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Overview
Playboi Carti is a rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. Playboi Carti is a strange character. He is very proud of the hood but has a lot of German influence in his style simultaneously. He puts nothing into his music however, his personality and presentation is so impressive he can sell 0% effort. He delivers what his name promises, he's a social butterfly that even has one tattooed on his chest. The strongest aspect of his music is it's made to be performed in a similar style as Lil Uzi Vert's production and writing style.
Defining Track
Love Hurts is the single of the release and is very reflective of the rest of the album. He collaborates with another "play boy", Travis Scott. The song isn't technically impressive but Playboi's triumphant attitude towards life is rare and very pleasant. Most rappers have 10% of Carti's confidence.
Final Thoughts
Playboi Carti is cool but he isn't an artist. He could be just as prolific a person and write some decent bars too. Forcibly low brow music doesn't make a difference unless you get the whole populous to enjoy it.
Overview
Blocboy JB is a rapper from Memphis Tennessee. There are rappers that hide their intelligence. Blocboy is one of them. His name, his album art, is precarious; his timing; his sound; A lot of thought was put into this release. It's laser targeted. Ironically, his rap ability is laughable. His punchlines are decent and he stays on beat, but his songs would be nothing without his adlibs: "Wha.......?" "On my mama!!". He is talking to a very specific group of hip hop fans.
Defining Track
Look Alive was JB's debut song and is by far the strongest. Not only is Drake featured, but JB's rap is better than on his other tracks. It's menacing in tone but the lyrics are almost like apologetic rationalization for why they're in "battle mode".
Final Thoughts
Blocboy JB doesn't have a lot to say. Girls, guns, drug dealing... He's got a sense of humor which is evident in his name. He doesn't take himself seriously but he doesn't take his music seriously either. This album was made for the hood and would be lit at a party.

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Blocboy JB - Simi
6.5/10
Overview
Migos is a rap group trio from Georgia. The interesting thing about Migos is although their music is about trapping, it isn't usually trap music. I have to go ignorant to talk about this album. It's soooo black. Really black. Kanye by comparison sounds pretentious. Gucci Mane is higher brow. I guess the fun thing about them is in an era with so much cultural unrest, you could just ruin someone anti hip hop's whole life with one of these songs. To be fair though, celebrations of cultural power are more effective without proficiency i.e. "Good Time" (Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City).
Defining Track
Motor Sport is the single of the album and has both Nicki Minaj and Cardi B featured on it. It's a good song but both women rap circles around Migos.
Final Thoughts
Migos don't try that hard. They rap like they started rapping when they became famous. However, if you look at culture, their fanbase is understandable. If you're looking for lyricism, this album went over your head.

Rap Independent
Migos - Culture II
7/10
Overview
Vic Mensa is a rapper from Chicago Illinois. He's a part of Chance the Rapper's Save Money Camp. He's a solid lyricist and his hooks are pretty good. What's interesting about him is how intelligent he is to be so focused on poverty and oppression. He sounds a little like J Cole in his delivery. He's not trying to re-invent the wheel but he's talented enough to sell a standard formula.
Defining Track
Down For Some Ignorance is a really good song. It features Cheif Keef and Joey Purp which is a really combination. Joey Purp is heavily loyal to the suburbs and Cheif Keef is as gangster as they come. The hook is fantastic. The verses are fantastic. It's definitely worth listening to.
Final Thoughts
Straight forward hip hop is not bad. There are lots of bands that use a very simple style. The issue is it takes a lot more talent to make it without a logical draw. His punchlines are a little weak. He's not telling jokes and his lyrics are not remarkably clever. He's very good, but not great... yet.

Rap Independent
Vic Mensa - The Autobiography
8/10
    
Overview
Tyler, The Creator is a rapper and producer from Ladera Heights California. Lil Wayne embraced rock and comedy, Wiz Khalifa targeted skaters with Taylor Gang, and Tyler came and created the first predominantly suburban hip hop audience. For that reason, he's basically like the Tupac of suburban rap. What people have to understand about the "golf" context is, they are without a doubt some of the most mercenary artists in the game. They will stoop to any low or embrace any high for money. However, that's a part of not caring which they are all about. Goblin (his widespread debut) was very demonic themed. Cherry Bomb (his last album) was suburban credit recovery. This album has a little of both. It's got a jazz sound and there are no pitch-altered vocals, but it's a little down beat. These aren't skater montage songs, they're more like get high or fit into upper class sophistication songs, so they're not for everyone.
Defining Track
"Who Dat Boy" is the single and it's got a nice build-up introduction for live performances. The main concept of the song is to satire the ignorance of the people not young or intelligent enough to respect him for his talent. He's using rural slang instead of hood slang which is very clever.
Final Thoughts
This album has some high points, a fantastic piano solo, some introspective thoughts on the emptiness of solitary fame, and some social success wisdom; but it's not breathtakingly impressive sonically. There are better lyricists, and there are genres that handle relaxing/sophisticated music better than hip hop can. However, as an artist overall, he has very little competition.
Overview
Jay-Z is a rapper from Brooklyn New York. This album is very laid back. It's calm and cultured. His verses aren't overly complicated. "Your blood money, I giggle at it." "There's no such thing as an ugly billionaire, I'm cute" Jay-Z's selling attributes are his resilient attitude and the knowledge that he can back up all of his statements about affluence. However, as a result, you don't get very much variety with his current music. Is there a Jay-Z song where he doesn't mention his wealth? There's probably one.. I think... However, to be fair, that's an integral part of hip hop culture. Usually Jay-Z targets the hood, but this strange album cover is appropriate for the flow of this album.
Defining Track
"Caught Their Eyes" is a feature with Frank Ocean and it's highly sophisticated. It's a nice song but it isn't nearly as good as these artist's talents could have made it. It's like they're jogging instead of a full artistic sprint.
Final Thoughts
This album is struggling functionally. Jay-Z gloating about wealth is usually done in a more black pride/excellence kind of display. He has the ego, but hasn't really embraced a non-hip hop focused audience here. Who is this album for? The cover is half ego and half acquiescent. Jay-Z albums are more about celebrating success than innovating the genre. This album is solid.

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Jay-Z - 4:44
8.5/10
Overview
D. Jones is a rapper from Philadelphia. He is a good rapper. His style is very generic, but it's impressive. He's the sort of rapper that needs a better cosign to really shine. If he were on a larger label, there would be a floodgate of people proud to support him. That's the issue with being a hood focused rapper; there's a lot more competition and the audience isn't working hard to find less prevalent acts. D. Jones has a old school gangsta voice and he's very passionate about classic hip hop culture.
Defining Track
Yoda is a song about wisdom and success. He's giving a lot of colorful images and has a few punchline jokes. It's got a nice beat but the name Yoda is a little random.
Final Thoughts
D. Jones is better than Rick Ross and has a philanthropic message like Kodak Black. He's as hood as Migos, but has better bars. His weakness is having a very bland persona. If I told you he's a rapper, you could basically close your eyes and envision him in detail.

Rap Independent
D. Jones - Loudelphia II
7/10
Xquisite  
Overview
XXXTentacion is a rapper from Plantation, Florida. This album is definitely not for everyone. It's good, but it's arguably terrible. This is hip hop with the spirit of very heavy metal. Hip hop artists may be looking for something more traditional. Metal fans aren't usually that receptive to hip hop artists. It's a gamble but so was Drake including singing. This album is designed to be performed live, and XXX has a very polished live show.
Defining Track
"Look At Me" is the single. It's almost so angry that it inverses into vulnerability. There's a line where he threatens someone if they kill one of his friends. It's produced really well. The song uses breakdown pacing with hip hop drums.
Final Thoughts
This is the kind of release that should be changing society but doesn't because it gets over-looked by people that don't understand what they're listening to. This level of experimentation is what RapIndie was created to protect.

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XXXTentacion - Revenge
8/10

Xquisite    
Overview
Kendrick Lamar is a rapper form Compton, California. He has been doing very well this year. Damn is a collection of conscious rap mixed with fresh flow patterns and presentation styles. There are no ad-libs. There are no breathe-taking instrumentals. He is coasting off of pure talent. Damn is a good album. It's much better than "Untitled" and "To Pimp a Butterfly." He's always had a very insightful look at politics. His focus on jurisdiction rather than discrimination is more effective. In DNA, he says he feels like people have been "fed forgiveness." Connecting privilege to ethics is very astute.
Defining Track
"Humble" is phenomenal. No song has been that good and original in a long time. He's pumping a large amount of hip hop's hype single handedly. He was drifting into irrelevance on the mainstream scene until it dropped. He's back.
Final Thoughts
Kendrick Lamar is very talented. There isn't anything revolutionary about his subject. He isn't bending the genre rules. He's just being an incredible poet.

Rap Independent
Kendrick Lamar - Damn
9/10
Xquisite

Overview
Playboi Carti is a rapper from Atlanta Georgia. He has had a very good year. Teaming up with Asap Rocky heavy has allowed his debut to be highly anticipated. As far as a genre, it's basically experimental trap music. If you hear the album and try to weigh his skills as a rapper, you have not understood it. His ignorance is the point and his presentation is highly thought-out. It feels a little like a Lil Uzi Vert album but it's less rock influenced. It's refreshing to see an artist get well received being so humble and low brow. Hipsters will say that an artist isn't truly rap but never take the time to listen to an artist they feel is; (Half activism).
Defining Track
New Choppa is a feature with Asap Rocky. Asap goes in. He's definitely been practicing since his hype has decreased with his last album. He's in the previous indie rap wave of artist and hasn't established himself in the mainstream arena. The song is very good and Asap is well complemented by Playboi association.
Final Thoughts
Playboi Carti is just a very cool person. Although he isn't reinventing the genre, just being anti-sophistication and well received by his audience is something I would like to see his haters try to pull off.
Overview
Wu-Tang Clan is a hip hop group from New York City. In the 90's they helped develop the sound of rap music entirely. At the time, there weren't a variety of flow patterns and deliveries. The genre catered to a delivery that sort of bounced around. Everyone in the genre "hipped and hopped". The "Wu-Tang" name came from a martial arts film.
Defining Track
C.R.E.A.M. or "Cash rules everything around me" is a song about the struggle to achieve financial success from relative poverty. It has a very interestingly upbeat instrumental that helps balance out the intensity of the lyrics.
Final Thoughts
Wu-Tang's hip hop style has been improved sonically. However, the presentation and message is current even today. Instead of an indie rapper like Asap Twelvy wearing a sombrero, they made an analogy about asian culture. Sampled instrumentals haven't improved much since the 90's either.

Rap Independent
Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
7/10
Xquisite    
Overview
Drake is a rapper from Toronto Canada. He is one of the most successful artists in the game. It's well deserved. His lyrics are always solid, his hooks are always memorable, and his production is iconic. More life is better than many of his recent albums to combat Meek Mill's "not writing" attack. Drake has gone through a lot lately. The darker skinned writing album cover with blue writing is a very good summary of the vibe of the album. It's a little dark. The writing is good but it's almost too serious. Drake has two major strengths over most rappers musically. The first is he can paint really vivid relatable pictures. The second is he has very innovative delivery.
Defining Track
The song "Glow" with Kanye is one of the most forward thinking rap songs created in years. The collab album with Kanye falling through is a huge disappointment to everyone with hearing in this world. RapIndie loves Kanye West but while you're angry about a light skin rapper shining through politics, look at the complexion of your wife and kids. Drake's not lighter than Kim; grow up. However, if there's a deeper explanation and Drake wearing a Kanye mask doesn't accurately explain the situation; Kanye would benefit to explain it.
Final Thoughts
Drake was capturing the come up during Take Care. Now he's covering the dark side of fame and his lack of fulfillment and it's just not as enjoyable to listen to despite his talent. He needs to repair his love life because that was really his strongest subject matter. He isn't thug enough to rap about poverty and violence. There's a song on the album called teenage fever. Be careful Drake, you don't need more success and especially not that way.
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