Woy's Album Reviews.

[Woy]

1.) Intro (ft. Big Rube) | 3 - 3.75
2.) Get Up Get Out | 2.5 - 3
3.) Y.W.I. | 3
4.) Ford Mustang | 2 - 2.25
- Honda Accord >
5.) Ray Ban Vision (Remix) (ft. Cyhi da Prynce) | 2.25 - 3
6.) Ring My Bell (ft. Dev) | 2 - 2.5
7.) Penthouse Suite | 2.5 - 3
8.) Everybody | 3.5 - 4
- Weird, poppy production like most of the tape, but this time it works.
9.) Me & My Boo | 3 - 3.25
10.) Blackberry Molasses | 3 - 3.75
- This and the previous track give me a poor man's version vibe of Kush & Orange Juice.
11.) PSA | 3.25 - 4
- "So fuck famous, let's get legendary."
12.) Eyes Low (ft. Young Dro & Gorilla Zoe) | 1.5 - 2
13.) Move On (ft. XV) | 3 - 3.25
- Feels one verse too long.
14.) Southern Lights (ft. Priscilla Renea) | 3

Overall: 2.90/5

Brief Notes:
- Donnis is at a crossroads in his career. An XXL freshman in 2010, he hasn't built off of that yet to become a big name in the game and his 15 minutes are about up. Southern Lights is just another example of the struggle he's had making a mark and his next project will be extremely important in terms of judging his career. This here is pretty boring and bland and even the tape's highlights ("Everybody", "Blackberry Molasses" and "PSA") don't stand out much.
- However, the cover of this is very nice.

[Champ]

Saw Cyhi Da Prynce in concert. He was Yelawolf's opener.

[Woy]

1.) BBS | 4 - 4.75
2.) The Type (ft. Prodigy) | 4.25 - 5
- It's nice to have Prodigy out of the pen and making music again.
3.) Blood, Sweat and Gears (ft. Fiend) | 3.75 - 4
4.) Life Instructions (ft. Smoke DZA) | 3.5 - 4
5.) Smoke Break | 3 - 3.25
6.) Scottie Pippen (ft. Freddie Gibbs) | 5
- Listen...I love Curren$y. But what does he say when he hears Gibbs's feature? "Thank God I didn't go after him?"
7.) Ventilation | 4
8.) Double 07 | 3.25 - 4
- Weird, amusing intro.
9.) Success Is My Cologne | 3 - 3.75
10.) Full Metal | 3.75 - 4

Overall: 3.96/5

Brief Notes:
- The Alchemist is the star of this album, no doubt about it. I can vibe to every beat on here and Curren$y's laid-back flow complements it nicely. That being said, I was a tad disappointed in Spitta's performance because I feel like this could have been epic with Pilot Talk 1/2-esque rhymes, but he was still good enough to make this a very successful project.
- Might be a weird mash-up, but I want a Freddie Gibbs project with The Alchemist now. I can't say it enough how awesome he was on "Scottie Pippen".

[Woy]

1.) Back On The Scene (ft. Dres) | 3 - 3.25
2.) Sun Doobie | 2.25 - 3
- I can't tell if I like or hate this beat.
3.) Everybody Down | 4
4.) Put Some Money On It (Remix) (ft. Sleek Louch, Jadakiss & Styles P) | 4 - 4.25
5.) Fight Club (Remix) | 4 - 4.25
6.) Move On (Remix) (ft. Iffy) | 4.75 - 5
- I grew to really love this version, but the original remix with the guitars accompanying the hook was epic.

Overall: 3.81/5

Brief Notes:
- Just a teaser of what's coming on their second album...I like.

[Woy]

1.) Station Identification (ft. Fatman Scoop) | 2 - 2.5
2.) The Invitation (ft. Q-Tip & Fatman Scoop) | 3.75 - 4
3.) Come On Baby (ft. Swizz Beatz & Jay-Z) | 4.75 - 5
- I first heard this beat on Asher Roth's most recent mixtape...fail on my part.
4.) War | 3 - 3.5
5.) Bring Me Down Pt. 2 | 5
- Hook of 2011 so far.
6.) Enemies | 4 - 4.75
7.) Friends | 4.25 - 5
8.) The Greatest Story Never Told | 4.5 - 5
9.) Clap (ft. Faith Evans) | 4 - 4.5
- Love the Reverend's outro.
10.) Preacher (ft. Lee Fields & The Expressions) | 3 - 3.5
11.) It's Alright (ft. Marsha Ambrosius) | 5
- Marsha Ambrosius kills the hook with her beautiful voice, Kanye comes through with an outstanding beat and although the song is six minutes flat, it's worth every single second of your listening time.
12.) Believe It | 4.5 - 5
- Corny joke in the outro by Just Blaze.
13.) Give It To Me (ft. Raheem DeVaughn) | 3
14.) What The Lovers Do (ft. Devin The Dude) | 4.75 - 5
- Devin is perfect for the hook.
15.) Better Way (ft. Layzie Bone) | 3 - 3.75
16.) Oh Yeah (Our Babies) | 4 - 4.25
17.) And The Winner Is... (ft. Bun B) | 3 - 3.5
- Not sure why they used live verses, takes too much away from the potential of the song.
18.) Too Long (ft. Black Thought) | 4.25 - 5

Overall: 4.08/5

Brief Notes:
- A little too long in some spots, but this album was deserving of the hype its gotten over the past few years. Just Blaze and Saigon is an awesome producer/rapper combination.

[Woy]

1.) Pain | 4 - 4.25
2.) Wolves In Sheep Clothing (ft. Paul Cain) | 4 - 4.5
- "They say they out for dead presidents, never respect it/First of all, Ben Franklin was never elected". Paul Cain doesn't fit here.
3.) Really Tho | 3 - 3.5
- Awesome production, awful hook.
4.) That's Not Love (ft. Lil' Wayne) | 4
- Has to be an older song...just listen to Weezy's voice.
5.) Leaving You | 2 - 2.5
6.) In The Morning | 4 - 4.75
- I'm shocked there hasn't been more remixes over this beat.
7.) Drugs (Do This To Me) (ft. Paul Cain & Broadway) | 2.5 - 3
8.) Yall Don't Hear Me Tho (ft. Red Cafe) | 2.25 - 3
- Doesn't fit the tape's theme.
9.) Phone Numbers | 3 - 3.75
- Doesn't fit the tape's theme either.
10.) Mo Brooklyn, Mo Harlem, Mo Southside (ft. Vado & Lloyd Banks) | 3.75 - 4
11.) Riesling & Rolling Papers | 4 - 4.25
- Shots at Wiz taken here.
12.) Slow Down (ft. Trey Songz) | 3
13.) Pay Back Music (ft. Freck Billionaire) | 2.5 - 3
14.) Look At Her (You Be Killin' Em Pt. 2) | 3 - 3.25

Overall: 3.42/5

Brief Notes:
- I love the theme and vibe of the tape, but there are too many songs that don't fit and Fabolous's punch-line driven style isn't the best to pull this off.

[Woy]

1.) Intro | 3 - 3.25
2.) Put Some Money On It (ft. Sheek Louch, Jadakiss & Styles P) | 4 - 4.25
3.) Killed For Less Intro | 2.75 - 3
4.) One Shot (Killed For Less) | 3.75 - 4
5.) Sing Like Bilal | 3
6.) Finish What You Start (ft. Royce da 5'9) | 4
7.) Battle Cry (ft. Just Blaze) | 5
- Song of the year candidate.
8.) Nursery Rhyme | 4 - 4.25
- The nursery rhyme clips are a nice...touch?
9.) Phone Skit | 3
10.) Call Me (She Said) | 4 - 4.5
11.) So Hard (ft. Anna Yvette) | 4
12.) Oh! (ft. Iffy) | 3.25 - 4
- The hook reminds me of a corny Eminem one.
13.) Checkin' For You (Skit) | 2 - 2.5
14.) Checkin' For You | 2.75 - 3
15.) Good Man Is Gone | 4 - 4.75
16.) Cocaine | 4.25 - 5

Overall: 3.70/5

Brief Notes:
- Better listen than I thought it would be. If Joell can get some consistently good production, he could put out a great solo album some day.

[Woy]

1.) The Beginning | 3 - 3.5
2.) Stranger | 4 - 4.75
3.) Hoe (ft. Miguel & Gucci Mane) | 4.75 - 5
- Even Gucci Mane can't ruin this song. Needs more Miguel though.
4.) July (ft. Drake) | 5
- Not going to lie - emotions came into play when rating this song. I had this on my iPod all of last summer.
5.) My Mine | 3.75 - 4
6.) Popular | 2
- The 50 Cent sample makes me laugh, but overall this sounds like a better version of a Kelly Clarkson song.
7.) Real Now (ft. Lite, HOPE & Roosevelt) | 3 - 3.25
8.) Sailing NOT Selling (ft. Kanye West) | 4 - 4.5
9.) Do Better Blues (ft. HOPE) | 4.25 - 5
- "She wants three things...eyes that won't cry, lips that won't lie, love that won't die." Don't we all.
10.) Higher | 4 - 4.25
11.) You vs. Them | 3 - 3.5
12.) Space Jam | 4
- Production fits the title of the song.
13.) Growing Apart Too (ft. Kendrick Lamar & HOPE) | 4.5 - 5

Overall: 3.96/5

Brief Notes:
- This is an Album of the Year contender if Popular wasn't on here. The "July" song last year came out of nowhere and I'm thrilled that I gave it a listen just because I knew of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar features.

[Woy]

Goblin will obviously be the next album I review and it'll be a full-fledged one.

[Woy]

Goblin - Tyler, The Creator

Image

Vulnerability. It resides in all of our lives and in different forms. Some of us have a high level of vulnerability, while for others, it takes a lot to provoke it. For Tyler Okonma, his vulnerability is expressed throughout his second album, Goblin. He might seem like your typical happy-go-lucky, rebellious 20-year-old, but beyond the explicit tweets and humorous interviews, there's a young kid that misses how simple life used to be.

In the album's opening song, "Goblin", Tyler, The Creator's therapy session with Dr. TC continues from Bastard - right off the last track "Inglorious". Tyler vents about high expectations, his critics that try to bring him down, the lack of attention his fellow Odd Future members get, as well as other subjects. He admits he's too scared to tell his friends how he actually feels about things, because it would diminish the tough guy persona that he portrays through his subject matter.

"Her" shows a side of Tyler that is rarely, if ever seen in public. In a heart-felt confession to a girl named Raquel, Tyler admits that he wants to establish a relationship with her and do all the cheesy things that girls like in them. When she ends up getting back together with the ex-boyfriend that Tyler hates, Tyler wants to express his anger over a text but he would end up smiling just because they'd be conversing again.

However, Tyler's biggest showing of his vulnerability is in the album's closing track, "Golden". In the first verse alone, he addresses the lack of time he sees his mother, when this rapping thing was just for fun, how his friends are treating him differently and that they're more like his assistants now, and how he misses Earl Sweatshirt while his fans are moreso just missing new music from the young rapper.

Goblin might be one of the darkest albums I've heard in a while. The hit single "Yonkers" takes a haunting beat and complements it with contradictory lyrics that are based off the first line of the song. The video is equally brilliant and although it might not be creepy to me as an avid Odd Future listener, I guarantee that if you show the music video to a unbeknownst friend, they'll be creeped out.

The Left Brain-produced "Transylvania" has Tyler playing the role as Dracula, as he uses a vocal effect to make his extreme lyrics to make the song even more haunting. "Nightmare" is a message to his mother that the newfound fame is taking her son over, but he also takes the time to angrily lash out at Earl's parents, calling them failures for sending their son away.

Even the album's most mainstream ready song, "She", is haunting. Frank Ocean is attacked by Tyler during his sex session with the new girl down the block, who turns out to be Tyler's ex-girlfriend. Despite the subject matter, Frank delievers a beautiful hook about Tyler being a possessive, stalking ex-boyfriend, then Tyler cuts down on the shock lyrics (for the most part) after threatening to kill her if him and the girl don't hang out tonight. It's the perfect love song for the theme and vibe of Goblin.

But despite my earlier statement of how dark this album is, there are a few songs that don't exactly fit from that standpoint. "Analog" is also a song ready for the mainstream, taking the vocal effects similar to the ones in "Transylvania" and instead of continuing that vibe, both Tyler and Hodgy Beats create a "summer love" song that surprisingly is very good.

"Bitch Suck Dick" is the given joke track - see "Tina" on Bastard - with Jasper Dolphin and Taco. Think Waka Flocka Flame meets Odd Future when you're listening to it. The song itself is horrible (as expected), but it's fun to listen to when you're in a good mood. "Fish" isn't very dark either but it's also very forgettable.

But some of the darkest moments on the album happen right at the end of "Bitch Suck Dick" and the posse track, "Window". [SPOILER ALERT] In each of these, Tyler breaks down and shoots his friends, killing Jasper and Taco in their assisted song, then killing the rest after his verse in the latter. Hodgy isn't in my top three favorite members of OFWGKTA, but his "death" hit me the hardest because of the emotion he showed after "dying". It actually felt kind of real. [END SPOILER ALERT]

The influences of two albums released throughout the past few years are throughout Goblin. For instance, the instrumental changes and outros on songs like "Goblin", "Radicals" and "Tron Cat" are a direct influence of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy of last year. Lyrics similar to those in Eminem's 2009 release Relapse are found throughout tracks like "Transylvania", while Tyler's conscience rapping along with him in "Golden" is a lot like the bonus track "My Darling".

I can see the reasons why someone wouldn't like this however. Even though I noted the Kanye influence in songs like "Radicals", the change of chords aren't as interesting as they could be. The beats to "Her" and "Window" are too simplistic for even Tyler's standards and would bore most listeners. The explicit lyrics could wear thin after a while, especially on an album that just under 80 minutes long. If this album was cut down to a 40-50 minute version, then I could see a lot more people liking this.

As a whole, I feel this is a more focused effort from both a lyrical and production standpoint. Bastard's highlights aren't superior in quality and quanitity to Goblin's, while the middle-of-the-road tracks are better on the latest album as well. There's obviously room to grow for Tyler, The Creator as both an MC and a producer, but if the album concepts follow through into his already planned third album, Wolf, then in 2012 we might have an legitimate Album of the Year candidate by everyone's favorite (or most hated) loud-mouthed, rebellious artist.

1.) Goblin | 4 - 4.75
2.) Yonkers | 5
3.) Radicals | 4 - 4.5
4.) She (ft. Frank Ocean) | 5
5.) Transylvania | 3.25 - 4
6.) Nightmare | 3.5 - 4
7.) Tron Cat | 4 - 4.25
8.) Her | 4
9.) Sandwitches (ft. Hodgy Beats) | 4.75 - 5
10.) Fish | 2.5 - 3
11.) Analog (ft. Hodgy Beats) | 4.5 - 5
12.) Bitch Suck Dick (ft. Jasper Dolphin & Taco) | 2.25 - 3
13.) Window (ft. Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats & Mike G) | 3 - 3.75
14.) AU79 | 3 - 3.5
15.) Golden | 5

Overall: 4.05/5

---

1.) Goblin | 4 - 4.25
2.) Yonkers | 5
3.) Radicals | 3.75 - 4
4.) She (ft. Frank Ocean) | 5
- Frank Ocean's voice is mesmorizing.
5.) Transylvania | 3.25 - 4
6.) Nightmare | 3.5 - 4
7.) Tron Cat | 4 - 4.5
8.) Her | 4
- A completely different, yet refreshing vibe from Tyler here. Could be one of my favorites out of the OFWGKTA catalog but the production is too minimal and boring.
9.) Sandwitches (ft. Hodgy Beats) | 4.75 - 5
10.) Fish | 2.25 - 3
11.) Analog (ft. Hodgy Beats) | 4.25 - 5
- Again, different vibe here, but I love it. Should have had more Tyler though.
12.) Bitch Suck Dick (ft. Jasper Dolphin & Taco) | 3
13.) Window (ft. Domo Genesis, Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats & Mike G) | 3 - 3.25
14.) AU79 | 3
15.) Golden | 5
- Absolutely incredible outro.

Overall: 3.99/5 [previously rated 4.05/5]

Brief Notes:
- More focused and complete effort than Bastard, Goblin is another stepping stone towards a bright career for Tyler, The Creator. The highlights on here are outstanding and some of the best in the entire Odd Future catalog.

[Updated (8/10/2011): Still better than Bastard, but slightly less enjoyable than when I first rated it. One of the better albums in 2011 hip-hop however.]

[Woy]

1.) Wichita | 3.75 - 4
- Gives me a slight "Exhibit C" vibe.
2.) Heroes Eventually Die (Interlude) | 4 - 4.5
3.) When We're Done | 4 - 4.25
4.) Smallville | 4 - 4.75
5.) That's Just Me | 2 - 2.5
6.) Awesome (ft. Pusha T) | 4.5 - 5
7.) Pictures On My Wall | 4.75 - 5
- Wow at the emotion XV shows in the last verse. Awesome.
8.) Textbook Stuff (ft. Kendrick Lamar) | 4.25 - 5
- Kendrick bodies this.
9.) All For Me (ft. CyHi Da Prynce, Vado & Erin Christine) | 3 - 3.25
10.) U.F.C. (ft. Kristina Rose) | 3
11.) Foreign Exchange Student | 3.25 - 4
12.) Swerin' | 3.5 - 4
13.) Best Days Of Lives (ft. Donnis) | 3 - 3.75
14.) Ending Credits (Interlude) | 3
15.) The Last Hero (ft. Patrick Stump) | 4

Overall: 3.80/5

Brief Notes:
- The middle portion of this tape is bonkers. XV just makes solid music.

[Woy]

1.) See The Milq In My Chevy | 4.25 - 5
2.) Slapp | 5
- Part of this beat is from Wiz Khalifa's "Spotlight", but it's still beautiful.
3.) 330 | 4 - 4.75
4.) Hercules | 4
- The faint guitars in the production are my favorite part of this.
5.) Chimes of Freedumb (ft. Rashad) | 3.75 - 4
6.) The Night (ft. Rashad) | 3.25 - 4
7.) Pound | 3 - 3.5
8.) The Sound of Silence | 4 - 4.25
9.) She Hates The Bass | 4.5 - 5
10.) Hard | 3 - 3.5
11.) Assassin (ft. John Mayer) | 3.25 - 4
- It's not a bad song, but it throws off the vibe of the album.
12.) Go On | 3 - 3.75
13.) Milq 'n Honey | 3.5 - 4
14.) Monkey Ish (R.I.P. Pimp C) | 4 - 4.5
15.) Tell Montez I Love Her | 3.75 - 4
16.) Lincoln Way Nights (Shop) | 4 - 4.75

Overall: 4.01/5

Brief Notes:
- The Intelligent Trunk Music title definitely fits, with brass featured in every beat. Stalley's lyrics focus on what the title says and he is an entertaining enough MC to the point where the subject matter doesn't get old. The album's production altogether is some of the best I've heard all year.

[Woy]

1.) Genesis | 3.5 - 4
2.) Detroit State of Mind | 4.5 - 5
3.) Halftime | 4
4.) Memory Lane | 5
5.) The World Is Yours / Represent Intro | 4 - 4.5
- The piano outro is just a thing of beauty.
6.) Represent | 4.5 - 5
7.) Life's A Bitch (ft. Royce da 5'9 & Stokley Williams) | 4.75 - 5
- Another awesome outro.
8.) One Love | 4 - 4.25
9.) It's Ain't Hard to Tell | 4 - 4.75
10.) Pete Rock Shout | 3 - 3.5

Overall: 4.31/5

Brief Notes:
- Elzhi recaptures most of the magic of Illmatic with his own rendition, Elmatic, but it's not completely the same. His effort is much better than Fashawn's attempt last year and creates one of the best projects of 2011, but I just can't see myself listening to this like other albums I've rated highly (nostalgia, ULTRA and Return of 4eva) just because I still rather listen to the original.
- The live bands are amazing. That needed it's own line.

[inthecards21]

1.) Genesis | 3.5 - 4
2.) Detroit State of Mind | 4.5 - 5
3.) Halftime | 4
4.) Memory Lane | 5
5.) The World Is Yours / Represent Intro | 4 - 4.5
- The piano outro is just a thing of beauty.
6.) Represent | 4.5 - 5
7.) Life's A Bitch (ft. Royce da 5'9 & Stokley Williams) | 4.75 - 5
- Another awesome outro.
8.) One Love | 4 - 4.25
9.) It's Ain't Hard to Tell | 4 - 4.75
10.) Pete Rock Shout | 3 - 3.5

Overall: 4.31/5

Brief Notes:
- Elzhi recaptures most of the magic of Illmatic with his own rendition, Elmatic, but it's not completely the same. His effort is much better than Fashawn's attempt last year and creates one of the best projects of 2011, but I just can't see myself listening to this like other albums I've rated highly (nostalgia, ULTRA and Return of 4eva) just because I still rather listen to the original.
- The live bands are amazing. That needed it's own line.

Probably my favorite tape of 2011 so far, I give the new Halftime and Detroit State of Mind 5's and Memory Lane 4.8. IMO best songs on the tape

[Woy]

Yeah, so far it's my favorite tape as well. (I consider both nostalgia, ULTRA and Return of 4Eva free albums cause that's what they were pushed as.) If you're a hip-hop fan and can't get into this, then you probably should stop listening to music in general.