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interesting-blog-name · 5 years ago

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SLIGHTLY NEW ALBUMS I LIKED (Little Simz - GREY Area; Monsune - Tradition; Backxwash - God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It)

More loose reviews that I write and instantly want to get out of my Word document and into Tumblr without much of an overlaying theme between the albums or any planning as to which ones I’ll be releasing at which point, but it is what it is. This time I’ll be compiling some recent-ish albums I’ve enjoyed, two of which I’ve come to know from TheNeedleDrop (I try not to watch reviews before writing down my opinion btw), and one EP from an artist I like. Here it is.

Little Simz – GREY Area

Little Simz, the 26-year-old British rapper, is an artist I’ve loved the first time I heard her, when I listened to Selfish for the first time and saw her cover of Feel Good Inc. in triple-j’s Like A Version. Today, May 30th, I was planning on listening to White Chalk by PJ Harvey, but from what I read, it’s a pretty depressing album, and I’m not in the mood for that right now, so I picked GREY Area from my future listening list.

It’s really nice to hear a rap album like this once in a while. The instrumentation is organic and well thought out, her flow is amazing, and her lyrics have so much substance and personality to them, ranging from the happier, more reminiscent tone in 101 FM to the much more aggressive tracks Offence, Boss, Venom and Pressure, she’s always giving her take on life, telling the experience of what it’s like being a black person with big dreams in England, seeing friends die while she tries to go somewhere in life through music.

The main tone she picks for her self-narrative is an unapologetic view of the world around her; she tells the listener: “’til now I ain’t ever been the selfish type, ‘till now I ain’t ever told nobody no, don’t get it twisted. This shit ain’t happen overnight” in the biggest song off here, Selfish, featuring the most calming and lavish pianos and violins in this album, and an amazing feature by Cleo Sol on the hook. Pressure features an amazing batch of verses all about. Same thing with the intro, Offence, with its bold, empowering chorus; although the track comes off more playful with its cartoonish sound effects nearing the end than the raw message of the track mentioned previously. A great, high-spirited track to start off the album.

What isn’t as high-spirited is the next track, Boss, or, to be fair, almost all the other tracks in the album. Boss is a big fuck you to anyone you might dedicate the song to: the hook has Simz’s most aggressive delivery in the whole record, and the entire message is about getting over those who hurt you and coming up. The second verse is something else.

Wounds, featuring Jamaican singer Chronixx, deals mostly with the gun/crime problem ever-so-present in marginalized communities all around the world, and she tells the story from the perspective of both herself and as a companion of the “gun man”, repeatedly mentioned in the song (“When a gun man only knows self-hate, them bullets show no love”). I’m not super crazy for Chronixx’s hook, or the much slower tempo of the track, but it fits well with the groovy instrumental. Venom, on the other hand, is a super exciting, menacing song. She goes all out over the violins playing in the background, but unfortunately, the track burns twice as bright to last half as long.

To lighten the mood a bit, 101 FM brings the most electronic instrumental, with cheerful, banging 808s and synths, and lyrics about her come up as a rapper, probably the verses where her British accent and slang dominate the most, giving them a more personal feel somewhat. Pressure doesn’t feature the most compelling instrumental or hooks in here – the Little Dragon refrain is mixed very poorly and the vocalist just doesn’t do a great job -, but the verses compensate for that, especially the first one, probably one of the most heartfelt and important ones in this album. Therapy talks about Simz’s struggles with finding comfort in therapy. The instrumental is average for the project, but still slaps, so that’s nice.

Sherbet Sunset is an ode to a broken relationship, and a theme that could be handled so poorly by other artists is handled masterfully by Little Simz. In three verses, she displays so many sides to what I assume is one relationship, so many emotions and thoughts that she shares, it really feels like she’s transcribing something of a focused, bright mind rush over the track, and it amazes me how she can reveal her feelings so well on a track like this, progressing from the regret of not seeing how it’d go wrong, to the anxiety that comes from spending all that time for seemingly nothing, to coming to terms with it in the last verse (although not quite). It’s a stunning song now that I listen to it again.

To close it all off, we have Flowers, mainly a tribute to various artists from the 27 club, with mentions of Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse in the verses, trying to relate to their struggles with drug addiction and quick fame. It’s incredibly powerful and a great finisher.

I don’t dislike one track in GREY Area. It’s well conceived, a great statement, it really feels like she gives her all to make every track memorable, and even though her delivery is mostly monotone throughout the whole album, that also works to her favor, as she has a very unique and recognizable voice. So the lyrics are extremely well written, and the only reason I don’t give more examples of that is because I got a whole lot of school shit to do, the instrumental work is clean and precise, and I don’t have a whole lot to complain about. Check this shit out if you haven’t.

FAVORITE TRACKS: 101 FM, Venom, Selfish, Offence, Boss, Pressure

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: lol nah

8.7/10

“Why you wanna all dress lies as truth? Have you ever seen what silence do? I don’t wanna see no violent troops putting out fires that haven’t been started”

Monsune – Tradition

Damn I did not expect to like this as much as I did.

Monsune is a Chinese-Canadian singer who has recently been gaining some popularity from his amazing song OUTTA MY MIND, which features a funky bassline and high-pitched guitar playing that some have compared to Childish Gambino, specifically his album “Awaken, My Love!”. I decided to check out this short EP by him to see if he had anything more to offer, and it’s safe to say, he does.

The first track off Tradition already shows what this guy can do with his production. It starts off with the same vibe off of his previously mentioned biggest track, but on steroids: a prominent bassline, pitch-altered backing vocals, sunny guitars, and drowned out drums. His voice is also reaching higher notes in this song than in OUTTA MY MIND, but then in the middle of the song it all slows down for a very welcome beat change that shifts the song from this summer anthem to a very chill R&B tune. It’s amazing stuff, although I don’t understand why he chose to put some very noticeable autotune in this part.

CLOUD is my least favorite from the EP, but it’s still a very solid song, it’s just not amazing. The bass is still very strong, and the bridge later on in the song is addictive as shit. After that track comes OUTTA MY MIND, and then his style completely switches in MOUNTAIN, which starts off with some solo guitar and his low, beautiful singing. It’s actually really moving for some reason lol. It then picks up in the hook, the drums kick in along with what I assume is a keyboard, and his voice reaches the top of his range for the backing vocals, it’s a very well-made song.

JADE finishes Tradition off extremely beautifully, with a smooth acoustic guitar intro over a nice-ass bass, some ethereal, trippy scenes of Monsune floating over the ocean and appearing out of thin air in front of you (probably not you, the listener). And then all of a sudden this madman screams off the top of his lungs in the middle of the track and I fucking love it.

The flaws this EP has are mostly related to the mixing, which I think can be a little too harsh in some sections such as the big breakdowns in JADE and MOUNTAIN. Plus, I know lyrics aren’t a focus on a project like this, but it would be nice to get something more than love songs in the future perhaps. Still, loving this EP, so glad I checked Monsune out. You should too.

WORST TO BEST: CLOUDS, 1998, JADE, OUTTA MY MIND, MOUNTAIN

8/10

“Don’t you wanna come down? Cause I’m so bored of walking on the same old sky”

Backxwash – God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It

God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It is an album by American rapper Backxwash, who received a new wave of attention after Anthony Fantano reviewed this album in his channel and gave it a decent 8. I haven’t watched the review yet, but I was interested in checking it out because of the high score, and especially since when I looked it up on Spotify, the songs only had around 8000 views.

Dark subject themes and the whole dark trap aesthetic are the core of this album. I, personally, have always been a fan of aggressive, heavy rap music, from more underground names like gizmo and Fukkit, to the more mainstream variant of these sounds, like XXXTENTACION. This album, however, operates in somewhat of a separate lane.

Many of the dark, edgy rap I used to listen to religiously back in the day was borderline mindless. Shit about ripping someone open, hollow flexing, except separated from mainstream rap only because the rapper in question is screaming their brains out when talking about designer clothes, instead of mumbling like your average Lil Baby, and, of course, personal problems, depression, being mad about whatever it was. Unlike its other contemporaries, however, it seems Backxwash has much more thought and elaboration into what she wants to yell about. Instead of hiding behind bass-boosted rather formulaic instrumentals, she takes the more scenic route, with still very dark, but more intricate gothic beats, sampling various religious speeches and implementing them into songs about black magic and overall unhappiness. The Black Sabbath sample that opens up this album should be enough for any listener to immediately understand what they’re about to get into, as the title track brings heavy percussion and some of the most graphic lyrics in the album, which it already doesn’t lack. Lines about downing pills and vodka, contemplating suicide, and blank vocalizations of anger (“I want war with these bitches, I want corpses and weapons”).

The track that resembles an average edgy Soundcloud rap song the most is Black Magic right after, with its own interpretation of the “ay” flow, shouted with a tone reminiscent of someone like Craig Xen. The big difference comes with the much grander production, especially the growling guitars that get introduced halfway, reminding the listener of Backxwash’s skill as a producer. From what I could tell, she was responsible for the production of the tracks in here, and considering there are no vocal guests except for Malldate’s quick appearance in Into The Void, I’m assuming the features listed in the tracklist are all producer credits as well, the feature in this track being Ada Rook, providing the amazing guitar work for this song.

Spells is mixed for me. I don’t enjoy the attempted singing in the chorus, and it falls completely flat to my ears; the beat is hard as ever, but the lyrics feel slightly disconnected with each other. At one point, she’s talking about going to Hell to her mom, at the other she mentions doors opening and closing in an office and how there’s no one in some corridor, and it doesn’t go anywhere from that, with lines such as “heart is so dead with tissue” not exactly evoking any sort of emotion or imagery.

Black Sheep is the most effective song out of the first four; it seems to filter all the positive aspects of the other tracks and package them into one quick serving. The beat is chaotic and in a constant state of unrest, the lyrics are centered and aimed at various of Backxwash’s problems in life, such as her father, people who want to bring her down and put her “in line on the X and O’s”, and overall venting. After that comes a brief interlude, the first of two that don’t have much use in the album except as pallet cleansers. It’s followed by Into The Void, a track that mentions her paranoia of being harassed and possibly killed when walking around in the streets and the deli. It’s haunting, and definitely the best song in here; it is laser-focused in the exact way I wished the previous tracks would be. Her vocal delivery is extremely expressive, and she tells the story in a way that gives the listener a brief, but at the same time immense glimpse of the reality that trans people face and have to go through, in a morbid fashion.

Adolescence is very short and eases the pace a bit after the intense emotions of the last. It’s a message to her younger brother that quickly descents into a confession of her inner struggle, mentioning possible overdoses and being too old for the 27 Club and fearing going to therapy. What’s great about this song is the fact that, even in such a short amount of time and with a less explosive instrumental, Backxwash manages to evoke her emotions so well; this is definitely what she does best in this record, and it overcomes the times where her delivery is flawed and her words are slurred and hard to understand. After this comes Amen, and holy fuck is this an angry song. Criticizing the hell out of the church, Backxwash comes at greedy pastors and their irresponsible spending when the churchgoers who support him are in need. My big problem with this song is the fact that the hook, as impassionate as it is, doesn’t do much for the subject, and the verse is way too short to have any impact with its theme. Lines like “these politicians politicking” don’t help much either.

The very distorted second interlude, Heaven’s Interlude, takes us to the last track, Redemption, the least intense song in here, which is appropriate as a sendoff. She expresses her frustrations towards her dad’s frustrations towards her being trans, and while the entire sentiment of the song is great and well formulated, I can’t find a way around the lines “Fuck these fucking boomers, fuck these fucking losers. Fuck theses motherfucking fuckers in their fucking two truck. Fuck these fuck(sic)abusers, and fuck these fucking rumors.”, they just emanate Limp Bizkit energy.

God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It is a very passionate, real, well produced and well-conceived album; it bears themes that are immensely important to be brought to the music scene, and by mixing that message with its explosive and polished production, it amplifies it a ton. However, as powerful as her deliveries are, I believe Backxwash can go much further with her songwriting and song structuring in the future, as well as her intonation, because that was really all that was keeping this album from being legendary. If she can do more of this in songs that are longer and super focused around whichever topic she decides, she can make something legendary. And thank God she got reviewed by Fantano, I hope she can take this opportunity and make something huge out of this.

FAVORITE TRACKS: Into The Void, Black Sheep, God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It, Adolescence, Black Magic

LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Spells

7.7/10

“Chosen one, sad bitch, lowest scum. Coldest, huh, black sheep talk to ‘em. If the situation changed I would have said the same shit, exactly the same.”

#little simz #grey area #monsune #tradition #backxwash #god has nothing to do with this leave him out of it #album #review #albume review #ep #ep review #rap #uk rap #dark rap #indie pop

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games-and-guitars · 6 years ago

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21 Questions

Answer 21 questions and tag 21 people you want to know better.

Tagged by @kizzycannon (sorry this took so long, college is hard)

Nicknames: don’t really have many. A few friends call me Kips, but thats about it

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Height: about 6′3

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor, on about every test I take

The last thing I googled: How to spell Gryffindor... (I’m not a cleaver man lol)

Favorite musicians: Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams, Childish Gambino to name a few, but I have a lot of different tastes

Some song stuck in my head: recently its been “Not Fall in Love With You” and “Bmblb” as well as “Home” all off of the RWBY sound track by Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams (I just got back to marathoning the RYBY soundtrack lol)

Following: 334

Followers: 531

Do you get asks: Eh, not much. Wish i got more, this is the first one in a while.

Amount of sleep: Ha... Senior in college... sleep ain’t do tomorrow lol ; u ;

Lucky number: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 8 I guess?

What you’re wearing: Ha wouldn’t you like to know ;) (its black PJ pants and and soft shirt...)

Dream job: At this point I’m just hoping for a job in my field (Sound), but if I had to pick it either be a Foley Engineer (the guy who works the studio board and sets up the mics) or a sound effects editor for a game company.

Dream trip: Japan or Ireland

Instruments: Guitar for about 8 years now and bass for about 6ish years. I also know panic but I’m not fluent in playing yet (learned all my theory on it, but never had much of a chance to practice) I do a little singing but I’m not great at it yet. Wish I could play more, but college has taken a lot of that time up.

Languages: Just English, I took Spanish in high school, but I don’t remember all of it. I’d like to learn more at some point though.

Favorite songs: Well I already plugged the Rwby soundtrack once so I’m just gonna day the whole soundtrack is amazing (Not Fall in Love With You, Bmblb, and I Brun are probably my favorite tho) As for non-rwby stuff, similar to artist, I have a lot of favorites, so for right now I’ve been listing to Say Anything’s “Is a Real Boy” album and “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” and “Alive With the Glory of Love” are my favorite tracks to listen to rn.

Random fact: I’ll be graduating college in less then a month (hopefully) then I have to move out and get a job and be an Adult™️ and do adulty things like having a normal sleep schedule and having a normal diet; things that are currently foreign to me...

Aesthetic: Trash? I don’t really know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tag 21 people: I don’t think I know that many people so I’ll just do the ones I know (you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to obviously)

@nitewoof @witchyeevee @quaznarx @im-a-crying-mess @thelampisaflashlight @bootyduke @theflyingsquid89 @trainer-stealthclaw @tango-station @castle-inthe-sky @feathertayl

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gayoongles · 6 years ago

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50 questions tag

I was tagged by @mikrokosyoongs thank u bb🥺💘 1. What takes up too much of your time? currently studying + final projects😪 but usually my time is spent trying to keep up w all my kpop boys (mostly bts) hfudsihf

2. What makes your day better? listening to music, playing my cello, talking to my friends, n rugby 3. What’s the best thing to happen to you today? BLACK HAIRED TAE IS BACK (im still not over it bye) AND I GOT BTS TIX

4. What fictional place would you like to go to? uhhhh idk? maybe the hp universe but ngl I havent watched/read much lately that takes place in a historical setting besides got and I know for sure I dont wanna b there hfdjhf

5. Are you good at giving advice? I like to think I am but idk

6. Do you have any mental illness? sadly yeah😣

7. Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? no, thank fuck. id fr die 8. What musician inspired you the most? yoongi, min yoongi, suga, syub, the love of my life, and kim namjoon

9. Have you ever fallen in love? wish I cld say no hahah but

10. What’s your dream date? idk I dont rly have one hfudshf I like amusement parks a lot but also cuddling sounds like an AMAZING date idea

11. What do others notice about you? ppl always comment on my hair (bc I always have it dyed) and my height first so I guess those fhiusdfhi, personality wise tho, that im v quiet

12. What is an annoying habit you have? biting my nails. I try so hard every day to not but it ends up happening anyway

13. Do you still talk to your first love? no, thankfully

14. How many exes do you have? 5 and all of them ended up sucking yeet😛

15. How many songs are in your playlist? idk bc I have like 7483758 playlists

16. What instruments can you play? cello! and a bit of ukulele but I havent picked it up in a while so im probably rusty

17. What do you have the most pictures of? bts, but out of all of them probably jm or yoongi

18. Where would you like to go before you die? everywhere, but mostly Europe Australia and Asia

19. What is your zodiac? ima go deep bc why not so: leo sun cap moon aries rising. feel free to roast me in my asks abt that idk

20. Do you relate to it? my zodiac? lmao my sun no but my moon for sure

21. What is happiness to you? music.

22. Are you going through anything right now? umm stress bc finals r in like a week but other than that no not particularly. I did just get out of a rly bad like month, almost 2 month long depressive episode tho so its been rough bouncing back from that bc I got behind on a LOT of work bc of it

23. What’s the worst decision you ever made? not a specific decision but I trusted too easily in the past and it always hurt me

24. What’s your favorite store? I dont rly shop that much in specific stores ngl, maybe line friends tho? it was a rly cute store when I visited last month :(

25. What’s your opinion on abortion? your body, your decision. no one elses

26. Do you keep a bucket list? nah, theres things I wanna do but idc enough to write them down or keep track or anything

27. Do you have a favorite album? persona, lys tear, and dark and wild r so so superior dont @ me I won't change my mind

28. What do you want for your birthday? hfidshfi not 2 b that bitch but I always only ask for money

29. What are most people’s first impression of you? that I’m really quiet and reserved. also that im fucking short

30. What age do you seem according to most people? I got mistaken as 12 once when I was 18 but recently idk, maybe 17? probably not much younger now since I go to college

31. Where do you keep your phone while you’re sleeping? next to me on my bed bc I always end up falling asleep while on it

32. What word do you say the most? yoongi or some curse word probably

33. What’s the oldest age you would date? 22 or 23? idk I havent rly thought of it much. except id date hyung line for sure if they fucking asked, screw age preferences in that case.

34. What’s the youngest age you would date? 18 since im only 19 lmao

35. What job/career do most people say would suit you? anything music related

36. What’s your favorite music genre? any varying kind of rock except most metal (alt, indie, classic, etc.), pop (and that included kpop), and hip hop

37. If you could live in any country in the world, where would it be? um? tbh I like New York but uhh any country that it’s legal to be lgbtq+ in since my trans gay ass wldnt thrive anywhere that it’s illegal obvi

38. What is your current favorite song? dionysus and home and also bonfire by childish gambino

39. How long have you had this blog for? I dont know tbfh, maybe a year and a half? two years? bc it was a marvel blog before it was a bts blog so..

40. What are you excited for? METLIFE DAY 2 LETS GOOOO

41. Are you a better talker or listener? listener. talking takes a lot out of me mentally if im sober unless im w someone im rly comfy w

42. What is the last productive thing you did? uhh this weekend I finished 3 whole assignments dsifhi that's abt it

43. What do you want for christmas? idk? money? to get to spend time w my dad n step sisters? christmas is so far away man idk yet

44. What class do you get the best grades in? music related courses and english/writing

45. On a scale of 1-10, how are you feeling right now? 6, wld be more if I wasnt stressed out of my mine but ukno

46. What can you see yourself doing in ten years? mmm my hope is that ill b a relatively successful music producer/engineer by then but we’ll see how that goes lmaoo

47. When did you get your first heartbreak? threeee years ago I think? its been a hot second

48. What age do you want to get married? bro im only 19 I dont wanna think abt marriage

49. What career did you want to have as a child? a vet! and then I realized u had to put pets down sometimes so I said fuck that

50. What do you crave right now? physical affection lmaoo

m not gonna tag anyone bc I kinda took an break from work that I shouldn't have to do this so fhidsh anyone can do this if u want idk

#tag game #about me #not bts

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lunalorien · 6 years ago

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Rules: answer 30 questions, tag 10 blogs & post it as a text post. I was tagged by @theotokosi last month but I kept forgetting to fill this out!

I’m a shy bean and hardly ever do text posts on tumblr but new year new me let’s do this ~*~

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nickname: I get called Lorenzo by most of my friends and my partner, other than that it’s usually Loz

gender: cis female

star sign: cancer ♋️

height: 5’8”

time: it is currently 5:20pm

birthday: 5th july

fave band(s): dimmu borgir, bring me the horizon, foals, circa survive, arctic monkeys, sticky fingers, deftones, fall out boy (yes I still like fob okay their new album was great 😂), the neighbourhood, nightwish, twenty one pilots, nine inch nails, die antwoord, rüfüs du sol, cloud control, lots more!

fave solo artists: the ones I can think of off the top of my head are bayonne, david bowie, lana del rey, childish gambino, matt corby...

song stuck in your head: adrenaline by rupaul got stuck in my head the other day after watching a rupaul’s drag race complication video. jingle bells was another one that I woke up with in my head the other day and like it’s february pls don’t do this

last movie watched: at the cinemas was Mary Queen of Scots, last movie watched at home??? I actually can’t remember??? the last movie I remember actively putting on was like three weeks ago probably and it was The Duchess because keira knightly 😍

last show watched: Bob’s Burgers - before that the last series was Godless becausecause I wanted something to fill the hole red dead redemption 2 left but I didn’t really like Godless tbh :/

when did i create my blog: some time in 2010. long enough ago I was in the inception fandom 😂

what do i post: pretty things, memes, picture of people I like, video games and movies/tv shows I like

last thing i googled: “Morocco smart traveller” because I wanna go there one day and I want to know what’s going on

do you have any blogs: I have a seperate tumblr blog for my art that I have not updated in many a year. the other day I was thinking of posting my art here but I’m not sure??

do you get asks: nope

why did you choose your URL: okay so it’s kinda a long story but I’ll try simplify it - when Star Wars 7 came out I had heart eyes for kylo ren because adam driver is handsome and every time I saw one of those “star sign memes” kylo ren would always be on my star sign (understandably we are an emotional bunch), on my birth month on calendars, and I did one of those “what star wars character are you” and my result obviously ended up being kylo ren (I’m nice in real life I swear!) so it became a meme with my friends that I’m him and so they roast me by calling me ky-lauren.

following blogs: 361 but a LOT of them are old inactive blogs. I’ve been on this website for too long 😂

followers: 259 but I think a lot of them are old inactive blogs and the occasional pron bots that somehow still exist even after the “purge”

favourite colour: red

average hours of sleep: anywhere between 5 and 10 there is no in between

piercings: I have a septum piercing, a nose ring in my left nostril, and three ear lobe piercings on each ear. I really want a medusa piercing but I’m hesitant because not sure if it will suit me/too much maintenance/if it leaves a scar/hurts too much.

instruments: I have a very musical family and I have natural rhythm and I get the hang of instruments quickly but I’m also a gremlin who can’t commit learning anything for a consistent amount of time. I have a bass guitar which I used to know some songs on and I’ve also got an electric keyboard piano which I’m trying to actively learn songs on.

what I’m wearing: here is a rare gpoy because I have deep ~*~body and self esteem issues~*~ but I left the house today for something other than work so I actually put outside clothes on (I’m sorry I don’t know how to pose) so here be my dress

how many blankets do you sleep with: just one doona (duvet? Is that what they’re called? I’m australian I don’t know the proper word). If it’s REALLY hot then I’ll just use a bed sheet but I like having a proper blanket on me no matter the temperature for comfort and security and also because they soft and squishy.

dream job: when I was young I wanted to be soo many different things, first it was a palaeontologist, then an actress, a director, then a musician, an author, illustrator... as an adult I still want to do all these things haha. now a dream job would be something I have location freedom in so I can move around countries!

dream trip: I want to go everywhere!! a dream trip would go just drop everything and travel the world for a year. I’ve been so desperate to travel like most of my life but I’ve never been able to afford to go anywhere. but hopefully at the end of this year, my partner and I can afford to go to Egypt (which has been a dream trip for me since I was little!). I wanna see all the old temples and the pyramids!

fave food: okay so I just like food but if I was to pick one thing THIS is probably my favourite food

it’s an australian (I think it’s an australian thing??) party dish which is basically spinage, corn, sour cream and I think like some sort of stock (some people out extra bits in it) all mixed together and baked in a cob loaf and you just fricken get in there and dip bits of yummy lightly crunchy bits of baked bread into it and it’s delicious!!!

current fave song: right now it’s a tie between “star roving” by slowdive, “bishops knife trick” by fall out boy, and “the unveiling” by dimmu borgir. I keep going back to those songs for the past 6 months and they all have a memory attached.

nationality: australian

tagging: @forgotaboutdrea • @bellewannabe • @morganmuffle • @missing-wall-e • @captstefanbrandt • @-hahazombie • @clintbartonyoudummy • @paradoxical-architecture • @frontrowfish • @youareillogical

#text post #about me #2019 y’all #thank you for coming to my ted talk #im sorry i ramble a lot i dont know how not to

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hiphophistorian-blog1 · 7 years ago

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My 10 favorite rap albums of all time: 10: To Pimp a Butterfly (Kendrick Lamar) Some of you out there might get M.A.A.D that I placed this so low on the list or that I picked it over the phenomenal Good Kid, M.A.AD City, but I still believe To Pimp A Butterfly is a funk masterpiece. I remember seeing reviews of it when the record first dropped saying “It sounds like a crazy person broke out of the asylum just to release this album”, but to me, they just don’t get it. The album as a whole, felt so free form and suits Kendrick so much better than what he usually does. Alright is still considered a black pride anthem by many and the single version of “i” is still one of my favorite Kendrick songs today. 9: Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World (Lil Uzi Vert) Now, before I get hate for this one, I have to go off the record and say that I LOVE Lil Uzi Vert. In a world of Lil Pumps and Lil Yachtys, Lil Uzi is probably the least hated mumble rapper in the game right now. And aside from probably my favorite song of his, “XO Tour Llif3”, Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World is my favorite thing he’s made. I remember the album catching my attention for the simple fact that the album art was based on the Scott Pilgrim comics’ art style. And this album was actually the first mumble rap album I actually liked. It’s because of it that I anticipated Lil Uzi’s “The Perfect Luv” so much. Though in my opinion, the darker tone that Vs. The World had fit Uzi much better. 8. Free 6lack (6lack) Many respect 6lack for starting out as a rapper and becoming something more. When I first heard Free 6lack and its opening song “Never Know”, I was immediately blown away by 6lack’s flow. It was more than just mumble rap, in fact it was very lyrical. It was more like he was singing. This album showed me and many others just who 6lack was and what he was capable of. 7. The Best of N.W.A (N.W.A) Okay, so this might seem like a cop out, but I was extremely torn between N.W.A’s debut album, Straight Outta Compton and their last studio album, Niggaz4Life mostly because without Ice Cube, Dre, Ren, and Eazy really shine with their word play and DJ Yella gets more time to show off. On the other hand, Straight Outta Compton was great because Ice Cube wrote most of the lyrics masterfully for their first outing. Plus, Express yourself is N.W.A’s best song. Fight me. 6. Coloring Book (Chance The Rapper) I was a huge fan of Chance for reasons that’ll be clear soon. So I was definitely waiting weeks for this album to drop. When it did, I was stunned by the features: Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Jeremih, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, D.R.A.M, Lil Yachty. This album is straight up NUTS, but in a Christian way. Within the first hour of this album dropping, people through around the word “masterpiece”. In fact, Coloring Book IS a gospel rap masterpiece. Everyone was going crazy for this mixtape Chance released for free. Not only that, this was the first mixtape ever given out for free to win a Grammy. 5. Acid Rap (Chance The Rapper) “Wow, Hip Hop Historian, you must really like Chance.” Fuck yes I do. Chance is God’s gift to man. This was my first Chance album and it made me fall in love with Chance. The first time I heard the album was browsing SoundCloud and stumbling across “Favorite Song” because of Gambino’s feature. I listened to the rest of the album and now I know the track list by heart. There’s a song here for everyone. Whether you wanna listen to something conscious, you want to vibe, or you just wanna have a good time. And the way Chance starts and ends this album with “Good Ass Intro” and “Good Ass Outro” is simply incredible. IGH! 4. “Awaken! My Love” (Childish Gambino) Putting this on the list was always gonna be controversial. This isn’t exactly a “rap album” but being an album under the genre or hip hop and by a rapper, it qualifies it. Anyway, this is another album where the word “Masterpiece” was tossed around a lot. I could probably attest to that. Although not my favorite Gambino album, and probably Donald’s least favorite album to make, you can’t argue with the results. This album solidified Gambino as not just a great rapper, but an amazing artist. “Awaken! My Love” is quite simply a funk magnum opus. Songs like “Me and Your Mama”, “Boogieman”, and “Riot” instantly stand out to me. “Baby Boy” is a beautiful track, and anyone who hasn’t listened to the sensation that is “Redbone” has never experienced true joy. 3. The College Dropout (Kanye West) Okay, here we get into some real shit for me. No matter what anyone says, Watch The Throne, 808s and Heartbreak, Graduation, Yeezus, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy will never compare to Kanye’s first studio release. The College Dropout was the album that got my high school English teacher into rap when he was a teen. Kanye just never released an album more down to Earth than it. In his other albums, it always seems like Kanye’s putting on this persona, while in The College Dropout, we get a side of Kanye that lived a lower class lifestyle for almost 20 years. Because of that, we have songs like “It All Falls Down” and the 10 minute “Last Call” where Kanye just keeps the beat going to tell us all about how much he struggled just for a deal. 2. Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde (Pharcyde) If you asked me what my favorite old school hip hop album was, I’d tell you it’s Bizarre Ride. If you asked me my favorite Pharcyde member, I’d say Fatlip. No, wait! Imani! This album just has so much variety to it. From the funkadelic Soul Flower Remix to the slow and impactful Passin’ Me By. A copy of both Bizarre Ride and LabcabinCalifornia need to be locked away in a vault for safe keeping. Pharcyde in general are essential to the history of hip hop and are one of the most important rap groups ever. I could honestly geek out and quote this album forever until I die. 1. Because The Internet (Childish Gambino) Now, I don’t mean to ride on Donald Glover so much, but not only is he my favorite rapper, but he’s my idol. He does it all. From movies, to tv, to standup. And all of that really shows on this album. Alongside the album came a short film written by Gambino named “Clapping For The Wrong Reasons”, and a companion piece to the album in the form of a screenplay also written by Gambino. The screenplay and all it’s mysteries have to be my favorite part of the story to this borderline rap concept album. I know I said Bizarre Ride had variety, but this album is on a whole ‘nother level. From songs everyone knows like the heartfelt “3005”(which has my favorite music video ever) to the silly “Sweatpants”, there’s so many gems in this gold encrusted diamond of an album. And along with Bizarre Ride, Because The Internet is one of the albums that I know every single lyric to. Plus, this album has my favorite Gambino song ever, “Crawl”. And I’d just like to point out that when Chance had Gambino featured on Acid Rap, he let him rap a whole verse and take over one of the choruses. But when Gambino has Chance featured on “The Worst Guys”, he has Chance repeat the same five words over and over again. I love Gambino to death. Because The Internet isn’t the cleanest album ever, in fact it’s sloppy and seems rushed together in hindsight, but that’s just it. This album represents Childish Gambino’s down to Earth starving artist phase and that’s something I can relate to heavily. I love Because The Internet.

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grammynomblog2018 · 7 years ago

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Since our last post here at grammynomblog2018 the Grammy nominations have come out and I think the safe to say that this year’s nominations looked a lot different than a lot of people thought they would look. I know there were a few shockers in there for me. However, the biggest shocker for a lot of people this year is that there were no white men in the album of the year category which hasn’t happened for 19 years. Which brings me to the list of nominations: “Awaken, My Love!” by Childish Gambino, 4:44 by Jay-Z, DAMN. By Kendrick Lamar, Melodrama by Lorde, and 24K Magic by Bruno Mars. Looking at my initial prediction I got two albums correct in my guess, “Awaken, My Love!” and DAMN. In my descent on my last post I said whom I thought would win based on my list but also mentioned if I could singularly pick the winner I would pick “Awaken, My Love!” by Gambino, so perhaps this is no surprise to anyone but given the actual list of Grammy nominations I have to place my money on Gambino.

I feel like I firstly have to admit that I slept on the “Awaken, My Love” album quiet heavily and really only got around to looking into after the song Redbone featured in the movie Get Out. The reason for this is that his 2013 album Because the Internet, was such a hit for me (probably one of my favorite albums of all time) than when the single for the new album (Redbone) dropped and it was so completely different, I must admit I got a bit scared. I set the whole album aside and that was wrong of me.

This album certainly holds its own as one of the best albums of the year, and yes, it was a departure for Gambino, but in the best way possible. Comparing Gambino’s old album to the new one is like comparing apples and oranges, they’re different they can’t be compared and if you know anything about Childish Gambino this probably isn’t surprising, he’s a progressive person who likes trying new things so it’s really not surprising that he wanted to switch things up.

Looking at the album one of the first things I was impressed by was how it clearly has numerous and varied influences, which makes each song unique, yet somehow it is still extremely cohesive. For instance it goes from the slow 70’s psychedelic R&B vibe of Redbone right into the hyper west coast pop-lite feeling of California. By all means these are completely different tracks in their sounds and feeling yet back to back they work well together.

That being said I think what I appreciate the most about the album is the experience it gives. I have always been of the mindset that it is important to listen to full albums so as to get the full effect intended by the artist, but that is especially true with this album. Everything about it fits together so perfectly in order that it would truly be a shame not to give it the chance of listening to the full thing.

With all of that in mind I truly think that “Awaken, My Love” has a good chance of winning album of that year at the Grammy’s this year. But, it is up against a lot of strong competition. Particularly, although I did not originally pick my album in my nomination guesses, 4:44 also is a very strong contender for the win. That being said, where I think Gambino has the advantage over 4:44 is in the range that it shows both in the differences of genre between songs but also in how Gambino changes his own voice to fit each song perfectly.

- Jamie

#Childish Gambino #the grammy's #grammy's 2018 #grammy's #awaken my love #jayz #4:44 #Lorde #Melodrama #bruno mars #24k magic #Kendrick Lamar #damn.#damn. album

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aryanarecords · 7 years ago

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INTERVIEW WITH RYAN WISE

I have absolutely no idea where to start with this. I have been thinking about how I would start this article for months, and now that the moment is here I still don’t know. Not in a bad way at all, it’s just that the person I interviewed has changed the way I view the world, a lot. There aren’t many words to describe it. I guess I’ll start with how we met, which is also kind of hazy. Bear with me. I was in the common area at the NYU hall I stayed at for two weeks over the summer. I was trying to play pool when I saw two guys dressed in really cool clothes. One had grey overalls with an orange polo shirt and yellow sweatband on. The other one had a black tee, Comme Des Garcons sneakers, and a bandana with flames. I guess it was the vibes they were giving off, but I somehow managed to approach them. I learned their names were Justin Miller and Ryan Wise. You’re probably thinking Justin Miller sounds really familiar. It’s because I interviewed him! You can read it HERE. (By the way, Justin was wearing the overalls and Ryan was wearing the bandana with flames.) I don’t remember what we talked about, or how I even approached them, but I told them how a bunch of us jam out every night in the basement and they should come. They did end up coming, and it was probably the best jam sesh we had. We even ended up writing a song all together. On my last night at NYU, I don’t really know how Ryan and I found each other, but I feel like that’s how we grew closer. We ended up in the jam room together and he started talking about his experience at NYU and ended up showing me a song he wrote. I fell so in love with it and I promised to share his music on here when it’s finally out. When I went back home, I had some stupid drama going on and he was always there to listen. In fact, he would share his problems with me too, which would become the basis for his EP. I specifically remember talking about how NYU sick we were, and how we felt so at home there. We felt like we belonged. I don’t think my NYU experience would have been the same if I hadn’t met THE Ryan Wise himself. This was honestly all over the place, but without further ado (can’t believe I just said that, OK), here is my favorite interview to date!

Give us some basic facts about yourself!

Name: Ryan Alexander Wise Born Day: 9/13/2000 Sign: Virgo Favorite Food: Rice Favorite Color: Black Base: Central Ohio Nicknames: Whatever you want, but don't call me RyRy or nigga if you ain't black.

How and when did you start making music?

I wrote my first song when I was a toddler and my dad recorded me singing it and like put music behind and it and everything. It was hella extra. I've come up with songs for as long as I can remember, but I guess the turning point was when I was 11 and I got my grandma's old iPad. I downloaded GarageBand on there and started producing and have been going ever since.

Who are some of your musical influences?

I wouldn't be doing any of this if it wasn't for Michael Jackson. When he died I looked him up to see what all the fuss was about, and was literally obsessed with his discography for 18 months straight. My current favorite artists are Kanye West, Frank Ocean, and Childish Gambino, so I'm sure they have a big influence on me. However, whatever influences my art is really what I'm listening to while I'm creating it.

What have you been listening to lately?

I've been trying to broaden my scope and get away from hip hop a little more since that's been all I’ve listened to for like 6 years now. Willow Smith and Tyler Cole came out with amazing albums this year, especially for how young they both are. Hella inspiring. Speaking of the Smith family, “SYRE” by Jaden Smith has been in rotation since its debut. “Chamber of Reflection” by Mac DeMarco, “Lone Wolf” and “Cub” by Thundercat, and “Swell” by Archy Marshall are favorites now too.

What was your inspiration for your new EP, Room & Bored?

My time at NYU this summer. I was working on a different project going into my month long stay there, but I ended up writing some new stuff while there and as a reflection of my time there when I got back. I looked at what I wrote (R&B’s three songs in particular) and realized that I had something there. I dropped everything else and started making those, because I felt an urgency to get that out there. Through the help of people at NYU, like you Aryana, I finally had enough confidence to release a body of work. NYU influenced what I wrote about, how it sounded, its title, aesthetic, everything.

This is a picture I took of Ryan in the jam room on the last night. He was performing one of the songs he wrote during his stay at NYU. Bad pic, but high quality sentiment.

How long did it take you to write and produce R&B?

I wrote 227 in a couple minutes one day at the beginning of my stay in New York. Same with 908 but like two weeks later. 197 amassed itself over a couple of days after I got back and was eventually trimmed down from 9 minutes to 5. I then produced the bulk of it through August and kind of sat on it, making tweaks until I told myself I had to put it out and tweeted “november 1st” to hold myself to releasing it on that date. So all together a little over 3 months.

How did you think of the title, Room & Bored?

I'm still kinda iffy on the title. I like it, a lot, but not sure that it really connects with the story of the project much. It’s playing on Room and Board obviously, and I think it’s clever and fits within my aesthetic, but the EP doesn't really convey a sense of boredom. Maybe 227, since it’s about suggesting that fun should be had rather than describing the fun. I don't know. But since it was based on my experience at a college, I wanted that to be incorporated into the title. I wanted this to be a project where different people can experience it differently based on their relation to me. So if you just happen to find this on SoundCloud, you might think I'm a college student. If you know me, you probably know that I was at NYU for a part of my summer and will get that it’s a reference to that. If you were at NYU and were good friends with me, you might get more things: who the songs about, the events that inspired the songs, the room numbers’ significance, and the title plays into that.

Each song title is a number, what do those mean?

Each is a reference to a room that was significant to the circumstances that inspired the songs. 227 was my friend Anthony's room, and that's where we would hang out and party most of the time. Since that song deals with themes of not necessarily fitting in at the party, but wanting to because “she” does, I named it after the room where I felt that. 908 was another friend of mine’s room, where an interaction happened between me and someone else. To fully feel and release the emotions that were ignited as a result of that interaction, I wrote 908. I also learned that it was the room number of my other friend, on the opposite wing of the dorm, and coincidentally it applies to things that happened there too (coincidence = the universe stunting on you with Jay-Z double entendres). 197 has to do with where I live. Since I wrote it after returning home from New York and it was a reflection on my experience there, I named it after where I was at the time.

What’s your dream venue to perform at?

I'd love to say like Madison Square Garden, but that seems hella overwhelming. Maybe like the Roxy, because I'd love to be in a more intimate setting with people that know my music better than I do. I’d take a ton of those over one MSG performance where 60% of the people there only know that one song that charted.

What genre would you define your music as?

I'd love to say Alternative, which to me just means the industry doesn't know what to call this, but right now I'd say hip hop or alt hip hop. I'm still very much in that state of mind. My ear is farther along than my voice, if you pick up what I'm putting down.

What was the first record or CD you bought?

I don't remember the first song or album I spent money on (it was probably trash and definitely on iTunes), but the first physical album I bought was Jay-Z’s “Black Album” on vinyl. Didn't have a record player yet. Hadn't even heard the album in full. I just saw it and impulse bought it because I felt like it. Listened to it later, and fortunately, it’s amazing.

Who would you want to open for?

Opening for Kanye would be dope but I'd probably be crying too hard to perform. Opening for Frank Ocean would be dope but I know everyone would forget about it as soon as Frank walked on stage. Maybe Kevin Abstract. Yeah, that would be dope. But opening for any of them would be a privilege and I would be so geeked to do so.

Any advice you have for young/ local/ up and coming artists?

Keep grinding. Don't let people discourage you. Yeah, not everyone gets to be a star, but you'll never be one if you let that get in your way. Don't aim for fame, aim for happiness. At least that's what I'm doing, and I hope it works out. Making connections with other, artistic peers can be very helpful. I wouldn't have R&B if it wasn't for people like Aryana and Justin (JUM The Lover) and others that I've become close to. They’ll help inspire you, make you feel at home if you're in a place where people don't tend to think like you, and will hook you up if you can't think of another verse and need a feature.

Can we expect more music from you? Is yes, when!!??!

Of course you can, but I don't want to give a date that I most likely won't keep. When it comes, it will probably be another EP, but longer this time. I'm not ready to come out with a full album yet. I don't know why. I have enough material, but need a concept or theme to tie it all together. If everything goes as planned, my next EP will be called COVER and you should look out for it.

Is there anything else you want to add?

If you've listened to R&B thank you so much. Even if you hated it, at least you tried. If you haven't, please give it a shot. The whole thing isn't even 10 minutes long. Support young artists. Retweet, reblog, repost, share, like, favorite everything by the young artists you know. Even if it’s not that great to you, it might be to someone else who’s in your sphere and wouldn't come across it otherwise. Listen to Room & Bored, or don't, it’s your prerogative, and why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you can just be quiet?

You can listen to Ryan’s debut EP Room&Bored HERE

Rock On,

Aryana

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binbunmusic · 5 years ago

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My vinyl records (56-60)

I am SO excited to share these LPs with you! I swear these are among my top favourite LPs in my collection :D So let’s just get to it.

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FKA twigs’ album ‘MAGDALENE’

I was so excited when FKA twigs announced that she was releasing her second album! The first single she released was so promising that I instantly felt obligated to pre-order the album. Little did I know, that single was the outlier of the album. Admittedly, I’m not sure I would’ve been quite so quick to order it, if I had had a chance to listen through it beforehand. But then again.. There are a few tracks on it that I really do enjoy, and all of the album art is absolutely STUNNING! Plus, twigs is one of my biggest inspirations, so I kinda need this album in my collection regardless c: I was kinda upset about not getting the signed version while it was still in stock.. But oh well, I guess you can’t always get what you want ^^ That last sentence actually sums up most of my feelings surrounding this album. No regrets, though! :D

Favourite tracks: cellophane and home with you

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(back)

(inside - fun fact: I actually bought this vinyl in a bundle with a giant poster of this artwork, ‘cause I didn’t realize it would be in the vinyl as well. Oopsie.)

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Little Comets’ album ‘In Search of Elusive Little Comets’ (10th anniversary re-recording Live at the Motor Museum, Signed LP)

Ever since I started collecting vinyl I’ve known that I wanted at least one of Little Comets’ first two albums in my collection. Unfortunately none of them have been available on their store for a very long time. Until now ^^ This album includes one of the first songs I heard by this band, and if you know me, you know that the first song I hear with any band I end up liking, will always have a special place in my heart. I was skeptical at first, ‘cause for some reason I’ve never really been into live recordings. But hearing Little Comets “live”, I was really blown away, to say the least. Not only by the accuracy of their performance, but more importantly, the energy they brought into it. And hearing the faint sound of the audience in the background only enhances the experience (for me at least) I would almost go as far as to say, I prefer this version of the album, but it’s so hard to compare the two. Oh, and did I mention it’s SIGNED? :D

Favourite tracks: Tricolour and Intelligent Animals

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Childish Gambino’s masterpiece “Awaken, My Love!”

Ever since my friend showed me this album, I knew I wanted it on vinyl. It quickly became one of my favourite albums of the 2010s, since there isn’t a single song on this album that I dislike, and that’s very rare for me. This vinyl included an awesome poster that is now hanging on my wall next to some artwork from my Flying Lotus vinyl and from the next vinyl on this list. It looks stunning! But more importantly the album sounds amazing, and I encourage anyone reading this to listen to it. This is one of the best Christmas presents I’ve ever received :D

Favourite tracks: California and Zombies

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(back)

(record) ________________________________________________________________

FKA twigs’ Single? ‘M3LL155X’

Just to clarify - no way is this a single. But that’s what they decided to call it, so eh ? Anyway; this is probably my favourite release ever from twigs. And that’s saying a lot. I got this along with “Awaken, My Love!” and there’s a cute story attached to both of these, that I’d like to share real quick. My mom always helps my brother buy Christmas presents for me because, long story short; he has autism and doesn’t quite understand how money works. But she let him pick this year between two things she had bought, and he picked these because he thought I would be more excited about them c: I almost teared up when my mom told me this, and it made me feel really grateful for my family <3 He also seemed genuinely interested in knowing more about the albums, which kind of surprised me :) I know, it’s silly... but it’s things like this that makes me feel more attached to my vinyl records.

Favourite tracks: In Time and Figure 8

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Daft Punk’s album ‘Alive 2007′ (2LP)

I remember finding a shitty phone recording back in 2015-ish of this live show. And even the quality was absolutely horrible it was such a fun experience :D I’ve never experienced anything it that before. Mind you, back then I had never really sat down and willingly listened to Daft Punk, so this was a big turning point for me. I was so happy when I got this for my birthday c: But I can’t help but think what I would’ve given to actually be there at the show. I think I would sacrifice my entire vinyl collection to have that experience. And that’s saying a lot.

Honestly the whole thing is amazing, but the opening and the part near the ending where they start playing Superheroes, and the audience starts singing ‘dolphins in the air’ are definitely the two most iconic moments.

Favourite tracks: Robot Rock/Oh Yeah and Superheroes/Human After All/Rock’n’ Roll

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That’s it for now. I’ll leave you with a little fun fact; I bought exactly half as many records in 2020 as I did in 2019 :O Tbh the only thing that’s been holding me back is the lack of money, ‘cause I have soooo many vinyl records on my wishlist. Maybe I can start saving up some money soon, so I can beat my own “record” (get it?) in most LPs acquired in one year :D Thanks for sticking around <3

#vinyl collection #LPs #vinyl records #music

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hohenangst · 5 years ago

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Best Albums of the 2010s

This was meant to be a top 10 but I couldn't narrow it down so it's a top 35 and you'll have to deal with it.

It's not too different to what you've seen on many other 'Best of the 2010s' lists, but making my selection forced me to reflect on where I was in my life at the moment I fell in love with each of these albums. I couldn't pick favourites because they all mean so much to me, so I've listed them chronologically because that's just what made the most sense.

Best Coast - Crazy for You (2010)

Foals - Total Life Forever (2010)

Joanna Newsom - Have One on Me (2010)

James Blake - James Blake (2011)

Metronomy - The English Riviera (2011)

Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia (2011)

The Vaccines - What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? (2011)

Beach House - Bloom (2012)

Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012)

Frank Ocean - Channel Orange (2012)

Arctic Monkeys - AM (2013)

Bonobo - The North Borders (2013)

Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap (2013)

Childish Gambino - Because the Internet (2013)

Phoenix - Bankrupt! (2013)

Queens of the Stone Age - ...Like Clockwork (2013)

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (2013)

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

Modest Mouse - Strangers to Ourselves (2015)

Preoccupations - Viet Cong (2015)

Anderson .Paak - Malibu (2016)

Cut Copy - January Tape (2016)

DIIV - Is the Is Are (2016)

Frank Ocean - Blonde (2016)

Kaytranada - 99.9% (2016)

Rihanna - Anti (2016)

Solange - A Seat at the Table (2016)

Toro y Moi - Boo Boo (2017)

Fleet Foxes - Crack-up (2017)

SZA - Ctrl (2017)

Blood Orange - Negro Swan (2018)

Mac Miller - Swimming (2018)

Parquet Courts - Wide Awake (2018)

Slowly Slowly - St Leonards (2018)

Lana Del Rey - Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019)

It was difficult compiling this because the 2010s are divided into two distinct eras for me, both musically and personally. I moved to Paris with wide-eyed wonder in 2010 and back to Melbourne completely hollow in 2015. I instinctively thought of a lot of albums at first only to discover they were from the tail end of the previous decade, presumably because so much of my youth and formation took place in those years that 2006-2015 feels like a more complete time frame than 2010-2019.

To add to that divergence, popular artists now have more creative control than ever over the messages they're putting out there. Rihanna assuring us that sex with her is amazing, Kendrick's exposé of the black experience, SZA and Lana Del Rey calling out fuckboys, Mac Miller opening up about his struggles with addiction, Baker Boy rapping in language. These stories are not necessarily new in music but I feel like the way they were popularised and applauded in the latter half of the decade is an unprecedented shift in audience reception.

Apologies for my severe 2013 and 2016 biases. Interestingly, they were probably the happiest years of the decade for me and I can't help but wonder if that's a coincidence or not. It takes me time to warm to new things and I suspect I'm more open to giving fresh music a chance when I'm in a good headspace. 2014 was horrific for me and no albums released from that year made my list.

I was surprised to realise that many of my favourite artists from the 2000s (and who I would still include in my favourite artists of all time) didn't make the cut at all – Beck, The Strokes, Animal Collective, The Dandy Warhols. Thankfully my taste is far more diverse this decade than the last, where I tried far too hard to be 'one of the boys' and listened to nothing but quasi-alternative white dudes.

I don't want to delve too much into the technicalities of the music itself and how talented each of these artists are because there are plenty of other articles that have already done that, but I will say that no one unashamedly expresses haunted angst like Fiona Apple, and 'Ivy' by Frank Ocean is one of the realest depictions of love that I've ever heard.

Regretfully I've neglected music from the later years, but I think I've yet to grow an emotional appreciation for it that only comes with time.

(An honorable mention goes out to Baker Boy who is yet to release his debut album but his music has been so powerful and influential in the Australian scene that he deserves a shoutout.)

#music #2010s #bestof

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weeabookstore · 7 years ago

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western wednesday. so the SZA show soldout.

so it's our inaugural western wednesday. i thought this day was essential just because weeabookstore is an American-run blog with an inherent American perspective (Viet Texan more specifically). as such, maybe reading these will give some of you insight into some of my other thoughts and opinions.

today, we'll be talking about music. i just wanted to preface that i don't actually listen to that much j-idol music (which is why discog thursday will be a thing). the music i keep on my phone is probably the most accurate representation of my tastes. western music takes up 54 percent of the ~3000 songs i keep. Korean is 38 percent (don't crucify me, guys), Japanese is 6, and Viet is 2. concerning genre, i'll listen to anything.

lately, i've been in a chill r&b phase (because there are a lot of elements in modern r&b that i'm trying to incorporate into my own music). currently, the standout pop album of 2017 is CTRL by SZA. i've been listening to SZA since she came out with the Z EP which i was interested in because of features from Chance (who i got to see right before he blew up) and Kendrick (whom i missed the opportunity to see FOR FREE). i was super psyched when i heard SZA's tour was stopping in Texas, and then really sad when i found out the shows were sold out. because fucking everyone loves SZA now.

now obviously, i'm disappointed, but i'm glad that artists i like are getting time in the spotlight. so i've put together a short list of similar artists who i think also deserve a boost.

who to listen to when the SZA show's soldout. (we at weeabookstore enjoy alliteration.)

01. Lion Babe.

you'll find in this list that i discovered all these artists through more established acts. for Lion Babe, a "neo-soul" r&b duo who released their debut album last year, that star collaborator is Childish Gambino. Donald Glover, the industry professional i probably respect most in this world, has an admittedly forgettable verse on the song "Jump Hi," but thank Childish that i was introduced to Lion Babe because their album Begin is full of gotdamn bops. Lion Babe's biggest criticism is that they're too focused on producing "hits" as opposed to "art." i think differently. this is Lion Babe's first full-length, and imo showcasing general appeal and marketability at this point isn’t illogical. but then again, this is coming from a kid who listens to Asian idol music, an industry that is almost solely concerned with what "sells." anyway, Lion Babe is probably the "peppiest" of those mentioned here, a lot of funk-filled grooves with some disco sprinkled in a song or two. off Begin, i'd probably most recommend "Jump Hi," "Stressed Out!," and "Where Do We Go."

02. Noname.

formerly Noname Gypsy, when this act comes to mind, i think rapper before anything else. first appearing before me in Chance The Rapper's Acid Rap, I often find Noname's flow to be relatively similar to her now radio-famous colleague albeit with a more generally lowkey vibe. her debut mix Telefone is all about those keys. i just really love the piano work throughout the whole record. compared to Chance's pop-minded Coloring Book, Noname stays grounded, injecting listeners with that open-mic poetry vibe. it's pure storytelling from the perspective of the black female Chicagoan. chill, sentimental rap is my shit and Noname checks all the boxes. picking only three favorites off of Telefone is hard, but "Diddy Bop," "Forever," and "Reality Check" probably do it for me.

03. Kilo Kish.

also brought to you by Childish Gambino, i first heard Kilo's voice through features on Royalty and Because The Internet. though she may also spit some bars every once in a while, Kilo is first and foremost an alt-r&b artist, emphasis on artist. among the three i've listed here, Kilo seems most concerned with trying the conceptual and experimental, a trait which probably allows her to vibe well with Donald Glover. i'm most familiar with her last EP Across. Across, along with its older siblings, features this signature ambient, ethereal Kilo sound that's paired with the sort of haunting tones that make up Kilo vocals. more conceptually, her more recent LP debut Reflections In Real Time is just as the name suggests. Reflections is a stream-of-consciousness composition of personal experiences and observations made in theatrical fashion. "Hello, Lakisha" in particular is a relatively unorthodox but fitting introduction to both the album and the artist herself. Check out "Curious," "Locket," "The Opposite Sex," and "Collected Views From Dinner."

and in case y'all wanted to know my favorite songs from SZA's CTRL (which i found out has a repackage now! CTRL + ALT), they're "Drew Barrymore," "Garden," and "Broken Clocks."

hope you weebs don't hate this. tomorrow is discog thursday which might better suit your Jap-centric sensibilities. "weeapinion" posts will now be tagged as such.

#weeapinion #wednesday #weeabookstore #sza #lion babe #noname #kilo kish

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morganbelarus · 6 years ago

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Here’s Why Your Favorite Artists Boycotted the 2019 Grammys Betches

Last night, the 61st Annual Grammy Awards took place, hosted by Alicia Keys. What was supposed to be the biggest night in music history actually turned out to be more like that one girl’s Bat Mitzvah that no one went to besides the people her parents paid to go to it. That’s because much like the NFL, the Recording Academy has gotten more and more controversial, facing accusations of sexism and racism, so some people decided to sit out. Don’t we just love the drama?

Me texting 2 guys at the same time #grammys pic.twitter.com/Gvh5QOAjiJ

— Betches (@betchesluvthis) February 11, 2019

So Why Do People Boycott?

The most notable people to boycott are the artists who feel most affected to it, rightfully so. Hip-hop artists are frequently used as promotional bait for the award ceremony, mainly as a way to get a younger and passionate demographic to tune into the award ceremony live so the Recording Academy can charge cat food companies even more money to run their ads during the commercial breaks.This is America. Which is why it’s no surprise that artists like Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Kendrick Lamar usually nab multiple nominations yet receive no love when it comes to the actual decision making. I’m sorry, but who in their right mind actually believes that 24K Magic is better album than Damn. or 4:44 besides wedding DJs?

Who Sat Out This Year?

This year, Childish Gambino, who won both Song of the Year and Record of the Year (the first rap win in either categories) chose not to show up at all. Kendrick Lamar and Drake also declined a performance slot and were expected not to show up until Drake I guess decided to Uber to the ceremony to pick up his trophy. He then basically give a Cady Heron-level speech about how fans are a better reflection of your success than a Grammy. It’s just plastic, after all. They quickly cut him off, but that’s fine, he probably had to go to In-N-Out with Millie Bobby Brown. (Are they still friends? What’s happening there?)

What the Recording Academy lacks in respect of people of color, they make up for in… also lacking respect for their female performers. Last year, Lorde’s Melodrama (an album whose lyrics I still drunk text exes with) was nominated for Album of The Year—the only female in the category. Not only was she the only female up for the nights biggest prize, but she was the only nominee not asked to perform during the ceremony; instead asked to just contribute in a tribute medley. For those unfamiliar with the award ceremony, that’s basically like being in the group chat about brunch and only being asked to meet at the McDonald’s you go to after getting so drunk at brunch you need another meal. A nice gesture, but not fair at all.

The Grammys also came under major fire when Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said that female artists need to “step up” if they want to be considered for awards. So…Beyoncé, Cardi, Nicki, Taylor, and Ari…need to step up? Got it. Portnow’s words were clearly not forgotten considering Dua Lipa subtly referenced the line, saying, “I guess we really stepped up this year” during her acceptance speech for best new artist. Why do I feel like it’s the Grammys that stepped up, and not the other way around?

But Where Was Ariana Grande?

While the Grammys did nominate fifteen women for the big four categories this year as opposed to last year’s six, it seems the Academy still hasn’t learned all their lessons. Ariana Grande—who was expected to (and ultimately did) win her first Grammy last night—was in talks to perform but backed out. Ken Ehrlich, long-time producer for the Grammys, wanted to tell her what songs to sing, because there’s nothing old rich guys love more to do than telling talented women how to do their jobs. I guess we didn’t get the theme of Ariana’s new album because uh, thank u, next to that gesture. This f*ck up cost them truly the biggest star in the world right now from performing on their stage, which they basically promised since the nominees were announced. This is basically like promising to bring Grey Goose to the pregame and you show up with Everclear, if that Everclear was named Bebe Rexha.

mhmmm here it is ! “too late for her to pull something together……” pic.twitter.com/YwuBOUkZjr

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) February 7, 2019

Did They Do Better This Year?

Oh, and if you think the Grammy’s didn’t want to try and find another way to piss people off, you’re wrong, because they had J.Lo as the performer to honor Motown…during Black History Month…with Janelle Monáe sitting right there. I’m not sure why we still let old white men choose anything other than what flavor of tapioca pudding they want for lunch at this point. This decision clearly left fans of Motown angry, because as Gaga would say, there are about a hundred people in that room…who are talented singers of color that could have performed that medley. Actually, maybe not one-hundred, because most of them boycotted the show to pinpoint its racism anyway.

We’ll see what the Grammys decide to bring next year: will they learn from their mistakes, or will they ask Carrie Underwood to honor Ray Charles? Only time and more tweets from Ariana Grande will tell.

Heads up, you need to keep up with the news. It’s not cute anymore. That’s why we’ve created a 5x weekly newsletter called The ‘Sup that will explain all the news of the week in a hilarious af way. Because if we weren’t laughing, we’d be crying. Sign up for The ‘Sup now!

Original Article : HERE ; This post was curated & posted using : RealSpecific

Here’s Why Your Favorite Artists Boycotted the 2019 Grammys Betches was originally posted by MetNews

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deadcactuswalking · 6 years ago

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I’M UPSET - THE TOP TEN WORST HIT SONGS OF 2018

The popular music in America of 2018 was somehow both chaotic and dreary and monotonous as hell at the same time. Constant album bombs and additional rule changes to the charts made the Hot 100 increasingly irrelevant – as if it wasn’t already, and to be honest, I didn’t hate as much of it as I thought I would – in fact, I have since learned to appreciate what little upbeat pop gems we had this year instead of observing it as just a dark, moody year full of mindless egotistical trap-rap... which it definitely was, for the record, I mean, there’s a reason I talk about the UK Top 40 more because the US’ charts seemed a tad painful to keep up with, just going off of exhausted recounts I’ve seen on YouTube and Twitter this whole year. Am I going to preface this with anything more interesting? No, because frankly I don’t think 2018 really deserves it. Let’s just talk about some ground rules.

I am using the predicted year-end top 125 posted in the Pulse Music forum by MikesMusicReviews to determine what a “hit song of 2018” is. Songs that made it into the top 10 during the charting year (December 2017 to November 2018) count as well.

This is the worst list, and it will be posted first. Hopefully I can get the best list out soon, and the list that will count down my picks for the top 5 best and top 5 worst United Kingdom-exclusive hit songs will be out somewhere in the first quarter of the year, I imagine, but don’t expect it too soon.

If this comes out on a Sunday, REVIEWING THE CHARTS will be postponed, obviously.

Finally, this is simply my opinion and I don’t consider myself highly as a music critic. This is just a silly little hobby of mine. Nevertheless, we’re counting down...

THE TOP 10 WORST HIT SONGS OF 2018

DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS

Now, let’s get rid of the Dishonourable Mentions first, before getting into the real stinkers, from most bearable to least bearable:

“Pray for Me” – Kendrick Lamar featuring the Weeknd – Actual Billboard Year-End Placement: #40 – Peak: #7

Yeah, I understand why a lot of people like this, and it’s really inoffensive for the most part, but that high-pitched vocalising really gets on my nerves.

“Love Lies” – Khalid and Normani – Year-End: #19 – Peak: #9

This is the worst Khalid song I’ve heard, mostly because the melody is so monotone. I like Normani on here, but ripping off the melody from a Post Malone song that was never good in the first place isn’t exactly the first thing I’d consider for my Love, Simon soundtrack hit.

“Bad at Love” – Halsey – Year-End: #27 – Peak: #5

I’m more forgiving of Halsey than I feel I should be because this one is... confusing, I guess, would be the best word for it? Maybe it’s just her vocals – I’ve never been a fan of how they sound in the first place, and they’re definitely strained on here.

“Beautiful” (remix) – Bazzi featuring Camila Cabello – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #30

Eh. Snoop Dogg and Pharrell did it better about a decade and a half ago.

“King’s Dead” – Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock featuring Future and James Blake – Year-End: #79 – Peak: #21

This song exists to remind us that our dream collaborations we hope of are probably always going to not live up to our expectations. I love all of these guys separately, but they’re clearly negative influences on each other when they’re in a posse cut like this. If you want a better trap song featuring James Blake, check out Travis Scott’s “STOP TRYING TO BE GOD” with Kid Cudi.

Here are a few songs I have absolutely nothing to say about:

“I’m a Mess” – Bebe Rexha – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #35

“LOVE.” – Kendrick Lamar featuring Zacari – Year-End: #50 – Peak: #11

“Bartier Cardi” – Cardi B featuring 21 Savage – Year-End: #61 – Peak: #14

Here are a few songs I’d rather just avoid commenting on altogether:

“This is America” – Childish Gambino – Year-End: #51 – Peak: #1

“FEFE” – 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj – Year-End: #31 – Peak: #3

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming:

“No Brainer” – DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo and Chance the Rapper – Year-End: #73 – Peak: #5

Justin Bieber saves this track, probably because he’s the only feature without some incredibly dumb lyrics.

I blow the brains out of your mind (ooh) / And I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout physically (no) / I’m talkin’ ‘bout mentally – Quavo

Oh, and Chance’s verse is probably his worst, ever, but I am concerned specifically about why this woman is trying to choose between Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and DJ Khaled’s two-year-old son.

“Boo’d Up” and “Trip” – Ella Mai – Year-End: #15 and #92 – Peak: #5 and #11

These are the exact same song and I have the exact same problems – Ella Mai is uninteresting, the chorus is mind-numbing and those 808s are out of place.

“Walk It Talk It” – Migos featuring Drake – Year-End: #43 – Peak: #10

I’m pretty sure this is like five minutes, and that’s not even the longest song I’ll be talking about in this list. Oh, yeah, and say hello to Drake because we’ll be seeing more of him soon.

“Never be the Same” – Camila Cabello – Year-End: #18 – Peak: #6

Really, this is only here because of that one part, but you know what part it is and it is atrocious.

“I Love It” – Kanye West and Lil Pump featuring Adele Givens – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #6

If this ends up on YANDHI then I think that’ll be the last straw with me in terms of Kanye. Yeah, all the Make America Great Again stuff is fine but if this ends up on YANDHI I am not sure if I can handle the betrayal.

“Roll in Peace” – Kodak Black featuring XXXTENTACION – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #31

You know, I actually really like this beat but Kodak sounds awful as always and X’s verse makes me want to punch a wall.

“All Girls are the Same” – Juice WRLD – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #41

Does this really count as a hit? I mean, I think it does, personally, and the predictions put this high enough, but the song doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page... not saying it deserves it at all.

“The Ringer” – Eminem – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #8

The phrase “chicken wang” is said twice on this song, and I’m afraid that’s about five times too many.

“Freaky Friday” – Lil Dicky and Chris Brown – Year-End: #55 – Peak: #8

I still absolutely despise this song and on my first draft of the list, this was actually in the top four, but I really do not care enough about Lil Dicky to rip into this. Also, Chris Brown was sentenced to jail for six months because he illegally owned a monkey, so I guess I get my justice in the end... although he probably won’t serve a day of that sentence.

“I’m Upset” – Drake – Year-End: #86 – Peak: #7

Man, Drake was so close to having four consecutive songs on this list. Yep, you just read that correctly, in fact:

#10

#10 – “In My Feelings” – Drake

Produced by TrapMoneyBenny & Blaqnmild – from the album Scorpion – Year-End: #9 – Peak: #1 for ten weeks

#9 – “Nonstop” – Drake

Produced by Tay Keith – also from the album Scorpion – Year-End: #52 – Peak: #2

#8 – “Yes Indeed” – Lil Baby featuring Drake

Produced by Wheezy – from the album Harder than Ever – Year-End: #25 – Peak: #6

Listen, I don’t hate Drake at all. In fact, I think he’s very talented as a rapper, and he clearly has a lot of interesting musical visions, although he definitely needs someone like the Weeknd to fully realise them, because nobody was asking for a 90-minute, 25-track long double album from the dude, that landed all of his tracks on the Hot 100, meaning combining his album tracks as well as “Walk It Talk It” and “Yes Indeed” gave him over a quarter of the Hot 100 all to himself, which is just absolutely insane. I will be talking more about the album, and to an extent, “In My Feelings”, on my best list, but for now let’s just explain what’s wrong with these three songs, from least to most interesting, starting with what is technically a Lil Baby track, “Yes Indeed”. Now, who’s Lil Baby? Well, he tells you straight off the bat in his verse:

Wah-wah-wah, b****, I’m Lil Baby

Yeah. That’s how he ends it too, like that’s supposed to be the impressive final punchline of the verse before it goes into the hook, but it doesn’t work at all because it’s one of the weakest and most pathetic excuses for a punchline or witty line I’ve ever heard in rap. Wait, oh, I’ve misheard it?

Wah-wah-wah, b****, I’m the baby

Let’s just move on to Drake because I’m sick of this Young Thug clone (who, by the way, deserves way more success than he gets and especially way more than the two clowns that bit his style hard, whilst lacking all of the charisma and interesting characteristics and quirks Thugger had). I saw a comment on r/HipHopHeads that said the line that convinced them Lil Baby was the “real deal” was this line, from the song we’ve got on our list:

Cartier glasses, I won’t even peek at you / Yellow Ferrari like Pikachu

Does that wordplay sound any familiar to you? If it does, well...

My diamonds, they say, “Pikachu”, they say, “Pikachu” / I’m a boss, I walk through the club and just peek at you – Young Thug, “Picacho”

Yup. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about Lil Baby and in turn, the quality of this song, then I don’t know what will. Oh, and if you’re wondering about the beat to the song, I can’t tell you much about it because it’s so swamped out with bass that I can barely hear it. I’m pretty sure there’s a flute in there somewhere? I can’t really say, but what I can say is that Drake phoned this in clearly, because while he’s still better than Lil Baby, his verse transitions so abruptly into Baby. I swear, it’s like they made this in 10 minutes – and knowing rappers like Lil Baby, they probably did. Speaking of songs that are essentially just bass, I mean, that’s Tay Keith’s gimmick – he makes those simplistic bassy instrumentals that fuse trap skitters with classic Memphis rap, and he is actually pretty good at it, until you realise all of his beats sound the same, and never really work unless you’ve got the right rapper on it. Case in point, “Nonstop”. The main point of Tay Keith’s beats are that they are fast-paced, evil and menacing, hence they worked incredibly well with 21 Savage on Metro Boomin’s “Don’t Come Out the House”, especially when he brought in the whisper flow... however you cannot tell me with a straight face that Drake ever comes off in the way he intends, especially with this emotionless gangster image he’s playing up this year. Listen, he starts off the song by claiming he’s somehow original and unique for flipping a switch:

Look, I just flipped a switch (flipped, flipped) / I don’t know nobody else who doin’ this

I mean, apparently it’s about flipping from his calm and kind to his aggressive side, but that doesn’t make much sense considering the song before this one on the album is also rather a straight rapping track.

Bodies start to drop, ayy, hit the floor

Listen, man, the only body hitting the floor while you’re around is Jimmy if he accidentally steps out of wheelchair. Oh, and some of this is a subliminal Kanye diss, but their beef is confusing enough anyway, so just watch a Genius video or something, I’d rather focus on right after the verses, a Mack Daddy Ju sample comes in of just one line from one of his songs repeated and that’s apparently a chorus... yeah, no, this is immensely lazy. The only part where Drake tries here is in the second verse, and that’s not because his flow and delivery picks up and becomes Sheck Wes levels of energetic, no, it’s because he makes this corny pun that you know he’s secretly proud of.

Bills so big, I call ‘em Williams, for real

Although, we could have it worse – he could be trying too hard.

TrapMoneyBenny, this s*** got me in my feelings, yeah / Got to be real with it, yeah

The main problem with “In My Feelings” is how much it asks of the listener to take in at once without ever letting itself loose. I really enjoy glitchy and scattered music, and I think Drake and his producers are attempting to make a bounce record that is as all over the place as possible without any consideration for a cohesive melody or hook to grasp onto. It’s not like “Wonderful Christmastime” where the fact that everything is a hook makes the song endearing, but instead, the fact that everything is its own chorus makes it just irritating to listen to. Even when listening to McCartney’s trainwreck of a festive bop, you know what to focus on: that opening echoing synth line and Paul’s pathetically weak vocals. Drake? Well, he’s not sure, so he throws everything at the wall until he finds something that might stick and just runs with it – he finds three of those, and we’ll be deep-diving into what they are.

First of all, the actual chorus – everyone knows it, it’s the focal point of whatever dance challenge was involved in promoting this song. While the song seems to start minimally with a hypnotic piano line, it actually kind of tricks you and instead catapults some record scratches, aggressive vocal samples, a siren sound, 808s and Drake at you, when you’re not ready to appreciate any of it, but then Drake seems to kind of freestyle this kind of repetitive hook that he thinks is really good, but there’s these “let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” ad-libs that clutter everything, making the hook not as stable as Drake wants it to be. Remember those later. Drake soon ditches the chorus, instead going for a tension-raising verse where Drake just kind of rambles over a constantly-changing beat that just adds elements whenever they feel like it, before he starts a flow that works... until the hook just comes in again, because it’s the only thing that he can really grasp, before he gets interrupted by City Girls and their chopped-up vocals, which, admittedly, are pretty awesome isolated with just the jackhammer 808s, although then they chop up both the Magnolia Shawty sample that we heard before and the chorus at the same time and it just gets too much to keep up with. What do we focus on? Is Magnolia Shawty responding to Drake? Why is Lil Wayne here? Both of the samples kind of have an unhinged chemistry together but then Drake stops any of that from developing before the song gets too experimental, repeating the intro and letting some bongos come in or something, for no reason, until they fade out and leave just a sample from that Atlanta TV show? And that’s even cut off before it ends!

This song would work if it were an upbeat party jam but it’s just way too dark and quiet for that to work, instead it’s just an onslaught of elements that could potentially make a good song, but they’re so hastily put together that the final product is a mess of unfinished ideas, that somehow stayed at the top spot for ten weeks. Hell, this recount of the song’s events probably made no logical sense or cohesiveness because it’s way too much to reasonably keep up with and is always edging for a climax, like it’s one step closer to the edge and it’s about to break, but it just ends up repeating itself. At least this one’s kind of funny in its incompetence, unlike “Nonstop” which is painfully boring and “Yes Indeed” which is a waste of studio time. I seriously hope Lil Baby goes away next year because he adds nothing to already dystopian wastelands of instrumentals. Now we have spent way too much time talking about Drizzy. Let’s talk about someone else.

I’m just being real, my s*** look--

Now, I see a lot of people bring up how the most popular artists of 2018 were “problematic” and awful people, and I mean, yeah, you’re right, but who cares? There have always been terrible and insensitive people in the music industry, because they’re going to be there in every sector of the industry, naturally. If they come to light, it’s mostly because with the Internet you have easier access than ever to someone’s mistakes, and with that becomes ever-growing popularity which, in all honesty, these people who complain about them are only perpetuating. And with that, I present to you Exhibit A:

N****s iffy, uh, blicky got the stiffy, uh

#7 – “GUMMO” – 6ix9ine

Produced by Pi’erre Bourne – from the mixtape DAY69 – Year-End: #56 – Peak: #12

I don’t care what anyone says as a rebuttal because I am telling you a fact – the people who hate 6ix9ine are making him popular, you know it and he knows it. Sure, he may be locked up for a long time now, but that doesn’t really take away the 316 million views the video for this got off of some people legitimately enjoying this and a whole lot more of the memes. This kid ate more Skittles than his mum told him too once and starts throwing gang signs while repeating the N-word like it’s the word “the”, and since you guys thought that was funny, awful or disgusting, you are directly giving more attention and hence obviously more profit to a pedophile. It is clearly controversy and outrage that is taking this song to higher levels than just a Froggy Fresh-like situation (who, by the way, never charted this high, or at all), and I wouldn’t be complaining if the song was any good, but it really isn’t.

I’ve liked some of Tekashi’s stuff before, hell, I’ve even tried to defend my fondness towards tracks like “STOOPID” and “KIKA” on my weekly chart review show, but the reason those tracks work is because of how the production backs up 6ix9ine’s screaming or yelling delivery, with his simplistic flows being intensified due to how the instrumentals build up (also they have features to break the monotony). I may not be a fan of “TATI” or even “WAKA” all that much but even in songs like those you can tell he has a grip on this kind of sound and how he can make his aggressive and rough voice more tolerable against less intense but still powerful and propelled production. Since this is early in his career, however, he doesn’t yet understand how you cannot simply scream profanity and violent lyrical content over a Playboi Carti type-beat and call it a day. It doesn’t fit his style at all and I don’t get why at any point he could get this beat from Trippie Redd DM’ing him and think, “yeah, I can just yell over this and the beat will totally correlate!” The beat starts with a pretty hellish intro where 6ix9ine echoes before some gunshots, the classic “SCUM GANG!” catchphrase, and eventually the beat starts, with this high-pitched child sample saying “I’ll see y’all water, suu-woo!” – seriously, why can none of these rappers do an intro well this year? Oh, and the lyrical content is pretty disgusting, in fact, too disgusting for me to really put here, although, can we stop kicking women out of doors?

Man, that’s really all I use her for, then I kick her out the door

We don’t have any evidence to really believe this as parody or exaggeration, and Tekashi says this in a handful of other songs, so it’s safe to assume this is just violent and misogynistic, right? Sigh... Let’s just thank God this dude can’t release music for a while, unless, of course...

You know you like a n****’s Schmoney dance, you gon’ love a n**** when I swerve out – Bobby Schmurda on 6ix9ine’s “STOOPID”

Oh, no. Please, no.

Scum Gang...

Oh, speaking of misogynists, here’s three dudes without a Wikipedia page and their more popular counterparts making a reggaeton song, and let’s naturally try and get rid of the language barrier here, by using a translation, but if I get any details wrong, I apologise, translations are never perfect. I don’t apologise for hating this lazy trash heap of a song though.

#6 - “Te Boté” (remix) – Nio García, Darell and Casper Mágico featuring Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam and Ozuna

Produced by Young Mvrtino, Kronix Magical and Shorty Complete – Year-End: #81 – Peak: #36

This isn’t the last time you’ll see Latin pop on this list, but it’s definitely the last time you’ll see most of these names in your life because, seriously, who knows or cares about these guys? Ozuna, Nicky Jam and Bad Bunny make sense for the remix, but do you know who Darell is? After I tell you who he is, will you really still know who he is? Anyway, this song is six minutes and fifty-seven seconds of pure hell, although the most irritating part other than the beat is the 10 minutes at the start where every single one of them has to get their adlibs in, including Bad Bunny just spouting utter nonsense out of his mouth whenever possible, right before we get to the devil himself, Ozuna, who always, with no exception (trust me, we’ll get back to him later), sounds like a nasal child with a blocked nose who was told he had to make a reggaeton song in five minutes, so he just came in the booth and whined. We have a few sparse piano notes before the beat (that never really changes throughout all seven minutes, by the way, except for when it briefly drowns itself in reverb and has what sounds like an Audacity phaser effect on it for a few seconds each verse) and Ozuna really kick in. Unlike Trippie Redd’s more dynamic, flip-flopping style, Ozuna sticks to one perfect note and pitch for the whole chorus, honestly putting me on edge whenever he appears.

Hell, everyone gets to perform their own chorus, and you can just tell how much care was put into each performance just from that. Bad Bunny sounds tired but at least he’s putting effort into it. Darell is so bored and quiet that they put people loudly speaking over him in Spanish to help us not fall asleep, Casper the Friendly Ghost is autotuned to the point where he’s beyond human and instead he’s a cyborg whose owner bought the Spanish DLC, Nio Garcio barely exists and Nicky Jam is... actually okay. Yeah, him and Bad Bunny bring out pretty good choruses here, and I kind of appreciate Ozuna’s too, but instead of skipping right to the next song as if the last minute or so of just all six dudes talking and making ad-libs and gun sounds doesn’t exist, shall we look into what the translations of the lyrics have to say?

But I know that I kicked you out

Oh, come on, Ozuna—

I kicked you out of my life, and I kicked you out

So, from what I can gather, Ozuna broke up this woman and is phrasing it like it was a drug addiction and he’s kicking the habit. That’s kind of a cool concept, how is everyone else going to add to this unique story? Will they use different perspectives in the story, like acting as friends of the guy who’s dumping this woman? Ooh, I have an idea – will they all use a different drug to act as their metaphors in each verse? Now, that would be cool, but sadly, of course we’re not getting that. These people probably don’t have enough skill to wrap their arms around a concept anyway, and they wouldn’t care enough to go through with it anyway. Instead of going through all of these dudes individually, let’s just appreciate some lyrical highlights.

Baby, life is a cycle / What doesn’t serve me, I don’t recycle

You are the past and the past never comes back / Go to Hell (whoa), my body doesn’t need you (no)

Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you how bitter and melodramatic these dudes are, seriously, they have so much bile for their respective exes that it’s almost a joke. Like, I can’t take anything they say seriously to the point where I start to think it’s satire, but it feels genuine enough, even if they put “to hell you went” in the hook.

Bad Baby’s chorus is so mean, though, it pulls no punches and just insults the girl non-stop.

I kicked you out, I sacked you and let you go, I let you go / I sent you to Hell, I sent you / And I nailed your friend, I nailed her

Jesus... we don’t even know what any of these women do for all seven minutes and the only rapper who really tries to elaborate for more than a vague one-liner is Darrell, surprisingly, who tells us pretty clearly what happened.

With you, putting a condom on is a must / But I posted up in half-court, baby, like Rondo

I understand why there’s such an issue now, because Darrell has accidentally had a baby with this woman and is angry because...? Yeah, actually, why is he angry at her, specifically? He’s the one who didn’t put on any protection; surely you should be showing some respect. What, is Darrell angry that he’s not seeing his kid enough? You know, that’s fine, though, because it shows some kind of primal frustration at the woman, while as the song goes on, you realise that all these recounts are from the same person’s perspective, and they’re irrational before, but eventually, once we get to Nicky Jam’s verse, he’s just reminiscing on the good times and moving on.

I lie if I say I don’t miss it when I touched your skin / I lie if I say I don’t miss it when you called me at dawn

See? Maybe this song isn’t as awful as I thought – I mean it’s unlistenable, but much like “Freaky Friday” at least effort was put into making it interesting lyrically and focusing on storytelling, you know? I actually really like the gradual increase in maturity.

I take the chance of the remix with Ozuna to send you to Hell

...Never mind then.

Ra-ta-ta-ta!

I really love how Young Thug uses his voice. I think he pushes himself to vocal limits whilst somehow sticking to the meter of the trap beat and it always works because he’s just off the beaten track enough for it to be weird and interesting but he never steps his foot outside of the comfort zone because when he experiments, well, he can make some grave mistakes, such as that hilariously awful song that samples “Rocket Man” by Elton John... but guys, what if we had two Young Thugs who didn’t push themselves vocally and don’t have any intriguing quirks, but somehow they got more popular and use the most basic, badly-mixed trap beats to ever be produced?

Run that back, Turbo

#5 – “Drip Too Hard” – Lil Baby and Gunna

Produced by Turbo – from the album Drip Harder – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #4

I’d say, “Where do I even start with this?” but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a lot to talk about, because there really is not anything I can say that I haven’t said before about Lil Baby, and Gunna is essentially the same person. Listen, every song these dudes make, on their own or on their collaborative mixtape, is just them pathetically flowing, often slightly off-beat, in their monotone and nasal delivery – with Lil Baby often preferring a falsetto over Gunna’s smoother, reverb-drowned voice – without having any interesting lyrics or actually good bars or punchlines. Typically, they don’t even have more than one notably awful lyric per song, so you always know what to expect from both the beat, usually either a simplistic piano melody or dreary guitar strumming under way too much bass and the typical skittering trap percussion, and the performers themselves.

Let me put it this way: this song is about 113 BPM but it feels like it goes half as fast, because of how the beat never changes or has any adjustments worth speaking of, Lil Baby drags on his autotuned bars like curtains in the morning (which is probably a better comparison than this guy could come up with) and Gunna is empty space on the track; seriously, the dude’s white noise except for the one line.

I feel like a child, I got boogers in the face

In fact, the lyrics are dumber but actually some of the most unique these dudes have come up with, although it does seem rather controlling throughout, if that makes any sense. Lil Baby takes that rap persona to the extreme and portrays himself as some nigh-unbeatable force that has everyone and everything doing only what he wishes them to.

Whenever I tell you to come, she comin’

Soon as I come back, she gettin’ slayed

Yeah, he uses very imperative, demanding words when it comes to providing for these women sexually, but he also gives her luxury as if it wasn’t anything to him.

You can get the biggest Chanel bag in the store if you want it

This wouldn’t be anything special if they weren’t so forceful about it in such an otherwise calm and, dare I say, ambient song? It just kind of fits into the background until Lil Baby gets oddly aggressive in his offbeat ramblings, especially in the chorus, where he threatens those who copy his style... oh, come on.

Every other night, another dollar gettin’ made

If you make a dollar every two days, you are in poverty. Oh, and I believe Gunna kind of tries to make some statement about racial issues briefly.

I don’t want your chain, young Gu-wunna not a slave

Dude, you’re wearing like four chains in the video, so I’m not sure if your point is valid here.

TSA harass me, so I took a private plane

Are you trying to say that you take a private plane because you’re being racially profiled by the TSA? I mean, they just perform more thorough checks on people with heavy loads of money and jewellery, is that the punchline? I’m not sure because he clearly uses “harass” to make it appear violent. It might be a stretch, but if there is any attempt at racial commentary here, it fails incredibly, as I’d expect from these two talentless hacks. Hopefully, this duo sinks into complete irrelevancy by 2020. It’s not like they care, as he says himself, they don’t read comments.

Do this all the time, this ain’t no surprise / Every other night, another movie getting made

Blech.

This year (and last year to an extent), a lot of popular artists who made music that wasn’t rap or hip hop “flopped” for lack of a better word – essentially, pop icons failed to gain much chart longevity with either songs or albums in the past few years, making way for newer artists to stack up hits on hits, mostly because of how streaming is more important now than ever. I’ve listened to the full album by one of the former pop icons that fell this year, and I can tell you that most of it is fantastic, albeit perhaps unintentionally. Love songs dedicated to Justin Timberlake’s flannel are just kind of my thing, I guess.

#4 – “Filthy” – Justin Timberlake

Produced by Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Danja – from the album Man of the Woods – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #9

So this starts out as a rock song, and it’s kind of awesome, actually. That guitar riff is undeniable and pretty heavy, with Justin Timberlake’s vocals, although way too back in the mix for my liking are fitting, and we get this incredible build-up with the drums continuing to increase in speed and intensity. It’s insane, and we have no idea what will be at the end of it. It’s like a rollercoaster but you’re entirely blindfolded, so you expect a drop but where? When? Instead of the rollercoaster actually going down, however, you’re just pushed off the carriage very lightly and fall onto a cushion.

Yeah, that’s how the squelchy elastic robot-funk “wub-wub” synth bass wobble feels here. They’re so ugly and almost, wrong, if that makes any sense. Like they’re not supposed to sound like that. It reminds me of my own music that I make where I Paulstretch and add echoes to nonsense samples until it sounds disgusting enough, but this is a professional recording and hence, it’s a lazy excuse for making any interesting synth sounds as the main instrumental hook. Oh, yeah, and there’s not enough to really drown it, we just get a few searing siren synths, heavy female breathing and Justin himself, who is pretty awful, as I expected, vocally, because he just kind of talks rhythmically? I can’t call it rapping but it’s definitely not a real melody. The main thing that annoys me about this song is for the last minute and half, it’s a fantastic song. It finally lets itself go insane, as the searing siren synth starts to glitch out, you can barely hear Justin under the pitched-down echoing backing vocals (some of which sound like Eminem, honestly), and the wobble bass kind of dissipates, instead leading with that chopped-up guitar from earlier, before calming down and slowing down, fading out into a strong bass backing up a tropical landscape for uncredited vocalist Jessica Biel to speak over. It’s actually really cool for a brief period of time... but the song’s five minutes.

If you know what’s good...

He repeats this in the rock sections as if it’s leading up to something but it just ends up being an incomplete sentence as it abruptly goes from him screaming that to him “rapping” this line:

Haters gon’ say it’s fake... so real

This means nothing. Haters are going to say Justin Timberlake is fake, so you respond with “So real”. Isn’t that just a non-sequitur? Hell, it’s not even a sentence. Are you missing a “but it is” or “but I am”? Justin, actually, what’s with all the pointless rap references?

I guess I got my swagger back

Yeah, that’s from JAY-Z.

Your friends, my friends, and they ain’t leaving ‘till six in the morning

And that’s from Snoop Dogg, clearly. Is Justin trying to appeal to the modern teenage crowd who are into hip-hop by mentioning... old rap songs from aging rappers who are having an equally hard time trying to stay relevant? Man, and I thought Timbaland could help you, hell, he’s been working with Ski Mask the Slump God recently. Yeah, sorry, I love a lot of Justin’s other stuff and even Man of the Woods appealed to me in an odd way, but this is just a clunky, dated mess. That last 90 seconds should have been released as the lead single, even though it wouldn’t have been played on the radio – not like this was, anyway, and I’m glad it just came and went.

Look closer, through the trees. Do you see it?

Now, let’s get into the true stinkers, the top three worst hit songs of one of the most dreadful years in pop music history I’ve ever experienced. All three of these songs are borderline unlistenable, so I might as well introduce them all at once, but, no, let’s go in on them one-by-one, starting with the last trap song that’ll end up on this list, and it’s by a guy who I’ve actually loved a lot of material from this year. You’ll see him twice or more on my best list, and I think he is a really talented singer and songwriter, with a knack for really catchy melodies, but... man, this song really fell apart, didn’t it?

#3 – “I Fall Apart” – Post Malone

Produced by Illangelo – from the album Stoney – Year-End: #39 – Peak: #16

I like Post Malone, I really do, but when he’s at his worst, he is unbearable, especially because of how grating his voice can be when he warbles whilst drowned in both autotune and the immense reverb that he decides to use, in fact, I’m pretty sure all of his songs are 70% reverb effects – and lucky me, this song is basically just him moaning for painful stretches of time drowned in reverb, because that’s the chorus. It starts with multi-tracked Post Malones crooning the title before a slight piano comes in that is only there for seemingly no reason before the actual verse and guitar comes in, where Post Malone just kind of yells over a heavy acoustic guitar lick, with “yeah” ad-libs that make me think my headphones are broken with how far they are back into the mix. All the lyrics are just pure melodrama, but the pre-chorus where he’s “taking these shots like Novacane” show my main problem with the song. It tries to be an intense, heartbroken track, but it’s too quirky to work like that.

His diction is pretty bad, so he’s mostly strangely mumbling his shouted lines in a way that makes it able to hear but also painful because of his high-pitched, obviously very immature voice, and then the chorus comes in, with him shouting “oooh, I fall apart” over a way too upbeat drop, with rapid 808s that are deep and cover out any of the trap skitter, making any dark ideas with the drum pattern irrelevant and just completely inaudible, mostly because of the chirpy pitched-up vocal samples being sprayed over Post Malone’s simplistic melody with a reverb-coated delivery that is hard to listen to. Oh, and these light gliding pianos come in for the second verse, and then, we kind of find the main point of the song in that verse:

Feelin’ like I sold my soul / Devil in the form of whore, devil in the form of whore

This song is bipolar, and it’s not as intentional as it initially seems – you see, this primal release right here should be powerful because it is Post Malone at the breaking point, where he gives up trying to reason with himself, disregarding his ex after the break-up as the devil because of how heartbroken he is... it doesn’t work when the song is happy. The instrumental is chirpy and actually just kind of pretty, especially for 2018, with those nice kicks and the piano melody and vocal sample being way too high-pitched and light to really give off any “depressed” or “broken” vibe. It’s just an unfinished instrumental for Post Malone to whine over, and you know what, that could have been beautiful, but since we have no reason to believe this bipolar song structure is on purpose other than the bridge (which, admittedly, is actually pretty cool, but not enough to completely retcon my theory), we’re just here to observe Post Malone being a bit of a jerk towards someone we don’t know anything about. Like “Te Boté”, all we know is that they broke up and we’re supposed to feel sorry for the man. Yet “I Fall Apart” had kegs full of potential, and that outro with the swirling chiptune-like synth really should have been happening throughout the song, as that’s where the intentional juxtaposition is evident. Otherwise, it just sounds really unpleasant, but, hey, at least Post Malone isn’t that much of an awful human being. Sure, he’s said some stuff that turned me off him at first in a couple interviews, but overall he doesn’t seem too bad...

Disclaimer – Some more sensitive topics will be touched on in this segment. If you feel like you will not be okay reading about you-know-who and his abuse charges, skip to #1 – skim-read if you wish, but definitely do not click the page I have linked in my explanation of why I do not like this song.

Okay, now, listen, I know people have been awful in the music industry before and I brought this up while talking about “GUMMO”. There have always been untalented, racist, sexist, problematic and insensitive people in any industry and there have been for decades, and they are now just becoming common knowledge because of how easy it is to spread information nowadays. I know I sound like an old crony saying that, but that’s how I feel looking at charts when I see names like Quando Rondo, Flipp Dinero and Calboy show up on the bottom half, like, who the hell are these people and why are they blowing up now? Well they’re all trap-rappers, of course, and they’re using the innovative musical platform laid down by people like 2 Chainz, Future and Travis Scott, and later SoundCloud rappers like Lil Uzi Vert, to finally get their time in the limelight, but they’re watering down that genre to the point where I believe we have reached “peak trap” and slowly with people like Playboi Carti I think we’re moving into an era of post-trap due to the oversaturation. I remember way back in 2016 when this dude first charted with this nonsensical title and I searched him up and found out he was, uh, well...

#2 – “changes” – XXXTENTACION

Produced by John Cunningham – from the album ? – Year-End: #94 – Peak: #18

Yeah, okay, well, first of all, rest in peace to Jahseh Onfroy, okay, I was never a fan of him or his music but nobody showing potential and talent deserves to die that early, alright? Now that all that is out of the way, let’s talk about the song itself, which makes my blood boil. “changes” has a lot in common with a Bad Bunny track, “Amorfoda”, mostly in the fact that it’s just four piano notes being repeated and that’s the beat. There’s no drums, there’s no guitar, it’s just that and briefly some strings. “Amorfoda” is even more minimalistic as it’s just simply piano and Bad Bunny (as well as his ad-libs). On the track, Bad Bunny’s lyrics are oddly poetic, and his performance is constantly changing with his flow and delivery never really staying in one place throughout the one pretty long verse. This is helpful as it keeps the track interesting, as otherwise it’s just a barebones piano ballad with an above average vocalist singing a mumbled hook and an excruciatingly long, unintelligible verse. “changes” is just that, except there’s no verse... there’s just a bridge, which is one line repeated six times. The hook is four lines long, the beat is only two notes this time around, the one addition to the droning immature vocals from X and PnB Rock’s boring crooning is some weak, barely noticeable fake strings. Piano ballads work when there’s legitimate power, and the closest we get to that is X and PnB’s harmonised humming that still would have sounded better if you got Kid Cudi to do it. Seriously, if you ever need someone to hum on your song, get this dude.

So, we’ve established it’s cheap, lazy and pointless, as well as mind-numbingly repetitive. There’s only five lines that are repeated for all two minutes and two seconds. The song concept is clearly there but they have no idea how or where to run with it so they just keep on saying the lyrics they have for a while and release it as a lead single (without PnB Rock credited, I may add). If you’re wondering if I’m downplaying the song and there’s more to it, no, don’t kid yourself. It’s both of these dudes moaning over piano that X probably didn’t even play. Now, what about those five lines?

Mmm, baby, I don’t understand this / You’re changing, I can’t stand it

Can I have a “get out of talking about a dead man’s domestic abuse charges free” card, please? Okay, so, let’s not pretend he wasn’t an abuser, he admitted to “F’ing her up” in an audio recording that Pitchfork discovered, as well as, you know, stabbing nine people, as you do. This song is about how Geneva, his ex, is making it hard for HIM despite him being the one beating her. X doesn’t understand why Geneva is changing opinions and attitudes towards him after he injured her to the point where she needs a GoFundMe for surgery (pictures of her eye are out there!) whilst carrying a child, and he has the gall to play a victim complex, and of course it works on his gullible young fanbase.

My heart can’t take this damage

“My heart can’t take this damage”? Miss me with that sadboi poetry nonsense. Ugh. Let’s move on before I pop a blood vessel.

Mmm, baby, I don’t understand this

Good riddance.

“changes” was my definite choice for #1 for a long time. If you recall when it showed up on the UK Top 40, I quite literally didn’t review it at all, and got someone else who loved the song to talk about it, in both respect for XXXTENTACION as he recently passed away at the time and to not spoil my list. At the end of the year, though, a song was released and I came to a conclusion: I can listen to “changes”. It is lazy, aggravating, has irritating lyrics and sounds unfinished... but I can hear it all the way through and not be all too bothered by it. Same goes for “In My Feelings” and “Freaky Friday”, they’re not long and they’re interesting enough, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any good, and the reason why songs like “Te Boté”, “Drip Too Hard” or “Filthy” didn’t top this list is because there are parts I actually really appreciate in that song, and if anything I can laugh at it, even if they’re too long and they’re pathetic excuses for popular music. My #1 barely counts. It was in the top 40, sure, but at the tail-end of the year, and if anything, this is premature as it’s probably going to make 2019’s year-end list, but screw it, I have to get this out now. The worst hit song of 2018 is “Taki Taki” by DJ Snake featuring vocals from Ozuna, Cardi B and Selena Gomez.

#1 – “Taki Taki” – DJ Snake, Ozuna, Cardi B and Selena Gomez

Produced by DJ Snake – Year-End: N/A – Peak: #11

Now, “changes” makes my blood boil but really, at a musical standpoint, it’s competent enough. They’re on beat, both dudes can kind of sing, and the instrumental is inoffensive. “Taki Taki” is thre minutes and 36 seconds of absolute torture. We start with that hellish flute loop, which fades in at the start of the song and doesn’t change for the rest of the whole song, staying in the background for the track constantly, only getting pitched up in the chorus or “drop”, for added annoyance. The flute loop itself is painful and I don’t think I can really describe how much it gets on my nerves in words. It sounds like a rabbit with cavities playing a recorder, if you can picture that horrible image. Oh, and remember Ozuna? Well, he’s worse here. Not only does he sound like he recorded his own audio in his kitchen, but his nasal voice is aggravating. Something about the way he says fricatives makes me want to strangle a dolphin – which is fitting because that’s what he sounds like when he repeats the hook, “Taki Taki, rumba!” If you’re wondering what “Taki Taki” is, it means nothing. It means absolutely nothing. It is a nonsense word, but it does rhyme with several other words that Ozuna pronounces awfully, such as... well...

Booty explota como Nagasaki

The booty blows up like Nagasaki. Dude, how did this get through the executives? It reminds me of a Hoodrich Pablo Juan mixtape I heard where in the second track he just spurts out that broke people are gay or something and I question how the hell everyone in his label and heard that and thought, “yeah, that’s okay”. I know it’s Gucci Mane’s label in that case, so they don’t care, but this “Taki Taki” song was a major-label release by four of the biggest mega-stars in their own respective genres. How did this insensitive yet actually kind of hilariously awful reference to the 1945 Nagasaki atomic bombings slip through the cracks, man? Maybe it’s because Ozuna makes any person with sense’s skin crawl, so they just skipped his part. That’s reasonable – and understandable, I mean, I would to.

Hi Music Hi Flow

What’s with the producer tag for the dude who didn’t produce the song, Ozuna? What is the point of tagging this onto the drop? Oh, and Cardi B’s on here, and don’t get me wrong, I like Cardi but she is so non-descript on here.

I said, we should have a date / “Where?” At the Lamborghini store

How is this in any way a clever or unique punchline? This is just filler, and I don’t blame her – hell, I like Cardi for her delivery too but she’s not even that loud or energetic here so she needs something to back it up and, yeah, she just doesn’t. Someone on Twitter brought to my attention that it interpolates another Cardi B and Ozuna song, “La Modelo”, which is much better and leaves absolutely no reason to willingly listen to the song.

Oh, and in typical “Taki Taki” fashion, Cardi’s awfully mixed. What a surprise. It just sounds like Cardi DM’d DJ Snake a video of her rapping the verse with her kid Kulture crying in the background, so he took the audio from that and put it in Audacity’s “Noise Remover” function in order to remove the crying, making there a lot of awkwardly mixed moments that just sound like amateur hour, which DJ Snake shouldn’t be able to replicate at his level of stature and fame... but Selena Gomez’s verse? Oh, honey...

Careful when you come through my way

Is Selena Gomez trying to be intimidating? Because, uh, no. It’s not working, and never will.

My body-ody know how to play

Ugh, I’m not a fan of stuttering or repeating syllables to fill the meter, especially when they’re weak lines like this. It just feels so lazy, and Selena does it more than worse in her short verse.

And I-I-I know you need a taste

Oh, and why does she self-censor these three lines?

When I (OOH), you’re fallin’ in love / Give a little (OOH-OOH), get it well done / Dancing on my (OOH), make your girl want to run

Does Selena Gomez need to keep a squeaky-clean image? She had a video last year where she sensually chowed down on some lipstick, while a song called “Fetish” played. She can’t go back to the innocent Disney image after that, like, come on. If we cancel that out, then why isn’t Cardi censored? She gets away with saying stuff like this:

My piggy bank is hungry, my n****, you need to feed it / If the text ain’t freaky, I don’t wanna read it / And just to let you know, this punani is undefeated, ayy

Yet there’s not much that could really fit there. I figured the first bit was “shake my hips” or something, but does it have to be the same amount of syllables as the “ooh” that replaces it? If so, then that means the second “ooh” line is just nonsensical, unless it’s “hump-bump” or “bump-grind” because Selena Gomez wanted to reference R. Kelly or something. “When I...” What? Trip? Dance? Slip – as in slip off the panties? I don’t know, but seemingly none of these options seem worthy of even censoring, so I think we can call this lazy songwriting instead.

The “subtle” integrations of Spanish throughout her verse are pitiful, by the way.

Porque I am the party, yo soy fiesta / Blow out your candles, then have a siesta / They can try, pero no-one can stop me

I did barely a month of GCSE Spanish and I could write better Spanish bars than this. Also, what’s that last one?

They can try, pero no-one can stop me

Who’s stopping you from partying... or being the party, actually, as you specify?

I am the party, yo soy fiesta

If you’re wondering what “yo soy fiesta” means, it’s just essentially “I am the party” again. Yeah, if you don’t have a good line that rhymes, just give up and say it in Spanish. The worst line is easily the last one, though.

What my Taki Taki wants, yeah, my Taki Taki gets, uh

So, does this explain what “Taki Taki” is? Is it lust? Selena Gomez is supposedly so hot that she can get whatever her instinct is... that’s actually kind of a cool concept, so why is he said completely out of context in the chorus? Does it mean “My instinct is to dance” when they say “Taki Taki, rumba!”? “Rumba” is a dance, so it’s safe to assume that, right? Why are they making a reggaeton song feel like English comprehension? To be fair, however, Selena’s chorus does its job and is actually pretty decent, but then Ozuna comes in to ruin it all anyway, so who cares?

The reason this is above every song on this list is because it reeks of incompetence and is probably the song here that just sounds the worst all throughout its runtime, and all of this nonsense happens over a grating, neverending shrill flute loop, and, yeah, that pretty much explains why this song is the worst hit song this year, at least in my opinion. Hopefully that best list is coming soon, but for now, thank you for reading my incessant rambles about pop music and I’ll see you tomorrow on REVIEWING THE CHARTS. Bye!

Hi Music Hi Flow / Taki Taki / Taki Taki

deadcactuswalking

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