Tag: Album

Lorde: “Solar Power”

Pop music artists face a constant battle – the need to foster their unfathomable popularity whilst trying to keep their artistic integrity. Many fail, almost unapologetically. Others manage to succeed, but rarely entirely on their own terms. So what the fuck do we make of Solar Power? It features glistening, sunny production and Lorde’s vocals are as crisp as ever. But the writing is… almost so cringeworthy that it’s hard to believe. We’re left with a mess from an artist who is used to being very tidy.

Continue reading “Lorde: “Solar Power””

Lil Uzi Vert Rides His Winning Formula on “P2”

There were plenty of reasons to believe that Lil Uzi Vert, every bit a creation of the Soundcloud wave, wouldn’t still be around these days. He seemed to keep bagging co-signs and leaping on big-time tracks, not least of which the Migos’ “Bad and Boujee”. But he often seemed like an odd star. Objectively, he was a lazy, unimpressive rapper and a painfully nasally singer. Frankly, it shouldn’t have worked.

Continue reading “Lil Uzi Vert Rides His Winning Formula on “P2””

Aminé: “OnePointFive” (Review)

Aminé’s debut album Good For You was surprising only for how great it was last year. In a rap world full of rage, despair and mystery, he was surprisingly cheery and honest. His new album/mixtape/EP OnePointFive proves it wasn’t a fluke. It’s full of all that goofy energy that made him interesting in the first place, and a couple moments that show he’ll probably be a star sooner rather than later.

Continue reading “Aminé: “OnePointFive” (Review)”

Denzel Curry: “TA13OO” (Review)

Denzel Curry has been on the verge of stardom for a while now. He first came into the rap consciousness with Nostalgic 64 in 2013; a raw, out-of-nowhere debut that signalled a white-knuckled rapper who actually had a bit to say. His next work, Imperial, condensed that talent into a range of brilliant thumping bangers. But it’s very clear that TA13OO is meant to be his moment. It shows the progression of a truly great artist – one who keeps constantly proving he’s infinitely better than the Soundcloud rappers he’s often bunched up with. With this record, he’s crafted one of the best rap albums of 2018.

Continue reading “Denzel Curry: “TA13OO” (Review)”

Buddy: “Harlan & Alondra” (Review)

— 28 Jul 2018 —

Written by Deshawn Campbell

You won’t find many rappers with the sort of promise that Compton rapper Buddy was showing in 2011. That year, a very impressed Pharrell Williams signed him to the label I Am Other. Soon after, the two debuted ‘Awesome Awesome’ – a Neptunes-produced track with a video showing an 18-year-old Buddy coasting confidently through crisp, sunny New York streets. Pharrell declared him ‘on his way to being one of those super special artists’. We’re sitting here seven years later with Buddy’s debut album, Harlan & Alondra, and it’s fair to wonder where a lot of that promise has gone.

Continue reading “Buddy: “Harlan & Alondra” (Review)”