Maybach Music Group – Self Made, Vol. 3 (2013) – Review

Review: Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group (MMG) has a large lineup to feature on his third posse album, including: Wale, Meek Mill, Gunplay, Rockie Fresh, Stalley, French Montana, and Omarion.

While Self Made Vol 1 and Vol 2 highlight both the talents of MMG’s artists and the sound that the label has cultivated (through the use of their frequently collaborating producers), Vol 3 just has a very bland sound musically – leading some to wonder if the label has peaked. It is a boring album to listen to (which has become a common trend in hip hop in general, and noticeably among MMG releases, particularly Meek Mill’s Dreams & Nightmares and to an even greater extent French Montana’s terrible Excuse My French).

The album is also overstuffed. MMG already has eight artists to showcase – and to this, only Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill, and Rockie Fresh really stand out. There are a ton of featured guests, which while a common feature of these Self Made albums it has gotten out of hand. It is easy to just get lost among all the scattered voices, many adding nothing of interest. Only J. Cole and Lupe Fiasco really bring anything to the album (Pusha T’s verse is good too, but way too short and on a bad song). It is too bad that the guests could not have been reduced greatly, leaving room for more from Gunplay and Stalley. Plus, zero French Montana and Omarion would have been better (but that is probably asking too much, since they are on the label).

Really the only positive this album provides, other than a few decent tracks (see Essential Tracks below), is that the album introduces Rockie Fresh, a new MMG signee. He has potential.

Overall, there is really no reason to pick up this album, unless you are a big fan of MMG and their sound. Rather, just cherry pick a couple tracks. 2/5

Essential Tracks:
1) Poor Decisions – Produced by Jake One, featuring Wale, Rick Ross, and Lupe Fiasco

2) God Is Great – Produced by Boi-1da, featuring Rockie Fresh

3) Black Grammys – Produced by Tone P, featuring Wale, Meek Mill, Rockie Fresh, and J. Cole

Available on: Digital Download

Wale – The Gifted (2013) – Review

Review: Wale seems to reside just on the precipice of blowing up – he has the lyrical skill and flow; he just has never had a big hit. His first two albums Attention Deficit and Ambition are both good, but do not stand out either. With his third album, The Gifted, Wale seems to have both embraced his place in hip hop and desperately grasped for a breakthrough hit with a somewhat random assembling of guest features.

The Gifted is at its best when Wale is just riffing off the beats. He has such a nimble flow and he is a layered storyteller that his raps alone are enough to sustain the listener. His lyrics give a much more nuanced and realistic view of urban culture than most other artists who still speak for the streets. Wale’s verses have substance. Musically, the album is very vibrant and often the beats have more of a live band feel, which is a nice change from the constant flow of EDM influenced hip hop songs (and just every genre really). The live drums really pop.

But for all its positives, the album is just flooded with pointless features by artistes that do not fit Wale’s sound, who seemingly are only there to increases sales and draw new listeners – like: Yo Gotti, Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa, Ne-Yo, and 2 Chainz. None of them bring anything to the album. Wale’s MMG mates Meek Mill and Rick Ross also show up, but again neither stand out and their styles somewhat clash with Wale’s – though, Meek Mill and Wale do have some chemistry. The Gifted would probably be a better album without all these features (as really only Cee-Lo Green and Tiara Thomas bring something worthwhile), especially when the genre’s best recent albums (good kid, m.A.A.d city, Born Sinner, and Yeezus) have all been built around a singular voice – all these random features dilute the album’s impact.

The Gifted is sure to please fans of Wale, as it is a good hip hop album. However, it is also slightly disappointing (as it is almost a great album, held back by all the features). 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece) – Produced by Lee Major

2)      Bad – Produced by Kelson Camp and Tiara Thomas, featuring Tiara Thomas

3)      88 – Produced by Just Blaze

Available on: Digital Download

Maybach Music Group – Self Made Vol. 2 (2012) – Review

Review: MMG’s second group album is about as good as its first, if not a little better and more consistent. Though, it does not have any standout tracks like Tupac Back or 600 Benz. Black Magic is probably the standout cut from the album. While it has a fairly generic street-banger beat, Rick Ross’s hook and Meek Mill’s verses are great. Power Circle is the other memorable song. Coming in at just over eight minutes, it features a verse from the each member of the MMG posse (other than Omarion), and a great verse from Kendrick Lamar. As far as features go, Self Made Vol. 2 has a lot highlighted by Kendrick Lamar, NaS and Bun B. The MMG crew is a very complimentary group headed by Rick Ross, Wale and Meek Mill (who has some of the best stuff on the album). Gunplay and Stalley also have some good verses on the album (I wish Gunplay was on more of it), and definitely make their voices heard as the newer members of the group. Omarion, on the other hand, is the weak link, and French Montana continues to be forgettable. I called Self Made Vol. 1 a glorified mixtape, and I feel sort of the same way about this. The production is decent, but nothing special. Half of the tracks on this album would be filler on a Ross, Wale or Meek Mill solo album. That said, this is still well worth checking out for fans of MMG. 3/5

Essential Tracks:

1)      Black Magic – Meek Mill & Rick Ross, produced by Young Shun

2)      Power Circle – Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill & Rick Ross featuring Kendrick Lamar, produced by Lee Major

3)      This Thing of Ours – Wale, Omarion & Rick Ross, featuring NaS, produced by Don Cannon

Available on CD and Digital Download

Essential Songs of 2012: Part 4 – Music Spotlight – July 2012

Artist: Best Coast Song: The Only Place Producer(s): Jon Brion Featuring: N/A Album: The Only Place

Artist: Chiddy Bang Song: Handclaps & Guitars Producer(s): Xaphoon Jones Featuring: N/A Album: Breakfast

Artist: Dusted Song: Pale Light Producer(s): Leon Taheny Featuring: N/A Album: Total Dust

Artist: Ellie Goulding Song: High for This (The Weeknd cover) Producer(s): Xaphoon Jones Featuring: N/A Album: N/A

Artist: Hot Chip Song: Motion Sickness Producer(s): Hot Chip Featuring: N/A Album: In Our Heads

Artist: Kanye West & Pusha T Song: New God Flow Producer(s): Kanye West and Boogz & Tapez Featuring: N/A Album: Cruel Summer

Artist: Meek Mill & Rick Ross Song: Black Magic Producer(s): Young Shun Featuring: N/A Album: Maybach Music Group Presents: Self Made Vol. 2

Artist: Regina Spektor Song: Open Producer(s): Mike Elizondo and Regina Spektor Featuring: N/A Album: What We Saw from the Cheap Seats

Artist: Stepdad Song: Will I Ever Dance Again Producer(s): Chris Zane Featuring: N/A Album: Wildlife Pop

Artist: Ty Segall Band Song: I Bought My Eyes Producer(s): Ty Segall Featuring: N/A Album: Slaughterhouse

Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 2 Mixtape (2012) – Review

Review: The Philly MC Meek Mill, member of Rick Ross’s MMG, is one of MTV’s 2012 Ten Hottest MCs, along with other MMG members Ross and Wale. Though, personally, I am very surprised to see him there, especially with his latest mixtape Dreamchasers 2, the follow up to a fairly weak Dreamchasers Mixtape. Much of Dreamchasers 2 is mixtape quality street bangers. Musically, the album is not very interesting, as most of the beats are generic throwaways. Though, Jahlil Beats, Cardiak, KeY Wane, and Beat Billionaire provide some decent stuff – but again, mixtape quality. Normally, this would be fine, but many of today’s best new artists in hip hop put out mixtapes that are better than most other artists’ albums, and thus there is a high bar to strive for, and this tape is nowhere near as good. Not to mention, Meek Mill is often overshadowed by his many guests. Big Sean, Wale, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake all outshine him on the tape. It is not to say Meek Mill is bad, as that is not the case. Dreamchasers 2 is just disappointing because Meek Mill is supposedly one of the hottest MCs right now, and fans of his music know he can put out great tracks like Tupac Back. This mixtape is fine for fans of MMG and Meek Mill, but certainly not a must for fans of hip hop in general. 2/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      Take U Home – Produced by Beat Billionaire, featuring Wale and Big Sean

2)      Flexing – Produced by Jahlil Beats

3)      Burn – Produced by Jahlil Beats, featuring Big Sean

Available on Digital Download

Rick Ross – Rich Forever Mixtape (2012) – Review

Rick Ross – Rich Forever

With his upcoming fifth studio album God Forgives, I Don’t delayed, Miami MC Rick Ross dropped a new mixtape – Rich Forever – as a preview of what we can expect. Essentially, it is a series of street bangers featuring Ross, his MMG cohorts and friends. And with a voice like Ross’s, why not make street bangers – but at the same time, I liked the more sonically soulful work he was doing in the past (stuff like Usual Suspects and Rich off Cocaine off Deeper Than Rap, or his verse on Kanye West’s Devil in a New Dress). Among the many guests, NaS by far shines, dropping an excellent verse. Wale, Meek Mill and Drake contribute good stuff too. The tape also has a few of hip hop’s most talked about up-and-comers: French Montana, 2 Chains, and Future. Lyrically, Ross sticks to his character’s usual topics: money, drugs, cars, fashion, girls, being rich, selling drugs, being wealthy, and so on and so forth. And yet, a credit to Ross, his character is so well crafted that it still has not become tired and shabby (at least not for me). Rich Forever is probably not going to win Ross new fans, but for those who like what he does it is a good holdover until God Forgive, I Don’t. 3/5

Editor’s Essential Tracks:

1)      Triple Beam Dreams – Produced by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, featuring NaS

2)      Holy Ghost – Produced by Lil’ Lody, featuring Diddy

3)      Yella Diamonds – Produced by Beat Billionaire

Available on Digital Download

LeapBackBlog 2011 Music Awards – Part 3: Ten More Essential Songs (Deep Cuts)

Music in 2011 saw the further domination of hip hop and indie rock as the principal forms of ‘good’ music. Forms of electronic music have also taken up a much more mainstream appeal in recent years, and there is certainly evidence of this in what was great in music in 2011. Here are ten more of my favorite songs not of my Ten Essential Albums.

Part 1: Ten Essential Albums

Part 2: Ten Essential Songs (Singles)

Artist: Cults Song: Go Outside Producer: Cults Featuring: N/A Album: Cults Why It Made the List: The New York duo deliver a fun little indie pop song with Go Outside, and it has an interesting aesthetic to it. Available: Here

Artist: The Horrors Song: Still Life Producer: The Horrors and Craig Silvey Featuring: N/A Album: Skying Why It Made the List: England’s post-punk group The Horrors bring back a great 1980s nostalgic sound with Still Life. Available: Here

Artist: Joell Ortiz Song: Battle Cry Producer: Just Blaze and The Audible Doctor Featuring: Just Blaze Album: Free Agent Why It Made the List: On Battle Cry Joell Ortiz makes a claim for the throne of hip hop, and on this Just Blaze track he makes a strong argument.  Available: Here

Artist: Meek Mill Song: Tupac Back Producer: Mike Will Featuring: Rick Ross Album: Self Made, Vol. 1 Why It Made the List: Off the MMG compilation, Tupac Back is my favorite street banger of the year. Mike Will’s beat is just too good and Rick Ross’s hook is perfect. Available: Here

Artist: Pharoahe Monch Song: Let My People Go Producer: Fatin “10” Horton Featuring: N/A Album: W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) Why It Made the List: Phoroahe Monch has one of the best flows in hip hop. WAR is a great album, and Let My People Go is my favorite track off it. Available: Here

Artist: Random Axe Song: Random Call Producer: Black Milk Featuring: N/A Album: Random Axe Why It Made the List: Black Milk, Sean Price and Guilty Simpson make for a hip hop super group. Their debut album together has lots of very good moments, but Random Call just stands out. Available: Here

Artist: Tech N9ne Song: He’s a Mental Giant Producer: Seven Featuring: N/A Album: All 6’s and 7’s Why It Made the List: It is hard not love He’s a Mental Giant and respect Tech N9ne’s flow. It is the best of what he can deliver. Available: Here

Artist: Tinie Tempah Song: Wonderman Producer: Labrinth Featuring: Ellie Goulding Album: Disc-Overy Why It Made the List: While there are a number of catchy tracks on Disc-Overy, Wonderman stands out for me because of Ellie Goulding’s fantastic hook. Available: Here

Artist: Washed Out Song: Amor Fati Producer: Ben H. Allen and Ernest Greene Featuring: N/A Album: Within and Without Why It Made the List: Another entry from the chilwave genre, Ernest Greene’s Amor Fati captures both a 1980’s nostalgic sound (reminds me sort of Duran Duran) and an atmospheric sadness. As a fan of the 1980’s new wave sound, this song instantly attracted me. Available: Here

Artist: XV Song: Textbook Stuff Producer: Seven Featuring: Kendrick Lamar Album: Zero Heroes Why It Made the List: Zero Heroes has many great tracks, but Textbook Stuff has a musical and lyrical connection that just appealed to me a little more, plus it has a great verse from Kendrick Lamar. I am looking forward to XV’s first commercial release, hopefully dropping 2012. Available: Free Online Here

Pusha T – Fear of God II: Let Us Pray EP (2011) – Review

Pusha T – Fear of God II: Let Us Pray

Pusha T’s first commercial release as a solo artist and member of G.O.O.D. Music is a follow-up EP to his mixtape Fear of God. The EP features seven new tracks and five off Fear of God. Of the new tracks, three or four are album quality while the rest feels like mixtape material. Trouble on My Mind featuring Tyler, The Creator and produced by The Neptunes is a standout song (and one of my favorites of the second half of the year, plus the video is great too). The production quality outside of The Neptunes is not quite as good on the new tracks as those previously released, but they have more of a street-banger feel, which probably speaks to Pusha T being in a different place musically for Let Us Pray than when he recorded Fear of God. However, lyrically and delivery wise, Pusha T still comes with great flow and composition. We all knew he was great from his previous work with his brother Malice as a member of Clipse (the album Hell Hath No Fury is brilliant), but that said he is certainly putting forth very good material as a solo act that puts him near the top of the hip hop game. To me, this sounds more like another mixtape and is being used to test the commercial waters a bit. Though, Trouble on My Mind is good enough to make just about any hip hop album released this year. The Fear of God albums feel like just a preview of what we can expect from his first solo LP, which seems like it will be fantastic given his lyrics, flow and the better class of beats he will have on it. In terms of features, again just looking at the new material, Tyler, The Creator give a great verse and a half and is the standout accompanying act on the EP. Kanye West and Young Jeezy are decent but not memorable. Meek Mill lays down a good verse too on Body Work. However, aside from Tyler, The Creator, it is Ric Flair’s wrestling promo clip at the beginning of What Dreams Are Made Of that might be the best accompanying piece, it is both a brilliant clip and works well with the narrative of the album and the persona of Pusha T. I would not say the album is a must, based on the new material, especially if you have Fear of God and Trouble on My Mind already, but it is certainly a good pick up for fans of Pusha T, and a must if you do not yet have Fear of God. 4/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      Trouble on My Mind – Produced by The Neptunes, featuring Tyler, The Creator

2)      Changing of the Guards – Produced by Rico Beats, featuring Diddy

3)      Amen – Produced by Shawty Redd, featuring Kanye West and Young Jeezy

Available on CD and Digital Download

Wale – Ambition (2011) – Review

Wale – Ambition

After his critically acclaimed but commercial failure debut Attention Deficit (one of my favorite hip hop albums of 2009), Wale needed a change. It came in the form of teaming up with Rick Ross on his label Maybach Music Group, garnering singles such as 600 Benz (off their label album Self Made Vol. 1). Many fans thought that he was going to sellout and change his style to be more commercial. But the only thing that has changed from Attention Deficit is the beats Wale is rapping over. The lyrical style and content are the same. He has such energy and an infectious lyricism that it is hard to dispute Wale as one of the best right now. No one else sounds quite like him. And for a large portion, his sound has not really changed much either – songs like: Lotus Flower Bomb, Sabotage and Miami Nights could easily be off any of his former releases. If anything, I like that he is incorporating new beats into his style and trying to grow as an artist. I mean is it not the goal to reach as many listeners as possible while maintaining your lyrical integrity, because that is what Wale has done with Ambition. I think he has a great chemistry with producers Tone P and Mark Henry, who both have multiple tracks on the album. But, he also has completely different beats too like Diplo’s Slight Work and beats that fit the popular trend right now, specifically from T-Minus. While it is as good an album as Attention Deficit, it is one of the better hip hop albums of 2011 and I look forward to more form Wale. 4/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      Focused – Produced by Kore, featuring KiD CuDi

2)      Double M Genius – Produced by Mark Henry

3)      Ambition – Produced by T-Minus, featuring Meek Mill and Rick Ross

Available on CD and Digital Download

Maybach Music Group – Self Made, Vol. 1 (2011) – Review

Maybach Music Group – Self Made, Vol. 1

The group is made up of label head Rick Ross’s three newest high profile signings: Wale, Meek Mill and Pill. Each has had their successes and failures before Ross brought them in (for example Wale released his debut album in 2009 Attention Deficit, which was one of the best hip hop albums of the year, but did not sell very well). This album is essentially a glorified mixtape, a little more polished sonically, but lacking great production throughout (though there are a few fantastic beats on it). That being said, it does serve as a great introduction to these artists and their rhyming skills – each with their own unique sound (personally I am a big fan of Wale, but Meek Mill has caught my interest due to this album). During the first listen-through, the album just sounds like a series of street-bangers in the mold of Ross’s own Lux Luger produced hits B.M.F. and MC Hammer, and certainly Ross played a major role in shaping the sound of this album and lends his voice to most of the songs in some capacity (after all he is the biggest name in MMG). However having gone through the album many times now, it offers a few chill and laidback grooves as well (reminiscent of a number of the track off Ross’s own Deeper Than Rap) that give the album a nice break.  It does not feature too many well-known producers, but Just Blaze and Lux Leger (producing the un-Lex Luger sounding That Way) each laydown a track. It also features a good list of hip hop’s hot MCs like Curren$y, J. Cole and CyHi Da Prynce lending verses. Some complain that Ross is trying too hard to get his MCs to do songs that sound just like his, but this is an MMG album, not a Pill, Meek Mill or Wale solo album (we will have to wait for their solo releases scheduled for 2011/12 to see how much Ross has indeed influenced them sonically). However, lyrically all three MCs touch on the material they are known for. While the album lacks great songs (though an argument can be made for Tupac Back and 600 Benz), it is solid throughout with really no bad songs or moments. For fans of the MCs, it should hold them over until the solo releases drop. 3/5

Editor’s Song Picks:

1)      Tupac Back – Meek Mill featuring Rick Ross, produced by Mike Will of Eardrummers

2)      600 Benz – Wale featuring Rick Ross and Jadakiss, produced by Cardiak

3)      Rise – Pill & Wale featuring Teedra Moses, Cyhi Da Prynce & Curren$y, produced by Cardiak

Available on CD and Digital Download