Kid Cudi and High Places

November 2010: High School

 I just started high school. Like many others, I am having a good time. I feel alienated and alone because people keep messing with me. High school is intimidating and I don't know anybody.

In homeroom, I strike up a conversation with the kid next to me. He introduces himself to me. His name is Mike. We talk about music. I say I don't listen to rap. Rap is crap. He tells me to listen to Kid Cudi. That night on my roof, I listen to "Soundtrack 2 My Life".

The moon will illuminate my room and soon I'm consumed by my doom 

I've got some issues that nobody can see
And all of these emotions are pouring out of me

I'm floored. It's like I'm talking to someone who understands what I am going through.

June 2013: Summer

Mike and I are are standing at the top of the fire tower on Apple Pie Hill. It's hazy. Pine trees stretch out as far as the eyes can see. 

I turn on my Bluetooth speaker and select Cudi from a playlist. The music breaks the silence of nature. 

I'll be up up and away, up up and away
Cause they gon' judge me anyway so whatever
I'll be up up and away, up up and away
Cause in the end they'll judge me any so whatever

Life has been good recently. Kids don't mess with me that often anymore. I don't need a clever comeback, I just have to laugh in their face. It takes all their power away. For the first time, I feel like a pretty cool person.

May 2018: Graduation Approaches 

It's six in the morning. My friends and I are sitting on top of the Fordham bleachers watching the sunrise. A friend passes me a warm Natty light out of a cardboard 12 pack. Everyone is laughing and talking about the good times. We're going to miss being able to do stuff like this, just hanging out with friends whenever we want, with no strict schedules to tie us down. But careers are fast approaching and soon we are going to meet for drinks at times we schedule in our day planners. Someone is playing "Soundtrack 2 My Life" on a Bluetooth speaker.  Cudi's vocals waft through the morning air. 

So now I'm in the cut, alcohol in the wound
My heart's an open sore that I hope heals soon
I live in a cocoon opposite of Cancun
Where it is never sunny, the dark side of the moon

I snicker a bit. The rhymes sound corny and Cudi is a little too emotional for the situation. I realize even though this music might not have impressive lyrics, I'll never look at it with anything but fondness. These songs have been with me for too long to give up. In fifteen years, my kids will laugh at me and my corny music, but I don't think I'll care. 

Rolling Papers 2 Review

On Rolling Papers 2, Wiz Khalifa offers more of the same hazy stoner rap that made him famous. Wiz raps about three W's. Women, Weed and Wealth. He's been doing the same thing since 2009. Predictably, Rolling Papers 2 talks about money and marijuana for most of its runtime. 

"Mr. Willams" is a highlight of the album. THEMXXNLIGHT and Curren$y give the track an R&B vibe while their slick flow makes the track cohesive . Wiz's verse is typical of the album. "Bootsy Bellows" is another impressive cut. While the verses are standard, Wiz spits a catchy hook over a funky beat. The bass line, which is immaculate, pays homage to funk bass legend Bootsy Collins.

I was most impressed with "B OK" because Wiz opens emotionally on up the track. He raps about the personal pain he has felt throughout his career. The death of his sister and his tumultuous relationship with model Amber Rose are the focal points of the song.

Wiz Kalifa's stoner mentor Snoop Dogg makes an appearance on Rolling Papers 2. Unfortunately, Tha Doggfather is not at the top of his game. Snoop Dogg, who normally provides entertaining verses, falls flat. His verse on "Penthouse" adds another layer of mediocrity to an already mediocre song.

This might make the album better

At 90 minutes long, Rolling Papers 2 became a chore to sit through.Tracks were stylistically all over the place, from trap to R&B. The songs felt all over the place, like it's a playlist instead of a deliberate album. Maybe this album would better serve someone as the background to a late night smoke session. Nothing on the album is jarringly bad, but nothing is exciting.

Conclusion: Wiz is sticking to the formula that made him popular. This album is competent and confident but does not push any boundaries. If you like Wiz Kalifa's past music, here's a buffet. If you don't, skip it.

WANG$AP

The King of Fashion and the King of Ambiguous sexuality just dropped a track. I'm talking about A$AP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator. The song, "Potato Salad" features the two rappers freestyling in front of Eiffel Tower. In loose, conversational verses they talk about money and their fashion endeavors. Rocky even drops a diss at mumble rappers. The two seem relaxed and deliver their verses with ease, almost like they're having fun.

However, the most notable part of the video comes at the end. The video ends with a WANG$AP logo, which is a mashup of the A$AP and GOLFWANG brands. This logo seems to be teasing an upcoming collaboration between the two rappers. 

A$AP Rocky and Tyler, The Creator are two of the most influential personalities in the rap world today. Both are known for breaking down barriers in rap, as well as their unique styles and personalities. Certainly, no one could describe them as generic. This collaboration is sure to produce interesting results. 

How 2 Do an Online Music Review

If you have ever wondered how to do a review, I have just the lesson for you. You just need a couple things.

• Notepad
• Pen
• Closed-back headphones 
• Music Source (I'm using my laptop)
• Refreshments (Lacroix, because it's trendy.)
• A place to work uninterrupted

Steps:

1. Don't read any other reviews.

•  Any time I read a review before listening to an album it colors my opinion.

2. Research. 

• Gain a general knowledge of the musician and the cultural context of the album.

3. First Listen

• Find a comfortable spot where you can listen uninterrupted.
• Write down all your reactions in a notebook.
• I generally listen for compelling lyrics and interesting sound as well as song structure.
• By the time you are finished, you will have an opinion on the record.
• (Optional) Drink Lacroix

You should have a couple pages that look like this 

4. Wait for a day

5. Listen Again

• With your notes in hand, listen again.
• Extrapolate on the ideas you wrote.
• Listen as many times as you need to.

6. Write

• Determine why you hold your opinion. What are the main things you liked and disliked about the album?
• Find your main like and dislikes and use those as the basis of your review.
• Thesis. Just like writing a paper for school, take the main idea of your review and put it in one sentence at the beginning of the review. 

7. Add pictures

That's all folks! Basically, you just need to listen to the music, think about what you like and write your opinion down in a convincing argument. 

TA1300 Review

Denzel Curry's Album TA13OO(Taboo) provides a rebellious critique of the "Soundcloud Rap" that has grown around Curry and remains entertaining throughout its whole runtime. 

Curry hails from South Flordia. Other rappers from South Florida, like Lil' Pump and XXXTenacion, have amassed a huge following after becoming popular on music streaming platform Soundcloud. However, Curry's career predates the "Soundcloud Rappers." While Curry and "Soundcloud Rappers" share many sonic characteristics like aggressive vocals and audio distortion, Curry does not see himself as part of that genre of music. On "Percs", he lampoons the facial tattoos, drug abuse and lyrical shallowness he perceives in "Soundcloud rap." 

I should rap about some lean and my diamond cuts
Get suburban white kids to want to hang with us
It's your friendly neighborhood, I don't give a fuck
Get it straight, I innovate, you ad-libs on a 808
Don't need a tattoo on my face cause Denzel is a different race
I don't even try to hate, I'm just saying what I ain't
People sleeping on me hard and I'm the hardest in the paint
Eight years in the game and I never rode a wave

Curry is not content to simply make fun of rappers he sees as shallow. TA1BOO contains moments of mature emotional depth and political commentary interwoven with aggressive braggadocio and aggressive production. This maturity is best seen on the title track "Taboo", where Curry discusses his relationship with a victim of sexual abuse. He ponders how he can best support someone he loves that has suffered such emotional trauma. 

TA1300 is a concept album, broken into three sides. Light, Grey, and Dark. While the tracks on the respective sides do generally correspond with the intended mood, Curry could have focused on making the concept more coherent. 

One of Curry's signature lyrical techniques is the rapid-fire deployment of wide-ranging references, ranging from pop culture to philosophy. He belies his age by referencing Nicleodian cartoons like The Fairly Odd Parents, Jimmy Neutron and Prince Zuko from Avatar. I find this charming, although I may only like it because of my own fond memories of those TV shows. 

(On are a serious note, if you have never watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, please do so immediately. It is an incredible show.) 

Best character development, all time. 

The track "Percs", which was released as one of the album's singles, demonstrates the album's satirical tone, grimy production and tight delivery all in one track. If you like "Percs", you will like the whole album. Listen Below. 

Conclusion: Curry has delivered one of the best albums of 2018. He aimed to take the rap game and flip it on its head. With an album that has only one weak song, he may have done it.  I am very excited to listen to this album again and again. Do me a favor, and listen.

Wiki Woes: Volume 2

Around a week ago, I noticed the Wikipedia page for Atlanta Hip-Hop was missing rap history from 2010 to 2018.  Jimmy Wales (Founder of Wikipedia, savior of college students) must be smiling down on me because my contribution hasn't been deleted.

God bless you, Mr. Wales.

I think I did a good job with my entry. I gave some solid facts about the chart positions of Atlanta rappers and the city's wider cultural influence. One rapper missing from the Wiki page is Soulja Boy.

Oh god no.

"Crank That" is seared into my memory. It was inescapable in 2007. To this day, I have flashbacks of gangly white kids desperately trying to do the Crank That dance in the hallways of Haines middle school.

Nobody needs to be reminded of "Crank That". I think I'll leave it off the Wiki page.

Listen to: Moanin'

When I first started this blog, I recommended everyone to listen to Led Zeppelin III. This album is sonically distinct among Led Zeppelin's catalog. I think it's a fresh take on a genre that can seem bloated and middle-aged.

Today I recommend Moanin' by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. While this is out of my standard Rock and Rap repertoire, I think Moanin' is essential listening for any music fan. Simply put, Moanin' is a fun album that can serve as an introduction to a massive and rewarding genre of music, Jazz.

Is it just me, or does Art look like Michael K. Williams?

Before I listened to Moanin', I thought jazz seemed pretentious, impenetrable and boring. But Moanin' is what jazz musicians call a Hard Bop album. Basically, Hard Bop musicians wanted to be the best, but they still wanted their music to reach the ears of the common man. hard bop jazz works so well because it is versatile and can be listened to in any situation. It's a stimulating listen in the car, great mood music for a party. Moanin' is a great way to trick people into thinking you are sophisticated.

The thing I find remarkable about this album is its ability to explore different facets of jazz while remaining a cohesive and entertaining whole. The title track "Moanin'" is a slinky number that shows the virtuosity of the Jazz Messengers while maintaining an easy, danceable beat. "Are You Real" is a fast-paced romp with dazzling solos and "Blues March" represents a return to the simpler roots of jazz.

"The Thunder Drum Suite" is a truly epic track. The drums start off slowly but soon are at a fast-paced, primal roll. Blakey, with all his skill, manages to make an 8-minute drum solo not only listenable but exciting. 

Give Moanin' a shot. Click the video above and listen for five minutes. Worst case scenario, you waste five minutes. Best case, you will find a new genre of music to love.  

The Needle Drop

Anthony Fantano is the reason I started to listen to music with a critical ear.  Fantano runs a website and a YouTube channel called The Needle Drop, where he reviews three to four albums a week and provides commentary on today's music scene. His prolific output has earned him the title "Internet's busiest music nerd" and over 1.5 million Youtube subscribers. 

Behold. 

At the bottom of every video description, Fantano writes, "Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?" This attitude is what allowed Fantano to become so successful. Instead of billing himself as an expert, Fantano bills himself as a guy with an opinion, just like you. He removes the "ivory tower" element from music criticism.

This attitude shows up in his camera work. Fantano's reviews consist of him talking straight into the camera. Using this technique, Fantano is able to provide the illusion of conversation. When watching a Needle Drop video, it often feels like you are sitting with your music literate friend. You feel like you're chatting about exciting new albums and Fantano is cracking jokes and being quirky. Reality TV shows like Jersey Shore use this same technique when they have the actors confess their private thoughts to audience members. 

May I suggest Spamthony Cramtano?

Fantano constantly interacts with his fans, which furthers the interactive, personal feeling his videos give viewers. Look at the picture above, where Fantano lets the web decide what he will say in his signature opening gag. Fantanto is the first internet literate music critic. He grew with the rise of memes. He has gained mass popularity on websites like 4chan and Reddit. Websites like 4chan are where many popular memes are created.  Through these memes, users have of course relentlessly made fun of Fantano, both maliciously and endearingly.  Despite their silly origins, these memes serve to brand Fantano into the collective memory of the internet, giving him permanence.

Pictured: Dead Meme (circa 2013)

Whatever you think of Fantano and his videos, it is clear to see he has tapped into some cultural paradigm that allows him to be so successful. As traditional music media like Rolling Stone loses credibility and readership, keep an eye on The Needle Drop. 

Gorillaz and Virtual Bands

Gorillaz just released a new album The Now Now. Below is the music video for "Humility", the album's lead single. The Now Now is fun. However, it lacks the creative daring of earlier Gorillaz classics like Demon Days and Plastic Beach. I recommend giving it a listen, but I also want to talk about the band Gorillaz itself.

Gorillaz is the brainchild of Damon Albarn, the lead singer from popular Britpop band Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, a cartoonist. The two set out to create a totally unique musical in response to the formulaic pop music they felt dominated the charts. In order to retain complete creative control, they decided to make the band in a virtual world. The concept was not new. Bands like Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Archies were also fake bands that released real music. While these bands have put out successful records, Albarn and Hewitt set out to push the limits of what a "virtual band" could be.

Albarn and Hewlett created a complex backstory for the band, which consists of the fictional Russell, 2-D, Murdoc, and Noodle. This story is woven into the records and media the band produces and will continue into the foreseeable future. It features madcap twists and turns, involving exorcisms, Japanese supersoldiers, and islands made of garbage.

In the video above we can see the characteristic elements of a Gorillaz production. Most noticeable are the four animated members of Gorillaz. Apparently, they got Jack Black interested, because he provides a cameo. By using the medium of animation, the characters are able to be totally unreal, yet interact with the real world at the same time.

Gorillaz is a fantastic blend of everything. Their music bends genre and their visual aspect bends reality. If your ever in the mood for a totally unique musical experience, I suggest going through the Gorillaz catalog.

Hive Mind Stream of Consciousness Review

Today I listened to Hive Mind, the latest project from Neo-Soul group The Internet. Instead of a traditional review, I wrote down all my thoughts in a stream of consciousness style, sorting them by track. Hopefully, this experiment will illuminate what I listen for in music and my thought process. Postive thoughts are in blue, negative thoughts are in red, and general observations are in black.

1. Come Together
This is a super funky track, and it just started.
I don't know what the chorus is saying.
There is a spacey feeling to this song.
Nice flute.
This would make great background music nothing cuts through the mix.
Nothing sticks out. Maybe this is like a musical palate cleanser, getting my ears ready for some funky soul music.

2. Roll (Burbank Funk)
This drum track is super syncopated. 
This bass line is amazing.
Finally, I can a voice that cuts through the music. 
These synth stabs add a ton of atmosphere.
All night. All night. All night.

3. Come Over
The simple, heavy drumbeat contrasts poorly with the seductive vocals
The phrasing on this guitar solo is amazing. 
This spoken word outro is odd. I'm not a fan.

4. La Di Da
I like the clavinet sound.
This track was so bland it didn't inspire any thoughts.  

5. Stay the Night
This acoustic intro is lush and beautiful.

Vocals are soft but sensual. Catchy hook, the harmony sounds great.

6. Bravo
Tight lyrics. Suave lamentations on lost love, but very bitter. 
Similar instrumentals to the rest of the album.

7. Mood
This drumbeat is really interesting.
The rest is not.

8.Next Time/ Humble Pie
The hook is wordy and complicated, but it is relatable to any listener.
Incredible melody.
This song is more downbeat than the rest of the album, very chill.
Standout song. 

9. It Gets Better
The tempo is picking up again.
Mellow but still very funky.
I can't tell if this interlude is rap or spoken word.
Either way, I like it.

10. Look What U Started
I feel like I've heard this song three times on this album already. 

11. Wanna Be
These instrumentals are starting to bleed together.
The "Wanna Be" and "want to be" are a good play on words.

12. Beat Goes On.

Fat sounding synth bass line, which is amazing. 
Dissonant notes add a lot of character.
Great synth arpeggios give the song flair
This is the best song on the album. 

13. Hold On
Bleh. Boring and long.

Conclusion: The instrumentals are tight and funky, but the album fails to hold my attention. With only a couple standout tracks, this album works better as background music. 

Loner Review

On her album Loner, Caroline Rose gives her listeners a thoughtful examination of female sexuality, punctuated by sick synth riffs. Each track blazes with originality and energy. Caroline's satirical lyrics find humor in serious issues like mental illness and misogyny.  

However, I think Caroline's thoughts on sexuality are the most compelling part of this album.

"Soul No.5" is Caroline's confident assertion of her own sexuality. She yells, "I like to keep a loser freak in the sheets." This declaration shows her casual, glib attitude toward a topic many people still find taboo.  

On "Smile", Caroline uses a cacophony of distorted voices to explore how annoying it is for women to be told to smile constantly.  "Bikini" deals with the commodification of the female body. 

"Getting To Me" and "Animal" both explore romantic relationships. "Getting To Me" expresses a desperate longing for romance.  "Animal" exudes physicality. Caroline explores the lust she feels for an ex. Anger toward her ex's new partner consumer her thoughts until she loses reason and becomes "like an Animal."  

The cover art is fantastic and belies the humor present on this album. Caroline creates a visually striking red and white color scheme, reminiscent of the sharp and focused color schemes of early White Stripes albums. This draws the eye to the album and holds the viewer's attention. The font choice and framing of the shot remind me of a Wes Anderson film. Caroline's casual attire, the red sweatsuit, gives the album a casual visual aspect, which matches with the frank tone Caroline addresses serious issues with. Of course, the most striking feature of the cover is Caroline's mouth filled with a pack of cigarettes. It's comical, but it also hints at the dark, mordant humor of the lyrics. 

Conclusion: It rocks and it has something to say. Listen.