Common "The Dreamer / The Believer" Review

"Common has a new album "The Dreamer/The Believer." In stores December 20th."

On December 20th 2011, Chicago emcee Common will release his ninth studio album “The Dreamer / The Believer.”

One of the best lyricists in the game, Common's new album closes out 2011 on a high note with “The Dreamer / The Believer.” 

Lyrically, on par with artists such as Eminem, Andre 3000 and Nas, Common is a poet on the microphone, with his ability to put words together and create beautiful visuals. 

Produced solely by the legendary No I.D., “The Dreamer / The Believer” has an old school 90's vibe. 

This is an element I sorely missed in hip-hop, and it makes the record feel fresh and exciting. Whether it's the scratching or sirens and horns heard in the background of the production or Common's renewed love for hip-hop, “The Dreamer / The Believer” reminded me of all the things I adored about hip-hop growing up. 

A fire seems to have been lit inside Common and it sounds nothing like Common's recent older, softer material.  

Common goes hard on every track, and on “The Dreamer / The Believer” Common sounds hungry like he wants to reinsure his place among the all time greats and cement himself as the elite of the elite. 

Although Common sounds fierce on every track, there has always been a uniqueness to Common in his delivery and flow. “The Dreamer / The Believer” maintains this aspect as the lyrics are full of positivity, generating good energy and the buoyant faucets of music. 

Common's skills as a poet also shine through during parts of the record. Common writes more abstract than any other mainstream rapper and his delivery of his verses have just the right amount of attitude to evoke the proper emotions.  

The toughest song on “The Dreamer / The Believer” is “So Sweet.” 

Clever wordplay, “So Sweet” is anything what it's name suggests. The song brings hardcore back to hip-hop and is Common's battle rap proclamation. Vicious and full of braggadocio, “So Sweet” proves that Common is one of the coldest emcee's in the game today. 

Attacking rappers who have a soft, sweet style (cough cough Drake) Common murks the angry instrumental with lines such as “My name is synonymous with prominence I'm to hip-hop what Obama is to politics.” 

Real get in the ring music, my favorite part of the song however, is Common's flow, as it is delivered like a true street corner philosopher. 

Another great song is the first single released from the album “Ghetto Dreams” featuring the one and only Nas. 

“Ghetto Dreams”, could have been released two decades ago and it would have been just as big of a banger as it is right now. 

The beat is perfect with scratches spread throughout the track like old school DJ records and Nas' verse sounds like it could have been off of “Illmatic” or “It Was Written.”

Showing how diversified the record is, another standout song on “The Dreamer / The Believer” is “Blue Sky.” 

A poetic song, as well as the second released single, “Blue Sky” is inspirational and motivational, containing multiple references to religion, dreams and overcoming obstacles. 

“Daylight beams, night life schemes This is my Inception I'm writing my dreams Immortal view of a star doing what I'm born to do I see the blue sky, see the Lord's coming through” is possibly my favorite line of 2011. 

Overall, Common and No I.D. have put together a great record, which to me is better than Common's critically acclaimed masterpiece “Be.”

Even if you are not a Common Sense fan, “The Dreamer / The Believer” is an outstanding album and is hip-hop personified. 

People who have already made their top 10 lists of 2011 should have waited, because their lists are flawed without the inclusion of “The Dreamer / The Believer.” 

This is unquestionably one of the best releases of not only the year, but of Common's career as well and ends a fantastical musical 2011 at the top. 

Believe! 

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:

5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Head's

Songs I Recommend:

Ghetto Dreams, Blue Sky, So Sweet, Gold, Celebrate

Tracklist:

01: The Dreamer (Feat. Maya Angelou)

02: Ghetto Dreams (Feat. Nas)

03: Blue Sky

04: Sweet

05: Gold

06: Lovin I Lost

07: Raw (How You Like It)

08: Cloth

09: Celebrate

10: Windows

11: The Believer (Feat. John Legend

12: Pops Belief

Top 25 Favorite Albums

1. Wu Tang Clan – Enter the 36 Chambers – maybe it's hometown pride but this was the first album I ever fell in love with. Still to this day, the most hardcore hip-hop record ever recorded. Tough battle laced rhymes and RZA's eerie production is spot-on. The kung fu samples spread throughout this album, also introduced me to some of my favorite martial arts films of all time.

Favorite Track: Da Mystery of Chessboxin'

2.HIM – Razorblade Romance – I remember the first time I ever heard this record and it blew me away. It was nothing like I had ever heard before and was completely different from every other rock record I ever listened too. Still to this day, I listen to this album front to back multiple times a months and it never gets old to me. I even have a Heartagram tattooed on my chest, that's how much I love this record.

Favorite Track: Poison Girl

3.Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power – the title of this album defines exactly what it is. This record is like a shot of adrenaline. Every time it's played I'm up and ready to kick as much ass as possible. Not only are the lyrics full of positivity (A New Level) but I think it's Dimebag's best work on the guitar. One of my go to albums anytime I hit the gym.

Favorite Track: A New Level

4.Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP – my introduction to Eminem. The anger on this record was something anyone could relate too and it's Eminem at his lyrical best. No one was safe on this record as Eminem attacked every single person relevant at the time. There is not one bad track on this record and I remember getting ecstatic every time “The Real Slim Shady” video came on MTV. Still my favorite Eminem album.

Favorite Track: Stan

5.Metallica – Ride The Lightning – WOW! Out of the 8 songs on this record, 4 of them are my favorite Metallica songs of all time. The bass opening on “For Whom The Bell Tolls” was actually my inspiration to pick up and play the instrument, after seeing Cliff Burton videos playing the song live.

Favorite Track: Creeping Death

6.Joe Budden – Mood Muzik 2 – even though this is a mixtape, to me this will always be Budden's masterpiece. The soundtrack to my high school years, I listened to this album almost everyday while riding the bus to school in the morning for two straight years. I can still effortlessly recite all lyrics to “Dumb Out” even though the song is 8 minutes long.

Favorite Track: Dumb Out

7.Guns N Roses – Appetite for Destruction – the perfect record. Even if you don't like rock and roll, you most likely still like this album. A gritty street record, there is not a single flaw with this debut and catapulted Guns N Roses to be one of the biggest bands of all time.

Favorite Track: Sweet Child O' Mine

8.Avenged Sevenfold – City of Evil – the album which brought me back into the world of rock and roll, after I had abandoned it for a couple years. Never hearing the band before, I heard “Bat Country” at one of my buddy's houses and immediately became a huge fan of A7X.

Favorite Track: Trashed And Scattered

9.50 Cent – Get Rich Or Die Tryin' – still in my opinion, the only classic hip-hop record to be released since 2000. Being a fan of 50 for a couple of years prior due to my brother playing his mixtapes, I felt a sense of pride when his record became such a huge success cause I got to tell all my friends I told you so.

Favorite Track: Many Men (Wish Death)

10.Escape The Fate – Dying Is Your Latest Fashion - probably the oddest choice on this list, but I love this record. The only ETF album with Ronnie Radke on vocals and Omar on guitar, this album has it all. A diverse record with pop elements, screaming and melodic singing, I can put this album on anytime I don't know what I feel like listening too and will know it was the right choice.

Favorite Track: Not Good Enough For The Truth In Cliche

11.Trivium – Shogun – although I love every record Trivium released, this one is my favorite. The mythology lyrics on this record really stand out to me, since it was a topic I was heavily into at the time. Exceeding every expectation I had for this record, Trivium secured themselves as my favorite band with this release.

Favorite Track: Into The Mouth of Hell We March

12.Motley Crue – Dr. Feelgood – the soundtrack to my decadent years. I wanted to be like Nikki Sixx and I would drink bottles of Jack Daniels like it was nothing and do any drug presented to me in order to be perceived like him. This album brings back some of the best but darkest times of my life but I don't regret a single moment of it and would do it all again if I could.

Favorite Track: Kickstart My Heart

13.Jedi Mind Tricks – Servants In Heaven, Kings In Hell – another high school album, this album reminded me of the Wu Tang Clan. I was into the underground hip-hop scene and at the time, Vinnie Paz was the king of the underground and this was his masterpiece. I didn't think you were cool or worth the time if you didn't like this album. RA the Rugged Man's verse on “Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story” is still one of the most breathtaking things I have ever heard.

Favorite Track: Razorblade Romance

14.Sum 41 – All Killer No Filler – if you grew up in the 90's and skateboarded, this album was your life. Great memories of skating around the neighborhood and going to skateparks with this album being blasted in my walkman. The ultimate record for any young punk.

Favorite Track: Fat Lip

15.Megadeth – Rust In Peace – my favorite Megadeth album, the riffs on this record are godlike and amazing. The first two tracks on this record, “Holy Wars...The Punishment Due” and “Hangar 18” alone are enough to warrant a place on this list. Dave Mustaine is the most underrated riff writer of all time, and one of the biggest bad assess ever in rock and roll.

Favorite Track: Hangar 18

16.Slayer – Reign In Blood – instant energy and highly chaotic. I'm convinced this is what you would hear, if you ever visited hell. For a metal album, the song's are really short but the intensity of each song makes up for the length. Another mainstay on my iPod for the gym.

Favorite Track: Raining Blood

17.Eminem – The Slim Shady LP – hilarious lyrics, this record was unlike anything I had ever heard. Although, Eminem has tried to be funny he never quite came close to matching anything on this album. Funny and wittty but with a serious skill set and delivery, this record is a good time and a fun listen.

Favorite Track: Rock Bottom

18. Blink 182 – Enema Of The State – my favorite song's and video's MTV ever played. A perfect pop punk record, I would make my parent's listen to this album any place we ever went. I also remember depending on my mood, I would either feel really guilty about listening to “Dysentery Gary” or would shout every obscenity in the song.

Favorite Track: All The Small Things

19.Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God – my introduction to death metal. I never knew a death metal album could be so melodic and catchy. With lyrics about Vikings and Norse mythology, Amon Amarth made me a lifelong fan with this record. They were also the best live band I have ever seen.

Favorite Track: Twilight of the Thunder God

20.Metallica – Master of Puppets – what can be said about this record what has not already been said. A perfect album front to end, it was also Cliff Burton's last ever work. Possibly the best heavy metal record ever recorded.

Favorite Track: Master of Puppets

21.Down – NOLA - “The power of the riff compels me.” I remember being ecstatic when I found out about this band. Phil Anselmo had long been my favorite vocalist and when I found out he had other work besides Pantera, I was pumped up. Different in style from Pantera, Down is slower and doomier, but is still just as heavy with a bunch of great riffs and one of my favorite bands today.

Favorite Track: Bury Me In Smoke

22.Sixx: A.M. – The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack – the album centered around Nikki Sixx's book “The Heroin Diaries” this album really put things into perspective for me and helped lead me towards a healthier life. Both the book and the album are among my all time favorites and have helped turn me into the person I am today. This album also contains my favorite song of all time, “Life Is Beautiful.”

Favorite Track: Life Is Beautiful

23.Times of Grace – Hymn of A Broken Man – by far the best album released in 2011. Exactly what I needed to hear when I was getting clean, the album is about overcoming struggle and bringing yourself out of dark times.

Favorite Track: Live In Love

24.Yelawolf – Trunk Muzik 0-60 – I bought and put a sub in my car, especially for this album. Still being played in my car to this day, this record blew my mind with its heavy bass. Wolf's lyrics are rapid fire and raw, making this one of my favorite albums to listen to while driving.

Favorite Track: Pop The Trunk

25.Operation Ivy – Energy – one of my favorite hardcore punk records ever recorded, this album even has elements of ska added to it. Played pretty much exclusively this entire summer, Operation Ivy is hectic and while I wish they put out more music, at least I got one of my favorite punk bands of all time, Rancid out of it.

Favorite Track: Smiling

Busta Rhymes Signs To Cash Money Records

Late last night, game changing news broke in the world of hip-hop, when it was announced that Busta Rhymes had signed to Cash Money Records as their newest member.

The signing came out of left field, as their were no clues that Busta was close to signing with Birdman, Lil' Wayne and the rest of the Cash Money team.

Already a legend in hip-hop, the question still needs to be asked, if signing with Cash Money was the right choice for the Flip Mode general to make.

With hip-hop turning into somewhat of a sports franchise, where labels are stockpiling talent to compete with one another like the NBA or NFL, for Cash Money the signing of Busta Rhymes was a great move.

Busta instantly makes Cash Money a much tougher team and depending on taste arguably the best hip-hop group today. With other forces such as Eminem's Shady 2.0 which features Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf as well as Rick Ross' MMG which consists of Wale, Meek Mill and Pill amongst others, Cash Money is in a prime spot for hip-hop supremacy.

I feel this is a great move for Busta as well in this point of his career. Having already appeared on countless songs with Wayne such as “Look At Me Now” and “I'm So Hood Remix” amongst others, Busta is already comfortable and will not have to change anything up, as his style is so versatile it meshes well with anyone, especially Wayne who is equally as versatile.

As far as backing and financial terms are concerned, Busta and Cash Money is a perfect fit. Good friends with Birdman from years of competing against one another in Funk Master Flex's car shows, Birdman will push Busta and market him correctly, which has unfortunately not been the case for Busta in recent years.

With a first single already released under the new regime titled “Why Stop Now” featuring Chris Brown, I see big things from both Busta and Cash Money in the future and feel this move will make a big impact for hip-hop in all areas.



x Adam "S" Paccione x

Yelawolf "Radioactive" Track by Track Review

As a huge fan of Yelawolf's mix tape “Trunk Muzik 0-60” an album which is still is in constant rotation inside of my car, Yelawolf's debut album “Radioactive” off of Shady Records had been my most anticipated hip-hop release of 2011.

Catering to both hardcore fans with “Trunk Muzik” inspired street tracks and casual listeners with radio friendly songs,“Radioactive” is a very diverse record. As a lyrical Southern rapper, Yelawolf has a unique flow and delivery which brings something new to hip-hop in that he adds a heavy metal element to songs with his energy.

Spitting hard on every track with a rapid-fire flow and an extra emphasis on catchy hooks and mainstream accessible beats, “Radioactive” is without a doubt an album which serves to reach a larger audience and attract a broader fan base. Even though, Yelawolf is not spitting as raw on “Radioactive” as he did on “Trunk Muzik”, Yelawolf had never hidden his agenda for this record stating the purpose of his debut album was to make songs which would be active all over the radio, thus the name “Radioactive.”

Now most of the time, the first word which comes to my mind when an artist does something like this is “sell-out”, however Yelawolf did such a great job with this record and shows great progress in all aspects of his game, that you can not fault him.

The first major improvement I noticed on this album was Yelawolf's song writing skills. On “Trunk Muzik”, Yelawolf had a bunch of great verses jumbled together to make a song, but on “Radioactive” there is a real notice and eye for detail. Every word has a certain purpose and meaning for being placed thus making each track standout since a full definition of what the song is about is given. Ranging from topics such as social commentary (Made In The U.S.A.), to love songs (The Hardest Love Song In The World), to deep personal shit (The Last Song) to club anthems (Hard White (Up In The Club)), Yelawolf appears to have taken all the small things wrong with “Trunk Muzik” and fixed them.

The other main aspect which Yelawolf has improved upon is his storytelling abilities. Every great rapper from Notorious B.I.G to Eminem to Slick Rick has been able to vividly create a story with their words and Yelawolf has made a vast improvement in this area, creating some really great memorable moments.

The production on “Radioactive”, while not featuring any noticeable mainstream producers besides Jim Jonsin and J.U.S.T.I.C.E League perfectly serve their purpose of being hard hitting bass heavy beats which are guaranteed to rattle your trunk. None so more than WillPower's produced “Growin' Up In The Gutter” which the first time I heard I immediately ran to my car so I could hear it to its full capability, and as soon as the bass line hit it literally blew my mind and scared the couple walking past my car.

The guests on this album are also notable because besides Eminem, Kid Rock and Lil' Jon none are household names. Instead, Yelawolf put artists on his record who have influenced him throughout his life like Killer Mike, Mystical and Gangsta Boo and artists who he enjoys like Rittz and Shawty Fattt. This is applaudable because Yelawolf took creative control and did not fill up his album with artists who are only hot right now.

Along with Slaughterhouse, it is hard to deny that Shady 2.0 is not the toughest hip-hop group out today. If this album does not convince you or the BET cypher did not convince you, then wait a couple of months for Slaughterhouse's second record, which will be released sometime in early 2012 and get prepared to be amazed.

In my opinion, “Radioactive” is a great record which reaches its goal of turning Yelawolf into a more mainstream artist. Filled with catchy songs with big chorus', I believe Yelawolf has released a massive record which will satisfy both old and new fans.

If you come into this record expecting straight gutter raps like Yelawolf released with “Trunk Muzik” you will more then likely be disappointed. Yelawolf has done something completely different with “Radioactive” exceeding expectations and serving as an excellent addition to his catalog, as well as showing his overall evolution.

With all that being said, I am honored to announce that after conversing with both Beavis and Butt-Head, “The Paccione Post” is happy to award Yelawolf' with the first ever 5 out of 5 ranking from this site for “Radioactive”, as it is a record which will keep Beavis, Butt-Head and myself very dumb but happy metal heads for the foreseeable future.

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:
5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Heads

Songs I Recommend:
Let's Roll, Hard White (Up In The Club), Growin Up In The Gutter, Made In The U.S.A., The Hardest Love Song In The World

Track by Track Review:
1.Radioactive Introduction – the album opens up with a national warning message from a robot about three nuclear bombs being launched and for everybody to take cover. After this little speech, Yelawolf starts the song with a slow spoken word rap saying “I am the American eagle Eyes of a sparrow Right hand branch Left hand arrow Chasing a dollar and an Impala White trash heart throb Mellow yellow Drinking hard liquor Broads get on my level” until he picks up the intensity in his voice as continues to spit flames like “I'm hotter than the bottom side of a whistlin' kettle They threw a mountain at me, I got hit with a pebble Sent me to hell and I shit on the devil.” The introduction is vintage Yelawolf as he spits tongue twisters all over this verse with great multi-syllable rhymes and clever wordplay such as “If I'm Generation X, I'm selling Ex, no pills Dopeman chopping up the lines you don't sniff Read'em I'm bringing back booklets and hookless lyrics So you can be certain just in case you didn't hear it.”

2.Get Away ft. Shawty Fatt & Mystikal – a track which would not feel out of place on “Trunk Muzik 0-60” Yelawolf's incredible breath control is showcased here as he puts more words into his 16 bar verses then most other rappers. Over a simple yet hypnotic beat, Yelawolf begins the song with a lyrical rapid-fire delivery as he says “Hell of a day to load a .22 and take it to the woods and let it ring into the night And break a bottle with the bullet, yes I'm bout it motherfucker Not a single solitary thing is missing from my Southern roots I'm liable just to take a Chevolet and let it run through the mud for giggles” all in the same breath, before adding in this gem “What a son of a bitch my momma raised into a rapper who could tell a story like my Uncle when he's drinking.” Also, the track features Mystikal which is a real treat to hear in 2011.

3.Let's Roll ft. Kid Rock – the second single released from “Radioactive”, “Let's Roll” is a song which I believe could be a massive hit. Tailor made for the radio, MTV, and BET, the song has all the ingredients needed to become a huge success all across the map. While not Yelawolf's most lyrical track, the song is still great and features a fantastic hook sung by Kid Rock. The Kid Rock feature may confuse people but it should not as Yelawolf and Kid Rock have a lot in common such as their up bringing and exhibit excellent chemistry on the song. Yelawolf has stated that he wants to be active on the radio and this is most likely the song to break him through to the mainstream.

4.Hard White (Up In The Club) ft. Lil' Jon – the first official release from the record and the street single, “Hard White” features the ultimate hype man Lil' Jon. A fun song about not giving a fuck and having a good time, the track is raw and full of high octane energy. Once again for fans of “Trunk Muzik 0-60”, the beat is hard hitting and is just Yelawolf lyrically destroying the track and him saying how he is still the same person despite no longer being broke with lines such as “You mad cause I'm in VIP with a fuckin' Jack bottle With Tom, Dick and Harry I got up in this bitch with a tank top cause I spit so very damn quick and scary.” Heavily rock influenced, Yelawolf references this with the line “Dead or alive I'll put a stamp on this bitch You'll never see rock n' roll do hip-hop like I did.”

5.Growin' Up In The Gutter ft. Rittz – as I mentioned before, “Growin' Up In The Gutter” has the hardest hitting beat on the album. A very dark and spooky song, the track sounds like something Marilyn Manson would make if he did hip-hop. Similar in vein to “Trunk Muzik's” “Pop The Trunk”, “Growin' Up In The Gutter” greatly shows Yelawolf's improvement since the track would have been a standout had it appeared on “Trunk Muzik 0-60.” As soon as the song starts, it will get you going and features the heavy metal element with its mosh pit sounding head banging chorus, getting you up out of your seat.

6.Throw It Up ft. Gangsta Boo & Eminem – a beautiful somber piano beat, all artists bring intense energy with their performances on this song. While Yelawolf has a good verse, it is Eminem who kills this track but all three have a perfect flow. Gangsta Boo who was at one time the female face of Three 6 Mafia makes an appearance here and while she clearly has the weakest verse, it is still a strong showing for her as the energy she delivers on the chorus is spot on. There is also a funny skit at the end of the song which leads perfectly into the next track “Good Girls” and informs us that Eminem's ringtone is a quacking duck.

7.Good Girl ft. Pooh Bear – the song which really shows Yelawolf's improved story telling abilities, Yelawolf writes a track about the age old head-scratcher of why good girls like bad guys. Along with a catchy memorable chorus sung by Pooh Bear, Yelawolf raps “She just wanna see you with somebody dressed up Well, I really ain't into that type of shit I'm into tattoos, drink until 6, Fuck until 9, sleep until 12 And going back to my homies with a story to tell.” The only song for females on “Radioactive”, Yelawolf is not singing to or at girls and is instead speaking about them rapping “Cause the more that I ignore you, the more you wanna ride I tell you that I'm bad but you never ask why Cause you just want the good from a really bad guy.”

8.Made In The U.S.A. ft. Priscilla Renea – one of the real standout tracks on “Radioactive”, “Made In The U.S.A.” is a song about the other side of America, the side which is not glamor and glitz but the hard working poverty blue collar side which Yelawolf grew up around. Raised in Alabama, Yelawolf made this song for the people who work extremely hard for very little pay to make this great country of ours operate, while receiving little to no credit saying “We some gun toting, church going 18 wheel rolling back slangin' flag waving At the dinner table praying Old school yard fighting Beer drinking hell raising Hard working blue collar Earn it all due paying.” Featuring Priscilla Renea whose voice is similar to Rihanna's the third verse and end of this song is very powerful. Talking about a single mother/stripper who works hard for her daughter, but ends up not doing enough as the daughter ends up going into prostitution to make money. To add to the impact, the chorus is slightly changed to “And that's how it's made in the U.S.A. the U.S.A. It's every mothers dream to see her daughter on her knees.” A beautiful and moving song, “Made In The U.S.A.” is a real sarcastic look at the America we all thought we knew.

9.Animal ft. Fefe Dobson – comparable to “Good To Go” from “Trunk Muzik 0-60”, “Animal” has Yelawolf rapping like his Catfish Billy persona over dub step inspired production. Lyrically fire, Yelawolf is rapping like a man possessed with multiple tongue twisters and a rapid fire flow and delivery showing off his lyrical capabilities with tough lines such as “Trashy white Pass the mic Yeah I'm doing 'em dirty Just start pumping when I'm on the lights like I'm rapping in Jersey Never get elegant in elementary Never learnt to write in cursive Raised by the country B-Boys I'm elegantly perfect.”

10. The Hardest Love Song In The World – a song which truly lives up to it's title, “The Hardest Love Song In The World”, is a standout and one of my favorite tracks on “Radioactive.” Seemingly describing the perfect girl in my opinion whose into cars and dark, messed up shit with lyrics like “I can see you in a 1976 Camaro Me and you sippin' whiskey gettin' drunker than Jack Sparrow Is Black Sabbath how you get mellow Huh, well put your feet on my Harley Davidson pedal and rock n' roll girl.” Other memorable lyrics include “You don't got to drive a Fleetwood cadillac You just gotta know some of the words to Fleetwood Mac Horror movies turn you on Pull the sheets back Fuck it I'll role play Do it to you in a Jason mask You're swift walk is like a switch blade You walk into a room And it's like these other bitches get hit with a grenade With that said Let me pull them Spandex pants off you with my teeth Like Ozzy did a bat head.” Another dope line is “You ain't concerned with new clothes or salaries You rather run across the country like Mickey and Mallory Be the Natural Born Killer that you are You'll hang out the window with a pistol while I drive the car.” A true rock n roll song, “The Hardest Love Song In The World” is sure to be amongst favorites off of this album and possibly a future single.

11. Write Your Name ft. Mona Mona – a beautiful song produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E League which sounds very similar to Rick Ross' “Aston Martin Music.” Telling the tale of two unspectacular stories, first about a lonely Vietnam war veteran and the second about a 16 year old pregnant girl who keeps her child and raises it despite not knowing how to get by. With lyrics like “You may never be on television or be the one Your boss at work loves giving you employee of the month May never be the first string on a champion team You may be the star the world just hasn't seen But that don't make you any less of a star to God Bein' rich is only realizing it's all a facade You're richer than you think in that old small town Cause people like you make the world go round ALABAMA.” Speaking on how everyone in the world is a star in their own right, you do not need to be famous or in the headlines to make a difference in this world. Being rich is not all about money, but about how much you have that is relevant to where you are, since those are the people that make the world work. A beautiful chorus by Mona Mona adds to the brilliance of this track.

12. Everything I Love The Most – a pop fueled fun track about Yelawolf's vices, such as drinking, partying and girls with a catchy sing a long chorus over an acoustic guitar beat. The song tells the tales of Yelawolf's repeated drunken stories of waking up next to women he doesn't know with lyrics like “Look over to my left is an open book a Bible To my right is a guilty conscience her name is Brooke my rival At least I think her name is Brooke She's asleep and I'm giving her the lamest look Move her hair back So that I could see her face Cause it was dark when I met her at the game it took.”

13. Radio – a mellow yet catchy song attacking the music industry, “Radio” speaks on everything from the internet to double standards to the crap being played on the radio today. Starting off with the internet, Yelawolf raps about how the mass appeal of the internet allows everybody to share their opinion whether fairly or unfairly, biased or unbiased. Referencing sites like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter, Yelawolf speaks about how now a days, the radio is not the only way for people to put out or hear music. It is all to common for people to become overnight celebrities due to posting a video on the internet without doing any of the hard work it takes to actually make it. The double standards Yelawolf speaks about, is how unfairly hip-hop is treated in the public eye. Hip-hop has undergone numerous protests for its themes of drugs, guns, cars and alcohol but those same protesters are actually hypocrites since Yelawolf mentions that they probably go home and listen to Eric Clapton's “Cocaine” but allow it because it is a classic song and not hip-hop. My favorite part of “Radio” is the part which directly attacks the radio, as Yelawolf says “You'll never hear Black Star cause the program director is mostly deaf.” This is great wordplay with Black Star and deaf because Black Star is a hip-hop group consisting of Talib Kweli and Mos Def. Black Star is also known for their thoughtful lyrics and high rap skills, but who are never heard on the radio since the directors who run the station do not think they will bring in listeners and attract viewers. This is sad because all the radio is filled with now is catchy/dance beats, hooks and poor lyrics so people are able to comprehend better. The song also references the golden age of radio when songs from Notorious B.I.G. and Red Hot Chilli Peppers were played along with Gin N' Juice and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

14. Slumerican Shitizen ft. Killer Mike – a universal song about poverty, disregarding race with Killer Mike ranting towards the end “So if I'm on the bottom and you're on the bottom We're the same color Dirt fucking poor.” With a Rage Against the Machine type of vibe, Yelawolf creates an anthem for folks growing up in the slums. Reminding me of “I Wish” off of “Trunk Muzik”, Yelawolf raps “What do you mean I'm white trash Grab my nuts and kick your poodle in the face I'm sick of this sloward hate Cause I'm the bitch that society rapes.” A chanting chorus which is sure to cause a few mosh pits “Slumerican Shitizen” is aggressively repeated and makes for a killer track.

15. The Last Song – the last track on “Radioactive”, is aptly titled “The Last Song” and is the first time we have ever heard Yelawolf open up like this. Deep and personal about his childhood and upbringing, Yelawolf wrote the song to his absent father, while thanking his mother for always loving and raising him. Over a simple piano beat, Yelawolf reveals himself saying “See I've been lost ever since I could walk Looking for my daddy and anyone of momma's boyfriend's who would talk Or listen to me when I spoke Instead of looking at me like a joke Or leaving me behind Leaving me to cry When you treated my momma like a ho But I learned quick that my daddy wasn't ever gonna come around And I didn't give a shit Cause me and my momma we held it down.” The hook also speaks on his father as Yelawolf finally made it big time and is on the radio and in magazines and hopes his father where ever he is, is proud of him. To his mother, Yelawolf raps “All I know is that I was made in you So I put all my faith in you.” Lastly, Yelawolf talks about growing up and the mistakes he made, saying “So I turned into an asshole Young and dumb Smoking weed Vandalizing, robbing houses, stealing cars, That was me But everything I did I had to see Feel the pain Had to grieve To become who I am and I'm proud of the man I came to be.”

Yelawolf “Radioactive” support and pick it up when it is released November 22nd.

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:
5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Heads

Songs I Recommend:
Let's Roll, Hard White (Up In The Club), Growin Up In The Gutter, Made In The U.S.A., The Hardest Love Song In The World

x Adam “S” Paccione x

Ludacris "1.21 Gigawatts: Back To The First Time" Mixtape Review

“They say that real recognize real and I'm as real as they come Don't ever doubt me You ain't never seen, read or heard no fake shit about me I'm a G so all you hoes can either dig up and die while I puff the magic dragon Heat the weed up and fly.”

This is the opening bar from Ludacris' new mixtape “1.21 Gigawatts: Back to The First Time” which features 12 new original tracks with guests such as Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalia, Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka, Meek Mill and 2 Chainz and featuring production from Big K.R.I.T, Juicy J, Drumma Boy and Fat Boi.

Coming off of a two year absence, “1.21 Gigawatts” shows Ludacris taking it back to the streets and giving the fans a raw mix tape. With punch line after punch line, bar after bar, Ludacris proves he is still one of the best in the game, all the while retaining his witty rapid-fire flow and clever lyrics.

For a mix tape, the beats on “1.21 Gigawatts” are better than usual. Normally mix tapes have lousy production but this is not the case here, as producers such as Big K.R.I.T and Juicy J deliver some incredible beats which are perfect for anybody who has some bump in their trunk.

The Big K.R.I.T produced “What You Smoking On” featuring Wiz Khalifa is a real standout track that is perfect for blazing. The keys to this track give it an incredible vibe and both destroy the beat as Luda spits some witty lyrics such as “on my way to the store to get medical marijuana Luda study more buddah than the Dali Lama.” Not to be out done, the Taylor Gang general speaks on what he knows and does best saying, “brownies, trippies, sticks and vaporizers we could smoke a bowl All these niggas smokin' weed around me it's a smoke-a-thon Crowded in my whip it's partly clouded cause we smokin' strong You say you can't smoke them joints probably cause you rolled them wrong.”

The other toughest beat belongs to Juicy J on the DTP meets MMG produced “Say It To My Face” featuring Meek Mill. A drip-drop beat that is slower for the verses and hard hitting and destructive for the chorus, makes “Say It To My Face” a straight banger in every way. Luda is vicious on this track and is in attack mode as he storms out saying “Before I end a MC I say my grace Leave you dead without a trace Got a problem with me then say it to my face!”

A track which had caught my eye a few months back and was the first song I heard off of “1.21 Gigawatts” was “I'm On Fire” featuring Big K.R.I.T. Big K.R.I.T., is one of the best up and coming Southern rappers in hip-hop today and will soon be giving Kanye a run for his money for the title of best rapper/producer in hip-hop. K.R.I.T has a crazy flow and spits fire as Luda speaks the comical “Eyes so low they think I'm Asian when I'm blazing Cause that purples on my chest like I'm playing for the Ravens.”

Ludacris does not play nice on “1.21 Gigawatts” and takes the time to address and diss both Drake and
Big Sean for claiming they created the pause-stop flow and that Ludacris stole it.

Starting off with the interlude “History Lesson”, Ludacris plays snippets of songs from Notorious B.I.G., Method Man, Kanye West, Q-Tip, and Cam'ron using the same pause stop flow throughout history before straight destroying them both on “Bada Boom.”

If you are a fan of Ludacris, then I absolutely suggest you download “1.21 Gigawatts: Back to The First Time” because the tape is real southern country shit and full of consistent Ludacris lyrics. The only downfall to the album, is that two of the guests Gucci Mane and 2 Chainz can not compete or compare with Luda and bring their songs quality and likability down.

Still, “1.21 Gigawatts” is still a great mix tape and if it is any indication of how Ludacris' upcoming studio record “Ludaversal” will sound when it is released in early 2012, then hip-hop fans should be very excited.

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:
3.5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Heads

Songs I Recommend:
Muthafucka Can You Buy That, Bada Boom, Say It To My Face, I'm On Fire, What You Smoking On

Tracklist:
1.Intro
2.Save It For Another Day
3.Rich & Flexin' Ft. Waka Flocka
4.Muthafucka Can You Buy That
5.History Lesson (Interlude)
6.Bada Boom
7.Say It To My Face ft. Meek Mill
8.I Ain't The One ft. 2 Chainz
9.Shake and Fies ft. Gucci Mane
10. Do Sumthin Strange ft. Rick Ross
11.I'm On Fire ft. Big K.R.I.T
12.What You Smoking On ft. Wiz Khalifa

Rihanna "Talk That Talk" Review

After last years critically acclaimed record “Loud”, Rihanna is back for her sixth studio album “Talk That Talk” which will be released in stores November 21st.

Incorporating various genres such as hip-hop, R&B, electro, dancehall and dubstep, “Talk That Talk” is a diverse sounding record with enough tracks to keep Rihanna all over the radio.

The albums lead single “We Found Love”, is a beat driven, dance-pop track produced and written by Scottish DJ Calvin Harris. Playing like a house track, the sound of this record is essentially what the majority of “Talk That Talk” sounds like except not as good.

Most of the tracks have an electronic and dubstep vibe to them as Rihanna moves away from her roots and experiments with different sounds. While I respect Rihanna for wanting to evolve as an artist and try different things, I believe “Talk That Talk” to be a step down for Rihanna and her weakest album to date, especially when compared to her last two offerings “Rated R” and “Loud.”

While I feel the album is not the best from Rihanna, there are still strong points on “Talk That Talk” such as the opening song and next single off the album “You Da One.” The only song with any sort of Caribbean sound, the track has a mid-tempo bounce and is extremely catchy with a dubstep breakdown towards the end of the song.

Another song on the record which I could see getting significant airplay is the title track featuring Jay-Z and the first of three songs produced by StarGate. Rihanna and Jay-Z have collaborated in the past on songs such as “Run This Town” and “Umbrella” and I'm sure “Talk That Talk” will receive the same acclamation as their previous works.

The next two songs on the album I did not enjoy and feel are the two weakest tracks on the album and they are “Cockiness (Love It)” produced by Bangladesh and the distorted electro interlude “Birthday Cake” produced by The-Dream and Da Internz.

The problem I felt with “Cockiness (Love It) is not so much Rihanna as it is Bangladesh's beat. Although it is uptempo, the track features a weird transition and the lyrics are to similar to Katy Perry's “Peacock” in terms of shock value. Going the obscene route, Rihanna sings “Suck my cockiness Lick my persuasion” but it fails to deliver and is not my favorite.

The No I.D. track “We All Want Love” slows the album down a bit and could be released down the line as a future single. A radio friendly track filled with positivity, Rihanna's vocal ability shines through on the chorus and is a highlight on the album.

“Drunk On Love” returns to the trance inspired beats and “Roc Me Out” is hip-hop inspired as both tracks are provided by StarGate.

The last track on “Talk That Talk” is “Farewell” and is a slowed down ballad. Rihanna's vocal talents once again standout and this track is undoubtably going to be played on the radio at some point next year. Similar in vein to other Alex Da Kid produced tracks such as “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem, “Coming Home” by Diddy Dirty-Money and T.I.'s “Castle Walls” the song is piano driven with slight tempo synths.

Overall, I do feel “Talk That Talk” is a step backwards for Rihanna, as I did not enjoy this record as much as her previous two. However, there are still enough stand alone tracks to enjoy which I'm sure will dominate the radio in the upcoming months.

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:
2.5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Head's

Songs I Recommend:
You Da One, We Found Love, Talk That Talk, Drunk On Love, Farewell

Tracklist:
1. You Da One
2. Where Have You Been
3. We Found Love ft. Calvin Harris
4. Talk That Talk ft. Jay-Z
5. Cockiness (Love It)
6. Birthday Cake
7. We All Want Love
8. Drunk On Love
9. Roc Me Out
10. Watch N' Learn
11. Farewell

Childish Gambino "Camp" Review

Donald Glover is a jack of all trades. An actor, writer, comedian and rapper, Glover's forth album and first studio record from a label “Camp” will be released November 15th, under the stage name Childish Gambino.

A regular on the hit NBC TV show “Community” and acquiring his name from an internet Wu-Tang name generator, one would assume that Donald Glover's rap career was a complete joke. However, this could not be more wrong as Glover does not make funny parody songs like Lonely Island but instead goes a different direction and provides listeners with an all out lyrical assault.

A graduate from NYU with a degree in Dramatic Writing, Glover has a unique advantage from everyone else in hip-hop. Putting his skills as a writer and persona of being a comedian to use, Glover paints great visuals and delivers humorous and witty yet intellectual rhymes on every verse on “Camp.”

With laugh out loud punch lines and clever wordplay in each song, Gambino is a tougher rapper then most artists out today who use hip-hop as their one and only career path, and he is doing it for pure fun. Having other career options, Gambino is able to say what he wants as an artist instead of doing what sells, and the result is a breath of fresh air from the status quo and staleness in the current state of hip-hop.

The owner of a very distinguishable flow and delivery, Gambino makes his own beats which allows him to master his own sound. Speaking on different topics then everyone else in the game right now, there is not a more innovative rapper in my opinion than Childish Gambino as he is constantly pushing boundaries.

Gambino also makes very relatable music and does it in such a way that his intelligence shines and his education is reflected in his lyrics.

Being a self-described “Blerd” (black nerd), most songs on the “Camp” reference Gambino's struggle and other black kids struggle growing up in a world filled with black stereotypes. One of the most powerful lyrics on the album come off of “Hold You Down”, as Gambino says “This one kid said somethin' that was really bad He said I wasn't really black because I had a dad I think that's kinda sad Mostly cause a lot of black kids think they should agree with that.”

Aiming to end the black stereotype, Gambino's art is a message of hope for black kids growing up in the world today. If anything, Gambino has proven that they do not have to do hood shit in order to succeed and that there are other paths to make their lives a success.

Going along with this uncool theme and making your life mean something, Gambino also boasts about his new found fame saying “girls used to tell me I ain't cool enough Now text me pics sayin' “you could tare this up” I don't really like shades, big rims, or jewelry But getting' time of day from a model is new to me Bein' me isn't as hard as it used to be”, on “Fire Fly.” Also, on “All The Shine”, Gambino speaks on how being on his own was the best thing to happen to him, as it not only got him to where he is today but also helped him develop his skills better than most as he raps “I always wanted to be picked on the cool team But alone is exactly how I should be.”

To me, “All The Shine” is the essential song to sum up Childish Gambino as an artist. Featuring the greatest beat on the album and a beautiful chorus, Gambino raps as himself and is real saying “I'm not trying to come hard, I'm just trying to come me.” Unfortunately, not enough artists in any genre of music are doing this and instead they suffer since they do not stand out.

“All The Shine”, also showcases Gambinos lyrical potency as he delivers some amazing metaphors in the song. Lines such as “cause I ain't Mumford, I ain't tryin' to have sons All I wanted was some Moore like Ashton” referencing folk rock group Mumford & Sons as well as Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Another clever line was “I ain't Curren$y, but if there ain't money in my name please murder me” speaking about how he is able to make loads of money even though he does not have a literal “$” sign in his name like former Ca$h Money artist Curren$y both of whom have “$” signs in their respective names.

Another standout on “Camp” is Gambino's first single “Bonfire” which debuted on Funk Master Flex's radio show. Nothing short of a lyrical exercise, if you had any doubts about Gambino's skills has a rapper look no further then here as Gambino goes hard the entire song. With more awesome punch lines, Glover says “butcher and I know it, man kill beef go HAM These rappers are afraid of him Cause I'm a beast, bitch Gir, Invader Zim” or when he addresses haters with “or you can fuckin' kiss my ass, Human Centipede.”

While these lines are each individually great, my favorite line on “Camp” is Gambino's line towards the end of “Bonfire” when he says “the shit I'm doing this year? Insanity! Made the beat then murdered it Casey Anthony.”

Overall, “Camp” is a brilliant album by Childish Gambino which will probably be overshadowed by bigger name releases such as Drake and Mac Miller, which is a real shame because “Camp” is a great record.

Full of smart and funny raps, “Camp” is a record which will be in heavy rotation for me until the end of the year. Nothing is soft or cuddly on “Camp” and Gambino acknowledges it saying “yeah these niggas wanted Cookie but instead I gave them Loch Ness” declaring himself a lyrical beast.

“Aimin' for the throne, Jay and Ye said to watch that” Gambino is a star on the rise and is intelligent and talented enough to make himself a star in hip-hop. Although haters still might not want to give him his due, Gambino will continue to prove them wrong as I expect him to only get better in time and as he says “told me I was shit, but that couldn't stop me Nigga still hungry, black Kobayashi!”

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:
3.5 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Head's

Songs I Recommend:
Fire Fly, Bonfire, All The Shine, Backpackers, Hold You Down

Tracklist:
1.Outside
2.Fire Fly
3.Bonfire
4.All The Shine
5.Letter Home
6.Heartbeat
7.Backpackers
8.L.E.S
9.Hold You Down
10.Kids (Keep Up)
11.You See Me
12.Sunrise
13.That Power

Lloyd Banks "Cold Corner 2" Mixtape Review

After releasing his third studio album “Hunger For More 2” around the same time last year, Lloyd Banks returns to the mix tape circuit to release “Cold Corner 2” for free download.

A sequel to 2009's critically acclaimed “Cold Corner”, “Cold Corner 2” has been a highly anticipated release for quite some time. Rumored to be released in early 2010, Banks decided to shelve the mix tape to work on other projects, but earlier this summer Banks decided to move ahead with the record and the result is an album quality mix tape for the fans.

Being one of the best lyricists in hip-hop today, “Cold Corner 2” is vintage Lloyd Banks. His hoarse voice provides the classic, raw, gutter NYC sound that has not been prominent since the heyday of G-Unit. With the lyrics being the forefront on “Cold Corner 2”, Blue Hefner delivers on every song with witty, chuckle inducing verses which will keep the replay value high.

Opening up with “1,2,3 Grind” featuring Prodigy, Lloyd Banks shows why he has one of the best flows and delivery's in hip-hop today as he effortlessly destroys the Arab-Muzik produced track.

“Make It Stack” is another standout featuring the up an coming A$AP Rocky. Over a melodic yet grimy beat, Banks begins the song with “Too much thinkin' On top of that, I'm getting' high and drinkin' I'm floatin' on cloud 9, watchin' these niggas sinkin” before stabbing keyboard warriors in the heart with “you just talk it, you don't does it So all those who suffer, You so humble out in public Computer make you tougher.”

Called the Punch Line King for a reason, quoting all of Banks' dope lines on “Cold Corner 2” would be nearly impossible, but some of my favorite bars include “I'm outta here on my way to the moon Blending in with the stars Put your cameras on zoom” and “I'm the survival type Cool as the champion on title night” on “Ice Box Pt. 2.” The track “Cashin' In” gives us “It's complicated I'm hated Badly underrated” and “foot race to the title Nigga I'll smoke your idol Try me is suicidal Dirty's how I do my rival.” On the Styles P featured “Predator”, Banks rhymes “Lashing out at the competition and shook 'em right off the map.” As well as “I'm sharper than the wood in a splinter Sit back and watch the king recoil You know me I OD Shinobi when I sling my sword” over the intense drums on the title track “Cold Corner (Eyes Wide).”

For me, the best song on the record is by far “No Love” as it has a perfect flow, perfect lyrics, perfect delivery and is just an overall perfect song. Produced by Tha Jerm, Banks releases one of the deadliest yet realest songs in a while and spits lines such as “I'm just as nice as anyone that wore the crown Livin' my dream Keep what you think Don't spoil it now.”

While the lyrics are clearly great, the main problem I have with “Cold Corner 2” is the production. All of the beats are grimy and melodic but midway through the record, they become bland and repetitive. However, this is a mix tape and the main showcase here is the skill of Lloyd Banks, so the production could be overlooked.

It has been a busy last couple of days for hip-hop with releases from Drake, Mac Miller and Childish Gambino but if your looking for pure lyricism, “Cold Corner 2” is the album for you. I definitely recommend giving this tape a download as you will not be disappointed. NYC is about to have a cold winter, and while “Take Care” will make you feel warm and fuzzy, “Cold Corner 2” will give pneumonia with the wordplay in the worst way.

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Scale:
3 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Heads

Songs I Recommend:
1,2,3 Grind, Predator, Make It Stack, Ice Box Pt.2, No Love, Cold Corner 2 (Eyes Wide)

Tracklist:
1. 1,2,3 Grind ft Prodigy
2. Super Crack
3. Shock The World
4. Predator ft. Styles P
5. The Pulse
6. Make It Stack ft. A$AP Rocky
7. Score
8. We Fuckin'
9. Love Shots
10. Joke's On You
11. Young Fly Flashy
12. Ice Box Pt. 2
13. No Love
14. Cashin In
15. Cold Corner 2 (Eyes Wide)
16. Keep It Cool
17. Get It How I Live
18. Come Up

Drake "Take Care" Review

For many people, Drake's new album “Take Care” was the most highly anticipated release of any artist coming out in 2011.

Already a house hold superstar, many fans were touting “Take Care” as the album of the year as far back as summer when Drake did not even have a single song released. Coming off the debacle which was “Thank Me Later”, I felt Drake had a lot of work to do, in order to get back to the success he had with his critically acclaimed mix tape “So Far Gone.”

I have said numerous times that I considered “So Far Gone” to be Drake's actual debut album and “Thank Me Later” to just be a case of a sophomore slump. With “Take Care” Drake proves everybody right as the album is a fun, diverse record which sounds like the true sequel to “So Far Gone” but with Drake's growth and overall evolution as an artist.

Drake is clearly getting better and on “Take Care”, he masters his often imitated but never duplicated singing/rapping style over nice beats to offer listeners one of the most unique releases of the year.

“Take Care” can be listened to in three parts, with the first featuring a bunch of slower R&B inspired tracks.

The album opens up with a nice mellow, melodic piano as October's Very Own addresses his haters on “Over My Dead Body.” Storming out the gate, Drake raps “I think I killed everybody in the game last year man, fuck it I was on though.” Setting the tone nicely with his boasting lyrics, Drake lets the competition know that he is here for the long term and is a force to be reckoned with until he bows out of the game.

“Shot For Me” follows and is back to what Drake does best with his singing opening the first half of the track, and his rapping closing the remainder of the song with a flow that perfectly rides the beat. Drake even drops this gem of poetry towards the end of the song with the moving “may your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you and heaven accept you.”

The next song “Headlines” is the lead single off of “Take Care” and is produced by Boi-1da who is responsible for some of Drake's biggest hits to date including “Best I Ever Had”, “Forever” and “Over.” “Headlines” is another hit for this dynamic duo as this song has been heard everywhere and has one of the best opening lines I have heard in quite a while with “I might be too strung out on compliments Overdosed on confidence started not to give a fuck and stop fearing the consequence Drinking every night because we drink to my accomplishments Faded way too long I'm floating in and out of consciousness.”

“Headlines” to me is the perfect song to showcase Drake's overall evolution as it is a stronger and better version of “Over.” The two songs are practically identical in every way but “Headlines” makes a louder statement especially with the multi-syllable opening bars, which is rarely done in mainstream hip-hop today and is a real standout record on the album.

Drake's partner in crime The Weeknd appears on the forth track “Crew Love.” “Crew Love” starts off with a heavy bass intro before The Weeknd begins to croon all over the spacey production, really shining on the track. Drake again comes in midway to deliver his verse, rapping lines such as “really I think I like who I'm becoming, there's times where I might do it just to do it like it's nothing” and “I told my story and made his-tory.”

The title track features Rihanna and Drake making great music again and I can see this track becoming a possible single in the future due to the trance/house beat the two duet over. “Take Care” showcases a vulnerable Drake singing and rapping to a girl who had her heart broken as he pleads with her to let her guard down and let him take care of her. With lines such as “pushing me away so I give her space, dealing with a heart that I didn't break”, Drake clearly wants this girl badly, but knows that he must be patient and let her heal first.

I believe this track is one of the stronger on the album and is a personal favorite of mine. Anytime Drake and Rihanna team up, the outcome is always positive and once again these two deliver.

“Marvins Room” is next and was the first song to be released from this record over the summer. The song is the essential formula for Drake's style and by now, everyone has heard this song. However, it was the following section titled “Buried Alive” which caught my eye, mainly because I saw that it featured Kendrick LaMar.

If you do not know by now, Kendrick LaMar is one of the hottest new rappers to come out of the West coast and has now been a key feature on two of hip-hops most notable releases of the year, the other being The Game's “RED Album.” What we get on “Buried Alive”, is pure brilliance from Kendrick LaMar, as he spits a straight two minute verse which is absolute fire. If you have not jumped on this kids bandwagon yet, I highly suggest you jump on quickly because K.Dot is blowing up fast and is already being crowned as the new king of the West coast without an actual album out.

“Buried Alive”, also signifies the end of the slower songs and introduces the harder more hip-hop based upbeat tracks on “Take Care.” This comes at the perfect time, because the album was starting to get a bit long and needed a change of pace to keep the listening smooth.

The first of these tracks is “Underground Kings” produced by T-Minus. Drake goes in with straight rap on this head-nodding fluid beat with lines such as “the living proof you don't have to die to get to heaven”, as well as referencing some of Lil' Wayne's best verses.

“We'll Be Fine” follows and although a solid track it is my least favorite song on the album. This leads to the second single released from “Take Care” and that is “Make Me Proud” featuring Young Money's queen-bee Nicki Minaj.

“Make Me Proud” is a nice choice for a single because it features a simple yet highly catchy hook perfect for the radio. Drake has a nice verse but Nicki does not do much for me and the track would have been better in my opinion if Nicki was not featured as much.

The structure of the track has Drake doing his verse first then the main chorus, followed by Nicki doing her verse and then her singing a chorus before going back to Drake. Nicki's chorus is unnecessary in my opinion and does nothing besides make us hear her cringeworthy metaphors such as “I'm a star, sheriff badge.”

Fortunately, the next track “Lord Knows” produced by Just Blaze and featuring the boss himself Rick Ross is one of the standout moments on “Take Care.” Just Blaze provides the craziest beat on the record and Drake absolutely snaps and arguably delivers his hardest verse to date. While Rick Ross also provides a nice verse, it does not compare to Drake spitting the fuck out of this song with lines such as “young ass nigga, lifelong dreams, they take the greats from the past and compare us.” Drake unquestionably lives up to his name on “Lord Knows” as he D.id R.ight A.nd K.illed. E.verything on this track.

“Cameras/Good Ones Go” is next and while “Cameras” is catchy, it is nothing spectacular but is the last of the harder hip-hop songs for the moment. In addition, “Good Ones Go” is a slower song and brings us back to the more R&B styled songs for the third and final part of “Take Care.”

The track I was most curious about is up next and that is “Doing It Wrong” featuring Stevie Wonder. “Doing It Wrong” is by far the most powerful song on “Take Care” with Drake singing truthful lines like “we live in a generation of not being in love, and not being together But we sure make it feel like we're together Because we're scared to see each other with somebody else.” For Stevie Wonder, he really brings this track to life with a beautiful harmonica solo, which is good enough to listen to on repeat for hours.

“The Real Her” is next and is the first Lil' Wayne feature on the album as well as a guest appearance from Andre 3000. “The Real Her” was released a couple of months ago, but it was incomplete since Andre 3000's verse was not added at the time.

Upon first listen, the track seems like a sequel to “Houstatlantavegas” off of “So Far Gone”, as Drake and Wayne have really mastered the formula of melody and delivery to cross over and adapt their songs to whatever genre they choose to apply the techniques too. Both are able to make catchier and stronger slow love songs then most actual R&B singers and with the addition of 3000, the song is an undeniable hit. Andre 3000 gives the track just what it needed and once again comes through proving he is one of the best to ever pick up a microphone, as his entire verse is pure magic.

Lil' Wayne makes his second straight appearance on “HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right)” and delivers what is possibly his best verse since being released from Rikers. Wayne opens his verse with "so much for being optimistic, they say love is in the air, so I hold my breath until my face turn purple." Wayne comes off grimy on this track but I fear that within a weak or two “HYFR” will be that new annoying overplayed acronym that will be all over Facebook and Twitter, making me want to blow my brains out.

“Look What You've Done” is a beautiful piano sampled beat as Drizzy tells the tale of how he came from nothing and turned into something all because of the inspiration provided by his aunt. This track is moving and is a great story about never giving up on your dreams and believing in yourself.

The following song “Practice”, really caught me off guard, but as it progressed it turned into a cool moment, since it samples old school Cash Money with a “Back That Azz Up” Juvenile sample. Along with the similar beat, Drake's flow is identical to the original for a 2011 remix sound which is surprisingly good and is something I could see being played in a strip club.

The closing track to the album "The Ride" is a song which has had the the internet buzzing since May. Declared by Drake to be his favorite song on "Take Care", when the song was not released with the rest of the album, "The Ride" turned into a song of mythical proportions and for good reason. Featuring atmospheric background vocals from The Weeknd, “The Ride” is classic Drake with multiple memorable lines such as “you know it's real when your latest nights are your greatest nights The sun is up when you get home that's just the way of life” and “you niggas getting older, I see no threat in Yoda.”

“The Ride” is the type of song I enjoy hearing most from Drake, as it is him at his lyrical best. Make no mistake about it, “The Ride” is not only one of the best songs on “Take Care” but one of the best Drake songs period, and is a great track to end a great album.

“Take Care” is a very good album which lives up and might even surpass expectations on what was predicted. Drake's progress as an artist/rapper/singer/entertainer are all exposed here and it entails a throughly enjoyable listen.

Seeming to find the perfect balance between lyricism and emotions, the record has a good flow which will keep you interested the whole way through the 17 tracks. Those who proclaimed “Take Care” to be album of the year are not far off, as it certainly is in contention and is the real album we will thank Drake for later.

Ranked on the Beavis and Butt-Head Ranking System:
4 Beavis' out of 5 Butt-Heads

Songs I Recommend:
Headlines, Take Care, Lord Knows, The Real Her, The Ride

Tracklist:
1. Over My Dead Body
2. Shot For Me
3. Headlines
4. Crew Love ft. The Weeknd
5. Take Care ft. Rihanna
6. Marvins Room / Buried Alive (Interlude) ft. Kendrick LaMar
7. Underground Kings
8. We'll Be Fine ft. Birdman
9. Make Me Proud ft. Nicki Minaj
10. Lord Knows ft. Rick Ross
11. Cameras / Good Ones Go (Interlude)
12. Doing It Wrong ft. Stevie Wonder
13. The Real Her ft. Lil' Wayne & Andre 3000
14. HYFR (Hell Yeah Fuckin' Right) ft. Lil' Wayne
15. Look What You've Done
16. Practice
17. The Ride ft. The Weeknd