YBN Cordae - The Lost Boy (R.I. Review)

Overview
YBN Cordae is a rapper from Raleigh California. He's an interesting mix stylistically. He's a solid lyricist that focuses on struggle and keeps his music "mid brow". It's simple and complex in a very moderate level like T.I.'s Paper Trail album. That's a solid move because it gives him a lot of fanbase flexibility. The only drawback to his message is he lacks a point. He isn't convicted about his life choices like a proud thug, and he spends a lot of his bars defending himself. If he really cares that much about the ethics of his choices, he should stop defending them.
Defining Track
His best song on this release is his track "Have Mercy". It was wildly successful from Lyrical Lemonade and the album sounds like it was the blueprint. He's extremely consistent. He has no lazy bars which is refreshing. On the other hand, he isn't innovating rap with anything creative or difficult either.
Final Thoughts
YBN is good. His come-up ethical struggle spirituality is nice because it puts him in the footsteps of hood leaders and activists, but it's hard to stand out with an angle that generic. He's talented enough to do something a little more creative and I await his sophomore drop.

https://youtu.be/Jua_BVw1kHY

https://youtu.be/Jua_BVw1kHY

Denzel Curry - Zuu

Overview

Denzel Curry has been rapping for a while. He was a XXL Freshman, he went viral wearing white face paint in a circus, and now he's rapping for his day ones. Denzel Curry is a talented lyricist. His punchlines are occasionally entertaining. He just seems like he's still finding himself. The suburban audiences weren't highly thrilled with the white face paint, but the hood hasn't really gravitated to him yet. With that said, Zuu is a solid album. I'm excited to see what he does in his sophomore album after he's been truly famous for a while because he has the skill, just not the focus.

Defining Track

Ricky is a song about remaining loyal to your hood. It's cool but it sounds like he's doing it because he feels obligated. He's also talking about not trusting girls which is a little generic, but maybe that's relatable.

Final Thoughts

Denzel Curry is so close. He needs 3% more intrigue; a little more demographic focus. He's got the talent, but this album isn't him. He'll get it right next time I'm sure because even this album is very well put together.

Rap Independent
Denzel Curry - Zuu
7/10

Nvdeem - Dearborn

Overview
Nvdeem is a rapper from Dearborn, Michigan. Dearborn is very current straight forward hip hop. It's not revolutionary but it's solid skill-wise. Nvdeem has nice flows, interesting perspectives, and a few jokes. Dearborn is about his lifestyle. As a result, it's very raw. On the other hand, the imagery in the songs is so colorful, you almost feel like you're living the lifestyle with him. The instrumentals are good. The weakest part of this album is Nvdeem as a persona. He's very bland. In 2019, most rappers that make it are more interesting than the average rapper by image as well as sound.
Defining Track
"Dead Promises" features Bandgang Lonnie Bands. That's impressive because Lonnie is on the come up right now. It's a song that equates heart rate from partying to a heart health emotionally. It's creative and well-handled. It's also performance tempo.
Final Thoughts
Nvdeem is a good artist, but he needs a more interesting angle than "rapper from Dearborn". This is a solid introduction with a lot of promise, my only hope is that he lives up to it with his rap career.

Rap Independent
Nvdeem - Dearborn
6.9/10

Tyler, the Creator - Igor (R.I. Review)

Overview Tyler Okonma is from Ladera Heights, California. Igor feels like the continuation of 'SFFB". It has very little rap. In fact, it's so barely hip hop culture influenced, I can't see any of the hood even listening to it seriously. The issue is, I doubt Tyler, the Creator would even classify himself as a "singer". The best part of the music is the incredible production which is light years ahead of other rap albums in sophistication; however, it's so prominent and interesting, it outshines all the vocals and lyrics. It assimilates with indie bands that have no intention on making it and is the hip hop equivalent of that culture clamoring for high class instrumentation and abstraction. Kanye, Playboi, and Pharell have very muted verses. There aren't many collabs. The few raps are by far the high points of this album so it's disappointing how Kanye "Life of Pablo" he went on most of this album. Defining Track 'What's Good" is a song of venting; surprise, surprise; but it's good. The bass hits, the synths play, the weakest aspect is the message. This entire album seems kinda vague in the lyrics.
Final Thoughts
This album is not really hip hop, but it's not rnb. It's got a very mature, adult sound. He definitely seems to be appealing to intellectuals and sophisticated audiences that are underwhelmed with hip hop culture and sound. It would be nice to hear more rap and less altered, strained head-voice refrains. These are some of the best instrumentals he has ever created, but he really should consider making a collab album with Frank Ocean or Kali Uchis if he really wants to write melodic songs. The other aspects of his presentation like his performances, packaging, and connections will bring this album to life in the next Camp Flog Gnaw, but as an album you will be disappointed unless you listen to Tyler's music for the instrumentation.

Scarlxrd - 0000.Infinity

Overview
Scarlxrd is a rapper/screamer from Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. XXXTentacion pioneered hip hop with screamed breakdowns. Scarlxrd pushes it to the next level in every song on this album. His screamed vocals are slightly open-voiced like Oliver Sykes and are very reminiscent. He's not really the best rapper and it's not handled in a way that feels like hip hop culture. He has a couple nice flow patterns but without the breakdowns, it would be very mediocre. His presentation is fantastic. This release will definitely be remembered.
Defining Track
STFU is about being overwhelmed by critical opinions. It's upbeat; almost too upbeat. It feels like a party even though he's supposed to be angry. It's good, but it has a very narrow audience because they would need to be open-minded to rock and die-hard loyal to rap to get into it.
Final Thoughts
Scarlxrd is a very good artist. This album needs a little more variety and maybe a couple features but he's going to be very successful with his sound, look, and timing. Nice work, Scarlxrd.

Rap Independent
Scarlxrd - 0000.Infinity
9/10

Juice WRLD - Death Race For Love

Overview

JuiceWRLD is a singer/hip hop artist from Chicago Illinois. His name is a little strange, but his music doesn't connect to it at all. He sings over hip hop instrumentals in a style similar to Post Malone, but he's the opposite in his style and message. His delivery is extremely WHITE. That's politically incorrect but it's the only way to do his presentation justice. The blond dreads, the subject matter, the music video affiliates; he's going really far. Time will tell if his style is reciprocated with the fan loyalty of Tyler, or even Wiz Khalifa, but he's all in.
Defining Track
Robbery is about an unrequited romance. The song is good, but the girl in it doesn't sound like she's into him as much as he's into her; but again that's a slight emo tortured-soul motif that gives his punk style more authenticity.
Final Thoughts
His delivery is definitely his selling feature. If he were to sing like Post Malone, he would have made it nowhere with his music. That's not to say it isn't good though, he just needs a little more flair. He's almost believable as a mac, he's almost successfully crossing over with his audience, he's almost impressive on every song. Definitely going to be on the lookout for his sophomore drop. Congratulations Juice.

Rap Independent
JuiceWRLD - Death Race For Love
7.8/10

Sabrina Carpenter - Singular Act 1

Overview
Sabrina Carpenter is a singer/songwriter from Lehigh Pennsylvania. She has a really classy up-scale presentation, and a soulful hip hop influenced sound. None of her album covers prepare you for the music. That kind of paradox is in the music too. It's like when someone really innocent tries really hard to be alluring and mysterious. Her voice is nice but it isn't breathtaking except in a couple falsetto moments. If you listen closely, it doesn't really seem to be about indiscretion or an actual relationship. It's just a lot of feelings about things but it's more endearing than songs about fast lifestyles or being happily taken.
Defining Track
The strongest song is Almost Love. It's poetic, the production is very urban, and it's energetic. If she threw some high notes in the end or had any sort of breakdown or rap feature to keep it from being a little repetitive, it would be great instead of very good.
Final Thoughts
Sabrina isn't singing for most women, or most men. It's like really clean seduction. It's slightly hood bop-friendly music. What sells it is her delivery. She's very likable because of the sincerity. This album was not written to make money and I think it's a bit underrated because of that.

Rap Independent
Sabrina Carpenter - Singular Act 1
8.2/10

YNW Melly - We All Shine

Overview
YNW Melly is a rapper-singer from Gifford, Florida. He isn't really a rapper or singer, but what's interesting is this album straddles that fence 50-50. "We All Shine" is his debut and it's a decent effort. His vocals are consistent but not impressively so. However, his melodies are memorable and work well. All his songs seem polished enough for radio, but they would blend in aside from his hype as an artist.
Defining Track
Mixed personalities is a collaboration with the hip hop heavy-weight, Kanye West. It's very good, but he doesn't out-sing ye. Kanye is definitely the force behind it. The song is about his on and off relationship with an inconsistent girl.
Final Thoughts
YNW Melly stands out from music at it's simplicity. It isn't overly nerdy or abstract. It's just the hood experience given in a colorful way.

Rap Independent
YNW Melly. - We All Shine
7/10

J.I.D. - DiCaprio 2

Overview

J.I.D. is a rapper from Atlanta Georgia. It's hard to describe his rap style. His voice/delivery is like Kendrick Lamar but he uses more flow-switches and he bounces around his tracks. He isn't a conscious rapper but he has the technical prowess of one. It's impressive how he presents himself as a standard rapper but yet stands out with no gimmick. This is lyricism and rhythmic choices done so well he comes off more talented than a lot of seasoned rappers purely off of lyrics.
Defining Track
Off Deez is a collaboration with J Cole. It's impressive but even though J Cole claims no one is close to his skill level, J.I.D. nearly outshined him while very early into his career.
Final Thoughts
J.I.D.'s cool but his music isn't attracting serious hip hop aficionados or hipsters. He's got versatility but he hasn't resonating with a specific market. It may be because he's early in his career so he wants to find out who gravitates to him organically.

Rap Independent
J.I.D. - DiCaprio 2
8.5/10

Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs

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.

Rap Independent
Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs
7.8/10