#god AP was really putting out banger after banger after banger in this time | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

givemetherapyimawritingtravesty · 1 year

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rank the fob and mcr albums or i'll smash your kneecaps

Love you too bestie <3

I had to drag out my laptop to type all this but they are under the cut...

MCR

Three Cheers is my fav ever, thanks for the venom is my all time favorite it is never not playing in my head, I have the 3cheers shirt and everything. also ykwtdtgluip is another fav and helena just... i cry. and headband. it is a solid album start to finish.

Then I'd also have to do bullets because drowning lessons? sunsets? did i metion drowning lessons? A fav that has got me through some SHIT.

Black Parade is iconic and bangers front to back I am still spiralling cancer disenchanted I DON'T LOVE YOU (and it's GORGEOUS video). And blakc parade. My first karaoke song ever, sang it for my first acting class bit and put on eyeliner while doing it... I was a legend that day.

Danger Days. My love. The whole concept here though a wildly different color vibe from others was so good. My old discord name was dstroya after the song. It really ties with TBP if im being honest and again bangers cover to cover, s/c/a/r/e/c/r/o/w and bulletproof heart and nananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananana and need i go on, you get the point. (edited)

now, FOB. FOB is my baby and everything they do slaps and i like being kept on my toes for the vibes.

From under the cork tree is my #1 always, i have a tattoo based on olmuctnotsswwgs it is my ALL TIME fave song ever. the first album of theirs i ever owned. Nobody puts baby in the corner and sophmore slump are some favs and of couse sugar. I mean, com on.

Next I'd probably ( god I hate ranking my CHILDREN) Folie a duex. So many good ones, some Urie vocals. Coffee, idc, nosebleed, america's sweethearts, DONNIE my baby... need i say more?

3) take this to your grave. I will be buried with this album solely for it's title but also Dead on Arrival is my fav banger here, saturday, grand theft, reinventing... I like their early sound and the unhingedness of these songs

then I'd have to say... shit. um. Save rock and roll and AB/AP are a tie, these two bleed together for me and idk why but Centuries reignited my obsession with them and there are too many bangers here between the two: jet pack blues, alone together, young volcanos, ELTON FREAKIN JOHN, and sue me i think demi in irresistible was so good. I like the version with her and i will not apologize for that. Both albums bop equally hard for me.

Hot take. I hate putting it so low but I do love MANIA. Some of the songs i could take or leave but the others I am living for (because of), wilson is easily my top on this album, church, young and menace (ha, me), the begining of stay frosty when it just hits. Actually, looking at the track list again, i like more songs than I dislike here. My initial reaction to the more mainstream sound clouded my judgment at first and i didn't like the album, but everytime i listen to it I find new songs i like.

Now. Infinity is also full of bangers. Im like a lawyer (WERE THE NEW FACE OF FAILURE), hum halleluiah, bang the goldrums, ginasfs, and all the iconics that are on this album.

I know this is a ranked list but really they all tie for first and second place, I have my most faves and then the slightly lesser faves becasue my mans pete wentz and his crew can do no wrong. **I didn't rank Stardust because, well, but i alraedy know i am going to live for it. i love everything they do, I don't dislike any of thier songs, though some of the mainstreamers do rub me the wrong way if im in a bad mood because im sad they were a bit overplayed. Except for sugar, that one never is unwelcomed.

THE ROAD OUTSIDE MY HOUSE IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS... SO HUM HALLIELUA, JUST OFF THE KEY OF REASON (sorry i am JAMMING right now)

Also, some fun immages I feel you would appreciate

FOB is my baby and everything they do slaps and i like being kept on my toes for the vibes.

Next I'd probably ( god I hate ranking my CHILDREN) Folie a duex. So many good ones, some Urie vocals. Coffee, idc, nosebleed, america's sweethearts, DONNIE my baby… need i say more?

3) take this to your grave. I will be burried with this album solely for it's title but also Dead on Arrival is my fav banger here, saturday, grand theft, reinventing… I like their early sound and the unhingedness of these songs

then I'd have to say… shit. um. Save rock and roll and AB/AP are a tie, these two bleed together for me and idk why but Centuries reignited my obsession with them and there are too many bangers here between the two: jet pack blues, alone together, young volcanos, ELTON FREAKIN JOHN, and sue me i think demi in irrisitable was so good. I like the version with her and i will not apologize for that. Both albums bop equally hard for me.

[8:09 PM]

Now. Infinity is also full of bangers. Im like a lawyer (WERE THE NEW FACE OF FAILURE), hum halleluiah, bang the goldrums, ginasfs, and all the iconics that are on this album.

I know this is a ranked list but really they all tie for first and second place, I have my most faves and then the slightly lesser faves becasue my mans pete wents and his crew can do no wrong. **I didn't rank Stardust because, well, but i alraedy know i am going to live for it. i love everything they do, I don't dislike any of thier songs, though some of the mainstreamers do rub me the wrong way if im in a bad mood because im sad they were a bit overplayed. Except for sugar, that one never is unwelcomed.

THE ROAD OUTSIDE MY HOUSE IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS… SO HUM HALLIELUA, JUST OFF THE KEY OF REASON (sorry i am JAMMING right now)

also, some images i know you'll appreciate...

#yaz tag #discord besties tag #mcr #fob #pete wentz #music #asks

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sarahjtv · 3 years

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BNHA Chapter 318 Quick Spoiler Analysis: Lost and Found

Ok, I think I need a few days to process everything that’s happened during this chapter and I might make a longer analysis for this chapter later, but holy shit when I tell you I ascended, I ASCENDED! That page of Deku thinking about his classmates with a genuinely big smile on Shoto’s face and the last pages of Bakugo straight-up watered my crops, cleared my skin, expended my lifespan, and sent my soul into the great unknown for a bit. I screamed happy sounds last night. With that in mind, some very quick thoughts today:

Hooray for overseas Pro Heroes coming over to help Japan! This means that Deku and Co. will have more allies on their side and Deku doesn’t have to take care of everything. I hope and pray he listens to Endeavor and get some freaking sleep.

I’ve heard people mention that Endeavor’s been treating Deku like an adopted son lately and I can see it. It’s almost like he’s trying to become the good father he wasn’t with his own children. Like he’s making it up with Deku this time as the son figure. I kinda like it actually. It’s good character growth for Endeavor.

The panel of the OFA Holders trying to get Deku to rest is a parallel to the chapter where we go into Shigaraki’s psyche and we see his family trying to grab him and stop him too. Of course, both Deku and Shigaraki ignore the spirits and just move on with Shigaraki moving towards AFO and Deku moving onto the next villain to beat. I really like it when Horikoshi parallels these two characters and their symbolism. I actually just like it in general when it’s done right.

It’s clear that the OFA Holders feel like that maybe they pushed Deku too far with their words and motivations. But, this is ultimately what Deku wants. For better or worse, he chose the path of a hero and he’s bent on getting to the finish line. Though it’s interesting that the 2nd Holder is the only one who thinks that Deku pushing himself so hard is the right thing to do. I don’t think the 2nd Holder is being malicious in saying this. I think there’s something to his character and backstory that molded his reasonings. I mean, Deku really is the only one who can do this, but he does need help. If Deku can get some help then he can finally rest and fight properly instead of exhausting himself to death.

God, it’s upsetting to see Deku actually being feared by people despite saving them. Just the way Deku looks alone is scary enough. The kid doesn’t remotely look like a hero anymore. He’s not the hero who’s presence can put everyone at ease right now. Deku’s strayed so far away from his original origins. The main thing staying there is his want to save people.

And as all these burdens are on his shoulders, the most important thought in his head are his classmate’s smiles. Everyone is smiling from Ochaco to Shoto who’s pure, rare smile will remain in my head rent free for the rest of eternity 💙. Deku wants a world where there’s peace and smiles even if he has to suffer for that. Throughout everything, he’s never forgotten about his friends and their happiness. I really do love this kid, guys.

As Deku’s facing this other assassin, Dictator (who’s Quirk is similar to Shinso’s except the people he’s controlling are conscious), Deku looks so, so tired. He’s thinking of ways to save all these controlled civilians while being attacked by them, but he’s just standing there exhaustingly. There’s a small panel of his eye and it looks so tired. I know I keep saying that, but he is. There’s a small flicker of light in his eye too. I looks to me like it’s going to go out at any moment really. Deku needs to get a proper meal and sleep before he collapses in on himself.

AND NOW WE GET TO KATSUKI BAKUGO!!! HOLY SHIT WE HAVEN’T SEEN THIS DUDE IN SINCE LATE LAST YEAR AND HE’S BACK AND HE’S SO BEAUTIFUL 😭💥🧡 The internet’s still going nuts about him I can tell. He blasts Dictator with an AP Shot and Deku sees him with some life back in his eyes. Bakugo then pulls out his phone and tells someone “Guys, I found him”! Which means that Bakugo wasn’t the only one searching for Deku!!! Please tell me who else joined him, Horikoshi! I’m betting on Shoto, Ochaco, and maybe Iida, Momo, and Kirishima since they helped Deku rescue Bakugo back in Kamino (which is where Bakugo actually found Deku ironically enough; right in Ground Zero where the All Might statue is).

Also, the 2nd Holder mentioned before “But if there is someone who could make Midoriya Izuku whole at the moment, that would be…” and then we go right into the big Bakugo panel! BKDK’s rise 🧡💚!!! But seriously, this is amazing. These two really do complete each other not just as rivals, but as friends. And it’s great how this goes to show how much Bakugo’s grown from the beginning. This kid who wanted absolutely nothing to do with Deku at the beginning became one of the people actively looking for him and even found Deku first. Bakugo’s character development truly is one of the best in the series.

And this would be a great time for Bakugo and Deku to finally have that talk they’ve been needing to have for a long, long time now. I almost hope that the other kids don’t reunite with Deku next chapter because I really want that talk if they didn’t have it back at Central Hospital. A glimpse of the other kids would be good and I’d love to see Shoto again, but I NEED THAT ANGSTY TALK! I wonder if we’re going to have a roll reversal here too: Bakugo lends out a helping hand towards Deku and asks him to rest, but Deku ignores Bakugo’s hand and turns away and leaves again instead. That would absolutely kill me. Just as much as the All Might angst we got last week. If that happens then the turns really will have tabled. I will cry again for a week straight. I would still thank Horikoshi for his masterful storytelling though. I would also cry if Deku does take Bakugo’s hand though. God, there are so many feels to these two characters it’s wonderful. I need Chapter 319 like yesterday.

But unfortunately, we won’t get that for a while. Horikoshi is taking a break next week and so is the anime on July 3rd I think. So, we’re going to have a dry spell for a week straight my MHA friends. I’m honestly ok with this though. For me, the new OP and ED and Horikoshi sketch will tide me over with their bangers (I hope) and Horikoshi needs as many breaks as he can get. He’s been drawing and writing pure 🔥 this arc and I want him to get some much deserved rest. Especially after Berserk’s Kentaro Miura’s passing and JJK’s Gege Akutami taking his month long break. Hey, Jump? Please give your mangaka better schedules. I hate seeing them so exhausted. Anyway, enjoy your break, King 👑!

Me reading Horikoshi’s last few arcs:

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palbabor-writes · 4 years

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Shota’s Cool Times Summer Jamz Mix

But for real, this is a Class 1-A Character Analysis, but with their music choices!

So it’s editing day, and @albinoburrito and I got a little off track. It started with, what do you think Bakugo would listen to? And then it just spiraled out of control.

So, here it is. Shota’s Cool Times Summer Jamz Mix

Izuku: Indie music, general pop, his dad’s old classic rock albums - was especially excited when he found out that All Might also listens to classic rock and uses it for his workouts. He prolly made like 20 new playlists after that and always tries to play them on the down low when All Might is training with him. He fucking loves it when All Might is like, “oh! I love this song”. Or, asks for him to turn the volume up. Has done some low fi for studies, but that’s really the only time he does it. He likes Young the Giant, MGMT, Alt-J, Strfkr and bands like The Rolling Stones and Van Morrison fill out most of his workout playlists.

Bakugo: Honestly, he doesn’t have any hard and fast preferences. If he likes things he SoundHounds them and moves on. He can cultivate playlists, but it’s not like he’s Kaminari level, having playlists for any and all activities. I do feel like he would lean more toward rap & hip hop titles. As well alt and alt rock. No fucking scream-o, or Eminem, please and thank you. Artists like: Childish Gambino, Travis Scott, Drake, blackbear, Missio, NCT 127, and Jaden’s Icon. However, he does have one low key, wind down playlist with sad, sappy songs that he had to immediately lock when the others found his Spotify. Shit like Band of Horses, Lord Huron, and Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish.

Sero: Indie and indie bops: i.e. Loud Pipes by Ratatat. Some rap & hip hop. Maybe upbeat alternative jams. He strikes me as a Gorillaz fan. He’s good at making playlists, he’s better at the low key ones. Things that you can comfortably listen to and don’t mind them. He doesn’t overthink this. If you hand him the aux you’re never upset. You’ll get bands like: Two Door Cinema Club, Passion Pit, St. Lucia, COIN and Coast Modern.

Kaminari: The KING of cultivated playlists. Like, has one for every occasion. Need something for a party that your parents will also attend? Cross generational? He’s got you. Pump up jams for specific people? He made them like a week ago and has choices. Makes playlists for certain people, but won’t give them out unless you actually want them, or ask him. Yes, he made one for Shinso after that training battle. No, he hasn’t worked up the courage to show him yet. Personal preference: he’s into all the latest pop & he keeps up with artists and tends. For upbeat playlists he goes for: Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Maroon 5 and Major Lazer. For low key playlists his go to are: NIKI, Khalid, KALEO, Transviolet, Noah Cyrus, and Bea Miller. His favorite artists waffle. They change rapidly. He loves them one week, but next week he’s got a new fav. He also likes the Jpop scene.

Mina: Hip Hop QUEEN. If it’s got a good beat she is all over it. MUST be a banger. She has mood banger playlists. Like, Kamanari, she’s got some good playlist cultivation skills. She’s also who you want to go to for road trip & sing along playlists. My girl loves a good upbeat “friendship,” playlist. She has a soft spot for some indie bands, i.e, MisterWives, Lorde & Billie Eilish. For her everyday listening needs she is all about: Run the Jewels, Lil Nas X, Quinn XCII, Logic, Calvin Harris, Nicki Minaj and Bhad Bhabie.

Jiro: She listens to all most everything. Massive, massive music pallet. Her family was always big on diversifying her musical tastes. Never let yourself be limited or judgmental because it’s not what you usually listen to. That said, she super big into rock and alt rock. She really like to follow bands. Like Paramour, Panic at the Disco. Bands that have shifted and changed over time. She admires that skill. Jiro cultivates playlists that are super specific and poetic. You know, those concept playlists that are like: enchanting, serene. You are laying in an abandoned castle and you’ve never felt this content and at peace. You are one with the universe, never in your life... Like that shit that’s like a paragraph long and you don’t even understand why, like, why is it so long? And so, specific? She’s got that shit locked down on Spotify. Mina found hers once, ONCE, and she tightened that security seconds later. She loves to listen to: Fleetwood Mac, The Zombies, Joni Mitchell, Terror Jr, Woodkid, Foo Fighters and David Bowie. Literally, she likes everything. Equal opportunity music listener. If it feels good it’s going in a playlist and that playlist is turning into a poem.

Tokoyami: 100% listens to GOTH rock - POST PUNK jams. Don’t @ him. It’s just his vibe k? Siouxsie and the Banshees shit, The Cured, The Smiths, and some good ole’ Evanescence. The darker the better, Revelry in Dark y’all. He’s a sucker for rock opera, that epic extra shit, but it’s also low key embarrassing. He wants no one to know of this. Like if you find it, go away and leaf him alone. Also, never speak of this again. He’s redacted, he’s not even on this list. You didn’t see this.

Iida: Oh my king, he likes some of that Bastille, Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, One Republic in his playlists. Low key, alt rock. Good ole’ safe, alt rock. But, he does like some pop songs. Not that he will talk to you about that. When he’s with his folks he likes to masquerade as a classic rock buff. But he’s bluffing pretty hard. He’s working on that with Izuku. He’ll get there you guys. He knows his brother loves it so he’s trying his BEST. For his pump up work outs he does go for that DAFT PUNK techno.

Aoyama: Oh. My. God. He loves flashy bands. Fucking Glam rock all the way. He’s also super, super up to date on the French hip hop and pop scene. Into people like Yelle, Phoenix, Soprano, Ayama Kamura, Stromae. Loves ELO just for the sheer operatic value. ABBA all the way baby. Anything exciting and anything that makes him feel invigorated. His playlists are a little scattered. He really just tosses whatever he’s vibing on in them.

Kirishima: You already know, why are you even looking here? He’s got the manliest playlists. When he was younger it was like, all alt rock, edgy stuff. Once he got to UA he cleansed that pallet. Not that he don’t go back to those playlists sometimes, but he’s also wanting to move on from those feelings. Now? He’s all about that positive rock babyyy. Anything that has a good, upbeat feeling he’s down for. He’s really looking for those VIBES. Things that get him pumped up and ready to go. Bands like: The Bleachers, The Mowgli’s, Banners, Jukebox The Ghost. Just real positive stuff, man. He also dips into classic rock for his workouts. If he feels like that rap song works with his workout jams it’s going in and he’s cranking it up. He totally found Bakugo’s sadboi playlist and immediately told him, hey, man, I have one of those too, emotions amiright? This is why Bakugo private locked his entire account HARD. Look what you did, Kirishima, you can’t see ANY of it now.

Uraraka: My girl likes pop. That bubble gum shit. But, she’s also has a superrrr hardcore rap playlist for her workouts, like, it’s kinda confusing. Mina found that playlist first and was like ????? I-Is this you? Like this playlist has DMX, Jedi Mind Tricks, Kanye, LL Cool Jay, A$ap Rocky, like, some tunes that get her GOING. But, she loves that cute Jpop and Kpop. She’s got tons of road jam playlists. Those you can put on and everyone is like, ooooooh, this song!!! She’s also has like 3 Disney playlists, for different moods. She also loves Girl in Red, Louis the Child, Hailee Steinfeld, and Mitski.

Todoroki: He...doesn’t have much experience with music cultivation. Like, he knows some songs, he didn’t live under a rock, but he also kinda did...so, that stunted him, in more ways than one. Thanks Endeavor. But, thanks to his classmates, he is starting to get the hang of this. He over thinks this stuff. Like, this music must speak to him. From Iida he likes Bastille, from Uraraka he likes King Princess, From Izuku he’s learned to love Grizzly Bear, and he really, really likes the playlist that Kaminari made for him. He’s leaning heavily on it to find some more tunes for his own small collection. He also learned that he loves anything that is hard rap as well. Especially if he can play it in front of Endeavor. You know, the ones are like, you didn’t fucking pay your child support, you ass. That aggressive, angry rap: Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, 21 Savage and Montana of 300. It’s to make his father as uncomfortable as he possibly can be.

Tsuyu: Fucking rainforest and ambient noises. Not really, but also actually. She likes calming sounds, ok? Everyone was like, this is a joke, don’t be ridiculous and then she showed them her playlist of rain sounds. I mean, you go girl. But really, her collection is mostly pop songs, she likes them easy going. Much like her fighting and hero style, she is the glue that holds things together with the class in terms of music selection. Kinda of the bridging gap. Music that you just can’t complain about. Besides, why would you? What’s wrong with you? It’s Froppy. She and Uraraka often find themselves overlapping on their upbeat indie pop playlists, stuff like: Sara Bareilles, Oh Wonder, Kygo, Kero Kero Bonito, Taylor Swift, MARINA, and Regina Spektor. She did find Uraraka’s rap playlist and didn’t....approve. Did not want to use it for their joint workout. No, thank you.

Ojiro: Oh, you don’t get enough screen time son. You really don’t. He’s very low key. Into some indie stuff, like: Lumineers, Local Natives, Morningsiders, Manchester Orchestra, Vampire Weekend. He likes acoustic sounds, really down to earth. Once again, you cannot complain whenever he gets to select the music. Izuku especially approves when he plays his music because he always finds something new. For his workouts he prefers some heavy, heavy rock. You know, when you get to wail the shit out of stuff with your tail. He’s playing that Five Finger Death Punch in his MIND.

Koda: Nature sounds. Honestly. Full. Stop. Dead-ass he is living for artists like Corrine Bailey Rae, Hozier, Alesia Cara, Adele, and Maggie Rogers. He’s also got that Kacey Musgraves and Florence + The Machine on LOCK. Anything that feels ethereal and light is right up his alley. He likes it a little spooky sometimes. He does have a killer Halloween playlist, but he hasn’t ever quite worked up the courage to play it for his classmates. Oh. Also, listens to Enya un-ironically. He also might have a repeat problem with Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek.

Sato: He’s into new bands that I don’t even fucking listen to. He loves him some alt rock too. But, he’s not above that classic rock. He just likes stuff that he can head bang to. Not a metal head, but low key IS a metal head. Stuff like: Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me The Horizon, Highly Suspect, Royal Blood, The Smashing Pumpkins. He also has a wonderful baking playlist. Like 1950’s crooners. Think Dorris Day, The Ink Spots, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Frankie Valli.

Momo: Classical. Moving on. But really, she loves a good brain playlist with musicians, cuz they aren’t artists to her, they have a specific name for the work that they do: Bach, Debussy, Beethoven, Strauss, and some Tchaikovsky...some of his stuff is too much, even for her. She is starting to broaden her tastes. She really loves Sato’s baking playlist, those 50’s and 60’s beats are right up her alley. Jiro is slowly getting her to try out some pop and low key alt rock bands too. She’s growing and learning, y’all.

Toru: POP. That Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera MOUSE CLUB STUFF. She likes sing-alongs. Like has 20 Disney playlists and is always, always down to do a Grease playlist. You honestly feel attacked by how upbeat and peppy her playlists are, ATTACKED BY A GOOD TIME. It’s teen bop pop all the way here folks, no need to dig too deeply into it. She likes: Lizzo, Beyoncé, T. Swift, but like, leans into her hard, she is a swifter head, or whatever it’s called...Arizona, Carly Rae Jepson, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, and Kesha among the millions of others.

Shoji: This guy. He loves him some alt rock. He, like Ojiro, needs more screen time. He likely listens to lofi playlists fully. Like, not in the way Izuku just listens to them when he’s studying, but like, for fun. Like he actually GETS them, you know? He likes bands like: Cage the Elephant, Beck, Broken Bells, Modest Mouse, The Killers, Neon Trees and Grouplove. For real tho, he needs more screen time.

Aaaaaaaand Mineta: He needs less screen time. Thank you your honor, I rest my case. Um, but like, he’s down for that dirty rap. Like, the slimier the better. If it’s ass, money, pussy, he’s on it. Big Sean is his hero. He thinks the Weekend is the best singer known to man. If this upsets you, I am sorry. I love him too, but sometimes we gotta face the truth. Mineta loves, loves, loves the Weekend. He’s also super down on the Megan Thee Stallion train. Oh, and Cardi B too. He also likes Tyga and Sage the Gemini. These are his top pics. His current ringtone is WAP and Aizawa nearly snapped his phone in half when he heard that go off in his classroom.

Bonus:

- Aizawa: Yes, he has heard WAP. He’s literally attached at the hip to a dj and you know Midnight and Present Mic were all over that song when it was released. Those two tried to do that tiktok choral rendition of it. It didn’t go well. But seriously, this man likes a little bit of everything. He’s a no-fuss, low key guy and his music tastes are the same. He likes alternative and indie the most. Some of that: Sylvan Esso, Silversun Pickups, The Black Keys, The Flaming Lips, The Strokes, Cake, Incubus, and the Deftones. While he has no time to cultivate playlists, he does have a grading playlist that he quickly threw together. It helps him to zone in and work. Yes, Present Mic likes to add funky shit to it, just to ruffle his feathers. In the worst universe, slash in THIS universe, Aizawa was too lazy to get his own Spotify and he shares one with Present Mic. That poor algorithm has no idea what to recommend. He’s just waiting for that cease and desist letter from Spotify’s fraud department. Any day now.

Alright! Hope ya’ll liked it. Lemme know if you want more. We kinda started on one for the LOV, but it’s not finished just yet. In other news, we WILL edit the new chapter of “Look Upon the Light” tonight, don’t worry, we’ll be good. It should be out in the next few days.

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laurasauras · 6 years

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Monkey Business songs rated by me

Monkey Business is The Black Eyed Peas’ second album, and their best. why did i do this? no idea, i should be working on a uni assignment. oh hey, that’s why. press j to skip to the end, tumblr tip!

Pump It: what a fucking banger of a song to start an album with. hit me with that wild west guitar feel right out of the gate and then a very easy and respectable call to action: pump it. louder. i will, BEP, i will. will.i.am’s raps are fucking F.R.E.S.H fresh (not to downplay apl de ap, also fresh af), true to claim. they got harmonies up in this bitch, and they work it so well. 10/10 will listen to at any opportunity, excellent addition to a get psyched playlist.

Don’t Phunk With My Heart: oh god, that smooth transition from one song to a next :ok_hand:. one of the greatest features of the album. fergie fucking owns it, will.i.am steals the show as per usual, but god damn the stand out is the verse where will.i.am rhymes six damn things in a row, ending with “that’s why you don’t believe, uh, woah, yeah, check it out”. fucking awesome. 10/10 classic BEP

My Style: i wasnt a fan of this when i was 11 and listening to the album for the first time. i was a fool. this is a groooove. more low-key than the first two, but a very welcome chance to catch your breath. justin timberlake is on this, i honestly didn’t know that, what a great guy. (what did i think the line “jt is rocking a beat with us” was refering to? we’ll never know.) 8/10 solid song, i do like your style.

Don’t Lie: still keeping it chill, BEP knows that a good album has peaks and troughs so you don’t get exhausted. in saying that, even though the tempo is more chill, those raps are smooooth and sound effortless. they are not effortless. and fergie rocking it, damn girl. i kinda love that this is from the perspective of a guy that knows that his lying is hurting his partner and he doesn’t want to do that, but he just ... can’t. 9/10 happy to hear it.

My Humps: oh god, best song. 11 y/o laura was uncomfortable with the bold sexual confidence, current laura fucking loves it. own the fuck out of your lady lumps, fergie. the lyrics are patently ridiculous, they’re so fun it’s ironic, but that inescapable heart-beat bass keeps it sexy. it is impossible not to feel delighted while singing this. impossible. (you might think it’s over ... but then you have a full minute of chill piano and the lyrics “so real” to sit through. are they assuring us that fergie’s boobs are real? i fucking love this song.) 11/10 love drunk off this hump.

Like That: such a bop. god damn. such a bop. rhymes on point, solid beat. this is the kind of jam that reminds me that Elephunk was a good album too. classic hip hop, perfect raps. apl de ap has a chance to shine, but god damn will.i.am. god damn. you don’t need to be this awesome. but you are. 10/10 no doubt.

Dum Diddly: actually my favourite song. it just has this vibe! the peak of energy on this song. fergie just damn. i think this was the first song that i heard where a woman was inescapably badass. like, i was tentatively rapping along with the other songs, i get to dum diddly and i see that holy shit, if she can do that tongue twister that fast you can be damn sure that i’m gonna own the fuck out of all of it. it’s so fucking fun. 12/10 and the scale is broken.

Feel It: i’ve never heard this at a party, and that’s a crime. i can feel it in my body. deep bass down to the bones, a+ song to have a cheeky grind on the dancefloor to. for casual listening ... it just doesn’t quite have the same intensity as the rest of the album. 7/10 but excellent transition to ...

Gone Going: considering what a change of pace this is, it just works so fucking well. jack fucking johnson features on this. as in banana pancakes. and it works. his choruses perfectly capture the haunting story that will.i.am tells in brutally real raps, contrasting the almost spiteful feel with gentle dismay. god damn, sometimes i forget how very opposed black eyed peas were to selling out. you know. for reasons. (that might not be fair, just because they got successful doesn’t mean they chose money over their values. just sayin’, their music got a lot more top 40 and a lot less stick it to the man after they “made it”.) 10/10 can’t believe i’m having an emotional response, but here we are.

They Don’t Want Music: bop bop bop. talk about feeling a song, this one sneaks behind your sternum and replaces your heart beat with that heavy bass on multiple occasions. it’s so funky. it’s a love letter to all the amazing black musicians who must have been an influence on their hip hop style all without sacrificing their unique voice that’s present this whole album. and it slam dunks. 10/10, we need that funky horn.

Disco Club: this is a sexy song. i mean, let’s be real, i’m here for the clever lyricism and rapid-fire raps, but this is still good! fergie finally raps back! strong feels, but i’m not jamming with it as much as i want to. 7/10 still would put it on a playlist to set a mood.

Bebot: fuck yes apl de ap. fuck yes rapping in filipino. fuck yes. this is the only song i can’t sing along perfectly to, and while i’m totally cool with approximating other languages in songs, it’s actually because every time i hear it i get so caught up in listening to it that i forget to attempt it. 10/10 own that shit.

Ba Bump: SEXY song. actually the sexiest jam on the album. it has a rhythm that makes you want to move your hips in a very nsfw fashion. that or ... like a fight scene to this would blow my fucking mind. god that dirty brass, it’s amazing. fergie actually sounds like sex in this. i’m not joking. swoon. 10/10 i feel like they’re talking dirty to me and it’s working.

Audio Delite at Low Fidelity: man, i need a break. i need this. i need this song so that i can recover. not to say this isn’t a good song, but it’s not a banger. i love how BEP just randomly switches tone halfway through some of these songs as if they’ve stitched two songs together. 6/10 i wouldn’t listen to it on its own but i’m glad it’s here.

Union: imagine the message from where is the love, just even more catchy and boppy. yeah, let’s live in unison. i fucking love this. so good, one for all and all for one, fuck yes. and it’s such a good song. smooth and boppy in equal parts and shfudlijkzc i actually can’t deal with how much i love this. i don’t know what that instrument is but it’s fun af to listen to. LISTEN TO THIS ONE. like, the others are good songs, this is a fucking call to action and it’s worth following. 15/10 excellent song, even better message.

yeah, so i really like this album. first concert i ever went to, still holds up.

#black eyed peas #music #monkey business #i don't know why i did this

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king--flvcko-blog · 6 years

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A$AP Rocky Talks New Album, Under Armour Deal, and His Deep Love of Flowers

Our interview with A$AP Rocky was supposed to take place backstage after an A$AP Mob concert in Philly, in a quiet, empty room, but in the moment, Rocky had a better idea. “We need to capture this chaos right here,” he said, gesturing around his dressing room, still packed with Mob members, girls, security guards, other unidentified loiterers, and even (according to A$AP Ferg, anyway) a loose mouse. “Let's embrace the chaos,” Rocky suggested. “Rolling Stones in 1967, feel me?”

He took his spot in the middle of a leather couch, surrounded by his old friends from Harlem—Ferg, Nast, Ant, and Twelvyy—and started methodically breaking down a small mound of weed as he spoke in a post-concert rasp. Every so often, he'd tease me for asking so many questions. But some of them he didn't mind so much: GQ Style had collected them from a few of Rocky's notable friends and admirers, with a promise of bringing back answers.

The chaos Rakim Mayers attracts is a result of his charisma, which is raw and uncut. It is el puro, perhaps the purest of any star in pop culture—Hollywood, music, fashion, whatever. And given that Rocky's mom named him and his elder sister, Erika B. Mayers, after Eric B. & Rakim, it was only natural that a kid who seems to crank up the color saturation whenever he walks into a room would channel his God-given wattage into rap music. From the beginning, though, Rocky also established himself as a style innovator and made fashion an inextricable part of his music. In his breakout video, for “Peso,” he repped hard-edged, gothic-leaning streetwear like Black Scale, as well as more established avant-garde fashion like Rick Owens and Y3, while rapping, Raf Simons, Rick Owens usually what I'm dressed in. That was back in 2011, long before he cemented Simons's unlikely hip-hop-icon status with the song “Raf” this July. It's not a stretch to say Rocky is partially responsible for making European high fashion as much a part of hip-hop and pop culture as streetwear.

In the six years since he first appeared on YouTube, everything he's touched has taken on a sort of magical flyness. He's put out three successful solo albums; recorded hit songs like “L$D,” “Yamborghini High” with the A$AP Mob, and “Fuckin Problems” with Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and 2 Chainz; stole scenes in the surprise-hit indie film Dope, co-starring Shameik Moore; and launched a creative agency, called AWGE. Later this year, he'll appear in Anthony Mandler's Monsterand he'll begin a wide-ranging, long-term collaboration with Under Armour. He's become a rap star, a fashion godhead, a music mogul, an actor, a designer-entrepreneur-influencer—a true creative in universes where everyone calls themselves creatives.

Now, after two years spent racking up all those hyphens, he is ready to return to the first thing that made him: rap music. But things are a little different this time. In January 2015, Rocky's best friend, business partner, and mentor, A$AP Yams, passed away in bed at his Brooklyn apartment from an accidental prescription-drug overdose. Rocky was there the night of Yams's death and was among those who found him. A few months later, in May, Rocky released At.Long.Last.A$AP; on the album cover, Rocky's face bears Yams's signature purplish red birthmark. This new album will be Rocky's fourth, but his first ever made entirely without the guiding presence of Yams.

When we met in London for the GQ Style cover shoot, Rocky was deep in his work zone, trying to finish the record. He was keeping his phone turned off, more or less, so he could try to complete the LP before jumping to Milan for the Gucci runway show and then returning to the States for a long tour with the Mob. He's 29 now—he's seen a lot, and even his friends have questions about where he's been and where he's going next.

GQ Style: The first question comes from Mahershala Ali: “Considering you were named after Rakim, one of the greatest MCs of all time, what legendary MC would you name your child after?”

A$AP Rocky: Wow, that's a good one. Let me think on it.

You're punting on the first question?

Yeah, but only because it's so good.

All right, we'll come back to it. The second question comes from Dior designer Kris Van Assche. You may have heard of him.

Rocky: Dior boys.

A$AP Twelvyy: From Paris!

Kris asks, “What was a typical Friday or Saturday night out for you like when you were a teenager?”

A$AP Ferg: Fighting in clubs.

Rocky: Oh, you want me to tell them the Santos story?

Ferg: You love telling that story.

Rocky: All right, one time in Santos [Party House, a New York City nightclub], it was like 2008. We took the train from Harlem. I had on this Marc Jacobs shirt, these D&G pants—'cause I was wearing D&G back then—and Marc Jacobs sneakers. Ferg, you had on the black Acne pants, with the blue jean jacket, and Nast, you had the blue jean jacket with the seam, with the black Acne pants, and the black Timbs, with the Super glasses on, with the 'fro, 'cause you was on your Jay-Z shit, trying to wolf up. A lot of A$AP members were there that day. I'ma come clean, we was in the club, and A$AP Bari was trying to talk to some dude's girlfriend. Next thing you know, the dude got mad. He looked like some wrestling dude. He was big, with long hair. He's like, “What?!” to everybody. We was like, “Yo, chill,” but he kept going crazy. So [Harlem-based visual artist] Jay West put him in a headlock, I snuffed him, he fell, everybody kicked him, we all dispersed, we ran.

A$AP Nast: Let's talk about the Ferg punches.

Rocky: Don't forget about the Ferg punches! Ferg said, “Don't touch my friend!” Boom, boom, boom! [laughter]

Ferg: I did not say that.

Rocky: That shit was echoing through the man's body! When the dude got up, the first person he spot was me with the pink shirt on, so he just start charging, like a mad raging bull, and he grabbed my head. Now we on the motherfucking dance floor, fighting like females, pulling each other's hair. I'm biting this motherfucker's thumb and pinkie and shit, going crazy, snuffing him. This motherfucker must've been on mollies and liquor. Next thing you know, I just see feet running my way. Ferg came through. Nigga said, “Get off my friend!” Ferg was mad concerned. It was sincere. He was like, “Get off my friend!”

Ferg: I did not say that.

Rocky: So then, we all leave out the club. We outside. Your man, he was a manager of the club, so he come out, bugging out with his security guards. He throw ice at all of us and hops in a cab. We run down on the cab, take him out the cab, and start beating him up while we're screaming “A$AP!” So that's how everybody knew us back then. Next question.

What's your number one priority?

Right now, it's music. Last year was businesses and developing all our new artists. Playboi Carti went platinum. Smooky MarGielaa is on the rise. Twelvyy album came out. A$AP Ferg mixtape came out—he always got number ones and bangers. Nast, Addie, up next. Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 is out right now. Now it's all about me making music again.

What do you say to people who say that you're “more fashion than music”?

I can see why they think that sometimes. I really wanted to take time out to show people I was an entrepreneur. I'm a businessman—you gotta take me serious. I can't help that I look good doing it. But if you just look at my catalog from this year, everything I get on, I body. I'm selective about what I get on. I'm particular. I wasn't really featuring with other artists. But this year, I'm showing niggas stop playing me, stop sleeping on me. I'm the god of this shit.

So when we saw you in London recently, you were on a phone-off lockdown, making an album. What was the vibe—the starting point for the new album?

My new album is really about testing new sounds. People are scared to test new sounds, so they go with what's current 'cause it's the easy thing to do. The top 100 songs sound a certain way. People cater more to that because it's a bigger demographic behind that, or it's a guaranteed demographic behind that. I prefer to experiment and have my crowd grow with me and to reach new crowds. I don't just rap—I actually make music. That's why it takes time. These sonics represent me.

Did you go to London for the sound of London, or was it more just getting away so you could focus?

Both. London has a cool sound. I always record in London. But I needed to get away. London's my second home.

When do you want to put the album out?

ASAP—no pun intended.

This year?

Yes, sir.

Your travel schedule is intense. When you're always on the move, where's your center, or your home? Do you ever wake up in another hotel room and wonder, “Who am I?”

Fuck no. Sometimes I do wake up like, “Where the fuck am I?” But not “Who am I?” I'm the same nigga I was when I went to sleep.

You've had relationships with Dior and Gucci. You seem to have a personal relationship with Raf. How do you characterize those connections?

Sometimes it's business, and sometimes it's friendship. Raf had me flying out to Antwerp so I could smoke my weed and just catch a vibe with him back in 2012 and 2013. I've been looking at him and [Rick Owens's wife and muse] Michèle Lamy for advice. Michèle Lamy is like my fairy godmom.

What do you and Michèle talk about when it's not Paris Fashion Week double-kiss time?

Art. She's the reason I got all these diamonds in my mouth. She had hers since 1985. She puts me on. She tries to make me evolve as an artist. She encourages me to do more things outside of musical arts—more contemporary art. She taught me the difference between masters and Renaissance and contemporary and Pop art. It's been a journey. Raf, we talk about collections, we talk about his favorite scenes—what rave scenes inspired most of his career.

Do you talk with them about, like, feelings and personal stuff? Or is it mostly art and the industry?

Yeah, Michèle Lamy be hooking me up with all type of models—not all type of models, but her friends who she thinks is sweet. She says, “You need to meet her, she's a nice girl…,” and I go meet her. They either crazy or nice.

Here's a question from Raf Simons.

Oh, it's lit.

“Dear Rakim—”

Oh, that's my guy. That's the lord right there, big bro.

“If you could not do what you're doing now, what would you do? What's another life dream of yours?”

If I wasn't doing this, to be real with you, I'd probably be an interior decorator.

Nast: You could be a florist.

Rocky: Yeah, I could. I have such good taste. I love flowers. I think decor value and feng shui is important. If not, I'd be a video director or a film director. But my whole life, I just wanted to be a rapper. That was it.

The Balenciaga sneakers that you wore in our shoot: They're a little controversial, and I would like to know why you like them.

I seen those early, and I like them 'cause they remind me of a Raf Simons sneaker, and on top of that, those shits are fire—

A$AP Ant: Shit is trash—

Rocky: He's hating 'cause he got the fake Rick Owens Balenciaga shits. I don't fuck with them shits. I only fucks with the ones I got. I call 'em the Larry Davids, you feel me?

You've been wearing a lot of yellow recently—shoelaces, hoodies, et cetera. What's the deal?

You ask a lot of questions. I'm just preparing for a final test, that's all.

Okay, well, the next question is from Shameik Moore.

That's my son.

“What advice do you have for getting more creative with your personal style?”

Nast: Wear what suits you and not what's trendy.

Rocky: Yeah, but when we wear stuff that suits us and not what's trendy, it becomes a trend. So that might be confusing for people. I would just say that everybody's different. Everybody got different body shapes and whatnot, so I would say stick to what you know fits you best and what you feel comfortable in, even if it's not in style. Just wear whatever makes you feel cozy.

Nast: That's kind of what I just said.

Your creative group, AWGE: First of all, how do you pronounce it? Second of all, what is it?

Nast: That question we don't speak of.

Rocky: The first rule of AWGE is you never repeat what AWGE stands for. Second rule of AWGE is, whenever in doubt, refer to the first rule. So there you have it.

Is it not “A$AP Worldwide Global Enterprises”?

Nah. You on some bullshit. That's sacred.

What have you learned about leadership since the Mob's rise into the public consciousness?

Fellowship. Brotherhood. I try to manifest leadership into anything I do as an entrepreneur, as a businessman. But when I'm doing music, it's the element with the brothers. We all lead by example and lead each other, so I lead and follow, too, you know?

You just announced a new deal with Under Armour. Why Under Armour? And what can we expect?

People would assume, with me going into a business deal with a sports brand, that it would be all about designing or curating a line—making things more lit. But what I liked about Kevin Plank, the CEO of Under Armour, was that he had a vision. He gives, gives, gives. When you donate or you do charities, it's not about showing people “Look, I'm doing this.” I was in a shelter myself. And I know that when people be donating and shit, you ain't get no fly shit at Christmases and all that. You don't see no money. Pardon my French, but you don't see no money. So I really want to make a difference. So I got with Kevin and Under Armour so we could open up real rec centers with fly shit in them. Not hand-me-down toys and technology—new stuff. And programs for kids to learn to become entrepreneurs, designers, athletes. They can screen-print their own tees and sell 'em from the store, get that commission on it. I think it's smart. Those kids need laptops and phones today—that's their platform. So I want to do something that's really gonna make a difference, as opposed to fronting with the cameras like, “Ah, I'm doing this, doing that.” We gonna show and prove when we go and design uniforms. We're gonna start in New York, the tristate area, 'cause that's where I'm from. And then go to different junior high schools and high schools throughout the country.

But commerce being commerce, you're going to have to sell some stuff to fund those programs. So are you gonna design a line with Under Armour? A$AP Rocky sneakers?

I'm talking about giving away to schools. That's not selling, bro—you don't make any money off of that. What are you talking about? I want to facilitate ways for kids to get better education without calling it education, 'cause that shit sounds boring. I want to make a way for being smart to be cool. There's nothing wrong with being a thinker. Where I'm from, being smart has a negative connotation—that means you sold out, that means you're a geek. I'm just trying to say, “Fuck all that. This is the plan: You are the future, that other shit is the past, so let's make a better way.” And if I feel like designing some shit with Under Armour, I will.

Question from André 3000.

Oohhh, it's lit.

“What hidden talent do you have that only your parents or close people know?”

Twelvyy: He's good at playing Pokémon and shit. Yo, you see him with like 500 Pokémon cards.

Nast: He's the best at double-Dutching.

A hidden talent—something maybe only your mom knows.

Well, we might have to call my moms, then. [pauses to think] I display mostly all my talents. Right? I'm creative, intricate—angelic at moments. You gonna make me sound real conceited right now talking about myself. Why don't you tell me what it is?

Well, there's a second question from 3000: “What hobby or craft would you like to be doing that is completely outside music or fashion?”

I want to design furniture. Maybe a sofa. Or a bed.

Ferg: You did design one of your beds in the house.

Rocky: I know I did, but I want to sell my joints. That was just me testing.

Switching gears: What does God look like?

Everybody has a different God. I don't know if God is a female, male, or even in human form. I pray to somebody. Religion is deep. Everybody got a different God, but I just respect everybody for their beliefs. It is what it is. I'm more spiritual than anything. Because I find flaws and contradiction in a lot of religions, respectfully, and I just take the good out of all religions and try to practice to be a better person.

You pray every day?

Yes, I pray every day. I pray over cookies. I say my grace, straight up and down.

You've experienced loss in your family. A few times over the years, as far as I know, and then you guys as friends and collaborators and a crew experienced the loss of Yams. Do you feel like you've grieved, or did you just keep working?

Keep working. I'm not gonna lie. Because if we grieve it, it might take everything out of us. [long silence]

How'd you get the scar on your face?

When I was 15, I had a fight with some niggas in the Bronx, on Arthur Avenue. This older guy gun-butted me while we was fighting. He was trying to rob my Pelle Pelle jacket. I still kept it, though. It was bloody. My sister Erika bought me that for Easter. I wasn't about to give my shit up. Fuck outta here. If you've ever seen Jim Jones's “Certified Gangsters” video, he had it on in black. I had it in white with the colorful Easter P's on it.

All right, so we're back to where we started—the question from Mahershala Ali. “Considering you're named after Rakim, one of the greatest MCs of all time, what legendary MC would you name your child after?”

Twelvyy: Yambo?

Ferg: Yami's not a MC, though.

Twelvyy: What you mean?

Rocky: No, he was a singer, bro. He was an R&B singer. As far as rapper…I'd probably name my child Pharrell.

Ferg: I knew he was gonna say that.

#rakimworks.#q'd

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pvpxrswvg · 6 years

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Top 25 Albums of 2016

Like a normal rational human being, I've left my end of year list to the start of January due to the fact that, as seemingly unbeknownst to most publications, there are still albums being released as late as December 31st; shocking I know. It also helps the format of my blog, as the 30th was expectedly pretty dull, so it's a great time to skip a week and get on that revision game.

This list is basically what I'm expecting to listen to most in the future, based on my past listening habits and how sustainable those listens seem. It's slightly different to just listing what I've been bumping the most in 2016, as there's a couple noticeable cases where albums I played pretty consistently throughout the year are starting to feel stale.

While this is a top 25 list, 25-11 I'm going to group together as I don't really feel like splitting hairs that thoroughly. I've listed them in alphabetical order as well so that nobody will get confused. There is also a pretty noticeable gap in quality between 10 and 11, so it's a pretty great place to divide the list. The top 10 albums I know I'll be playing in the future, whilst it's going to be kind of random as to which of the other albums I'll be going back to the most.

I’ll try to explain a bit about why I liked these albums, however this will mainly be contained to albums that I haven’t already reviewed. This looks like being the longest post I’ve ever made so I’ll be cutting as many corners as I can.

Finally, this is a hip-hop list, which means no Frank Ocean, no Anderson Paak and no Childish Gambino.

Alright here we go:

25-11:

A$AP Mob – Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends

One of the low key bangers of the year with incredibly consistent vibes and continually solid rapping. There’s nothing special about this album that’s able to hook me into loving it, but the quality of the tape is undeniable.

This project is also notable for getting me to recognize the talent of A$AP Rocky again, as he comes across as an absolute superstar on this tape. A$AP Nast also announced himself as one to watch, as he was also a class above his fellow A$AP brethren.

De La Soul – and the Anonymous Nobody

Employing a live band, De La Soul were able to capture some really impressive sounds, including the deliciously funky Pain and the tangibly melancholic Greyhounds. While this tape was a little all over the place and I’m still not sure how I feel about the rock influences, Plug 1-3 are all good enough rappers that this tape is consistently entertaining.

Desiigner – New English

New English feels like the rap equivalent of a grindcore album, with short energetic bursts of wild erratic melodies that end at the perfect moment. I’m not going to pretend that this is a classic or anything, but what Desiigner does well here is enough for me to keep coming back to it.

Future – EVOL

It seems that in a lot of circles 2016 is being viewed as the year that Future fell off. While his 2015 was never going to be topped, EVOL was enough for me to be satisfied with Future’s year. The opening four tracks are all prime Future and Low Life deserves all of its popularity.

Probably my second favorite Future release overall.

Gucci Mane – Everybody Looking

Despite being incarcerated for the first five months, 2016 was the year of Gucci Mane. While this album isn’t the best of the year, if we’re measuring albums based on importance this is easily number one. No Sleep is an unforgettable introduction to the first post-prison Gucci Album, while tracks such as Guwop Home and 1st Day Out Tha Feds show that this project was well and truly worth the hype.

Ka – Honor Killed the Samurai

While Ka isn’t an artist that I can listen to all the time, whenever I do give Honor Killed the Samurai a spin I am blown away by the sheer talent on display. While the lack of rhythm and hooks prevent me from being able to fully enjoy this record, the fact that Ka can be so entertaining with his monotone style and minimal production, goes to show just how talented a rapper he is.

I’m going to debut my support blog soon, which I’ll be doing a top artists of 2016 post on. Ka will definitely feature on that list, as in 2016 Ka capitalized on the success of Dr. Yen Lo and turned himself into one of the most respected names in underground hip-hop.

Kanye West - The Life of Pablo

The more I listen to The Life of Pablo, the more I think that Kanye was really close to releasing another classic album. 30 Hours, No More Parties In LA, Real Friends, Fade, Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1, Saint Pablo and Ultralight Beam are all some of my favorite Kanye songs, but as a front to back project this is an absolute mess.

Lil Yachty – Lil Boat the Mixtape

While a lot of people hate Yachty, the style that he has developed here is truly innovative and captured a sound that a lot of people wanted to hear. If you go into this album looking to check off the boxes of what makes a great hip-hop album, you’re going to have a bad time, in fact I’d compare this to something like the new Negative Gemini album, before I’d put Yachty’s name in the same sentence as Kendrick Lamar.

This project has its large and obvious flaws, but there are some genuine classics here as Lil Yachty stumbled upon a truly unique and truly great sound.

Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife 2

In my opinion, this was really close to being an absolutely phenomenal album. After already proving themselves to be the king of hooks, the brother’s rapping ability took a huge step forward on this project, while Mike Will once again brought the heat.

The Look Alive to Set the Roof stretch is AOTY material, but the rest of this project leaves a lot to be desired as a lot of tracks fall just short of hitting their mark.

Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 3

Although I wasn’t kind to it in my review, this was still a pretty great release and all of my gripes with it are kind of superficial. I have a ton of respect for both Killer Mike and El-P, so while this isn’t the first album that I’ll be going to in order to get my fix from those artists, I’ll still go back to this occasionally.

Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP

While I absolutely loved this when it first came out, there are about 25 minutes that easily could have been cut from this project, which ultimately makes it kind of hard to get through. Once my hype for the stronger tracks on this album dissipated, I lost a lot of enthusiasm for the project and I haven’t been going back to it much since. The production here is still phenomenal; there will be a long summer’s drive in 2018 where I give this another chance and I’m guaranteed to have the time of my life.

Tory Lanez – I Told You

This might have been the worst timed release in the history of music. You almost have to wonder if Frank Ocean has some kind of beef with Daystar Peterson, as the surprise Blonde drop fucking destroyed this album. Anyway, this is one of the funnest albums of 2016. From the admittedly hard tracks like Another One and Flex where Tory showcases some truly infectious flows (I don’t care what anyone says, the delivery on “458, I dropped it in the Winter//Big homie asked a nigga what I'm down for//Looked him in the eye and said to do it 'til I'm bigger than ya”” is dope as fuck), to the poppier tracks like Cold Hard Love and Luv, this album has some really great highlights; although 80 minutes is way too long for this type of project. Still I’m a sucker for changing up flows to ride a beat, which Tory does phenomenally, so I’m pretty excited to see what he does going forward (I’m still yet to listen to the two tapes he recently dropped, but I’m pretty stoked).

Vince Staples – Prima Donna

I’m probably being a bit too harsh leaving this out of my top 10, but I was really disappointed in this project. I said in my review that this felt like a throwaway release to get his tracks with James Blake out there to the public and I still strongly believe that. From rushed tracks to Summertime 06 b-sides and the aforementioned James Blake tracks, there isn’t really a lot here to go back to; especially when his discography is as solid as it is.

I’m a huge Vince Staples fan, so I’ll probably turn around on this eventually, but there’s definitely better projects from this year.

YG – Still Brazy

I really never expected anything from YG as an artist, yet on this project YG showed a ton of potential as he dropped a project that was oozing west coast funk while showing a surprising amount of lyrical density. When you listen to the bouncy west coast bangers such as Why You Always Hating and the phenomenal Twist My Fingaz, you’d assume YG would be spitting ignorant lyrics that you can tune out while cruising in the whip. Yet tracks like the hard hitting Who Shot Me? show an artist that is just as good at penning a verse. While this was a project that I thought didn’t play that well front to back, what it does well is well and truly stunning.

Z-Ro – Drankin & Drivin'

Z-Ro is a god damn legend. Just like other legends from the Houston scene, Z-Ro makes album that is absolute prime driving music, as there’s nothing I’d rather hear coming home from work on a hot day than Z-Ro’s smooth pimp ass singing. Devil Ass City in particular may be one of the tracks of the year (I’m probably never going to get the Curtis line out of my head), while the rest of the project is some of the smoothest shit I’ve heard.

10. Czarface – A Fistful of Peril

When writing reviews, I try to approach from the perspective of a non hip-hop listener.

It kind of bugs me when people dismiss an artist like Lil Uzi Vert by saying that they don’t have insane rhyme schemes or interesting subject matter, as they are cheap criticisms that are only used against people in the hip-hop genre. A band like Radiohead doesn’t have dope multi-syllabic rhyme schemes, but nobody cares because they aren’t part of the culture.

Therefore, I like to approach hip-hop music as if it weren’t hip-hop. 21 Savage should be judged as he is, not compared to verbose poets such as Nas and Andre 3000. When listening to Czarface, I kind of question my previous viewpoint, as Esoteric and The Rebel INS put on an absolute clinic of wordplay, rhyme schemes and pure fucking rapping. It’s an absolute delight to listen to and the dirty electronic production of 7L was enough to elevate their sound to something truly heavenly.

9. Noname - Telefone

Noname might have the best flow in all of hip-hop at the moment. With a soft style that has Andre 3000 levels of smoothness, Noname rides her production creating infectious melodies that often outshine her mostly forgettable production. Her rapping focuses on repeating inflections with her continually reusing the same delivery each line to creative a hypnotic repetitive flow that is undeniably groovy. With witty one liners and vivid storytelling, Noname also proves herself to be an interesting MC as well.

Ultimately with the combination of her unbelievably pleasant delivery and interesting subject matter, Noname is perhaps the rapper that I was most interested in hearing actually rap in 2016.

8. Gucci Mane - Woptober

While Everybody Looking was a bigger and more important release, Woptober was simply better. Featuring a dark, heavy and designed for skrip clubs sound, Woptober manages to be an incredibly competent album with zero dull moments and some pretty great highlights such as Money Machine and Hi-Five.

Gucci Mane using his respect to get all of the big names in ATL production to come together and create one cohesive project is one of the best things to happen in 2016, seeing this much talent work together is truly stunning.

7. 21 Savage – Savage Mode

Both of these artists had a tremendous 2016. Metro Boomin had genuine hits in Low Life, Father Stretch My Hands Pt 1, and Bad and Boujee, while 21 Savage became one of the most popular rappers in the game and a must have feature.

This tape exemplifies why these guys were so popular, as they both bring their A game and play off each other tremendously. Metro catered his production perfectly to 21 Savage’s subtle style while still putting in one of the best production efforts of the year. While a lot of people don’t get it, there is a reason 21 Savage blew up on this tape, as his endearingly gangsta lyrics and slow leaned out style is genuinely dope as fuck.

6. Danny Brown – The Atrocity Exhibition

Perhaps the most progressive record of 2016, as Paul White experimented with a lot of elements that would have felt completely out of place behind any other rapper. While an instrumental version of this album would be amazing, I fear that I’d spend all of my listens bewildered at how Danny Brown made these beats work.

5. Maxo Kream – The Persona Tape

The Persona Tape is the most Houston album that’s come out in an incredibly long time.

As someone who spent most of 2016 listening to a variety of Houston Legends, having Maxo Kream drop his love letter to the golden age of Southern Hip-Hop was truly a blessing. While Trap music is great, when listening to a track like Coming Dine you can’t help but feel nostalgia for the g-funk influenced, crack selling, pimping, and leaned out sounds of 90s Houston.

This album isn’t all Houston nostalgia, as tracks like Smoke Break and Out The Front Door show an artist who is capable of creating dope tracks in a variety of fresh and innovative styles. Speaking of Smoke Break, the parts where the beat drops out and Maxo is rapping over just the percussion is some of my favorite rapping of all of 2016.

Overall this is an incredibly fun project by an incredibly talented rapping employing beats that make me genuinely happy. Tremendous release.

4. Denzel Curry - Imperial

While Denzel is guilty of rapping some absolute gibberish in the name of hype verses with insane rhyme schemes, as you’re rapping along and going HAM alongside the most energetic rapper in the game all is forgiven as Denzel continually crafts some of the funnest flows that you can’t help but rap along with (See Sick and Tired).

This album was recently updated by his label, dropping Pure Enough and Narcotics for the anthemic Me Now and the upbeat Good Night, which is one of the few album edits that I 100% got behind. Perhaps it was the fact that it made an album I had played to death feel fresh again, but I really got behind this change and it really elevated my opinion of this release.

3. A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service

The first disc of this album is perfect. While I like the second disc a lot more than when I reviewed it, if the whole project was at the level of the first disc then this would be a legitimate album of the decade contender.

This album is really well blended with incredibly interesting beat shifts and rappers talented enough to ride them perfectly. Busta Rhyme’s verse on Mobius is pretty legendary, but the beat changing before he comes in elevates it to another level and the album is full of great moments like that. Too many times in hip-hop you’ll see the beat show you everything it has to offer in the first 10 seconds, so the refusal of basic loops really makes this an especially memorable album.

2. Kendrick Lamar – Untitled Unmastered

I am comfortable admitting that I am an unabashed gigantic Kendrick fanatic who considers K-Dot to be without question the most talented spitter to debut after the year 2000. So it should come as no surprise that I would rate an album of his unmastered outtakes so highly.

2 (Get Top On The Phone) and 7 (Levitate) are genuinely great, while the rest is Kendrick coasting and producing shit that’s better than 99% of the rap game.

This also marks the second straight year that Kendrick has had the runner up spot for my AOTY, with him obviously releasing the much stronger and much more polished To Pimp A Butterfly last year. While that would suggest that I preferred 2015, while I did really enjoy its top end I think 2016 edges it from a pure depth perspective.

1. Isaiah Rashad – The Sun's Tirade

Honestly, nothing came close to this.

This is pretty much everything I want in a hip-hop record, as Isaiah Rashad blends the west coast sounds of Kendrick with his Southern roots that are influenced by legends such as Scarface and Andre 3000. The way Isaiah rides the phenomenal production with his lazy southern drawl makes this an album that I can play at any time.

Jay Rock also drops the verse of the year here, in another effort that nobody came close to, besides Three Stacks of course.

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