#lamare you genius

[m1dori-eyes]

ok what the fuck this is cool as hell, I know nothing about music and I never would have realized this, Not Like Us is doing some incredible music theory magic beyond my comprehension

[ramshacklerumble]

there’s something about floyd casually but purposefully name dropping that gets to me. like no it wasn’t on accident. also don’t question it because he’s not gonna give you an answer. (i like to imagine this happens literally the day before the original sophomore class’ graduation.) (i should figure out how to show how gia gets his earring at some point.)

BONUS:

(guest appearance from @tixdixl’s rené lamar)

BONUS BONUS:

(it’s funnier when you find out gia’s the one who often forgets text back and misses calls. that’s what you get for long distance dating a fucking part-evil genius, floyd.)

taglist:

@cyanide-latte @inmateofthemind @winterweary @thehollowwriter @jovieinramshackle @theleechyskrunkly

@skriblee-ksk @boopshoops @the-trinket-witch @twistedwonderlandshenanigans @kimikitti @felix-cant-ski

@nightwingshero @water-writings @beneathsakurashade @welcometomypersonalhell098 (dm to be added)

[sexygaywizard]

ok you have no obligation to explain this but if you’re willing to wtf is happening with drake and Kendrick Lamar??????? I’m so confused help

Kind of a lot to cover it's been one of the nastiest weeks in hip hop. Essentially Drake and Kendrick have been lowkey beefing for years, and when Drake & J. Cole dropped the track "First Person Shooter" where J Cole referred to the two of them + Kendrick as the big 3, Kendrick hopped on a track with Future & Metro Boomin called "Like That" and said "fuck the big 3, it's just big me" essentially that they're not on his level (which is true imo).

From there Drake released the diss "Push Ups" and an AI track using the voices of Tupac and Snoop called "Tailor Made Freestyle," Kendrick responded with "euphoria" a week later and "6:16 in LA," 4 days later (yesterday). Drake responded with "Family Matters" later that day and Kendrick dropped "meet the grahams" less than an hour later in response. Then Kendrick released another diss track this morning "Not Like Us."

Lot of music but the best way to catch up is listen to the tracks and follow along with the lyrics on Genius. Kendrick is burying Drake alive.

[tvickiesims]

Orchard Trees Default Replacement

Yes, that's right! It's an orchard trees default replacement with separate bark and leaves textures for each tree, yay! 🌳

We teamed up with wonderful and genius @lamare-sims yet again and solved this puzzle. Thank you Lamare for finding a way to make my little dream come true 🥰

Apple tree comes in two versions (choose only one):

Compatible with Plantable orchard trees (you can already get compatible textures for growing trees in that post). My edit of Aysarth's crops goes well with it too.

Compressed, clearly labelled, picture included.

Download at SFS

[centaur-dreaming]

A public execution

You know that the diss is fire when it trends on tumblr of all places

[cleapallea]

𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪ASTRO OBSERVATION JOURNEY 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

(Astrology list)

This is based on my own personal readings; if it doesn't align with your experiences, you are free to scroll. I just want to know and spread the message that we are not battling "this" fight alone. And I use astrology to understand my fellow human.

⊂⊃ Aside from being poor as an Aries moon child (and having strict, abandonment-relationship etc with my father or mother which doesn't even applied to me). It seems like being an Aries moon gals meant not to be close to other girls, or doesn't even have "close friends" like for example, Kendall Jenner.

⊂⊃ Most bad btch placements have their Lilith aspects in the big three. I don't want to feel proud, but I have to mention it since men see it as hot. LoL, these crzy guys.

⊂⊃ Those with Libra influence tend to be indecisive, like they are not sure about what they really want, whether they try to deal with it or avoid it.

⊂⊃ Speaking of air signs, I've noticed most of tthem takes picture in the sky or scenetic related.

⊂⊃ People born under heavy mercurial influence tend to speak faster than usual. Most of them r rappers for example Kendrick Lamar, Fetty, Wap, Doja Cat u can name them all!

⊂⊃ I've never seen a strong Aquarius influence that's not genius. They always think, and the way they think is often out of the box. Most people with strong Aquarius placement, especially if it's in their 1st, 3rd, or 5th house, are viewed as crazy or stupid. But dear, people are already aware of your intelligence; you don't have to worry about their thinking.

⊂⊃ Gemini rising or people with strong Gemini placements have the ability to charm others due to their cuteness, adaptability, and open-mindedness. It can be seen that they are somehow playboys or playgirls, but I swear most Geminis or air placements struggle to talk about feelings or emotions. That's why they can't blend with cancer rising, moon, or people with cancer placements in their natal chart (esp. if they are pure air signs in their birth chart).

NOTES: will correct all those misinterpretations without proper basis. 

I am also a Libra. And I hate the fact that most of so- called astrologists here saying that I/ (we, air signs) can't blend with others? That's a misconception about the signs. Saying we can't feel or something (when in fact, we were just struggling to talk about it.) Dear, we can't blend if the topic is feelings-related. You guys, if you're going to interpret and your interpretation r modern-astro basis then learn about psychology and literature first, because it has something to do with it. You all are just creating judgments with us.  We are air for Pete's sake.

Have you ever seen water without air? Earth without air? and fire without air? 

link (1) fire with air link

🍓𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗔 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲����

[incredibly-delirious-biznasty]

So now that I have an opportunity to scream about Kendrick Lamar’s Genius on Tumblr

Help yourself to this analytical essay I wrote in 2016 examining “To Pimp a Butterfly” and dissecting the stance that Kendrick is, by definition, a conscious rapper.

Shoutout to Drew Lindsay, the professor whose class I wrote this for. Also, please engage in lyrical analysis and music theory with me 🥺

Throughout his album To Pimp a Butterfly (TPaB), Kendrick Lamar is grappling with big issues of race and resentment. There are many layers to each song on the album and like any modern masterpiece, the true meaning lies below the surface and must be teased out. Many songs on TPaB come across as strictly fighting racism and helping along a powerful message in support of his roots. When digging deeper, we find that even the most overt black support anthems on the album have an argumentative element which questions Lamar’s roots and his thoughts on perceived racism. The conflict evident throughout the album is the incarnation of Kendrick’s personal struggle and reflects the conflict within the black community. TPaB’s message is not overtly positive or uplifting and is highly conflicted and therefore can not be classified as realist or conscious. At it’s core, To Pimp a Butterfly is not a conscious manifesto, telling the viewer exactly what to think, but a conversation about current racial issues that is not firmly positive or negative.

! “King Kunta” is the only track on the album that has a seemingly triumphant message all the way through; however this message takes on a sad note when put in the context of the rest of the album. When taken out of context, “King Kunta” comes across as a celebratory anthem, not only for Kendrick himself but for his homies and his people as well. The Lyrics, “Black man taking no losses” extends from his personal success to the triumph of a black art becoming the most popular music form in the mainstream. Even the title references the prolific slave “Kunta Kintae” who’s leg was

hacked for his “slights” against his white captors. Like a conscious track, it seems to have a clear surface meaning. However, as it happens over and over across the album, the traditional wholesome respectful themes of conscious rap are largely disregarded. The beat and production on this track are some of the most radio friendly and “trendy” on the album and the the first track to carry a piece of Kendrick’s Poem at the end. This seems to give “King Kunta” the high note before the gut punch of meaning. The message of “King Kunta” is predominantly “We made it guys,” but as the album progresses, we are made to beg the question “Made it where?”. As the next track on the record starts to deal with Kendrick’s old neighborhood and the clear negative points of contention start to reveal themselves, “King Kunta” becomes bleaker and more hollow in hindsight as the record progresses.

! “Institutionalized” compares Kendrick’s Compton neighborhood to a prison and starts to unpack conflicting feelings about the draw to his personal roots, and all the negatives that come with. As the preceding snippet of The Poem states “At fist you was conflicted,” it only makes sense that this theme rings throughout this song in many ways. There are many layers of conflict as well as many layers of persona in this track that should all be taken into account. Kendrick himself is “trapped in the ghetto” in more ways than one as he struggles to make a name for himself in the industry. Kendrick misses his home, but feels he can no longer relate to his old station after finding success; and yet he can never shake his ghetto roots and the baggage that comes with. There seem to be no positives left about Kendrick’s home and this displacement is furthered after he takes his homies to an award show and their first instinct is to steal from the celebrities around them. He so desperately wants to have a safe place in his

home when faced with the chaos and pressure of the music industry, but finds his home is now just as confining as the industry. As with most of the tracks on this record, Kendrick also acts as a surrogate for members of the black community to reflect common issues. The BET situation can easily be applied to any black kid who comes out of the ghetto and attempts to make something of themselves. The neighborhood and the attached stigmas follow any possible success and no matter how successful any one of these people gets, the inherent shame and conflict of their less successful or motivated peers and life station will always weigh on their minds. Throughout a predominantly conflicted and negative track, the chorus gives a single ray of hope through the mantra of “Shit don’t change unless you get up and wash your ass”.

! “Alright” uses a black stereotype to grapple with his personal struggle through life and compares it to the struggle of the black community as a whole. When we reach this track, the Poetic additions have reached “the evils of Lucy was all around me” and on the preceding track of “U” Kendrick and the album had hit their lowest point. As the track starts, a slew of new conflicts hits the table. Kendrick is facing his vices and the path he is headed down due to his fame and the influence of the music industry; comparing the game to “Lucy,” an incarnation of the devil in the form of a crafty woman. Again, he doubles as surrogate for the black community and the communal struggle, but fans out this connection to God. The “lawd lovin darkie” is a stereotype that Kendrick is playing on as a positive and embracing despite the pull against such topics in the mainstream rap industry. The voice of the track feels vastly positive; the bounce after the rock- bottom of “U”. However, “Alright” is nothing if not weighed down with struggle and sadness. The conflict of depression and hope clashes with every run of the chorus.

Lucy’s echo of Uncle Sam on “Wesley’s Theory” is a direct comparison of The Music Industry to Satan, a notion that Craig points out has been “a prominent, reoccurring theme [in music] for the past 30 years.”(Vigilant Citizen, 4). The bars have the same rhythm, but manage to hold their identity despite the change from 112 beats per minute(bpm) on “Wesley’s Theory” to the 56bpm of “Alright”. For a composition standpoint this is so impressive and Connor’s description of “...genius level record management in the tradition of Dr Dre”(Connor, 2) is not an exaggeration. The bpm change reflects Kendrick’s state in each song. “Wesley’s Theory” begins the album with a whirlwind ride to money and success with a fast beat and and a blasé attitude. By the echo, Kendrick has hit bottom and his life is crawling through the mud at a snails pace, prolonging his inner conflict and misery. “Alright” has the blurriest line between Kendrick as himself and Kendrick as the silhouette stand in for his people. Although the hook is positive and uplifting, the lyrics have weight and imply that Kendrick’s problems are also the problems of black individuals and the black community as a whole. The hook tells us that “We gon‘ be alright,” yet he describes his hope and his faith failing in times of deepest struggle, leaving the listener feeling (what a shock) conflicted.

! “The Blacker the Berry” is the summation of Kendrick’s struggle throughout the rest of the record; pitting racism against the existing problems perpetuated in the black community, resulting in an inconclusive conversation. This track is easily the most mind- bending and certainly the hard-hitting thesis of the record. Kendrick begins by claiming to be the “biggest hypocrite of 2015” in a mantra that gains weight as the song progresses. With the first verse confronting the white population and police brutality shattering the black community, the weight of the line “You made me a killer,” seems

obvious and, although striking, not extremely unique. As the track progresses, Kendrick accuses The Music Industry of making him a killer. Finally, Kendrick aims his accusations at his black brothers; gangbangers and thieves. If that wasn’t enough, the tracks introduction states “sometimes I get off watchin' you die in vain,” referring to his people. Although this could be the product of internalized racism, or Kendrick’s roots in the Blood/Crip war, nonetheless, it’s taking a stance that is not seen in conscious rap. Kendrick is facing that there is not one reason for violence or racism and therefore the problem can’t be fixed in any simple manner; certainly not one he holds the answer to. So who really made Kendrick a killer? Who made killers of any black man? As a representation, summation, and thesis of the rest of the album, Kendrick is having a conversation about where violence starts and presenting many possible options. They all repeat the same mantras, making them all equal and not singling any one out as more or less valid. In the end there is no clear resolution; just the statement of a problem and an intellectual presentation of thought. “The Blacker the Berry” states that many people and many groups are responsible for the perpetuation of racism, violence, and stereotypes, without attempting to “fix” the situation or even place blame as conscious rap is wont to do. When all of these things are called out, it is no longer about pointing a finger and starting a lynch mob. It becomes a critical reflection and the seed of a conversation. The running theme of the album persists as Kendrick becomes the echo of the black community and his inner conflicts become the conflicts within his community.

! As the album closes, Kendrick’s personal struggle is completely conveyed in a masterful comparison of himself to Tupac Shakur. His journey is not tied up in a neat

bow and the entirety of the album is left open-ended. We are not told explicitly “Kendrick will/will not meet the same end as Tupac,” but left to ponder and discuss. In the same way, we follow Kendrick’s reflection of the black community to its close without resolution. Many believe that “Underneath the tragedy and adversity, To Pimp a Butterfly is a celebration of the audacity to wake up each morning to try to be better, knowing it could all end in a second, for no reason at all,”(Jenkins, 3) and although that is a fair assessment of the album; trying to wrap up a record as complex and nuanced as To Pimp a Butterfly in a neat bow of optimism like that doesn’t do it any justice. TPaB would be nothing without its unending conflict and roller coaster of ups and downs. This blend of conflict and pain is our heart line direct to Kendrick’s soul as his confessional develops and our uniting point as a community under the problems he presents. As The World’s Busiest Music Nerd stated, “[Kendrick’s] not telling us what to think... [he’s] contradicting himself”(Fantano, 11:08). This inability to take a stand (among other explicit sexual and violent gangster themes) is ultimately what disqualifies To Pimp a Butterfly from the conscious spectrum. If the album was anything but what it is, we as the listener would not be able to discuss how we address the problems presented. The album would lose all intrigue and conversation if we were left with a solid resolution. To Pimp a Butterfly is a 78 minute conversation, to create a century’s conversation.

Sources Sited

Theneedledrop, and Anthony Fantano. "Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly ALBUM REVIEW." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.

An in-depth analysis of the formal elements of “To Pimp a Butterfly”. A moment I found really compelling was just around 11:18 when Fantano talks about the conflicted nature of the album. Alludes to Kendrick making a conscious album, but pays very close attention to the music beneath the flows and how it compels the message. The rare 10/10.

Connor, Martin. "Kendrick Lamar: Rap Music Analysis." The Composer's Corner. Blogspot, 24 July 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.

Connor analyzes Lamar’s production unity despite multiple producers. He hails this foresight into record management as genius level: on par with Dr Dre’s production insight and Jay-Z’s ear for album unity. Connor goes on to compare the seeding of musical ideas across tracks to classical compositions. He uses the example of an echoing verse with identical musical rhythms; despite the bpm change across tracks (56bpm on “Alright” and 112bpm on “Wesley’s Theory”

Jenkins, Craig. "To Pimp a Butterfly." Kendrick Lamar: Album Review. Pitchfork Publications, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

“Underneath the tragedy and adversity, To Pimp a Butterfly is a celebration of the audacity to wake up each morning to try to be better, knowing it could all end in a second, for no reason at all.”

Business, Music. "Kendrick's Deeper Story." Vigilant Citizen. The Vigilant Citizen, 27 Nov. 2015. Web

[cinamun]

shuffle your favorite playlist and post the first five songs that come up. then copy/paste this ask to your favorite mutuals ♥️

So since the most epic rap battle of my lifetime began, I have dusted off TPAB and DAMN and was immediately reminded of the artistic genius/brilliance of these albums

So i'll give you my top 5 songs from DAMN and HIGHLY ENCOURAGE anyone who sees this to understand for yourselves why this deserved and won a pulitzer.

DAMN., by Kendrick Lamar Recording released on April 14, 2017, a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.

[theinfinitedivides]

head in my hands Kendrick said he was going to double back like a deluxe. was scrolling through comments talking about how he might pull some 'in three days i will raise it up' shit and come back with a part two bc teaser song wasn't on the drop and there were two cars in said teaser video etc etc but i didn't get it until now................................ if he pulls that shit istfg i'm done. i'm doneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

A YEE NIGGA COULDN'T TRY ME IN THE TRI-STATE

[inkher0]

I was so confused by that "MUSTARRRRD" post, but then I checked tiktok and remembered Kendrick Lamar dropped a new album. Listen ink you can't just say "he's a lyrical genius" and then the most popular clip from the album is him screaming mustard

NO YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IS GENIUS. THERE'S LAYERS TO IT

Putting on my Music Nerd hat, a lot of the "random" sounds you hear rappers use have roots in beatboxing and old school, it's just a trend modern rappers are bringing back as they experiment with style and wordplay. Also Kenny just Be Like That, he's Weird

Like it's okay if you don't get it. But don't imply it's not "good" because you don't get it. If you reject something when you don't understand it, you'll never take the first step in learning. You should actually listen to the album instead of letting tiktok paint your impression of it.

[beautifulpersonpeach]

i remember you’re a Kendrick Lamar fan BPP. Are you following the beef with Drake? I have to confess i normally don’t listen to rap but i remember you love Kendrick and this beef has gotten even to my neck of the i-woods in a sense and it all seems a bit intense? Sorry if this is presumptuous but do you mind sharing your thoughts? Is Kendrick living up to your expectations or not?

p.s. I sent you another ask about the MHJ situation but I understand if you’d rather ignore it for now. Always hoping to read your thoughts.

***

Shit is getting kinda dark lol.

Usually, I’d be happy about this. I love Kendrick because if there’s one guy who will go there, it’s him. He’s one of the best rappers to ever walk this earth and that’s been my firm opinion since A.D.H.D on Section.80. His bars have triple and quadruple entendres layered in intervals in time with cadences not just in his own flow but also in the tracks he samples for the kill. In short, Kendrick is a genius. The problem is, he knows it, and his ego shows it. He’s a bit of a bully too tbh. By that I mean, he’s both cruel and efficient when he chooses a target. He’s hardly ever evenly matched and sometimes that makes him… careless.

Drake on the other hand, has a documented history of being just as egotistical, and while he’s dropped some solid bars too during this beef, it’s clear he’s a bit more… fragile. Reckless.

And that’s dangerous.

Kendrick’s carelessness paired with Drake’s recklessness is a match made in hell. It can only end badly unless by some divine intervention both men find a way to walk it all back and make peace. In this way, J.Cole appears to have escaped the worst of this by wisely bowing out of the fight early but things have gotten so dark that I don’t believe it’s clear that even he’s gone scott free, just yet.

Given I don’t want (and I hope nobody does) a repeat of Tupac and Biggie’s beef, things are progressing at a worrying rate. Speaking just in terms of skill however, I think it’s clear Kendrick completely bodies Drake but I’ve always felt he’d win every round anyway lol.

—

About your P.S., assuming your ask is anonymous I can’t possibly know what ask you’re referring to. Can you send it again or tell me what exactly you’re talking about? Much of the anxiety about the MHJ-HYBE sitch has kinda bundled up into one ‘thing’ in my inbox and it’s difficult to pick out specific questions.

Thank you.

[tactidoll]

Dollypop, got any rap recs?

so ive been planning on doing a series of playlists as a kinda introduction to rap, especially so after the dot vs drake beef has put rap back in the spotlight and made more people than ever actually aware of the lyrical content of these songs, its mostly been an issue of executive function beating my ass 5 ways to sunday lately, but suffice to say rap recommendations has been on my mind a lot lately

i could probably go on for a few hrs about hip hop and its place as the culmination of all music prior, but rap is a genre that more so than others rewards album listening so i will more often than not recommend albums over singles/tracks but ill try my best to isolate what i consider to be a well rounded list (no links cus i dont use spotify lmao)

theres a lotta ways to split up rap and hip hop as a whole into a thousand micro genres, especially when you take regions into consideration but i think im gonna go with just 15 tracks that cover as many bases as i can and give a little explanation for each track starting with

NY State of Mind - Nas: ny state of mind is THE classic in my books, dj premier provides the perfect boom bap beat for nas to make the final push to usher in a new generation of rap, literally sampling eric b and rakim in the chorus, the previous pair to bring the genre from the 80’s into the 90’s, furthering that push with more complex rhyme schemes and blending the street/gangsta rap of nwa and wu-tang with the jazzy introspection and philosophy of de la and tribe, a perfect set piece for the album of a desperate kid rapping and telling his stories like its his last day on earth because it just might be

Doomsday – MF DOOM: the manifesto of a super villain, a rulebook on rap, a re-emergence of a forgotten rapper, after the death of his brother and issues with the record label dropping KMD Zev Love X disappeared in ‘94 and then in ‘99 MF DOOM dropped operation: doomsday, the dizzying rhyme schemes and word play, the casual humor and pop culture and sampling referencing lends to a true statement of a song, that DOOM was here and was gonna change the world

4th Chamber – GZA: a dozen wu-tang tracks could’ve appeared on this list and all would be justified but 4th chamber is my favourite by far, starting with the now iconic samurai or kung fu film sample and then kicking into a crazy intro beat that calms slightly in time for ghostface killah to come in and pick it right back up with the first verse of this slick posse cut

Mathematics – Mos Def: Yasiin Bey Is a genius plain and simple, another track produced by preemo another masterpiece of a beat, Bey raps about the sociological statistics that work to keep the black population down in this mathematically driven guide through the politics of the late 90’s

You Got Me – The Roots: this track really shows just how good live instrumentation can be, black thought is one of the greatest of all time, simple as frankly I don’t have too much more to say its just a brilliant song

Wesley’s Theory – Kendrick Lamar: the opening to the greatest album of all time, opening with the mission statement of the album, the sample at the start before the james brown esque hit me pulls the tone back down to earth, part one of the track being a young kdots reactions to the money hes been looking for and part two kendrick plays the role of uncle sam the mascot of white supremacy looking to exploit over eager black artists and talents and lump them with a bill and lock them up when they cant pay it, the deep seeped politics, the groove of thundercat and george clinton of the parliments and funkadelic collectives and the dr dre break really helps sets the tone of the album

Jazz (We’ve Got) – A Tribe called Quest: the perfect jazz rap song, the beat was original made by pete rock before being remade by q-tip, a quintessential classic of the genre simple as

Shook Ones pt 2 – Mobb Deep: the greatest gangsta rap song of all time and frankly its not close its something spectacular, the hardest two 19 year olds ever sounded, over a dark almost evil beat produced by havoc this track is an absolute landmark for not just queensbridge but the entirety of the east coast

Introvert – Little Simz: this track is nothing short of spectacular, a powerful, cinematic, orchestral masterpiece, deep diving into her inner turmoil and her roots, the corruption of the british government, this song shook me to my core when I first listened to simbi, a rallying cry that calls for a war against the oppressing forces further tightening the chains if we ever are to be freed from the oppression

Don’t Cry – J Dilla: this song is gorgeous, chopping up I cant stand (to see you cry) by the escorts into a wonderful beat, made by jay dee in the final throws of his life, half worked on while hospital bound, frequent collaborator and fellow soulquarian questlove stated that this was a message to his mother as J dilla knew the end was near

Nuthin’ But A G Thang – Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg: the quintessential G-funk banger the genre doesn’t get better than this

SORRY NOT SORRY – Tyler, The Creator: a weird choice for this list, I wasnt sure if I wanted to include it because its so tied to tylers discography but its honestly one of the best rap songs ever when you have the context, especially when you take into account the music video where tyler and all the various versions of himself stand before an audience of ex’s and other notable judgemental presences in his life, as he kills almost every version of himself barring the ‘ugliest’ sides of himself in igor and goblin era tyler potentially insinuating those parts of him still reside inside him

I Used to Love H.E.R – Common: this song is so very important, maybe the best use of metaphor in the whole genre, a fallen out of love story for that very same genre, fantastic storytelling and a great beat by no I.D. one of the most important producers and figures in hip hop out of chicago

Aquemini – Outkast: the title track from one the duos third album and really the record that put the dirty south on the radar on a nationwide level, a sign of their decision to stick together for as long as possible, andres verses really shows hes one of the all time greats and that big boi is not far behind at all

Hazard Duty Pay – JPEGMAFIA: this song was all I listened to for a few weeks after it release, an aggressive single verse track over a soulful beat what more could you want

[importantangeldefendor]

OC superhero team profile

impossible girl : Real name: Saturn

Height: 5'8

Gender: F

How they act: positive , excited, and often times eager to share any facet of being alive with others

Core traits: Genuinely loves everyone.

Strengths: loving, creative, patient,

Weaknesses - Conflict avoidant, naive, overly forgiving, self-loathing

Likes: Musicals, community service, superhero stories, stuffed animals

Dislikes: Difficult conversations, the Celestial shards, having to Hurt others, HATES being in pain .

Backstory: She lived with her abusive transphobic mother before "The Great Shine" caused her to gain telekinesis . She accidentally injured her mother before running away . She ended up playing as a homeless superhero for a bit before being found by the AHRA and eventually adopted by one of its directors, a friendly alien named Kalari.

While being a child in the agency, she meets Danera, aka the world's smartest teenager (at the time) who promptly takes her under their wing.

3 years pass more or less peacefully until the 2nd celestial shard appears and the plot kicks off

Favorite TV show: Sailor moon

Favorite food: Burtali, an alien fruit from her Alien mom Home world.

Animal woman real name: Danera stripes

Height: 5'6

Gender: F

How they act: Goofy, smug, smarter than you, Playful .

Core traits: utterly brilliant, still finds ways to overestimate herself, intensly curius and deeply loves her friends - ESPECIALLY Jupiter.

Strengths; Determined, brilliant, adaptative

Weaknesses: Prideful, holds important information, manipulative, kind of a dick sometimes .

Likes: Math, junk food, fighting games, Nature documentaries .

Dislikes: Cheaters, not knowing tf is going on, being bored, magic, just all of it.

Backstory: She was a child genius who was discovered by the science society at an orphanage after she successfully auto mated the whole thing. She met and bonded with Row Wilkins, a fellow brilliant scientist, and worked with them for a handful of years.

However encountering the celestial shard during the great flash, she not only gained the ability to turn into animals but soon came around to realizing the whole "protecting the world from the shadows' thing was never going to work out so she decided go Join AHRA . There she later and became incredibly close to Jupiter, considering her like a little sister.

Favorite TV show: Cosmos

Favorite food: Gulab Jamun

Glueman: Real name: John lamar

Height: 6,0

Gender: M

How they act: responsible, straight man, anxious, complainer

Core traits: Would do anything for the people he loves, Comically out his league, indomitable spirit

Strengths: Quick-witted, stubborn, responsible, hard-working

Weaknesses: Close-minded, just a pinch of sexism , over estimates himself, doesn't do self care

Likes: Family sitcoms, Schedules and people following them, chemistry, superhero comics.

Dislikes: Eldrich abominations, Progressive rock, Sexy men (they make him question himself)

Backstory: He grew up in a somewhat normal, abliet dysfunctional household and was forced to take care of his sister from a young age. He overcame these obstacles and eventually got a degree in chemistry.

On a seemingly ordinary day, he was driving his sister to school when the celestial shard crashed right into them, to which his sister grabbed and briefly absorbed the shard before disappearing in a giant flash,

As a result, he put his chemistry career on hold and dedicated himself to joining AHRA to find his lost sibling. 3 years of hard work (and successfully inventing an entirely new substance) have put him here . Let's hope he doesn't die along the way!

Favorite TV show: Malcom In the middle

Favorite food: Mac and cheese

Goliath real name: Ava Hope's

Height: 6'10

How they act: Gruff, Sarcastic, Prone to brooding

Core traits: Terrified of the world but just brave enough to keep going with the help of her friends.

Strengths: Accepting, self-aware, empathetic, strong sense of justice.

Weaknesses - Depressed, Internally terrified, Body dysphoria.

Likes: Gay pop music , superheroes writing horror fiction,

Dislikes: Emo music, board games, junk food,

Backstory: She was an ordinary (very pretty) college girl when the shard exploded in NYC, granting her mile super strength and furred arms . She played at being a hero for a bit before being captured by the COUNTER CONSPIRACY AGENCY and was expiermened on to harness her unique power .

This failed - but not before turning her from a 5'5 Woman into a towering furry giant with incredible strength that barely looks human . Naturally this wasn't exactly a pleasant expiernce!

She decided to quit any chance at a normal life when , attempting to attend her little sisters graduation had AHRA called on her . All this shaped her into being an callous and cynical person far from the idealistic girl she once was.

Still, she refuses to give into what was done to her and chooses to use her powers for the good of mankind .

[jasmynfritz]

“Get Top on the phone” ☎️

I wondered why I was familiar with the line when I heard it on Doechii’s "Boom Bap". Hearing it inspired me to recollect the songs I’d heard it in. So, that’s what this is…

#1 THat Part - ScHoolboy Q feat. Kanye West (May 2016)

This had to be the song I first heard the line on. And at this point — I am only noticing the line as the line. Ye closes out the outro:

I'ma freestyle this motherfucker, who knew? // When I'm with my niggas, nigga, ScHoolboy Q // And uh, Top Dawg, call up Dawg // Get that nigga on the phone // Top Dawg on the phone // Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy, Haa”

This made sense. ScHoolboy Q is a longtime artist with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). "Top" refers to Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, CEO of TDE. In a clever way, Kanye’s shouting out Q and Top for being the dope individuals they are and for their proven success in the music industry. Only after gathering songs for this blog do I wonder if Ye’s drawing directly from the song the phrase was first featured on, #2 on this list…

#2 Kendrick Lamar - untitled 02 | 06.23.2014. (March 2016)

When I heard it here, I recognized it. And then I thought “of course”. And without feeling the need to verify, I posited for obvious reasons that it was the first recording of the line in a song.

In “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014.” Kendrick bookends the chorus with:

“Get God on the phone” // “Get Top on the phone”

Kendrick seems to lean into it as reverence to Top by likening him to God, for who he is to him. So I left it at that.

I later found a Genius annotation pointing to a now removed image Top Dawg tweeted where the phrase was written on the upcoming TDE releases next to Kendrick’s entry. When I look back, this should’ve meant more to me.

#3 Boom Bap - Doechii (August 2024)

I immediately thought the use of the phrase was so brillantly delivered, sonically thrilling, all of it. So, the significance..if i had to say: Doechii’s paying respect to Top and to Kendrick by sampling his line that carries the respect for Top; and then in the same breath, flipping it in her demand for respect (and attention, resources, etc.) from Top and whomever else because, even as one of the newest TDE-signees, she believes she’s the one-next up-etc.

So then, I searched the internet about it…

#4 THat Part - ScHoolboy Q (Black Hippy remix) (July 2016)

Less than 2 months after the original THat Part was released, Q drops the Black Hippy remix featuring these lines from Jay Rock:

“If you wanna fall through, get Top on the phone // He don't pick up then it ain't bool // Let you know it ain't good to stop”

Ohhhkay - #1, I actually forgot this song existed and had only heard it once or twice. #2, now I see the more of what it means, maybe for all mentions even. For Kanye – him getting on the TDE cal, a ScHoolboy Q record and shouting Top out for it.

The phrase encompasses a lot and much of what I initially thought, I’d say, still stands. At its core, I think is a request of clearance and activation of action, topped with obvious respect. “Get Top on the phone” because we need his blessing and his guidance.

[spiegelgestalt]

conspiracy videos about rappers and rap beefs are truly wild. You just can say anything about anyone and find lyrics to match it. I'm sure I could make up a conspiracy theory that idk n95 is actually about tyler the creator if I used rap lyrics the way these bozos use them.

I always thought I was the queen of reaching and overanalyzing. But I truly don't enjoy this. These are real people. Leave them alone. Even genius is on this shit. The explanations and references usually don't help at all in understanding the lyrics.

And don't get me started about reddit. I've been lurking on the kendrick lamar reddit for a while know and I've yet to see any true analysis for his songs. He has such a rich catalogue but I guess it's more interesting to ask if money trees is secretly about drake. And if anyone tries to go deeper into lyrics some asshole is always screaming Reach!!!

And it's so disrespectful to the art form. Hot take: poetry/rap/songs aren't newspapers. Idc if their content is real or not. They are an expression of feeling. They should be able to stand on their own merits without everyone asking about the gossip behind the words. Hell make something up. Write fanfiction about what it means to you (preferably with changed names because I have to say it again: these are real people leave them alone) I kinda want to grab people, take them back to school and say: and now boys girls and others let's talk about the lyrical self and how it differs from the author. And anyway let's introduce the author is dead concept to rap - fuck what it really meant I'm gonna tell you what it meant to me!

In other news. Does anyone know good websites/content creators for album/lyrical analysis which don't go into this conspiracy bullshit? The algorithm isn't kind to me in that regard. I'm finding shit.

[4theloveofhiphop]

The Genius ANDERSON .PAAK

As you all know, I am obsessed with the golden era that was the 80's/90's for music. So when I am impressed by a present musical artist, you know they are PAAKED with talent. And that is why 8 time grammy winner Anderson .PAAK is definitely one of my top favorite artists. His music has had a serious influential impact on the music industry, he really shines in his own league. His voice is one of a kind, a sound that truly stands out. His style and sound is so silky smooth that his voice in this industry really puts a spot light on him; whether he's a featured artist on a record or the main focus. In his early start to his musical journey he started drumming at the age of 12, and moved on to dj-ing which then led to him writing and creating his own music. His writing skills set him apart from the rest including his genius play on words in his single "Lock Down." One of my favorite tracks from Anderson that truly proves his talents. One minute he raps, the next minute he sings, his musical range is unbelievably impressive. The song is an important message for his support on the "Black Lives Matter" movement. He never shy's away from speaking his mind on important matters, or his opinions on everyday life or, giving his fans important advice on life's many struggles which he portrays in songs like "Get Bigger/Do U Luv." He gives his fans a true message on moving forward, following your dreams and never settling for less; another genius track that really made him stand out to me. His words are meaningful, inspirational and his rhymes on this specific song showcase his true ability when it comes to style and flow. His rap style is not of mockery which separates him from other artists who tend to go with a trend. He has his own style and sound that is so classic and unique that his shows consistently stay sold OUT. His personality and confidence definitely come from a place of true belief in his own talents which are co-signed by all the artists he has worked with in the industry which include big names like: BRUNO MARS, MAC MILLER, BLXST, GOLDLINK, SCHOOLBOY Q, KENDRICK LAMAR, SNOOP DOGG, JCOLE and more..