. There's a DJ Drama one that's pretty fucking awesome (notably for his 'Free Pimp C' over the beat from Goodies, second verse is my pick for best verse of 05).
 
 
discodave
13:23 / 11.12.06
Havent brought a rap release for a long time - all about mixtapetorrent.com for me. Papoose's latest mixtape is quality...new King of NY?

If I was to buy an album would be Nas Hip Hop is Dead. Nas may not be exactly the real deal but rhymes and beats normally good (although nothing has yet matched Illmatic).
 
 
Jackie Susann
23:05 / 11.12.06
I picked up the new Pitbull album, El Mariel, which has passed me by - it came out in October. It's pretty awesome. I use the skip button too often to say it's great, but the good tracks are really good. He's a really charismatic guy, I think, and there is some pretty leftfield stuff that works well - a track made out of a huge Rock Lobster loop. And Vybz Kartel is in there, lots of good stuff. His sex rhymes are unusually non-macho.

I also got the Diddy - really good! Don't pretend you don't like him. Bang like Chitty Chitty, here to disturb you/New CD spread through the city like bird flu.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
01:43 / 12.12.06
Got the Clipse album. It's sick. Sort of a one-stop argument for music that is totally amoral and yet utterly compelling. Listening to 'Wamp Wamp' makes me feel like a Bond villain. The highlights are the singles, which I always think is kinda fun just 'cos it means somebody knows what their strengths are. But also 'Ma I'm So Sorry', 'Dirty Money', and 'New World' which sounded shitty as a tinny MP3 but I totally get now. On that one and 'Mr Me Too' they somehow find a way to make Pharrell's kind of annoyingness these days work for them, like they're obnoxious bad guys anyway, so why care that he's kind of a douche? Love it.
 
 
Dxncxn
16:56 / 12.12.06
Incidentally, the 12 minute remix version of The Game’s “It’s OK (One Blood)” featuring (in order of appearance) Jim Jones, Snoop, Nas, T.I., Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, N.O.R.E., Jadakiss, Styles P., Fabolous, Juelz Santana, Rick Ross, Twista, Kurupt, Daz, WC, E-40, Bun B, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug, Young Dro, Clipse & Ja Rule is available here (with Game himself between Fat Joe & Lil Wayne). I figured it'd be worth a listen, if only for curiosity value, but actually I think it works far better than I'd anticipated, with Jada & T.I. impressing in particular.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
19:48 / 12.12.06
When does T.I. not impress? Is anyone doubting that King is rap album of the year?
 
 
Dxncxn
22:26 / 12.12.06
(Ok, so hopefully this’ll teach me not to try and post stuff while also making dinner... What I meant to say before was: (a) Game himself appears between T.I. and Fat Joe; and (b) the Jadakiss/Styles tag team & T.I. particularly impress. Apologies to all concerned...)
 
 
Jackie Susann
02:32 / 13.12.06
I was listening to the Clipse album this morning and it just made me realise how much I miss the Lox.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
02:48 / 13.12.06
Madness.

And (duncan), I wasn't trying to correct you, I was just saying! I'd actually almost forgotten to put that album in my end of year list...
 
 
Jackie Susann
03:39 / 13.12.06
You don't miss the Lox? I am on a classic-era Bad Boy nostalgia kick and I will not apologise!
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
06:53 / 13.12.06
I'm not dissing the Lox, but I don't exactly miss them. Did they ever make a whole album worth getting, and if so which one?
 
 
Dxncxn
08:01 / 13.12.06
(duncan), I wasn't trying to correct you

It’s fine. I wasn’t reacting to your post, but to the realisation that I’d made a mess of mine. But I can see why you might have thought otherwise, and it’s sweet of you to clarify.

With regards to The Lox, I bought ‘Money, Power & Respect’ a few weeks back with really high hopes after realising just how much I’ve liked all three members’ guest verses over the last couple of years, but I wasn’t that impressed on a first listen (and first listen was about all it got, given the avalanche of new stuff since then).
 
 
Jackie Susann
21:50 / 13.12.06
I dunno if any of their albums are worthwhile, but I have been obsessing over Wild Out - which I think may just be the best song ever - and their guests verses from All About The Benjamins. They had such a great division of labour - Jada on metronome-sharp lyrical greatness, Styles on the most hilariously nihilistic punchlines ever, and Sheek - well, who knows what Sheek did, but it was probably good.

I was thinking about going and getting Money Power Respect today!
 
 
Jake, Colossus of Clout
00:47 / 14.12.06
Is anyone doubting that King is rap album of the year?

I doubt. I'd take Fishscale by a long shot, but Southern hip-hop doesn't really float my boat, anyway.
 
 
Regrettable Juvenilia
08:22 / 14.12.06
I actually forgot that Fishscale was this year - I think my brain is still trying to process the fact that Ghost has another album out already...
 
 
Haus of Mystery
11:50 / 15.12.06
So there's a new Nas album out Monday. Pitchfork like it, and I've always got time for Nas. Production rosta is the standard contemporary big hitters. But he does have a knack for pulling duffers out of the bag. That's the trouble with having a perfect 10 album in your career - people are less forgiving of subsequent imperfections.
 
  

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