Hip Hop 2017

Two albums I've mulled over the past few days

P.O.S - Chill, Dummy

I thought that this album had some great songs but terribly disjointed on my initial listen. But on focusing more on the album, my jaysus, it's amazing. Absolutely stellar.
The evolution of P.O.S is one of my most favorite things about this record, every album he consistently evolves, but here there is a step forward in evolution and a marriage of all his earlier sounds mixed in with his recent life changes and his view of the world.
I couldn't even pick a favorite track on this, it's just simply amazing and a bit of a sonic rollercoaster.....in a real good way.

Onry Ozzborn - Birth of Cupid
I'm a massive fan of Onry, I think that he has an incredible voice, vision and delivery pattern that mix well with whatever beat he is on.
What amazes me about this one is that the beats sounds similar, but are distinctively different. Also, as a bit of a lover myself, the theme of the origin of love is a wonderful concept. Again, hard to pick a favorite off this, but Birfday stood out while listening.

I'd highly recommend the 2 above albums. Next on the agenda is Kendrick. I've only heard the DNA song so far, while I like the video, I believe the album cut is slightly different so looking forward to that.

Homeboy Sandman - Veins
New 10 track album, picks up where the last album left off. Iff you like what Boy Sand does, you'll like this.
If you've never listened to him before, you'll like this. Different range of producers on board as well which keeps it fresh.

To listen to: Kendrick and the new Altars album from Sadistik which is getting real good reviews.

I should add that I've finally listened to DAMN, a few times now, and I don't know where I stand on it. I certainly don't see it as the greatest thing ever like it's being described by many outlets after 1 listen.
There are soem great songs on it, but there is some stuff on there which I have come to call 'Drake songs' which I do not dig at all.
And there are some songs that are pretty normal or average that are well skipable.
It sounds like he was trying to make a more commercial album, or an album that is more easily digestable than his last. I like that there are more West Coast-y songs on it.

In the past his albums have taken a while for me to appreciate, I don't think I'm even there yet with TPAB. This may be the same.

I went out for a 30 minute walk there and started to listen to Brother Ali - All The Beauty In This Whole Life.

By golly it's a good one and I've only got 10 tracks into it. Lyrically, Ali is not ripping mics, but he left that behind a long time ago. In the past he's come accross as preachy, he's left that behind.
From the moment the first song kicks in, there is an instant uplifting feeling, a spring in my step so to speak. The production in the first 3rd is happy and bouncy, Ant's production has stepped up a notch. The lyrics are simple and effective and uplifting.
The second third is a bit more minimilistic, more honest and reflective in a way that only Brother Ali can write and vocalise. His TSA story is deep, but yet a little chuckle by him adds a sense of relief from how deep the story is.
I'm looking forward to the last 3rd of the album, I'll be doing this on my walk tomorrow, it's where I'm getting my best listening done these days.

The beat in that stomps, Snoop is only alright on it.
I would have loved to hear Tray Dee do a bit of rapping on it as well, he was dope a few years back.

Just thought I'd post this here as it appears to have gone under the radar. There are loads of Binary Star and One B Lo fans out there and they released a new album a week or so ago.

I haven't listened to it yet, but no harm in jamming up the bandcamp link where you can give it a listen

https://onebelo.bandcamp.com/album/water-world-3