The top four high-profile hip-hop albums reviewed
The last few weeks have been filled with some incredible rap drops, some teetering on the brink of greatness while others need improvement. We review four new hip-hop albums.
Westside Gunn – “Heels Have Eyes 3”
Heels Have Eyes 3 will obviously sound and feel like a continuation of its predecessors, both sonically and lyrically. It maintains Westside Gunn‘s wrestling-themed production, with a tapered view of luxury alongside a free range of vocal direction.
Once again, he goes full tank East Coast dramatics, with a dose of boom-bap and some juicy entendres, such as “Money on your head, I come through like a barber” and guest spots from Rome Streetz, who licks off bars like “The gavel meetin’ China”.
Overall, it cuts into deep rap layers, a favourite sound of Gunn’s, who takes to his sports entertainment motif with pleasure and certainty.
Top Tracks: “Free Roleys”, “Tito Santana”, “”Gus Smacker”.
The Verdict
DJ Premier & Ransom – “The Reinvention”
It wasn’t the best start for DJ Premier and Ransom. Their debut lead single Amazing Graces was bold, but unflattering to the producer’s capabilities. The same applies for the rest of this album, with little to give acclaim aside from a couple of tracks such as “Survivors Remorse“. I feel I have heard these beats before, it’s not looking good for that upcoming duet with Nas.
The Verdict
Knucks – “A Fine African Man”
The UK commercial scene is populated by homogeneous flows, making it hard to stand out in the scene. However, things get a little better with Knucks, despite his style being of a similar nature. A Fine African Man offers some exceptional storytelling, though it’s hard for it to stand on its own two feet when it’s reluctant to step out from its own shadow. It’s a good album, but stylistically, needs a counterpoint to flow.
Top Tracks: “Nkita” ft. Fimiguerrero, “Yam Porridge”.
The Verdict
Aesop Rock – “I Heard It’s A Mess There Too”
Aesop Rock is all about his distinct approach, adding a dramatic touch of wordplay on top of intrepid constructs that are often underappreciated. “I Heard It’s A Mess There Too” is different from his last album; it takes on a minimalist approach to let his delivery breathe.
Rock is a prolific fabulist who can take a word molehill and turn it into a lyrical mountain. And that doesn’t stop here; the fact that he’s entirely self-produced his latest drop is another feather in his cap.
Top Tracks: “The Cut”, “Bag Lunch”, “Pay The Man”.
Stanisland Magazine 
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.