R.E.D Album Review

Hate him or Love him (pun intended) Jayceon Taylor aka Game is a talented rapper when he is focused. His latest album The R.E.D Album has been plagued with setback after setback since last year.  The beats are great on this album but the 16 guest feature on a 21 track is not a good look. If you have this much guest features on an album you might as well call this a compilation album i.e DJ Khaled. Some of the features on the album work and some just sounded forced.  Truth is Game’s last two mixtape sounded better than his album it’s just a shame that it took over two years to make this album and it’s not his best work.

2.5/5

Hip Hop Is Alive

Written By: Teesside86

Myself, Acelucky and Saacey are all long time avid listeners of hip-hop, and have seen it change and evolve since our early teenage years, possibly even younger.

In recent years, there was a conception that hip-hop is dead, and Nas even released an album with the controversial title.

So with that said, I take a brief look at the best albums of 2011. These are strictly my opinions...

My Teessider rating system is as follows, along with the normal people ratings in brackets.

An audio Parmo   *****

Spot On               ****

Decent                 ***

Alright.                 **

Afonso Alves       *

Wiz Khalifa - Rolling Papers

Wiz has been huge on the mix tape and underground scene for years, releasing his first mix tape at just age 19, now 24 he dropped his debut studio album in march this year.

The album has some clean, easy going beats, big on snares and synths. Wiz is comfortable with his flow, laid back and relaxed, as he is with his subject matter. He raps about experiences with relationships and mainly with weed. His music is about having fun, he doesn't take himself too seriously, and neither do his fans. An entertaining album to listen to, especially when getting drunk or high.

Verdict: Decent

Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told

The Greatest Story Never Told, Saigon's first studio album, coming at the age of 33, due to long term wrangling over its release, was a big moment for hip hop; Saigon is from Brooklyn and aside from Jay-Z, little was coming out of the area of New York in recent years.

The album has a blend of raw hip hop, and soulful singing, with some great beat selection from Saigon, and the albums exec producer Just Blaze. Saigon brings some thought provoking lyricism, using his years and wisdom to switch our minds on. He picks select collaborations, and they work well, Faith Evans is featured on one of the albums best cuts, Clap. Songs like Bring Me Down, are full of adrenaline, that of a man screaming out to be heard and who almost quit hip hop. Saigon has rewarded those who waited with one of the best hip hop albums of recent years.

Verdict: An Audio Parmo

Lupe Fiasco - Lasers

Lupe's Third studio release and the long delayed and highly anticipated Lasers was 4 years after The Cool, and Lupe has been busy. For Lupe's fans, he was a continuation of the conscious rapper, a modern incarnation of people like Rakim and Common. The Lasers album is perhaps short of what people would consider his best music. His lyrics seem loose, and sloppy at times on some tracks, Never Forget You, to name one. However on others he carries a powerful punch, such as Words I Never Said, and Show Goes On, where he attacks anyone from politicians, even President Obama, to his label chiefs who hindered the release of the album.

I love this album though, it's a fantastic listen, and it proves Lupe is one of the leading MC's of his generation, the third album can be a tricky one, yet there is more than enough quality here to keep you pressing play.

verdict: Spot On

Coming Soon....

DJ Khaled - We the Best Forever

Bad Meets Evil - Hell the Sequel

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne

Big Sean - Finally Famous

Kendrick Lamar - Section 80

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV

The Game - The RED Album

Up and Coming Stars In 2011 Part Two

Kendrick Lamar- Is the first rapper in our Up and Coming series to make the list is an artist you have to watch out for. Lamar states that his influences growing up were Tupac Shukar, DMX, Nas, and Kanye West. This year has been a busy year for Lamar who made the XXL coveted freshman cover as well as appear on few tracks where he steals the show on Jay Rock ‘Hood Gon Love This and Game’s The City.  As well as appearing on Dr. Dre Detox album (if that album ever comes out). Also this year Lamar released a digital album Section.80 which was well received by critics.  Lamar is also working on a joint project with another XXL freshman cover alumni J. Cole. Known for his deep subject matters and complex rhymes Lamar is one of the many new talents emerging from the West Coast.

If that wasn't enough check out the YouTube clip when Game and Snoop Dogg passes the torch to Lamar

If you haven’t already go check out Section.80 which is one of the best rap album this year available on ITunes

Twitter.com/kendrick_Lamar

The Weeknd- Up and coming R&B singer Abel Tesfaye is another emerging talent coming from Canada who goes by the stage name The Weeknd has caught a lot of people’s attention with the release of ‘House of Balloons’ and just recently ‘Thursday’ which are part of a trilogy with the final mixtape being’ Echoes of Silence’ expected to be released in the Fall. The Weeknd has received a co-sign from Drake which has gotten him more exposure lately. Drake also mentions that The Weeknd will be on his next album Take Care coming out in October. With an wide open and ever changing R&B scene The Weeknd will be a major player in R&B this year.

Cope The Weeknd mixtape from his website:

The-weeknd.com

Twitter.com/theweekndxo