Sorry, I Missed That; First Quarter
I had originally planned to start a series about all the albums I missed throughout the 2020 year. Doing it four at a time was going to be easy going to the mind and smooth way into getting more writing out there. But all I know is chaos, so I’m doing it by quarters of the year. From January to March I had missed about 15 albums that I so desperately wanted to cover and listen closely. So I figured I’d rank them from worst to best, give them a small rundown and the highlights and lowlights of each.
15) Yung Pinch - Back 2 the Beach
A ton of albums dropped the day of January 17th, so Yung Pinch slipped through the cracks. The young rapper from California gives you the “Beach Boy" aura he speaks upon this album. However, the crooning becomes to much to bare as he repeats common subjects throughout the listening experience. Pinch is having fun, experiencing love difficulties and gives you some of the most swaggerless flexes of 2020. Between the soft-rock/fusion and his boring bars about relationships, it’s just a tough album to get through. Tracks like “Toast to Us" and “Over It" are the epitome of boredom, nothing to draw you in with tons of cringe. Some positives happen here like “Punk Heaven" where he declares his hate towards Trump and “Legends Never Die" where shows appreciation towards Nipsey Hussle. But the cringe outweighs anything glimmer of hope here.
4/10
14) Lou Will — Syx Piece
Nothing but respect for Lou Williams who is a sixth man legend, but rapping is not his future. The Kobe tribute was nice and the intro “Special Request" gave me a simple thought of interest. Truthfully though, there just isn’t anything stand out about his rapping. It was just super basic and intermediate. I blame Damian Lillard for starting this trend of ball players rapping.
4.5/10
13) MoneyMan - Epidemic
The question for me on MoneyMan was there any difference between him and the rest of the trap world at this moment outside of “24" being a huge success? Not really. His flow is catchy at points like “Courtesy” where he seems to be locked in. But then you have him feeling like he is and out of consciousness like “Its Yo World". A feature or two could have made a world of difference, because the album just gets repetitive even with the shortness of time and tracks. Still, I think he can gain some interest outside of the track that had featured one Lil Baby’s best verses.
5.5/10
12) Fred the Godson - Payback
First off, Rest In Paradise to Fred the Godson who passed away earlier this year due to COVID related issues. Truthfully, I hadn’t heard from Fred since his 2011 XXL Freestyle, his name didn’t get brought up much. Running this short 21 minute tape, I saw the potential that he had in the space that relates to the Griselda movement. Reminiscent bars of moving dope in the windy, cold nights of the Bronx. The only problem for me personally is nothing was super standout. While none of the songs were bad in nature, the project in general is average at best, and forgettable in that space. Still, with that being said I think he had an innate talent that die hard New York fans were looking for.
5.5/10
11) Chief Keef - Glo Files pt. 4
I try so hard to grasp the love of Chief Keef post Finally Rich that everyone else has. I sat down with this and really listened, and it’s just come to the point where the inconsistencies are too much to bare. You have moments of greatness like “Ignorant" where Keef somehow makes a two verse track last over six-and-a-half minutes of listing every object and person that makes him ignorant. Methodically detailing every gun and rollie that makes him top-tier.
Then there is songs that are just horrible mixed and mastered. Like what the hell is “OFF WIT HIS HEAD"? How do you capitalize a title track as gruesome as this and make it sound like it’s recorded in a cave? While there are some pretty good highlights like the catchy, fluent songs “Raw” and “NASCAR” I cant get over some of the flaws that Keef still possesses.
6/10
10) Suicide Boys - Stop Staring at the Shadows
The duo from New Orleans with the multiple personality disorder and beef with Three 6 Mafia dropped an album on Valentines day. While I wasn’t familiar with the group, I had found myself curious by how ungodly cringy their music could be. Yes I made assumptions, get off my back. The album is short in it’s entirety, and doesn’t contain that replayable factor at all. But there are some really good things about this album.
The album is chaotic, it embraces it’s craziness from beginning to end. “All Dogs Go To Heaven” present that chaos with this video-game sounding instrumental and $crum and Ruby da Cherry go insane on the beat with aggressive flows and raps amping up the energy with each passing bar. The group tends to get on these funky, southern-inspired sounds like “[whispers indirectly]” where the two describe escaping death and feeling what it’s like to be them. They both speak on death and depression throughout this, especially on “This Just Isn’t Empirically Possible” where they both face demons on their pasts and can’t seem to deal with the pain. $crum shows that sadness “Manic depressive, when life is in session, I hide in a room that’s dark as me.” The best track “Bizarro” is the boys giving their longest performance and once again giving us the southern-roots.
6.5/10
9) Teejayx6 - 2020
The young self-proclaimed scammer dropped a little EP on the first day of this piss-poor year. Being that this was my first time giving the Detroit artist a listen, I was really excited given the fact of how interesting of a story this guy is. When you catch the attention of an Alphonse Pierre, you know something good has to come out of it. His sound is very familiar to a Blueface with rapping off the beat, but with better lyricism about scamming stories and rapid flow that makes me want to join whatever money scheme he has going on. Some hilarious bars on the intro “2020” basically clowning someone for buying some awful outfit, “Please don’t tell me you spent your money on that shit today?” Hearing Teejayx6 talk about using his middle finger on a woman for sex while rapping over a soul sample has to be one of the best things to start off a year. It is too short to get a full grasp on who the kid is, but the interest is still there for me. Also considering as I’m writing this I see one of his albums titled Black Air Force Activity… I’m fully embracing the angry activity.
6.5/10
8) Jadakiss - Ignatius
The legend from Yonkers, New York delivers some new new for the first time in three years. His name doesn’t get brought up in legend talks, but make no mistake the raspy king is up there. On this album he brings us through a spiritual journey that has shown his experience in life’s trials and tribulations. The lead single “ME” is maybe one of my favorite Kiss tracks in a long time. The beat is infectious and Kiss makes sure he puts on a massive performance for a grand understanding of who all the attention is on when it comes to life’s pressures and what he has to achieve. The intro “Pearly Gates” basically showcases that heavenly sound that he has transcended to, while still bringing the raspiness that has followed him throughout his career.
The features hit very well, Pusha T on “Huntin Season” just makes all of the sense in the world. “Angels Getting Pedicured” with 2 Chainz on this smooth angelic production just glides perfectly with Jadakiss. “Kisses To The Sky” features Rick Ross, which when you hear that name, you already know the vibe that’s coming. Some tracks run way too long and that’s probably the biggest problem. “Gov’t Cheese” just gets tiresome by the third feature. “NYB” with Ty Dolla Sign really just didn’t work for me, what an awkward duo. But the combination of the spiritual sounds, raspy Kiss vocals and lyrical shit-talking makes me feel happy inside.
7.5/10
7) Kodie Shane- Blooming Vol. 1
The young Atlantian queen, Kodie Shane, came back with a six-track EP. Her commercial success is growing, but also showing how she’s grown as an artist and woman. I first heard of her with Lil Yachty’s “All In” in the description as “rising star”. They weren’t kidding, she was clearly the most talented out of the Atlanta group.
The most stand-out characteristic about Kodie is her confidence about herself. You can hear it on pretty much every track, especially “NO RAP KAP”. Kodie and Trippie Redd get together and croon their accomplishments into existence. It’s fiery and fun, it’s nice to hear Trippie get aggressive. Kodie gets glitzy on “TEST ME”, showing her power in the game and how on fire she is. The versatility doesn’t end there as she goes R&B with “TIMING” on a relationship that is dependent on getting everything right.
7.5/10
6) 42 Dugg- Young & Turnt 2
The man doesn’t have a lot of height makes up for it in charisma. 42 Dugg flexes without hesitation like he is the Hulk. “Habit” presents the aggressive nature that lives in folk from Detroit. It’s short run-time with each track honestly adds a punch that makes it worthwhile. “It Get Deeper” hits the dramatic pocket that the beat gives, and it doesn’t matter how sentimental the sound gives. 42 Dugg is still going to talk shit. “Been Turnt” has one of the catchiest hooks I ever listened to “AND IIIIII’M STILL TURNT” just makes me go crazy.
He embraces that offbeat Detroit sound, it’s just so obvious he lives and breathes his city. “Bout 40” is just on some demonic shit, like he detailing a live scenario that lives rent free in his mind. Towards the end of the project, the album loses steam somewhat, with “One of One” featuring Babyface Ray killing momentum. The intro and outro don’t exactly start and end on great notes that 42 Dugg worked so hard to build throughout the listen. But an exciting listen nevertheless.
7.5/10
5) Bankroll Fresh- In Bank We Trust
What makes me sad about listening to this posthumous album is knowing that Bankroll Fresh was up next in the legendary trap-game. The Atlanta rapper was making straight-to-the-point rap music about the streets, gliding effortlessly on these old trap-sounds. The haunting intro “Mind, Body, & Soul” just encapsulates the aura that so many rappers admired. He was able to hit you with multiple rhyme-schemes that showed the versatility he would’ve eventually crafted to perfection. The rawness in storytelling makes it that much better given that there wasn’t big named artists shown here.
It wouldn’t have made sense to spruce up the sounds and features given that really wasn’t his make-up at the time. Hard hitting tracks really come in the beginning with “Extra” and “Quarter Million” that would have made the name grow so much bigger than it already was. “Understand” gives Bankroll the chance to get methodical over this old Gucci Mane sounding beat. This was well worth the wait, just makes me want to scream that famous 2 Chainz line “Gotta bandana around my neck, LIKE BANKROLL FRESH”. Rest in Paradise.
4) KeiyaA- Forever, Ya Girl
When I was going through the albums to listen to, I was going to skip this one. A devout music lover and homie @dre__843 on Twitter told me this was close to album of the year, so I said let me give this a shot. Thank god I am easily persuadable, because I would have been mad missing this one. The choppy soul that KeiyaA is graciously singing over has a special place in my heart. Her experimental sound is reminiscent of an Earl Sweatshirt/newer Tyler the Creator vision, beats and voice that dominate equally to portray a very authentic sound to the singer.
KeiyaA shows off the beauty of her voice on the track “Rectifiya”, as well as the “Hvnli” series of tracks. She expresses her emotions about lust, pain and a few moments of letting the listener know she doesn’t eat red meat. It was also enjoyable to hear “Every N**** Is a Star” which is reminiscent of the “Wesley’s Theory” track from To Pimp a Butterfly where he samples Boris Gardiner singing that same phrase. While the choppiness can take you out of your element on first listen, it’s definitely one of the more compelling listens of 2020.
8.5/10
3) Drakeo the Ruler- Free Drakeo
In light of the recent releasing of the Los Angeles phenomenon Drakeo the Ruler, it makes this album so much better to listen to. This fantastic album is filled with braggadocios bars and storytelling about living the life in the streets in LA. The freestyle intro “Letter From Me to You” brings up the people talking shit about him while he’s locked up, and proving his innocence and making me question why he still there in the first place (or locked up at all). That’s immediately followed up by three of my favorite rappers coming together on “Crime Stoppers” for one of the hardest tracks in 2020. Drakeo, 03 Greedo and Maxo Kream bring bragging rights to the table on the fame and life they have lived.
His low, relaxed voice on “Ion Rap Beef” makes the Drakeo elite status in California that much more solidified along with 03 Greedo’s crooning. While most of these tracks are loosies, the cohesion on this album is shockingly great. Even with the simplicity of the hook on “Mr. Get Dough”, it amplifies how much of a bop this track is. This whole project can be seen played in the whip, and most importantly… DRAKEO IS FREE.
8.5/10
2) Deniro Farrar- Sole Food
I really didn’t have too much knowledge about Deniro Farrar until this year. My homie (@taenubisyt on Twitter) pleaded for me to review his new album. I was already late on him and was thinking I’d give it an official review later on. Well here it is, Sole Food is special. The Charlotte, North Carolina rapper raspiness gives you that feeling that Deniro has been through some shit. He spits knowledge from experiences that either he or his friends have gone through. “King” starts with Trent the HOOLIGAN and Deniro talking that talk, letting the listener know who they are. After that, it goes down this area of spitting knowledge. “Sins” gives you a step-by-step documentary of what it’s like to be him and how he feels being a black man in America. “They say I ain’t got no rights because I’m black, or do I? / Original man, bitch, I’m strong as Kunta/ Illuminati want my soul and my body/ Took the shackles off my brain and loaded up my shotty.”
The track “Prison Systems” is where Deniro calls out the system on its horrific ways. There is no justice, you basically don’t have a shot to survive. There are some really good features on here like Lute and Elevator Jay on the song “Gon Be”. You also get a pretty energetic Trinidad James feature on “Liberated Mind”, which is a fun listen. You can hear him go more in-depth about the issues and injustices that Deniro has experienced within his witty bars, as well as following the street code and calling out the b.s. behind the scenes. The sound is southern, but with a bit more smoother trap production. All of it is great in marriage for a wonderful 10-track listen.
9/10
1) Boldy James- Price of Tea in China
Boldy James and Alan the Chemist go together like peanut-butter and jelly. This album goes as hard as you would imagine a rapper from Detroit and a magician producer could be. Alchemist’s luxurious, gangster production with Boldy’s tough flow and boss lyrics make for a movie-like listen. This is the album that could possibly put Boldy on another level. The jazz instrumental on the introduction “Carruth” sets Boldy up to go off about grandeur moments like “Me and Nico off the Cliquot, we got three hoes kissin’/ N****s eatin’, gettin’ fat, laced in Moschino, drippin’.” His bravado and moments of past dealings with the streets are littered all over, but the sound varies. “Surf & Turf” has the haunting beat that gives us a throwback Vince Staples style, “I can get you Ku Klux’d, underneath the white sheet
Off the porch with hot feet, could’ve ran a 40 in a 4-flat/ .44, snub nose, homie let me hold that.” I haven’t heard Vince this rugged since Summertime ’06.
While this album has “Griselda” written all over it, Boldy has the ability to talk his steady shit. “Pinto” has that same soothing jazz sound, but Boldy using that opportunity to show off the bricks he’s sold. Very next song, “Slow Roll” is maniacal beat that has Boldy sounding really a little slurred than usual, but almost sounds like he is on a mission. And this album isn’t lacking in it’s features; damn near every guest kills their track given to them. “Scrape the Bowl” was tailor-made for someone like Benny the Butcher. Both share the dealing stories in full-detail, from having 36 O’s rapped in a paper towel in Detroit to being compared to Gods by the fiends in Buffalo. Boldy and Freddie Gibbs on “S.N.O.R.T.” are as grimy as ever with this aggressive instrumental. Boldy James has been super underrated and possibly putting on the crown in Detroit after this album. Alchemist has just added another notch under his belt as one of the best producers of all time. The man hasn’t missed, and continues to put up Steph Curry MVP numbers. Safe to say I am disgusted with myself that I missed out on this album when it was first released. But what is The Price of Tea in China though?
9/10
