Monday Mixtape, Vol. 170

This week’s mixtape is a mix of rock, rap, folk, and whatever you want to call Kurt Vile’s laidback tunes.

I’ll start with the last, first: REASON. He’s the newest member of the infamous music label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), which includes SZA, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and oh yeah, that other rapper, Kendrick Lamar. Reason is the only one of all of them to drop an album in 2020, so the pressure is on!

Word on TDE is Kendrick might leave TDE for Dave Free’s label (one of Kendrick’s this high-school friends). I would assume he got screwed or massively underpaid for providing the biggest platform for TDE while the TDE owners soaked in all the money. Just a guess.

Anyways, I enjoyed REASON’s album a lot because he’s a good lyricist (see Verse 2 below) and is passionate. A lot of artists either don’t give a shit what they’re saying or sound like they don’t, and it’s refreshing to hear someone that sounds like their soul is on fire and they need to extinguish something. Or as REASON says, “I gotta say it wit’ my chest.”

What’s wild for a debut album on a major label is that REASON is already showing doubts of his relationship with TDE. More abnormal, he’s being open and honest about it on this mixtape’s last track, “Windows Cry.” Verse 2 is phenomenal:

Prayed to be gifted and got it from rappin', ain't that ironic?
Discussin' deals with white women and vodka tonics, uh
Like who are you, nigga? Oh, you different, different
Oh, you gifted, gifted, then let's go back to your contract
Nigga, listen, listen, paranoia lifted
Look, you so fuckin' clueless, let's break it down?
You signed a paper to get rid of your niggas, now you got strangers
At the worst fuckin' moment you could 'cause your life is changin'
You heard the stories of labels puttin' artists in danger
Use 'em up for hits, never pay 'em and then replace 'em
And now you're steppin' into unfamilar situations
Of a label that's like family but adopted you for paper
While you tryna be the greatest and pursue your vison
You call and get the voicemail, nigga, who gon' listen?
They only care about the money, nigga, screw your vision
This shit's so fuckin' screwed up, now you screwed up in it
They got you sittin' on the bench, you gon' lose your listens
You gon' hurt your fans, you gon' lose your mentions
You tryna grow as big as Dot, tryna move your image
Now you got Dave pushin' buttons and he grew up with him
What's his motive, nigga? Can't never trust him
They make Ali mix your vocals, nigga, without discussion
This shit crazy, you so hopeless, nigga
You got Top's son as one of your managers
And you barely even know this nigga
If you and Top get in some shit, who he ridin' for?
Who he slidin' for? Wait, wait, they comin', shh, shh
Let's keep it quiet, low, can't let 'em know you doubtin'
They'll take offense and say you're spoiled, "REASON always poutin'"
You gotta trust the process, days slowly countin'
Where your music at? Where you been, nigga?
I'm just hopin' all these thoughts don't turn reality
Hope September 12th don't turn into my casualty
Windows cry

Speaking of rappers, I think the best rapper right now is JID. He’s everywhere right now doing features with all sorts of rappers, and he’s always got the best verse. Need proof? Check his verse against one of my fave rappers, Isaiah Rashad, and Reason in “Extinct” or his verse on “Shiva” with EARTHGANG. He’s just on another level right now, and his name is getting a ton of love. He just needs to release a classic album. We’re all waiting. If anyone can take the crown from Kendrick, it’s JID. But I ain’t betting against K Dot!

Speaking of great rappers, I stumbled upon Che Noir, a female rapper whose album As God Intended is awesome. The whole album flows and she’s a hell of a rapper.

On a totally different spectrum, we got some Fleet Foxes, Kurt Vile & John Prine, and Doves, all three of which are completely different from each other! Still thinking this new Fleet Foxes album is very good but ranks #3 of 4 on their discography.

Kurt Vile continues to make music in his own meandering ways, and this time he brought along old timer John Prine to make a beautiful duet.

Finally, Doves. A band I loved almost two decades ago. They’ve come back with an impressively great rock album, their first in 11 years! Definitely, definitely worth a listen if you like these guys. And if you’ve never heard of them, please listen to 2011’s The Last Broadcast.

Have a good week all!

Monday Mixtape, Vol. 77

For a very short period of time, my only job will be blogging for Layers & Sounds! Not sure if that will result in more output (most likely not) as I just resigned from my job and am taking a month off before starting my own business :) 

Enough about me, let's talk music:

I know that in many years, when I'm an old man listening to vinyls of yesteryear, Mac Demarco's classic album Salad Days (read my writeup on the album - my #1 album of 2014!) will be on rotation. It's almost impossible to follow an album like that, so it's not a huge surprise that the jokester Demarco was not up to the task. Nonetheless, his new album is an enjoyable, laid-back album to put on in the background during the late night of a party. There are a couple standout tracks, including this one, "This Old Dog" (and yes, he's mainly up to the same tricks).

Kembe X is one of the newer members on the TDE label (the infamous label with Kendrick, Isaiah Rashad, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock), and TDE continues to find gold. I really dig this guy and am interested to hear his major label debut. "Intro" is all you need to hear to know whether you're into him as well. There's nothing particularly unique about him, but it's just good music man!

It's killing me that the last thee songs Local Natives have released as singles - The Only Heirs, Tusk, and I Saw You Close Your Eyes - are so much better than half the songs on their recently released third album. These songs would have made that third album SO much more consistent and deep. Oh well.

I was very disappointed in Feist's recent album, only a song or two stuck out, and nothing really stayed with me for a prolonged time. This track is one of my favorites, a stripped down acoustic ballad that showcases one of the best and most original voices around. I think I was so disappointed in her album because her last, Metals, was also somewhat disappointing (though def better than this one) which was after her classic - another album I will absolutely be listening to when I'm wrinkly and gray! - 1, 2, 3, 4. That album alone is enough for me, but I always hoped for another great one from her. 

Ok, let's be honest here, no one really wants to hear an entire song of rappers rap about a high fashion label, in this case Raf (Simmons I believe). If I had my druthers, no one would EVER talk about Mason Margiela (if that's how you spell it - and no, I will not Google that to double check) or any of these other really expensive "it" designers who are helping us all blow money that we probably should be saving or spending on something a bit more worthwhile. (Rant over). But you know what we do want to listen to? A song with ASAP Rocky, Quavo, and Frank Ocean! So despite the terrible lyrics, this is still a pretty great song that's wrapped up by my fave, Frank Ocean, who lets us know that he charges $2.5 million per show. Not bad, Frank. Also kind of amazing that he never performs which is probably which that price tag can be so damn high.  

Finally, I'm excited for Foster the People's third album. That's all I gotta say on that. 

Have a good week, peoples!