Articles By: Wade-West
23 year-old hip-hop enthusiast, DJ, and master's student at Wilfred Laurier University. My interests include race politics, 90's hip-hop culture, writing, and public speaking.
Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t album review
Rick Ross, MMG CEO and rap superstar recently dropped his fourth solo release, God Forgives, I Don’t. This album features MMG members Wale and Omarion, alongside Drake, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and Andre 3000. The production is polished and fantastic; GFID is worth a listen. “Sixteen” is arguably the best track of the album with Andre 3000 dropping one of the most notable verses of his career. Other highlights include “Presidential,” “Diced Pineapples,” “3 Kings,” and “Amsterdam”. It is important to [...]
Read more →Prodigy – H.N.I.C. 3 album review
Prodigy, half of Queensbridge duo, Mobb Deep, releases his third installment of the H.N.I.C. series, H.N.I.C. 3. This album features Wiz Khalifa, T.I., Willie Taylor of Day26 and Havoc. This album is strange, and awkward. P’s lyrics seem to be constructed lazily, and his lyrical content strays very far from what we have known him for. Moreover, the production is generally snooze-worthy. The end result is something that should have never seen the light of day. After spending time in [...]
Read more →Oddisee – People Hear What They See album review
People Hear What They See is a collection of thoughts that take us into the mind of producer and emcee, Oddisee. The album is a brilliant combination of funky, soulful melodies, and philosophical wordplay that grasps listeners and finally enlightens us to a non-commercial work of hip-hop music. Every spoken word is raw and real… “Picture that from a small town with big dreams/ from flying coach to buying Coach I’m in between/ I’m not a star, somebody lying, I [...]
Read more →Waka Flocka – Triple F Life album review
Waka Flocka drops his second official studio album, Triple F Life (Friends, Fans & Family), with the same intensity and energy that we have known him to deliver in the past. Triple F Life offers gritty street-anthem style beats and lyrics alongside appearances from the likes of Meek Mill, Drake, Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, Flo Rida, Ludacris and Bun B. Fans will be pleased to know Waka doesn’t stray far from the style of music that made him the [...]
Read more →Fraction + Fresh Kils – Extra Science album review
Fraction and Fresh Kils have collectively worked with some of the most well-known pioneers of hip-hop including De La Soul, Raekwon, Nas, and Redman. It comes to no surprise that their finished product, Extra Science, is both a reflection, inspiration, and ode to the 90?s hip-hop era. These two artists have been putting in work since the 90?s, and their sound remains authentic and true in this release. Fraction comes correct with meaningful lyrical content focusing upon real life, down [...]
Read more →Travis Porter – From Day 1 album review
After generating quite a buzz in 2010 with their hit single Make it Rain, the trio, Travis Porter, have finally released their debut studio album From Day 1, featuring the likes of Tyga, 2 Chainz, Mac Miller, and others. The Atlanta-born trio gives us exactly what we’re expecting of them: southern party tracks discussing topics of fornication to getting money. The familiar, previously-released tracks Make it Rain, and Bring it Back, stand-out and strengthen the album from the outset– the [...]
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