Gems Select: The best rap albums of October

 


As spooky season comes to a close, so does another round of music releases. It was a whirlwind too, half the time, I almost drowned with how many new albums came out. This included projects from Trippier Redd, Snot, YG and The Alchemist. It was the whole gamut of style and as one blogger - it's hard to cover sometimes.

Anyways, here are my picks for the best project this month.

BURGUNDY - Will Cherry

Elyria native Will Cherry spent four years working on this album. That alone is impressive (I can barely keep up with the video games I'm playing), but what's more impressive is the final product.

Focusing on grief and how it sticks with us if it's not properly handled, Cherry expertly explores loss and change. What I like most about this album is how it's a chameleon in ways, I can't think of a bad time to play this album - driving? dope. Happy? say no more. Alone with your thoughts? Go ahead.

Cherry was also spotlighted on Pitchfork (we did it first, NBD), which is a clear sign this artist has nowhere to go but up.


Check his debut album out here:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/burgundy/1536005758

MY LIFE 4HUNNID - YG


I don't normally dabble in West Coast music (save for TDE) but when I do, it's a YG album.

On YG's "My Life 4Hunnid," the artist turns up the heat for a potent mix of lyrics and classic sounds that harken back to Snoop Dogg's heyday. The project also features verses from Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Tyga.

Also, who else can make hard bottoms, high socks and basketball shorts look dope?



Check his album out:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-life-4hunnid/1533836489

BEAUTIFUL - Russ Hall


I'm huge on lyricism. If you asked any of my friends from high school, they'd tell you I lived and died by it. So when I hear someone like Russ Hall rap, I can't help but get excited.

On his album "Beautiful," the rapper effortlessly dazzles with flow changes, stories and clever lines about his come up. It's a solid project that makes me eager to see what's next for this budding artist.




Check his album below:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/beautiful/1533733763


NEW BEGINNINGS - REASON


This album kind of snuck up on me. By that, I mean I had absolutely no idea how talented REASON was.

One play through of this album and it's clear to see why TDE, home of Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q signed him. His lyrics are raw and energized, something that's sort of waned in the rap industry today as it struggles with a transition period from an era dominated by mumble rap to something new.

Whatever that is, REASON will be at the forefront of it.


Link to his album:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/new-beginnings/1533867305


FEATURING TY DOLLA SIGN - Ty Dolla Sign


I was slow to get on the hype train for Ty Dolla Sign (extremely freaking late) but I joined just in time to get rewarded with a new album. This is my go to vibe album when my nerves are freaking out and it feels like my skin is melting.

It's so mellow.

Not to mention is has a whole cavalcade of artists on it like Kid Cudi, Kanye West and Big Sean.  It literally has something for everyone.

Link to his album:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/featuring-ty-dolla-%24ign/1536655568

BURDEN OF PROOF - Benny the Butcher


Griselda has had an insane year and the crown jewel of that run is Burden of Proof by Benny the Butcher.

Benny was the first rapper of Griselda I got into back when I was delivering cookies in college. I had no idea he was apart of the hottest rap group in the game today. Burden of Proof perfectly captures what I love about him - gritty, story telling rap.


Here's the link to his album:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/burden-of-proof/1535561612

HOMME - Kipp Stone


I said it before and I'll say it again: Kipp Stone is Cleveland's Kendrick Lamar.

I'm not comparing them sonically, I'm saying that Like Lamar, Stone perfectly captures what life is like growing up in Cleveland. Even for someone like me, whose been privileged enough to live a life away from that, I can feel his pain and struggle.

Listen to this album, it's amazing.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/homme/1530765970

Let me know what you think,

Lux

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

UNCUT: Jack B talks his latest project "Growing Pains"

Image
Last week Jack B released his second project "Introspection," a seven track EP reflecting on his personal growth as an artist and person.  Produced by Duffy and Falak, the project gives listeners insight into his life, his insecurities and internal struggles. Hailing from Grand Junction, Colorado, the 19 year old artist is part of the independent collective, 343 Entertainment. B. says he spent seven months working on this project and while that may not seem long compared to other artists, it's clear that B. has agonized over every aspect of this project. So without further ado, here’s Jack B UNCUT: What was the inspiration behind the cover art and album title?  Originally the project was called growing pains and the cover featured a baby picture of me, but after tons of changes and cuts the project came together to form this narrative on some of my inner conflicts, so to say. I drew inspiration for the cover from logics under pressure album cover, and from roddy rich...
Read more

The Cut: Donte Thomas can ease you back into the post Thanksgiving grind

Image
  I really fucking hate Mondays. I really really really fucking hate Mondays that follow a holiday. It's almost like I've completely rebooted and forgot how to do my job or function as well as I did before the holiday. Most of the time, the first day back is a wash and I mostly lurk on Twitter or Youtube while my boss isn't looking (luckily, we're working from home now so I don't have to try too hard.) Luckily, we have rappers like Donte Thomas to get our asses back on track.  Hailing from Portland, Thomas has been hustling for a minute and is even the founder of Produce Organics, an independent art collective music label.  Thomas specializes in smooth lo-fi boom bap that harkens back to the artists that established the genre in the 90's. But to compare Thomas to those before him would be lazy (I don't like comparing artists to other artists if you haven't noticed). This is not hype music, though Thomas has plenty of bars on hand, this is self reflexive ...
Read more

The Cut: Canadian rappers are invading our country and TOBi is leading the charge

Image
  This is the second Canadian I've featured on the blog, I'm sensing a trend. If I could best describe the type of music that will more than likely make it on to the blog, I can break it down into one word - Unique. If you looked that word up, a picture of Nigerian-Canadian rapper TOBi would be right next to the word and I think I'm underselling this dude's music. One song we get trumpets, an old school sample and west coast rhymes, the next we get stripped back drums with slick versatile lyrics. Favorite lyrics: Above - "You're well spoken for a black man, that's how you serve a compliment with your back hand." Below- "Proud boys make noise, lions roar to a cats meow, pound for pound in the ring I'm Pacquiao." Maybe I'm late on this one, I don't care he needs to be talked about more. His next album comes out Oct. 21 if you fuck with the music.  Let me know what y'all think. Lux
Read more