Clips

Updated: December 12, 2018

ALBUM REVIEW: 2 Chainz – Daniel Son; Necklace Don

Originally posted on HipHopDX 8/21/2016
Rating: 2.9/5

For 2 Chainz, the past few years have been spent trying to keep up with the buzz and success that 2011 garnered him with his T.R.U. REALigion mixtape and his 2012 debut album Based on a T.R.U. Story. His sophomore album B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time peaked at #3 on the charts but fell way short of the impact his previous efforts made. After a series of swings and misses including ColleGrove, his joint album with Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz is back with his latest offering Daniel Son; Necklace Don.

As you can imagine by the name of the project, the direction and theme borrow influences from The Karate Kid. The tape opens with an offensive Asian accent complete with live action karate sounds to bring the accompanying, stereotypical artwork full circle. Mr. Hair Weave Killer continues the oriental trend with “Get Out the Bed” as he combines hard hitting bass over a nostalgic, melodic soundbed akin to the 1987 Sega Genesis hit game, Shinobi. 2 Chainz The sounds of robust 808’s and the fawning over his codeine addiction highlight that he is certainly in his element.

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Updated: December 12, 2018

EDITORIAL: The Double Standard On Justin Bieber & Tyga’s Underaged Girlfriends Cannot Be Allowed

Originally posted on HipHopDX 8/18/2016

If you’re like me, you try to shield yourself from the world of annoying, incessant pop culture and the Kardashian “famous for being famous” microwave era of celebrity. So you may not be aware that 22-year-old Justin Bieber is dating 17-year old-Sofia Richie, daughter of Lionel Richie. You are, by this time, most certainly aware that a 23-year-old Tyga started dating Kylie Jenner when she was 17. What are the differences in these scenarios and why would you be so openly aware of one over the other? Both girls, at the age of 17, are underage and cannot legally consent to a sexual relationship with a 22 and 23-year-old, respectively. But it’s only a year from consent right?

Let’s make this clear out of the gate so that there’s no misunderstanding my stance: There’s no reason a man over the age of 20 should even WANT a girl that’s 17 and under. What the fuck is wrong with you? What do y’all even have in common socially, mentally, and sexually? She’s a junior or senior in high school and you’re of the age where you’re finishing off college. You’re at least 3-4 years deep into full-time employment. She’s not even fully developed. You’re gross. You’re sick. You might literally be sick medically and you should seek professional help.

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Updated: December 12, 2018

ALBUM REVIEW: Prodigy – Untitled EDM EP

Originally posted on HipHopDX 8/17/2016
Rating: 3.4/5

Prodigy has been delivering his special brand of trendsetting for the better part of 23 years. After a two-year hiatus, the Mobb Deep capo is back and pushing the boundaries on his music to places he has never previously been as his partner Havoc appeases longtime fans alongside The Alchemist. His latest extended player shows the Queensbridge MC painting his brash and braggadocios bars over a canvas of EDM and Dubstep.

The EP opens with “Black Panther,” a scratch-heavy and synth-driven Baauer soundbed. While Prodigy is known for his unorthodox approach to riding the beat, his flow comes off more jarring than usual as he delivers his street tested bars we’ve come to love him for. P holds his own, however, with his patented flavor in lines like, “Thought you getting over but I’m slicing faces open, thought they could get away with murder but the reaper coming/repeat the first two bars describe ‘em to a Tee, I keep my enemies far (get) the fuck away from me”.

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Updated: December 12, 2018

ALBUM REVIEW: Fredo Santana – Mafia

Originally posted on HipHopDX 8/2/2016
Rating: 2.1/5

In a world where black men are continuing to become hashtags, be it over inner-city turmoil or police brutality, the increasing rise in this generation of rappers glorifying violence remains a conundrum. The modern-day ground zero for what ails the urban community, Chicago, has churned out some of rap’s most notorious trap rappers as of late. Fredo Santana is one of those rappers and as the older cousin of Chief Keef, Fredo takes his brash style of rap to the next level with Fredo Mafia.

Fredo is not the rapper you seek out for content, flexibility, or cleverness. With his ability to ride a beat resting somewhere between Silkk The Shocker and Talib Kweli, Fredo is not the MC you’d wish to listen to for technical ability either. Fredo’s appeal arrives in the form of how he paints the picture of the life he lives and the life of how we’ve come to expect those struggling in the streets of Chicago to live.

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Updated: December 12, 2018

EDITORIAL: Hip Hop & The Urban Community Need To Man Up Against Homophobia

Originally posted on HipHopDX 7/29/2016

In 2016, one’s sexuality continues to be a divisive subject. Just a week ago, the NBA announced that in lieu of the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, an anti-LGBT bill passed in North Carolina, that there would be no 2017 NBA All-Star in the city of Charlotte. It’s an unprecedented move by such a large corporation, costing the state’s largest city upwards of $100 million in estimated revenue during professional sport’s most popular All-Star break.

Finally.

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Updated: December 11, 2018

ALBUM REVIEW: Birdman & Jacquees – Lost At Sea

Originally posted on HipHopDX 7/21/2016
Rating: 2.4/5

Recent headlines haven’t been too kind to Birdman. From continued allegations of short-changing Lil Wayne to becoming a punchline after his Breakfast Club interview, the Stunna has been trapped in a revolving door of L’s. In between it all, the Cash Money capo has still been able to keep a pulse of today’s music scene with Young Thug and Rich Gang. And now with his latest protégé Jacquees, Baby is looking to shift the focus back to the music. Unfortunately, for him, rapping is still not his forte.

Lost At Sea opens up with “Wise Words”, an underwhelming, emotive soundbed chocked full of empty rhetoric and lackluster lyrics. Jacquees thoroughly disappoints with lines like “And I’m lost at sea on a yacht and plus my Rollie’s a pool/and then I stack my money longer than you.”

Marcel Friday

Social Media Manager Creative & Social Strategist Journalist

ALBUM REVIEW: 2 Chainz – Daniel Son; Necklace Don

EDITORIAL: The Double Standard On Justin Bieber & Tyga’s Underaged Girlfriends Cannot Be Allowed

ALBUM REVIEW: Prodigy – Untitled EDM EP

ALBUM REVIEW: Fredo Santana – Mafia

EDITORIAL: Hip Hop & The Urban Community Need To Man Up Against Homophobia

ALBUM REVIEW: Birdman & Jacquees – Lost At Sea