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Overview
Earl Sweatshirt is a rapper from Ladera Heights, California. He achieved fame from Odd Future's free Earl campaign. Pioneering tongue twisters while using assonance and alliteration like early Eminem; he's abandoned trying to impress his audience with his intelligence. This album is more about originality and laid back vibes. It takes a bit of an adjustment, but it's good in it's own way.
Defining Track
Nowhere2go is written like a piece of performance art. Like most of this album, it's more of a classy experience than a musical endeavor.
Final Thoughts
Earl is good, but this is not a reflection of how talented he is. He seems to be coasting on his name and trying to silence his criticizers from the last album. It's more simplistic and laid back, his delivery is harder, and the production is abstract and varied. Some Rap Songs feels as effortless as the title. He's still cool, but really technically proficient artists like Earl and Eminem tend to prioritize showing off lyricism rather than making songs that sound good.

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Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs
7.8/10
Overview
Sheck Wes is a rapper from Harlem, New York. Similar to Playboi Carti, he makes really hood music and then performs it like rock music. He's very intelligent but it's a raw, crude kind of street smarts that blends in. His instrumentals are mildly inventive and a lot of his songs are hit or miss but his attitude and confidence are what make this album relevant. Like the title "Mudboy" implies, he has a very solid sense of self. He talks about his explicit diction chosen to express his emotions and interestingly enough, his music is actually very cathartic. Crowds have a lot of fun with his writing style.
Defining Track
Mo Bamba is the premier track and it's great. He makes it clear that he isn't going to accept any unequal treatment. It performs well because it's written like one long hardcore breakdown.
Final Thoughts
Sheck Wes is a very strong person. His message is really just to overpower the world when it treats you poorly. He demands respect and from observing his performances or music videos, people usually give it to him. MUDBOY isn't perfect, but it's a good album.
Overview
Danger Incorporated is a duo from Atlanta, Georgia. Danger Reality is a little less hip hop based than their other music but the writing is still very inspired by the culture. There's a lot of layered duo vocals and spacey production. This album would be great for driving a long distance or being sedated on some sort of substance. It's not breathtakingly original, but it's well put together. One side note is they're affiliated with Father's label which is funny because they have such a polarity in the target audience.
Defining Track
Superstars is about having a superstar attitude before the success. It's written like a hip hop song. The singing and rapping is fused and the song is pretty good.
Final Thoughts
Danger Incorporated is a nice change of pace. They could be really successful but they're a little hard to fit into hip hop or band culture at the moment. Danger Reality isn't even their best collection of songs now, and it seems like the hip hop aspect has been downplayed to catch more traction. Regardless, they are a refreshing team.

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Danger Incorporated - Danger Reality
7/10
Overview
Lil Wayne is a rapper from Hollygrove, New Orleans. Tha Carter 3 was by far his most successful album and sent him into the stratosphere of mainstream hip hop. Lil Wayne pioneered using comedy and metaphors. Tha Carter 3 wasn't very polished and some felt it was making a mockery of hood culture. However Tha Carter 4 was less interesting because he was more serious and polished. Tha Carter 5 is somewhere in between serious talent and fun word play. Some of the biggest brands in music like Lil Wayne are getting rebranded in the changing internet landscape. This album was produced very well culturally. It features collabs with all of the highest profile indie rappers in the game.
Defining Track
Don't Cry is the starting track and features XXXTentacion. It's extremely good. It's so good that the rest of the album is a little underwhelming compared to it, but it just set the bar really high.
Final Thoughts
Lil Wayne has a stream of consciousness style that hides his punchlines a bit. Taking a break to laugh at some of his own jokes like he did in Tha Carter 3 would have been nice on occasion. This album has very little comedy and that's his strongest niche. All of his most memorable moments are comedic. The production on the Cater 3 was epic and motion picture sounding. These instrumentals are better than 4 but not better than 3. Lil Wayne is going to expose a new generation to real hip hop, and RapIndie is just glad to help him do it.

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Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V
9/10
Overview
XXXTentacion is a rapper/singer from Plantation, Florida. He came basically out of nowhere and dominated the indie rap scene with "Look At Me". It was a fiery anthem that was the closes rap had ever came to a metal breakdown. As good as it was, it didn't show a lot of talent range. However, if you followed the rest of his music, you would see that he has a lot of versatility. 17 is by far some of the most emo and raw hip hop/rock available. His swag is a lot like his hair, he's very thug and skater at an almost 50% equilibrium.
Defining Track
Everybody Dies In Their Dreams is really catchy. His music sounds like death, but in a very soothing optimistic kind of way. He finds sincerity and meaning within the midst of tragedy.
Final Thoughts
XXX's young death is a tragedy for the indie rap legacy because he was so impressive in his debut releases that we'll never know what his experienced music would have sounded like. 17 isn't for everybody but it's emotional which is something that is always a nice change of pace in hip hop or indie rock even for that matter. R.I.P.

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XXXTentacion - 17
9/10
Overview
Travis Scott is a recording artist from Houston, Texas. This album is hip hop in production but filled with psuedo-singing in a different way than Wayne and Drake's early pioneering style of doing it. Although Travis Scott's focus isn't impressively singing, listeners should compare the vocals to a band. He's creating the hip hop equivalent of that. His music isn't revolutionary, but the focus is him. He's created a cultural significance similar to Kanye just off of his presentation with a lot less money. Also, deep masculine auto-tune vocals was never done by anyone else. It's gets old, but it's original; patented even.
Defining Track
Stop Trying To Be God is the single. It's a good song, but the target audience is unclear. His music is filled with standard urban vices that are much worse than being sacrilegious, but I guess you have to draw the line somewhere. It's memorable which is very hard to do in the digital age.
Final Thoughts
Travis Scott is part of a dying breed. I just can't bring myself to dissect someone carrying so much cultural weight for the Indie Rap community. His relationship with Kylie, his daughter; somebody is enjoying his music very much and I prefer it to many indie albums of other genres.

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Travis Scott - Astroworld
7/10
Overview
Drake is a rapper from Toronto. Mixing Degrassi and Myspace fame gave him exposure but not respect. After he worked with Lil Wayne, his popularity became fame. He and The Weeknd nearly created a new genre on Take Care. However, he set the bar so high he wasn't able to keep it there without The Weeknd's lyric contributions. Lately, he's been trying to hold back his talent to give other artists a chance and not outshine the culture that made him. As a result, his work had become mediocre. Not in comparison to the bulk of the rap game but mediocre compared to how good he was even back on Myspace. With that said, Scorpion is great. He's flowing, he's singing, he's unloading, and he sounds like he's enjoying life more. The problem with this album is really the social marketing. Drake is universal but that holds him back from specializing his hold on a specific audience. Hipsters are not the market here. The hood could get into it, but it's not slang focused or trap-life friendly. The girls get a few love songs, but would they be excited about an album with so much rap?
Defining Track
God's plan is catchy. It's nice but it's nowhere near the quality of the rest of this album. Also, it's a different mood. The album is a little somber which is ok for Drake because that seems to be his writing style comfort zone.
Final Thoughts
Being hard on drake is easy, but haters just mean that other people are passionate about your music too. Scorpion is his best album since Take Care, and is the best album dropped this year. Good job Aubrey.
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.

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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.

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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.
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