By KEVIN JACOB
Staff Writer
Hello all and welcome to another edition of “Kickin It with KJ.” I know that it seems like an eternity since the last column I’ve written (by my calculations, it’s probably almost been a month *shrugs*), but I am now back and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Many big records, many big mixtapes, so let’s get into it.
Isaiah Rashad, Cilvia Demo: TDE’s newest signee Isaiah Rashad released his first official project since signing with rap’s elite crew and to be honest, even though it dropped back in the end of January, this album/mixtape is one of the chillest projects I’ve heard all year. A lot of the production is really cloudy and dream-like, but with some soul to it. Rashad’s got a lot of flows which balances things out very well and it makes out for some great songs. I was really feeling “Webbie Flow,” “Heavenly Father,” and “Brad Jordan,” which is a nice tribute to the one and only Scarface (note: not Tony Montana). My favorite track off of Cilvia Demo though has to be “R.I.P. Kevin Miller.” Kevin Miller is rapper Master P’s brother and it seems that Rashad, who is from the South, is heavily influenced by Master P and other Southern legends, which is evident by the Scarface tribute. Anyway, the track goes hard as hell, with one of the best choruses I’ve heard in a while. Overall, I think my only main quip with this project is that “Soliloquy” isn’t longer. That track is an absolute monster, but at less than two minutes long, it only shows a slight bit of Rashad’s aggressive side that isn’t really seen on much else of the project. Although Rashad does have a little bit to work on lyrically, I think that for a first full- length like this, he’s on the right track. When you’ve got a work that has 14 tracks and there isn’t one that is really weak, especially for a rookie, it’s impressive. Definitely looking forward to what Isaiah Rashad has in store for the future.
Rating: 9/10
Schoolboy Q, Oxymoron: Speaking of TDE, Schoolboy Q has finally released his debut album in Oxymoron and I would say that it lives up to its expectations. When I listen to Q, I’m not really expecting any lyrical masterpiece. I expect a lot of gangster sh!t and straight up bangers. That’s exactly what you get with this album. “Gangsta” starts the album off with a bang and then goes into “Los Awesome,” which comes with another solid Jay Rock verse (can’t wait ‘til he releases a new album) and some of Pharrell’s best production since the early Star Trek days. Add in “Collard Greens,” “Hoover Street,” and the crack rock that is “What They Want,” and the first half of the album starts off with a bang. The second half of the album is decent as well, but didn’t really match how the first half of the album sounds for me. “The Purge” wasn’t as great as I thought it’d be and both “His and Her Friend” and “Grooveline Part 2” were weak. Other good tracks are evident, though. “Oxymoron/Prescription” is probably the most personal we’ve ever seen Q, and “Man of the Year” is the best turn up track on the album. My favorite track overall though has to be “Blind Threats.” Great rhymes and chorus by Q added with a really nice mellow, but at the same time eerie, instrumental mixed with a verse by Raekwon and Q’s got a winner with threats. In the end, although I found some of the album to be a bit lackluster, I think that this album is pretty good. I don’t know if it’s better than Habits & Contradictions, but it’s close. Fig Siiiiiddddee.
Rating: 8/10
Rick Ross, Mastermind: Rozay just released his sixth solo effort Mastermind and the album is decent. I didn’t really know what to expect, as most of the singles are weak (especially “War Ready,” despite a great Jeezy verse. But that thing is seven minutes long….) but Ross takes it back to that Deeper Than Rap production for the most part and that’s the Rozay we all love to hear. Ross has an impeccable ear for beats and the lush, grandiose sounds on Mastermind are no exception. The intro “Rich Is Gangsta” is great. “Sanctified” is even better, with Kanye giving one of his best features in recent memory. But amidst some really solid tracks is a lot of filler and a lot of horsesh!t. First off, I have a problem with the track “Nobody.” Now, “Nobody” heavily samples Biggie Smalls’ “You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You).” This sample shouldn’t have been cleared because it’s downright degrading to Hip-Hop. To have a rapper, especially Rick Ross, try to recreate a classic Notorious B.I.G. song is blasphemy. I don’t care if Puff, who has also had his recent string of bullsh!t, thinks that this ex-correctional officer is the reincarnate of Christopher Wallace. He’s not. “What a Shame” is exactly what the title implies and of course you have the stereotypical weekend track “In Vein,” which sounds like every other weekend. “Walkin’ on Air” repeats the Rozay and Meek Mill over a trap beat record. Now, despite not liking quite a bit of the album, the best tracks on here bar none are “Paradise Lost” and “Thug Cry.” Although “Thug Cry” slightly sneaks a sample of Souls of Mischief’s 93 ‘til Infinity, it seems to be more of a homage instead of a straight rip off like “Nobody.” It also sees Ross delivering some of the finest bars on the album, along with a surprising Lil’ Wayne feature that isn’t complete garbage. Maybe he’s finally off the molly. Is there hope for Tha Carter V? Not sold yet. Although there is slight hope. Before, I would’ve said zero. Anyways, back to Rozay. Do I think this album is great? No. But it is somewhat decent. If you can get past the filler, you can find some really great songs on here. Now let’s just hope Ross stays alive long enough to see the next album. No shots fired. Although in typing that, it’s a solid pun.
Rating: 5/10
A bit of a short edition this week, as I want to save some material for next week’s column focusing on new music, including a couple of mixtapes and Pharrell’s new album, G I R L. Anyways, have a good week everybody. Thanks for reading.
