Pusha T - My Name is My Name

In many ways, Pusha T's lastest release My Name is My Name is the polar opposite to the Drake release. Where Drake favors the intimate and the sad, Pusha favors the the malicious and the ferocious. MNIMN, however, is one of the few rap records this year that matches the emotional output of NWTS, albeit in different manifestations.

Pusha is endlessly entertaining not only because he is so technically sound and the epitome gangster rapper, but also because he is able to convey such emotional depth in his street tales. The backdrop of the drug game is used just as a foundation. To call MNIMN coke-rap is like calling Breaking Bad a show about science--it simply doesn't do justice to the epic scale and attention to detail.

Along with some of the best punch lines of his career,  MNIMN shows that Pusha can lay his signature style over a variety of beats. Rhythms like that of 40 Acres are rarely what come to mind when you think of the gritty MC, but he handles it wonderfully.

More than anything, I am impressed that he can still think of different punchlines about cocaine. How does one man not run out of coke punchlines? I wouldn't be surprised if he has a guy in his entourage who just throws out random topics so that Pusha can think of punchlines relating to them.

Pusha: Give me a topic
Entourage guy: The Nazis
Pusha: We got it from the heights/but we wanted it purer/ blonde haired blue eyes like the furher !!
Entrourage guy: Cool. Can we go to the club now?

Drake - Nothing Was the Same

Drake's Take Care is a modern classic in some circles. I happen to traverse through those circles from time to time, and I have always been a champion of one Drizzy. This made me expect great things from his newest release, Nothing Was the Same.

While the highs are incredibly high on Nothing Was the Same, it is a victim to its creator's own complete self-confidence. This album is Drake turned, but never Turnt, up to 11. This means that, while you are guaranteed a few infectious hooks, dense on-the-nose rhyme structures and room-clearing punchlines, you are also left with what feels like hours of emo rap. As one of my friends put it, it seems like Drake has no reluctance in airing out grievances and/or dirty laundry. All one has to do is play a beat, and he will gladly shit on anything, pour out his emotions and expect you to listen. This can be grating, even if you are nodding  your head at the time.

There are five undeniably dope songs and the rest of the filler that,  while better than 90% of other rapper's filler, are just okay and prevent this record from being a classic. I still rate the record a strong B--maybe even a B+--but it isn't a record that will stay in rotation from front to back.

Also, I am worried that Drake will soon run out of relationships to complain about and move on to mere acquaintances. So watch out, Starbucks baristas! Take heed, girl who didn't return Drake's crayons in second grade! There may well be a diss track coming for you in the near future.


All jokes aside, I am a fan and I gotta tip my hat to man who at least TRIES to make a great record each time he puts one out. The production is certainly on point and Drake at his best is one of my favorite things to listen to. I wish it was a little better, but that doesn't mean it isn't damn good.

Drake "The Motion" and "Jodeci Freestyle"

"The Motion" is the most Drake song Drake has ever released. It is like he conscientiously made a song to be used when explaining why Drake is popular. It has all the Drake elements--verses that incorporate a litany of cleanly-in-the-pocket punches, slightly off-key singing, emo subject matter and top-shelf production. If it had a mentioned a condo I would have thought it was a ghost-written by someone trying to be Drake.

"Jodeci Freestyle" is that mixtape shit that started his meteoric rise. His wordplay is on point--The whole scheme about caps lock/shift/return is crazy...and the middle finger to the sore spot is vintage Drizzy...and that "hang you with it as soon as I show you the ropes".  Don't look me in the face and tell me dude is wack because I don't like being lied to.

Drake "Girls Love Beyonce"

And so do you and so do I, Drizzy.

Can't help but think dude was inspired by that dope ass "Say My Name" Cyril Hahn Remix that Majestic Casual posted.

Snoop Lion "No Guns Allowed" ft. Drake and Cori B.

you know you want to

Drake "5am in Toronto"

Oh. My. God.

Drake murdered this.

I could load every gun with bullets that fire backwards
You prolly wouldn't lose a single rapper

PREACH

Apparently some shots fired at Pusha T (the whole thing about albums being shelved) that, per my homie Phaze, has caused Pusha to get back into the booth to respond.

If Drake is in this mode, this Pusha Vs. Drake should could be entertaining.

Riff Raff and Drake, Riff Raff and A$AP Rocky to Collab

As if the music world has been reading my blog and wants to tie the recent posts together, Pitchfork reports that Riff Raff and Drake will collab soon. Also, A$AP Rocky has been confirmed as another collaborator with Riff Raff. Ahhhh yeahhhh.

Drake "Started From the Bottom" Video

Gotta love Drake's new video for "Started From the Bottom".

Drake Defies Logic, Space and Time; Releases New Song with Aaliyah

Drake posted a new song which heavily features Aaliyah. Most would be deterred from using a track from a dead R&B legend for fear that it would seem like profiting off of a tragic incident, but Drake is a man with an unfettered vision (The same cannot be said for Tony Parker).

Joking aside, I have no problems with Drake's use of Aaliyah so long as her estate is cool with the goings on. I see it as Drizzy keeping her legacy alive by dropping verses on her songs--now teenagers from around the world will be exposed to a legendary talent.

Drake has a knack for doing these sorts of things--remember the nod to Gil-Scott Heron "Over My Dead Body" ?-- and it can't be argued that the man has great taste in musicians.

Check out "Enough Said" by Aaliyah ft. Drake