11.12.2010

J.Cole Friday Night Lights

J.Cole’s latest mixtape, Friday Night Lights

11.10.2010

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Album Review)


First of all, I wouldn't classify this as a classic rap album, but the most creative rap album ever. I mean have you ever heard anything like this come from a rapper. Different styles of beats, instruments and samples that seem to come together nicely. Kanye has outdone himself once again and continues to push the envelop for mainstream audiences. The album features 13 tracks but 2 are interludes so you would think that it is pretty short. But in reality every song is around 5 minutes long. So it actually is longer than a normal album. After listening to this album in it's entirety I'd say that the title does fit. This is Kanye's fantasy and it is beautiful, dark and twisted. And don't forget that he produced most of these amazing songs.

1. Dark Fantasy (prod. By RZA, Kanye West, & No ID) - This song is obviously the most pure hip hop track on the entire album. With a classic RZA beat. Nicki Minaj starts off the track in a interesting fashion with her narration which I actually seemed to like, and thought was a memorable way to start the album. Kanye has so quotables on this track. "The plan was to drink until the pain over, But what's worse the pain or the hangover." 9/10


2. Gorgeous feat. KiD CuDi & Raekwon (prod. By Kanye West) - Very interesting beat. With an addicting hook from KiD CuDi. He shows some more lyricism on this track alongside Raekwon. "Got caught with 30 Rocks the cop looked like Alec Baldwin".  8/10


3. Power feat. Dwele (prod. By S1 & Kanye West) - Anyone remember this track? The first single was indeed powerful when it dropped. With an excellent beat and a catchy sample. This song pretty much was his comeback song, because it had been a while since he had put out new music. 9/10


4. All of The Lights (Interlude) - Great way to lead up to the best track on the album

5. All of The Lights feat. Rihanna, Tony Williams,  KiD CuDi, John Legend, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson, Elton John, Ryan Leslie, The-Dream & Alicia Keys (prod. By Kanye West) - This beat is obviously the best beat on the entire album. Hook is incredible. And the lineup is surprising. Who'd a thought he could squeeze all of these artists on a 5 minute song. In the end this will probably end up being the most successful song on the album. 10/10


6. Monster feat. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nick Minaj & Bon Iver (prod. By Kanye West) - First off, Bon Iver delivers a different sounding beginning and end which brings the song to another level. I've never heard a beat like this ever. It's so different and catchy. The hook is addicting to repeat. And with a surprise attention stealing verse from Nicki Minaj this song becomes one of the better on the album. "If I'm fake I don't know this cause my money ain't." 9.5/10


7. So Appalled feat. Swizz Beatz, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Cyhi The Prynce & RZA (prod. By Kanye West & RZA) - Another very hip hop record from Kanye thanks to some help with production from RZA. Every rapper takes a turn to kill the beat. Jay-Z comes with one of his best verses. "I went from the favorite to the most hated, But would you rather be underpaid or overrated." Even Cyhi The Prynce who was new to me at the time came with a well put together verse that made me rewind "I met this girl on Valentines Day, Fucked her in may, She found about April so she chose to march." 9/10


8. Devil In A Dress feat. Rick Ross (prod. Bink!) - By this time in the album you saying "Damn this is sounding like a classic". This track in particular is one of 2 songs that features no production from Kanye. It is one of the better beats on the album though. More quotables from Kanye on this with lines like "Hood phenomenon, the Lebron of rhyme, hard to be humble when your stunting on a jumbotron." Another thing that I love about this track is the guitar breakdown that plays before Rick Ross's verse. Unexpectedly, Ross does a good job flowing with the beat. 10/10


9. Runaway feat. Pusha T (prod. By Kanye West) - I'm not knocking this track in any way for giving it the lowest rating because it is an anthem type track for the douchebags, assholes, and scumbags. It's a solid track. The samples do fit in nicely to me. But the beat can get boring at times, and we all know Kanye isn't the greatest singer. Luckily, Pusha comes in with a dope ass verse which gives me a good reason to listen. If you've heard the album version of this song then you know that it drags on way too long. With an barely understandable autotuned up Kanye. 7/10


10. Hell of A Life (prod. By No ID) - Another track featuring no production from Kanye. A different style of beat but is very creative. I guess you can describe this as the Dark and Twisted part of the album. He starts off by saying "I think I fell in love with a porn star". But combine 3 clever and funny verses with one of the better hooks on the album and you another great track. 8.5/10


11. Blame Game feat. John Legend (prod. By Kanye West) - Brings the tone of the album down a bit as Kanye opens up about relationship troubles with John Legend on the hook. Song is very deep and relatable. The skit at the end with Chris Rock had me dying.  9/10


12. Lost In The World feat. Bon Iver & Alicia Keys (prod. By Kanye West) - This song sounds like something that would be playing while running through the jungle kind of like that scene in his "Runaway" film. It's amazing musically. Song starts out slow and weird. With vocals from Bon Iver. But comes in very hard. I love the short verse from Kanye. Probably one of my favorites from the album. 9.5/10

13. Who Will Survive In America feat. Gil Scott Heron - The albums comes to a conclusion with spoken word from Gil Scott Heron.

I've done a large number of reviews and this is the first one to earn the grade of an A.

J Cole - Friday Night Lights (Trailer)


J Cole - Friday Night Lights (Trailer)

J Cole - Friday Night Lights (shot by BBGUN) from bbgun on Vimeo.

It drops on Friday, be ready.

11.09.2010

Interview With JPolo (FiascoFriday)

I posted the first interview with Lyrix and here the one with JPolo. These two people went to Fiasco Friday. Check interview below.
Tell us a abit about yourself?

WELL MY NAME IS JONATHAN I GO BY JONNY IM FROM NEW YORK, I NOW LIVE IN VA. 
IM INTO FASHION AND ART AND I LOVE MY TEAM MAKING YOU THINK!

Your recently went to Fiasco Friday, what was it like?

IT WAS AMAZING I CAN'T REALLY PUT INTO WORDS WHAT IT WAS LIKE, BUT IT WAS SUCH A HUMBLING EXPERINCE, 
AND I NOW SEE WHY LUPE HAS A STRONG FAN BASE. 

Was there any certain vibe when you were there?

THE VIBE WAS VERY CHILL, MELLOW, A LOT OF LAID BACK PEOPLE. 

There were many people there at Fiasco Friday, did you get a chance to speak to some?

YEAH I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO A FEW PEOPLE Hannah Kramer, Beverly Nathaniel, Chris Tatum, Alicia Moes, 
Luella Mink, Dosage, Matt La Corte.  After the protest, we grabbed some pizza with one of the organizers of the protest, Matt Morrelli, 
as well as Alicia, Luella, and some others.

Did you enjoy the experience of Fiasco Friday?

YEAH I ENJOYED IT A LOT SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET, I WAS A PART OF HISTORY THAT DAY ILL NEVER FORGET THAT!! 

Lasers will be coming out early next year, what do you have to say about it? 

IM EXCITED FOR IT I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HE BRINGS TO US. I KNOW ITS GONNA BE SOME FIRE ILL BE SURE TO COP A FEW COPIES OF IT TO SUPPORT HIM BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS HE DESERVES IT.

Whats your favorite Lupe Fiasco song and album?

FAVORITE SONG "LITTLE WEAPON" AND ALBUM "THE COOL"

So what other artists do you listen to?

FABOLOUS, DIGGY, ASHER ROTH, TYGA, CHRIS BROWN, BIG SEAN, KANYE WEST, LIL WAYNE, DOSAGE, 
DRAKE, KID CUDI, LYRIX, KONCEPT, KAY BLOKX, LUPE, RICK ROSS, BRUNO MARS, TREY SONGZ, BOB,
JADAKISS, 

Have you ever thought about making a blog? 

I HAVE A BLOG DONT POST ON IT ANYMORE, BUT I'VE BEEN THINKIN ABOUT STARTING UP AGAIN 
YOU GUYS CAN CHECK IT OUT  

WWW.THISISAGOODLIFE.BLOGSPOT.COM

Is there anything else you would like to say?
FIRST I WANNA SHOUTOUT MY TEAM MAKING YOU THINK! (MYT!)

shoutouts to matt morrelli and everyone i met at fiasco friday

Shoutouts to lupe fiasco!!!! LASERS...fnf uppp!!!

check out a video that lyrix put together of our journey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctATL_pb1d4 hope you guys enjoy the video 

Follow me on twitter @JPolo_

Levi - Ken Masters


Levi is back with a new track called "Ken Masters" and its produced by him as well. He also did a good Friday picture for it aha, Boy I Kick It Ken Masters.

Nicki Minaj's "Black Men's


11.07.2010

Interview With Lyrix (Fiasco Friday)

Recently I was speaking to JPolo on twitter he went to Fiasco Friday with Lyrix, so we deiced to do an interview about it and here the first one with Lyrix.


Tell us a abit about yourself?

My name is Lyrix of MakingYouThink. I'm 16 and from Richmond, VA. I'm a positive-conscious Hip Hop artist that knows and appreciates music.

Your recently went to Fiasco Friday, what was it like?

It was a historic experience. Fans and supporters from all over came to get what they wanted, and we did. Power to the people.

Was there any certain vibe when you were there?

The vibe was like no other. It was a bunch of down-to-earth, intellectual sneakerheads who believed in action, and they all had a passion for good music, especially Lupe Fiasco's. It's like we all grew up together on the same block.

There were many people there at Fiasco Friday, did you get a chance to speak to some?

Yeah, during the protest we chalked it up with a lot of people with dope personalities and outlooks. Hannah Kramer, Beverly Nathaniel, Chris Tatum, Alicia Moes, Luella Mink, Dosage, Matt La Corte. We all exchanged info and what not. After the protest, we grabbed some pizza with one of the organizers of the protest, Matt Morrelli, as well as Alicia, Luella, and some others.
Did you enjoy the experience of Fiasco Friday?

It was a once-in-a-lifetime kinda thing. People walking on the street that didn't even know what was going on were enjoying it and rocking out with us to the music. It's so beautiful to see people who have the same beliefs and views. And for those same people to become upset about something, and actually come out and DO something about it, was amazing.

Lasers will be coming out early next year, what do you have to say about it?

I'll be the first person in line at 11:59 the day before. I bought "The Cool" a couple times, just because. "Lasers" comes out on my 17th birthday, and I'm asking my friends at school for copies of the album just because. Good music is like candy to us kind of people.

Whats your favorite Lupe Fiasco song and album?

Favorite song–as of now, "Intruder Alert." Lu' is one of the very few people in music that is bold enough to address some of the things he does. Favorite album–as of now, "The Cool." That's when I first heard Lupe's music. That album changed my life for the better. But that's another story.

So what other artists do you listen to?

I like Ryan Leslie a lot. When I met him, he seemed really down-to-earth as well. B.o.B was on my list since way back, I like Em, Nas, Wale, J. Cole, Big Sean. Other than that, I mostly listen to the people I work with. Embezz Pierre, Mike Hews, my brother, Koncept.

Have you ever thought about making a blog?

LifexLovexLyrix.wordpress.com
Is there anything else you would like to say?

Here comes the cliche shout-out part. Shout outs to Matt Morrelli for organizing Fiasco Friday along with Matt La Corte. Shout outs Lupe Fiasco for being himself. Shout outs to my brother, Koncept. Our mixture, "Koncepts & Lyricism," will be dropping soon. And my bro J-Polo who was the main reason we didn't get lost in New York on Fiasco Friday. And hit me on Twitter @LyrixMYT. Real Hip Hop for life.