Woy's Album Reviews.

[KNUBB]

Yeah, I think I'm going to stay with this format because although it took longer, it was more enjoyable to write. And at first, I dismissed Ross's verse because I just thought it typical Ross horribleness, but the more I listened to it, the sooner I realized it was really dope.



:yep: Edges out Mood Muzik 4 as the project of the year as well...for now. I've been listening to Friday Night Lights as much as this album, so it'll have a shot to overtake him for project of the year at least, and I think Pilot Talk 2 is going to be pretty damn good.

Did you guys catch the things I was catching throughout the album? Like my interpretation of Kanye's use of the vocoder on Runaway or the Chris Rock skit on Blame Game?

I'm completely with you on the interpretations. I wrote a 5 page paper on the Runaway film and it is filled with that kind of symbolism

 

[Pitty]

FNL is not better than this album. Period. Nothing in hip hop will touch this for a while.

Production alone puts him over the top of J Cole.

 

[Woy]

FNL is not better than this album. Period. Nothing in hip hop will touch this for a while.

Production alone puts him over the top of J Cole.

It might be...I mean I'm listening to it the same amount and it reached my expectations. And J. Cole's production isn't as good as MBDTF, but it's still pretty nice and the lyrics are better IMO.

And I've gotta lol @ "nothing in hip-hop will touch this in a while" comment. Mood Muzik 4 was pretty damn good and is just .02 away from this (again IMO), and although I love the album and think it's a classic, it's not invincible like an Illmatic or Reasonable Doubt. I can see future projects such as J. Cole's debut album, Joe Budden's Great Escape as well as others that haven't been announced yet.

 

[Pitty]

It might be...I mean I'm listening to it the same amount and it reached my expectations. And J. Cole's production isn't as good as MBDTF, but it's still pretty nice and the lyrics are better IMO.

And I've gotta lol @ "nothing in hip-hop will touch this in a while" comment. Mood Muzik 4 was pretty damn good and is just .02 away from this (again IMO), and although I love the album and think it's a classic, it's not invincible like an Illmatic or Reasonable Doubt. I can see future projects such as J. Cole's debut album, Joe Budden's Great Escape as well as others that haven't been announced yet.

Face it, Hip Hop has been shit for running on 5 years now, if J Cole and Drake are being considered for the best in the game, somethings wrong. As to the Budden tape, for whatever reason he doesn't appeal to me. Also, I listen to Sir Lucious Leftfoot as much as MBDTF, and even though I think it's far and away the #2 album this year, it still doesn't touch MBDTF. Kanye just seems to be at that head and shoulders above the game level he was in 2005. These other dudes are looking at today, he's putting out shit that we'll be listening to in 20 years. And if anyone says they're going to be listening to Mood Muzik 4, Recovery, or FNL in 20 years, I'm calling bullshit.

 

[Woy]

Face it, Hip Hop has been shit for running on 5 years now, if J Cole and Drake are being considered for the best in the game, somethings wrong. As to the Budden tape, for whatever reason he doesn't appeal to me. Also, I listen to Sir Lucious Leftfoot as much as MBDTF, and even though I think it's far and away the #2 album this year, it still doesn't touch MBDTF. Kanye just seems to be at that head and shoulders above the game level he was in 2005. These other dudes are looking at today, he's putting out shit that we'll be listening to in 20 years. And if anyone says they're going to be listening to Mood Muzik 4, Recovery, or FNL in 20 years, I'm calling bullshit.

I think it's slowly starting to get better, especially with the talent that's out there. J. Cole, Freddie Gibbs, Jay Electronica, Shad (he's been in the game since 2005 though)...those are names I think we'll be talking about the most in the future. Drake doesn't deserve to be in the same category as those names, even though I enjoy listening to him.

And who knows if we'll be listening to his music 20 years from now? No one has a crystal ball to predict that. Maybe you will, maybe I'll be listening to MM4 or The Warm Up still. All I'm saying is although you're biased towards Kanye (and everyone is biased in some way towards their favorite, or one of their favorite artists), this is not the clear-cut defining moment in hip-hop for the next few years like you're claiming it to be. There are albums and mix-tapes that haven't released yet that could overtake it, and I wouldn't be shocked if they do.

Classic album, yes. Head and shoulders above the rest, no.

 

[Champ]

I love Club Bangers.

 

[Trmszczykowski]

This is one of my favorite threads of all time. Props to Woy, for writing consistent quality reviews.

 

[Woy]

This is one of my favorite threads of all time. Props to Woy, for writing consistent quality reviews.

Thanks man, much appreciated. Glad to see people are enjoying reading these as much as I enjoy writing them.

Going to try and have the Friday Night Lights review up either later today or sometime tomorrow.

 

[Pitty]

Give a fuck about yo lifestyle, give a fuck about a motherfuckin lifestyle.

Pitt 90, RMU 62 tonight.

 

[JrRawlins]

Face it, Hip Hop has been shit for running on 5 years now, if J Cole and Drake are being considered for the best in the game, somethings wrong. As to the Budden tape, for whatever reason he doesn't appeal to me. Also, I listen to Sir Lucious Leftfoot as much as MBDTF, and even though I think it's far and away the #2 album this year, it still doesn't touch MBDTF. Kanye just seems to be at that head and shoulders above the game level he was in 2005. These other dudes are looking at today, he's putting out shit that we'll be listening to in 20 years. And if anyone says they're going to be listening to Mood Muzik 4, Recovery, or FNL in 20 years, I'm calling bullshit.

Considering Im still listening to Mood Musik 2 which came out in 2006, i wont say i will be listening to MM4 in 20 years, but i will probably be listening to it longer than i do this new Kanye album.....

 

[Woy]

Give a fuck about yo lifestyle, give a fuck about a motherfuckin lifestyle.

Pitt 90, RMU 62 tonight.

You act like I think we have a chance tonight.

 

[Houston]

I think it's slowly starting to get better, especially with the talent that's out there. J. Cole, Freddie Gibbs, Jay Electronica, Shad (he's been in the game since 2005 though)...those are names I think we'll be talking about the most in the future. Drake doesn't deserve to be in the same category as those names, even though I enjoy listening to him.

He's not gonna be able to do it all by himself but I think Kanye is helping push out better rap into mainstream. Yes the horrible rap is still gonna be there but atleast there's some good stuff to combat it.

College Dropout and Late Registration were great but they didn't really change anything in music, this album is gonna be a game changer.

 

[Woy]

Change of plans kinda. I'll try getting the FNL review up either tonight or tomorrow (I feel like I've promised this at least three times already, but I've been busy) but instead of going into the other reviews (PT2, HFM2 and Pink Friday) like I planned to, I'm going to review an album from John Regan called Sorry I'm Late. His manager contacted me via e-mail just today and asked if I could do a review on my blog, so I figured why not? Plus a feature list with names like Joell Ortiz, Nottz and Skyzoo, I've been kinda interested in listening to the album anyways.

So it'll be Sorry I'm Late (should be up next week, but I'm horrible at guaranteeing this shit), then Pilot Talk 2, Hunger For More 2, and Pink Friday. The only other album/tapes that I'm looking forward to is T.I.'s and Trey Songz's tape, so whenever those drop, plug them behind the four albums. Then I'll post some of my favorite albums/artists/etc. from this year and do some re-reviews, following up with a final list of all the stuff I listened to this year.

 

[KNUBB]

Have you heard LemmeHolDatBeat yet?

 

[Woy]

Just downloaded it a few hours ago. Haven't given it a full listen though.

 

[Woy]

Friday Night Lights - J. Cole

You would think that after dropping a classic mix-tape in 2009 and following that up with an appearance on The Blueprint 3, there would be a huge buzz surrounding Roc Nation artist, J. Cole. However, even after releasing a single this summer to promote his still unnamed debut album, Cole didn't get the buzz he thought he would and pushed the release date back till next year.

However, after releasing the track Villematic, which is over Kanye West's Devil in a New Dress beat, Cole decided to do a mix-tape. He said the tape would be for all his fans that have stuck with him throughout his young career, but in addition to that, it was released to re-gain that buzz. With the plan laid out - release the mix-tape, a single around Thanksgiving, then another before the album is ready around January or February 2011 - he created just the hype he wanted with Friday Night Lights, as it both crashed his blog and the first two download links, but it was also the second most searched topic on Google at the time.

The tape starts with a piano loop, as Cole is trying to motivate himself before a game. (If you didn't know by now, every mixtape is related to his basketball background.) Once he leaves with his last quote, the beat switches up to something relaxing for Too Deep for the Intro. The title fits perfectly, as it really is too deep for the intro. The subject matter shifts from social class to an abusive marriage, to his first sexual experience, to finally how he never told anyone about his early rap career due to the fear of criticsm.

Before I'm Gone begins with a choir singing/humming a melody, then Cole unleashes a weed-laden verse to begin the song, discussing how he's speeding away from the cops so he doesn't get caught for smoking and thrown in jail beside his brother. The third verse is probably one of my favorites on the entire tape, as he addresses what he stands for with his rhymes and recalls his rags to riches story.

Following that is Back to the Topic, which is just a freestyle with many punchlines sprinkled through there. You Got It is a fun track that features a Janelle Monae sample and a song-stealing guest verse from Wale at the end. And Villematic was the song that basically started the tape, but the next track is another one of many highlights from the tape.

Combining a hook from one of Tupac's most recognized songs, Hail Mary, and the best guest verse on the entire tape from Omen, Enchanted is definitely one of the best songs on Friday Night Lights. His verse, located as the second one the track, starts with a grand opening - "Let's see God/I know you only do what's best for me/But is it cool if we negotiate my destiny?" - before he lets loose on 20 bars that deal with his destructive hometown.

Blow Up was the another track that I heard before the tape dropped and it was an instant favorite of mine from day one. Directing it towards his haters, Cole goes off with three verses that are filled with punchline after punchline. The self-produced beat, as most on the tape are, is one of my favorites from the entire project.

Then two potential radio singles come up back to back with Higher leading them off. The hook is catchy and the beat is a fun one, as Cole raps about hooking up with this girl he knew from before. In the Morning features Drake and is another one of my favorites on the tape, even though this is a very familiar song to most J. Cole fans. Cole uses the same first verse as an earlier version of this track then Drizzy comes in after the hook and spits a very impressive verse. After his rendition of the hook, Cole takes center stage and barely one-ups him, leaving fans of both parties satisfied. (There's an unofficial rivalry between the two young talents, even though both say they are friends with one another and are even going on tour together in the near future.)

2Face is another incredible track that provoked a lot of emotion from the talented rapper, whereas The Autograph continues the success with the first verse featuring Cole's XXL freestyle. Best Friend samples an Aaliyah song on the hook and Cost Me a Lot tries to follow up on the epicness the last four songs showed.

Premediated Murder is another song that was leaked earlier this year, as Cole again remembers his shady past and how he's about to take over the rap game. Home For the Holidays' beat features a lot of brass and is a change-up from the rest, but it's a very good change as it makes the song another one of my favorites on the tape. Pretty much he's reminiscing on his high school days and says he can only return to his hometown for the holidays otherwise he'll end up like most of the recognizable kids from high school. Meanwhile, Love Me Not is a short song that deals with a relationship and how feelings change.

However, out of all the songs, I think the tape's best lies in See World. With the song's inspiration based off a very sad and disturbing story, Cole angrily lashes out at the person that committed such a crime to little Shaniya Davis in the first verse. In the second verse, he shifts to a lighter subject, saying how tough it is to make it in the rap game, especially when you're competing with artists you looked up to growing up. Audio clippings of the Davis story are featured in the song as well, only adding to an already epic track.

Farewell is a great closing track, as Cole wonders how he will be remembered once he's gone and lets everyone know that he won't forget the ones that pass away. The bonus track, Looking For Trouble, is from an earlier G.O.O.D. Friday. Featuring a star-studded cast that includes Kanye West and Pusha T, Cole steals the show with the final verse that has him spitting acapella for the last few bars ("What you been prayin' for? What you been screamin' 'bout?/Ironic, you been sleepin' on the one that you been dreamin' 'bout").

Friday Night Lights is an overwhelming success. Although it's not as good as the classic The Warm Up, it's still exactly what Cole needed to put his name out there to even the strictly mainstream folks. This tape isn't only a showcase of his rhymes, but also his underrated production ability and let's the listener get maybe a peek of what's to come on his still untitled debut album, since himself and No I.D. will be handling the production for it.

One of the most notable lines on Villematic is: "It's the feeling in the air you 'bout to drop a real classic/He said Cole, 'A lil' birdy told me on the low you got an Illmatic'". Cole might not have an Illmatic, but after all the material he's given us through the last two years, there's no reason to believe that his debut album won't be a classic.

1.) Friday Night Lights (Intro) - 4.5
2.) Too Deep for the Intro - 5
3.) Before I'm Gone - 4.5
4.) Back to the Topic (Freestyle) - 3.5
5.) You Got It ft. Wale - 4.5
6.) Villematic - 4.5
7.) Enchanted ft. Omen - 5
8.) Blow Up - 5
9.) Higher - 2
10.) In the Morning ft. Drake - 5
11.) 2Face - 5
12.) The Autograph - 4.5
13.) Best Friend - 4.5
14.) Cost Me a Lot - 3
15.) Premeditated Murder - 5
16.) Home For the Holidays - 5
17.) Love Me Not - 3.5
18.) See World - 5
19.) Farewell - 4.5
20.) Looking For Trouble ft. Kanye West, Pusha T, Cyhi da Prynce & Big Sean - 5

Overall: 4.43/5

 

[Rudi]

Great review, I still be bumpin that #FNL on the daily basis.

You need to check out No Mercy though...the King is back!

 

[Woy]

Thanks and I do as well. Cole never disappoints.

I haven't given No Mercy a full listen yet. It's in line to be reviewed after Sorry I'm Late, Pilot Talk 2, Hunger For More 2 and Pink Friday. So much damn music, haha.

 

[Irish]

lol

 

[Woy]

Irish is a J. Cole hater but had a Cole quote as his Facebook status once.

He has love for the 'Ville deep down. :wub: