G-Eazy – Marcel Friday

Originally posted on Billboard 12/10/2018

Hip-hop may have originated in the Bronx but not even Kool Herc could have imagined the reach and impact that his art-form would soon achieve. Rap officially kicked down the door in 2015 when Spotify reported that hip-hop was the most listened to genre in the world. In 2017, Nielsen’s Music year-end reportshowed that R&B/hip-hop had taken the crown from Rock to be the most purchased music in the United States.

That kind of global reach has empowered new creators from all over the world. For Zimbabwean producer Dakari, hip-hop has provided a way of life for him that he couldn’t have dreamed of. After moving to Dallas, DG would have his coming of age moment in high school that would eventually lead to a world class internship and writing and producing for G-Eazy.

ALBUM REVIEW: E-40 – The D-Boy Diary

by Marcel

Updated: December 13, 2018

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Originally posted on HipHopDX 12/2/206
Rating: 3.6/5

Longevity and Hip Hop aren’t words that are commonly synonymous. There’s keeping your name relevant throughout the years and then there’s being able put out a consistent body of work to match. The Bay Area leads the league in all of those statistical categories thanks to E-40. The dual book D-Boy Diary stands as 40’s 23rd and 24th studio albums and slowing down is not the motto here. But with this latest album set coming in at 44 tracks over the course of three hours, perhaps it’s time Charlie Hustle paced himself a little better.

By the way, that wasn’t a typo. The D-Boy Diaries are an asinine 44 tracks in length, spanning over the course of an entire Lord of the Rings movie. Yep, you can ghostride the whip all the way to Mordor and still have some E Fonzarelli music to spare. That’s the thing about being indie; an A&R to help you vet bad ideas is always ideal. If there’s anyone who could pull it off, however, it’s Earl Stevens. Despite having a rollout longer than a lot of current MC’s entire discography, E-40 shows why he had been able to remain relevant over the past four decades.

ALBUM REVIEW: RiFF RAFF – Peach Panther

by Marcel

Updated: December 11, 2018

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Originally posted on 6/5/2016
Rating: 2.4/5

Houston rap spectacle RiFF RAFF has amassed a cult following over the years with his syrupy flow, and bigger than life high roller lifestyle. His fans literally risk death for a chance to jump on stage just to touch the hem of his shirt. However unexplainable the fanfare he has garnered is, RiFF RAFF continues to capitalize on it with his latest album, Peach Panther.

To the uninitiated and sober, RiFF RAFF is unadulterated static. Listening to his music is about as productive as tying string to cups and trying to make a long distance call to your childhood imaginary friend. His nonsensical simplicity is often insulting to a genre of music that was built on wordplay, metaphors, storytelling, and substance. For the record: Peach Panther offers none of those qualities.

Marcel Friday

Social Media Manager Creative & Social Strategist Journalist

Tag: <span>G-Eazy</span>

INTERVIEW: Producer Dakari on His African Roots & How He Became G-Eazy’s Top Engineer

ALBUM REVIEW: E-40 – The D-Boy Diary

ALBUM REVIEW: RiFF RAFF – Peach Panther