Originally posted by Spangle@Mar 16 2014, 08:14 PM
Of course. YG dropped a certified classic.

I don't have a review, but I can confirm this is the 2nd best hip hop album i have listened to this year.

Originally posted by JayTee@Mar 16 2014, 11:17 PM


I don't have a review, but I can confirm this is the 2nd best hip hop album i have listened to this year.

Haven't listened to it yet, but Spangs post seemed full of sarcasm lol. I mean him giving My ***** a 5? Lol

Lol

Thank you to My boys @Merica and @Ragnar for the lovely sigs!

<div align="center">

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Pinata</div>

Scarface: 4.25/5
-I love this beat here, which is certainly what I know I will be getting from this album, given Madlib's skill on the boards. Freddie Gibbs also delivers here in a short track that essentially serves as an introduction to who he is and where he comes from for those uninitiated with him. There is not much to discuss here, but I like it.

Deeper: 4/5
-The track represents the other side of Gangsta Gibbs. While a lot of tracks of his are about selling dope and being a hard ass motherfucker, he always has a few of these ones, which show off his more "sensitive" side, a la "My Homeboy's Girlfriend" off of Cold Day in Hell. This track is essentially that as he raps about a girl who left him for another man. The beat is solid and Gibbs' bars are tight as expected. Dude can rap for days, this just feels so easy for him.

High (ft. Danny Brown): 3.75/5
-Gee, I wonder what this one is about, haha. Overall, a pretty laid back track as Freddie Gibbs discusses, well, getting high. As I said before, Gangsta Gibbs' rapping is so natural. The words just flow so perfectly. It is hard to find fault in his bars. The beat is nice and chill as well and really compliments both Gibbs and Danny Brown well. Danny Brown's weird ass voice is also solid here. I am not a believer in that voice all the time, but it works some times and one of those times is here. Not a standout track, but a solid one all the same.

Harold’s: 4.25/5
-Well, this track made me hungry. Sounds like Freddie is a fan of some chicken wings. I wonder if he likes ribs too? Thus far, this album has been really laid back and chill. I keep repeating myself, but a lot of these tracks have a similar feel. That is not a knock, though, since the formula is working well thus far. Madlib crafts a stellar, chill beat and Gibbs just goes ham over it. I am totally cool with this.

Bomb (ft. Raekwon): 4.25/5
-This one is definitely one that grabs your attention immediately from the tracklist. I mean, there are a lot of good features on this album, but, dude, it is Raekwon. Somehow, Madlib managed to craft a beat that felt like a classic Gibbs beat and yet also classic 90's that works perfectly with Raekwon. As Gangsta Gibbs spits some hardcore gangsta rap bars, his immaculate flow is extremely noticeable. If you say somebody else has a better flow in rap, you are wrong. Dude is the "King of Flow". Raekwon kills his feature as usual. He does not renegade Gibbs in the least, but Raekwon does Raekwon.

Shitsville: 4.5/5
-Every time I listen to this album, this track stands out to me, especially the line, "Motherfuck you euthanasia I'll lace your food up with razors / Make you gargle with saltwater and excuse yourself from my table." This one is a switch up from the laid back nature of the other tracks as Gangsta Gibbs gets more aggressive and the beat Madlib produced fits this perfectly. It is fast paced, almost anxious to a degree as Freddie Gibbs that calls out all those who think they are better than him.

Thuggin: 4.5/5
-This one feels like classic Gangsta Gibbs. The chemistry between Gibbs and Madlib is on full display on this LP, but this track is a perfect example of that. The beat is good and Gibbs is dope as usual. God, I sound like a broken record. tl;dr this whole fucking album is really good.

Real: 4.75/5
-I really wish Gangsta Gibbs and Jeezy would put the beef behind them, but I guess if this track is any indication, that will not be happening any time soon. This is not "Ether" or "Takeover", but in terms of diss tracks, this one is top-notch. Great beat from Madlib and Freddie goes in on Jeezy. I wish Jeezy was a better rapper who was willing to trade punches with Gibbs, because this could be a classic beef if it produces more tracks like this one.

Uno: 4.25/5
-The fact that the second verse starts off with a line from a Tupac song further drives home my belief that Gangsta Gibbs is the modern day 2pac. Just listen to Gangsta Gibbs and tell me I am crazy if you want, but I see a ton of similarities between the two. I also love the final line, "Shit got me wishing DMX had never hit the pipe / Pun ain't never died and Big L was still here to bless the mic". You and everyone else, Freddie. You and everyone else. What I would give.

Robes (ft. Domo Genesis & Earl Sweatshirt): 4.5/5
-Not features I would expect from a Gibbs LP, but I will definitely take it. Odd Future is usually not my thing, but Domo Genesis and Earl Sweatshirt turn in solid verses, as does Freddie. However, the real star here is the beat. There are no words to describe how much I love this beat from Madlib. It is pure perfection and all three guys flowed really well on it. This one also ends up with a funny little skit where Gibbs sings a little, "Don't chase waterfalls, just stick to dicks and balls". Gotta admit, I breathed a little more air out of my nose than usual at that one.

Broken (ft. Scarface): 4.5/5
-Gangsta Gibbs and Scarface? Yes please, sign me up for that one every day of the week. A relatively deep track from Freddie on his speaks on his upbringing and how his parental figures dealt with him being involved in street shit. Overall, a pretty dope track as he spits as well as usual and Scarface comes in and drops knowledge. While the features have all been top-notch, the great part is that none of them have overshadowed Gibbs.

Lakers (ft. Ab-Soul & Polyester the Saint): 4/5
-An ode to Los Angeles, which makes sense since Freddie Gibbs seems to be an honorary West Coaster in spite of being born in Gary, Indiana (ANOTHER 2PAC SIMILARITY; ILLUMINATI PRESENCE CONFIRMED, 2PAC IS ALIVE). I am typically not an Ab-Soul fan because his voice annoys me, even though he is a good rapper. But, with his verse sandwiched between two Gangsta Gibbs verses and a Madlib beat, it no longer bothers me. A lot of these tracks have a really similar feel to them since Madlib produced all of it, but if all the tracks are good, I will not complain.

Knicks: 4.75/5
-This one is definitely an interesting track. I like the tie in between the two verses about how things repeat themselves in life, whether it be in basketball or when it comes to money and violence. I have to say though, these lines hit me the hardest, "police killed my ***** in 2006 / Only thing he losing is his pension, ain’t that ‘bout a bitch / If I see that ho I got a slug for him / I wanna kill him slow like I ain't got no love for him / I wanna torture and burn him, drag him to hell with me". Gangsta Gibbs always talks about his life on the street and his toughness, but to get that touch of vulnerability and hostility aimed at somebody who hurt him is a somber, yet positive touch. It is hard not to appreciate this track when considering where it comes from.

Shame (ft. BJ the Chicago Kid): 4.5/5
-I am a sucker for BJ the Chicago Kid's hooks and this track is no different. In between sexed up verses from Gibbs, BJ's hook comes in and is incredibly elegant and almost soothing, in spite of the content. Like many gangsta rappers, Freddie Gibbs talks up his sexual prowess a lot, but for some reason, I almost have to believe him. With a lot of dudes, I cannot help but call bullshit, but Gibbs' dick swagger is so convincing, it is hard to not think he ain't lying. The main problem I have with this track is the placing of it on the album. Right after a touching and somewhat concscious track in "Knicks", placing this sexed up chest puffing song right after it is an odd choice. However, that is a small complaint, as everything else is on point.

Pinata (ft. Domo Genesis, G-Wiz, Casey Veggies, Sulaiman, Meechy Darko & Mac Miller): 4.25/5
-This track is a long one, but in terms of group cuts, it will wind up being considered one of the best of 2014 without question. It is no "1Train", but regardless, this one delivers. I like everyone's verses, but Domo Genesis and Casey Veggies' standout the most to me aside from Freddie's. Only verse I do not really care for that much is Meechy Darko's, because I am solely not a fan of his delivery. The stuff he is saying works for me, but his delivery turns me off immediately. Overall, a pretty solid track that is a little bit on the long side and just feels like a group cut to have a group cut, but I do not mind that much, since 6.5 out of the 7 verses were quality.

65/75 -> 4.33/5

Freddie Gibbs and Madlib really delivered here without question. This album is extremely cohesive and on the whole, flows really well between tracks. "Knicks" to "Shame" is still an odd choice to me, but otherwise, everything really fit nicely for me. Madlib's production was top-notch throughout. I honestly cannot think of a beat I did not enjoy on this album or a track in which the beat and Gibbs' verses did not share the spotlight almost equally. In terms of Freddie Gibbs, dude is one of the best out right now. His flow is on point, his verses are on point, and really, I cannot think of a bad thing to say about him on this album. Another major plus this album has going for it is the features. Some were sketchy on paper for me (Earl Sweatshirt? Sulaiman?), but all of them worked well and added to the songs they were featured on. Usually, a major problem with him is that his albums/mixtapes are a bit on the long side and can have some filler on them, but here, that problem is nonexistent. Every track brought something to the table and never felt like excess. It is hard to think of a better rapper/producer combo in rap right now than Freddie Gibbs and Madlib, as whenever they get together, magic happens. Then again, Freddie Gibbs could rap over an orchestra falling down the stairs and sound dope, while Madlib could make Chief Keef sound like Common on one of his beats. These two guys are just special in their own right, so when they come together, it is a true blessing.

Oh, and my legit review of My Krazy Life, haha.

BPT: 4.5/5
-This is exactly the kind of track I am looking for when listening to YG. The beat produced by DJ Mustard is phenomenal and really bumps in the whip. YG’s flow on it is also really good as you can tell that the chemistry between him and Mustard is really good. The hook is a good little pump up shoutout to Bompton and really helps to set the tone for the album as a whole. In addition, I do enjoy YG’s lyrics here. He is far from a lyricist, but for a pump up track from somebody who is borderline trap, they are pretty good. One thing I noticed here is that YG kinda his Game on here, as he shouted out quite a few guys such as Game, Dom Kennedy, and Tupac, before copping a line from Dr. Dre’s “The Watcher” (“And this the mothafuckin' thanks I get?”) in the second verse. Not a complaint, because I like the West Coast unity and vibe I feel from this one, but all the same.

I Just Wanna Party (ft. Schoolboy Q & Jay Rock): 4.5/5
-YG recruits two TDE strongholds for this one, as well as collaborating with two guys from rivals gangs (Jay Rock is a blood as well, but apparently his subset is not on good terms with YG’s). Much like the first song, the hook really works here. YG flows nicely on it and this one is quite catchy, actually. I do not know if it just my illegally downloaded version or what, but Schoolboy Q’s voice sounds a little high-pitched on this, but I like his verse all the same. However, as has been the case in recent times, Jay Rock absolutely murders his verse and steals this one. I cannot wait for his sophomore effort this year, should really be something.

Left, Right: 4/5
-You can feel the sexual energy dripping off of this one, as each line is more sexed up than the last. However, what really works here, aside from the banging beat, is YG’s swagger. I think that is what draws me to him. The swagger he raps with is really appealing and while I do not typically enjoy songs that are this sexed up, I do find myself liking this track. Now, it is not a lyrical masterpiece of course, but from the context of the album and who YG is as a musician, it really works. Thus far, this album has been quite the surprise.

Bicken Back Being Bool: 2.75/5
-I get that YG does not want to say C’s and shit, but dude, this song is ruined by that. Bicken Back Being Bool is incomprehensible whenever he says it and since it is practically all he says on the hook, it happens a lot. However, as is the case with much of this album, DJ Mustard’s production bumps. It’s a low-key bump since it is calmer, but it bumps nonetheless. I admittedly do enjoy the first verse, which saves this one from being flat out bad and, plus, I have to find something other than the beat to justify listening to this one since I will listen to it because of the beat anyways. Overall, not horrible, but not the best thing I have heard on this album in the least. Oh and this track is the first time we hear the little skit-type thing at the end and these get funnier as the album progresses, so nice little addition.

Meet the Flockers (ft. Tee Cee): 2/5
-This one winds up feeling a lot like filler. I get what YG was going for, but a bad verse from Tee Cee and a verse from YG where it feels like he was just warming up after arriving at the studio are not good elements for a song. Plus, the beat is pretty non-descript. For a guy who relies on his production a ton, YG cannot allow a pretty…eh beat to make his album. Overall, there is not much on this one and it ultimately lacks replay value.

My ***** (ft. Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan): 4.5/5
-My ***** my *****. Everyone has heard this one a million times hopefully, so I probably do not have to say too much about it, but I will say a few things. I enjoy RI HOMIE QUAN on the hook here, even in his weird raspy voice and lack of annunciation of his own name. Overall, the beat works and none of the verses are outright terrible. Easy track to ride around in the whip to and it is hard to see how this track is not the standout from this album.

Do It To Ya (ft. TeeFLii): 1.5/5
-After hearing “My *****”, we get this thing. If there is one thing that I do not want from YG, especially after hearing “Left, Right” is this thing. It is essentially The Game’s “Special” or Schoolboy Q’s “Studio”, but way worse. TeeFlii sucks, honestly and his voice does not help anything. YG’s verses come off as a fake and cheesy, as he claims he can be there for these girls and be better than all of the guys she has been with before. Essentially, he claims he would not ditch them like their baby daddy’s. Maybe YG is not lying, but it seems to be in stark contrast to much of his discography and this feels like a track that tries to appeal to women and it feels as dishonest as Rick Ross claiming he was not a police officer. The little rip off of “Face Down” by Meek Mill (which also sucked) and the awkward pornesque sequence at the end is very unnecessary. However, it leads into the funniest little skit thing, which almost makes this track worth it entirely. Seriously, skip the track to the end and listen to the skit. But, much like “Meet the Flockers”, this one should have been on the cutting room floor.

Me & My Bitch (ft. Tory Lanez): 2/5
-Oh another love track for the women as YG details a failed relationship where he thought that he was in love with this young lady. Ultimately, this track does not do much for me and does not really spur many thoughts. It is interesting to see YG devote two straight tracks to similar subject matters that are not gangsta, but the change of pace is not really needed nor wanted. More gangsta shit, less of this lovey dovey stuff.

Who Do You Love? (ft. Drake): 4.5/5
-Oooo here we go. Fantastic beat that really bumps nicely, plus it has got the funniest brag I have ever heard in, “My Bank of America account got six figures”. I enjoy Drake’s verse here, but it borders on overshadowing YG’s a bit (Drake ft. Drake), but all the same, it is a good thing when a song finishes and I really wish that it was a lot longer. Great beat, solid lyrics, and a solid guest turn from Drake, all help to make this one another success for YG in an album that seems to be shaping into a “highest highs and lowest lows” deal. BITCH, WHO DO YOU LOVE?

Really Be (Smokin N Drinkin) (ft. Kendrick Lamar): 3.75/5
-This is one that stands out immediately when you look at the tracklist because of the Kendrick feature and really, you wind up just sitting around through YG’s verses waiting for King Kendrick to grab the mic. Now, YG’s verses are not that bad, but the beat is nothing special and really, when YG raps over a non-descript beat, as I said before, things get boring quickly. Luckily, when Kendrick gets on the mic, the beat picks up a bit and, well, it is King Kendrick. You do not even have to listen to know Kendrick killed it. However, since we have to wait so long for Kendrick, it is tough to praise this one a ton.

1am: 3.5/5
-YG gets his Game on again, as he pretty much lifts a line from Dre’s “The Next Episode” and makes it the hook. This track, like all of the other non-DJ Mustard produced tracks, it pretty…eh. YG truly relies on Mustard’s production for success, as this one is just not interesting. YG’s lyrics are interesting, but the beat comes off as pretty monotone and almost lulls the listener to sleep, causing them to miss YG’s verses.

Sorry Momma (ft. Ty Dolla Sign): 4/5
-Thank God, DJ Mustard is back, plus the capable Terrace Martin also handles the boards. The melo beat really helps to set the tone for this one, as YG apologizes to his mother for all that he put her through over the years. Ty Dolla Sign’s hook is perfect for this track and really helps to connect YG’s verses, which essentially play out as a dialogue between him and his mother. Sure, this one is no “Dear Mama” or “Hey Mama”, but it is sincere and touching all the same. While the beat does take a bit of a backseat here and that always makes me weary when it comes to YG, it works here (especially since the beat itself is super nice). This is a really nice capper to this album and it winds up leaving the listener with a positive memory of the LP.

41.5/60 –> 3.46/5

This one is ultimately an album of highs and lows. Far too often, YG deviates from what really works for him and that is banging beats from DJ Mustard. The tracks without DJ Mustard are the very noticeable lows, while tracks like “I Just Wanna Party”, “My *****”, and “Who Do You Love?” are undoubtedly the highs of this work. While not all of the DJ Mustard produced tracks work (“Bicken Back Being Bool” and “Do It To Ya” are definite lows), they are at least somewhat enjoyable at times, while the bad non-Mustard produced tracks are just entirely bad. YG is a gangsta rapper and, really, he left that corner far too often. He needed more gangsta rap and less lovey dovey tracks aimed at the ladies. It is amazing that YG has managed to craft 12 track album that has filler, but he has done it. I enjoy YG and while my rating is low for this album, I am content with getting a few tracks from this album to add to my YG collection on iTunes. It is really all you can hope for when a guy who is really hit-or-miss drops an album.

Snoop Dogg and Tyler the Creator at Ottawa Bluesfest this summer

Vladimir Vaskov | RW | Colorado Raptors
Name:  Vladimir Vaskov
Age: 19
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 198lbs
Number:  14
-----------------------------------------------------------
Stats: 

S#    Team   GP   G  A   P   +/-   PIM  HIT  MPG

S41 Raptors  17   0   0   0   -3     15    33  15.08

S42  Raptors  50 10  8  18  +4     35   63  12.83

-----------------------------------------------------------

Playoff Stats:

S#    Team   GP  G  A  P  +/-  PIM  HIT  MPG

S41  Raptors  7   1   2  3   +1     2   11  16.21

S42  Raptors  4   0   0  0   0       2     6   12.81

-----------------------------------------------------------
Transactions:
Defected from KHL
Signed with Colorado Raptors
Drafted by Hamilton Steelhawks 25th Overall
[pbl]-----------------------------------------------------------
Awards:

Pinata is a great album.

Originally posted by Dion.OvOxO@Mar 30 2014, 09:37 PM
Pinata is a great album.

Can't wait to get my signed copy

Thank you to My boys @Merica and @Ragnar for the lovely sigs!

I can't wait until "Hoop Life" drops. One of the most anticipated Mixtapes In awhile.

King Soulja 2 is probably the worst mixtape ive listen to in awhile. I cant believe I used to bump his shit :lol:

Just no effort at all, Beats are banging as usual. But those lyrics, god damn.

Soulja is easily one of the worst rappers right now, probably would crack the Top 3

Originally posted by Dion.OvOxO@Apr 8 2014, 05:52 PM
King Soulja 2 is probably the worst mixtape ive listen to in awhile. I cant believe I used to bump his shit :lol:

Just no effort at all, Beats are banging as usual. But those lyrics, god damn.

Soulja is easily one of the worst rappers right now, probably would crack the Top 3

:ph34r:

Vladimir Vaskov | RW | Colorado Raptors
Name:  Vladimir Vaskov
Age: 19
Height: 6’ 2”
Weight: 198lbs
Number:  14
-----------------------------------------------------------
Stats: 

S#    Team   GP   G  A   P   +/-   PIM  HIT  MPG

S41 Raptors  17   0   0   0   -3     15    33  15.08

S42  Raptors  50 10  8  18  +4     35   63  12.83

-----------------------------------------------------------

Playoff Stats:

S#    Team   GP  G  A  P  +/-  PIM  HIT  MPG

S41  Raptors  7   1   2  3   +1     2   11  16.21

S42  Raptors  4   0   0  0   0       2     6   12.81

-----------------------------------------------------------
Transactions:
Defected from KHL
Signed with Colorado Raptors
Drafted by Hamilton Steelhawks 25th Overall
[pbl]-----------------------------------------------------------
Awards:

<div align="center">

Iggy Azalea - The New Classic</div>

Walk the Line: 4.25/5
"This that new classic, ain't this what you needed / I'm what amazing look like, you'll recognize it when you see it" and it certainly did not take me long to recognize it. The beat is perfect for this song and Iggy essentially gets her "macho rap" on here as she puffs her chest out a bit and let's us all know that she is here to stay. Her bars and hard hitting and, while self-serving a lot of the time, perfect for a song of this type. The hook is great as Iggy gets her sing-song on, but the hook has an air of elegance surrounding it. Overall, this is a really good intro track to really introduce us to what we can expect from this album.

Don’t Need Y’all: 4.25/5
-A few seconds in, it almost sounds like the beat is the same as the first with just a slight change. While I prefer having more variance in beats, this is a perfect choice to follow up the intro, as it has a very similar feel. Here, Iggy gets her "No New Friends" on, telling people who want to be her friend now that she is famous to back off. The song is very similar to the first as she sings the hook here as well and, as I said already, the beat is very similar. The big change here is that Iggy sounds very laid back/relaxed when delivering her bars on this track. The intensity and bragadocious nature of the first track is gone as Iggy sits back and tells us that she doesn't need nor want anybody who is a "bandwagoner" of sorts. Only issue I have here are the bars: "Talking 'bout / No money, no family / Sixteen in the middle of Miami". My issue with those bars is solely because of the placement of the track before "Work" on the album. If the track came after it, I'd be with cool with it, but since it's refering to a song that comes a few tracks after it, it strikes me as odd. Nitpicky, but it bothers me all the same.

100 (ft. Watch the Duck): 3.25/5
-This one, like the intro, is purely braggadocious as she puffs her chest out about her honesty in relationships and how she keeps it "100" with her lovers. Iggy delivers her bars with significant energy here and her flow is really nice here. The hook is ok and the beat is very underwhelming for me. Overall, I cannot really put my finger on it, but this track...I'm not feeling this track a ton. It's ok, but it's a definite drop off from the first two tracks.

Change Your Life (ft. T.I.): 3.75/5
-Right out of the gates, Iggy punches you in the face stating, "You used to dealing with basic bitches / Basic shit all the time". Her bars are good here and I enjoy T.I.'s guest spot here as well, but overall, this track is pure single. There is not a ton here and the beat is all over the place, never really deciding what it wants to do. What this track has going for it is its catchiness. The beat may not be great, but it is incredibly poppy and helps make the hook that much more catchy and, hell, even the bridge and outro are incredibly infectious thanks to Iggy's charisma, flow, and rhythm.

Fancy (ft. Charli XCX): 5/5
-Catchy, catchy, catchy, and incredibly poppy, but I love it all the same. Iggy's verses do not try to re-invent the rap wheel at all, but her charisma and flow are at an all-time high on this track as she really just lassos you in and never lets you go on this track. On top of this track, Charli XCX's hook is pitch perfect for me. It's not amazing by any means, but it works perfectly for this track and her bridge/verse thing are not outstanding, but are still catchy beyond belief. The beat is poppy like the rest of the beats thus far and it is clearly tailored for the radio, but regardless, my God is it ever catchy. It is not hard to believe that this one was a single and while this one is likely more a 4-4.25, the sheer amount of times I have played this since it dropped means I clearly think it is a 5 in spite of the logic I tried to inject here.

New Bitch: 3/5
-This beat in the beginning sounds pretty EDMish and then, I'm not really sure. The beat is incredibly laid back. Overall, this track is incredibly odd as Iggy tells off the ex-girlfriends of her current man and instructs them to back off. However, I guess my suburban white kid comes out here as I'm turned off by her constantly referring to herself as his "new bitch". Isn't that demeaning to herself? Am I really this white? Overall, that is enough to turn me off of this one. It is catchy, for sure, but then again, so is the whole album.

Work: 4.5/5
-"Valley girls giving blowjobs for Louboutins / What you call that? / Head over heels" certified classic. This song is catchy like the rest, but elevates itself over much of the previous tracks with the beat being pretty solid throughout (towards the end it's EDMish, not sure? which doesn't work too well), but besides that, the track is incredibly hard hitting as she speaks on personal details in a pretty hard-hitting fashion. Also, the video is a gift from God (those yellow shorts my Gawd man). Overall, this track is a nice sidetrack from most of the more superficial, braggadocious tracks that have dominated this album thus far. Main complaint here is with the bridge when she sings, "No money, no family / Sixteen in the middle of Miami". The charisma and flow are gone as the hook comes off as a tad forced and her singing leaves a lot to be desired in stark contrast to the previous times she has sung on this album. However, her verses here are good enough for me to be able to forgive that small misstep. Overall, these verses may be some of my favorite from her.

Impossible Is Nothing: 3.25/5
-The beat sounds very lullabyish in the beginning. I'm not sure how to describe it, but the beat in the beginning, as she gets her inspiration raps on, the beat reminds me a lot of a lullaby, which is odd, but yet somewhat appropriate. This track is nothing more than ok. Her verses are ok and the hook is there, but this track is having an issue making me feel any type of way about it. It sort of feels like everyone just sort of went through the motions here after T.I. told her to "make an inspirational track" and she obliged. Incredibly non-descript, I wish I could come up with more to say about this one, but it just makes me feel as though it is essentially filler with no purpose here.

Goddess: 2.75/5
-And enter the return to the braggadocio rap of earlier as Iggy declares herself to be a "goddess". After the last track felt like it lacked passion from Iggy, she returns with power on this track as she really delivers her verses with a fire lit under ass (that is one big fire). This track feels incredibly brief, especially thanks to her just having two verses and then going for upwards of a minute repeating the hook and the bridge, which strikes me as her trying to make this track catchy. Sadly, it lacks the infectious beat and lines that make a song catchy. Instead, much like the track prior to it, it feels more like filler than anything. On top of that, the beat is just not my kind of thing. It is certainly intense, but it feels incredibly hollow and unfinished to me.

Black Widow (ft. Rita Ora): 3.75/5
-The biggest positive for this track is undoubtedly Rita Ora, as she delivers the hook with great passion and really puts her heart and soul into it and it works out well in her favor. It is the type of hook that makes you want the verses over with so that way you can get back to the hook. Sadly, that is undoubtedly a black mark for Iggy here, as the only reason I somewhat enjoy this track is for the hook. Her verses are pretty non-descript and lack the energy that I enjoy seeing from her.

Lady Patra (ft. Mavado): 3.75/5
-This is the track that Iggy has been trying to make for a few tracks here. Clearly, this album is pure pop rap and its only intent is to make catchy, radio friendly rap songs. I think this one definitely fills that bill. Typically, I am not a reggae fan or a Mavado fan, but I think that on this track, his part is very much welcome and he delivers a good guest spot. On top of that, the main piece that really makes this song work is the catchy hook. It is incredibly simplistic, but I cannot help but want to sing-along to it every time it comes up. Iggy's verses is alright, but like a lot of this album, feels incredibly hollow and empty. The passion is there for sure, however, which saves her verse from being a detriment to the track.

Fuck Love: 2.75/5
-Ugh. Either this or "Goddess" is my least favorite track here and this may be the one. The beat is all over the place and cannot really figure out what it wants to be. Iggy's delivery here leaves much to be desired, as I hate how her voice gets high-pitched at the end of each line. It really annoys me every time she does it and this track has plenty of it. This one is similar to "New Bitch", with the slight switch of how she tells her man, "Fuck love, give me diamonds". She never struck me as a "gold digger", but this track and "New Bitch" certainly sing a different tune. In spite of my hesitancy to enjoy this track, the line, "Big baby, I know you want a taste of the pearl" is great. Her delivery of that line is top-notch and it is dripping with the charisma and flow that endeared me to her in the first place. I really wish this track had more of that, as it would be a major boost for it.

44.25/60 -> 3.69/5

Overall, The New Classic is pretty much what I expected and what I wound up getting. It is incredibly poppy and repeats itself frequently in terms of subject matter. A few tracks, namely "Fancy", "Work", and "Lady Patra", are incredibly infectious, and will undoubtedly be tracks I bump for a while since they are so catchy. On top of that, "Walk the Line" and "Don't Need Y'all", stand tall as the best non-pop rap songs, as they are both really hard-hitting tracks with great verses from Iggy. However, what really defines this album for me is the repeated attempts by her to try and make these catchy radio songs with manufactured hooks and pretty "run-of-the-mill" verses, but failing to successfully complete that goal. Luckily, the album is pretty short and has very few total failures ("F*** Love" and "Goddess"), but sadly, its home runs are limited as well. The vast majority of these tracks are tracks that really made me feel no type of way and left me searching to try and find things to say about it, which is a definite knock in my mind. Music is intended to make you feel something, but far too many of these tracks would simply make very good background noise and not elicit any feelings at all. Really, The New Classic is anything but a new classic and will likely have a very short run on my Spotify. Hopefully, whenever Iggy's sophomore album comes, she returns with a vengeance and delivers the quality album that I know she can provide.

<div align="center">

Asher Roth - RetroHash</div>

Parties at the Disco (ft. ZZ Ward): 4.25/5
-From the outset, this opening track is incredibly laid back and the hook has a sort of elegance to it that really serves as a positive start to this opening track. ZZ Ward's contribution to the hook is good, but I do not know if it is needed as it sort of serves to break up the really solid "singing" by Asher Roth before his verse starts up. Regardless, it is does not really detract too much, so I am not complaining. As for the verses, I really wish they were longer. The hook is so nice, but it seems to take up much of the track. Asher does not say much in his verses and takes no time at all to say them, so this track winds up feeling like it is way more about the hook than it is about anything he is spitting. I like the track regardless, but just a couple more lines on each verse would have really been a positive addition.

Dude (ft. Curren$y): 3.75/5
-Asher is completely laid back here as his delivery is completely chill and relaxed (dare I say he was stoned when recording this one?). I'm not a huge fan of Curren$y, but I like his contribution to this track more so than Roth's, though "Loud, TED talks on the iPad / Old search says Bang Bros., my bad" is hilarious and, luckily, not yet relatable for me (close calls though). Otherwise, Asher's pretty much just running through his grocery list with bars like, "Run with the O'Jays, Whole Foods for the groceries / OJ, Moets, cherries and Yoplait / No way, Jose, Cuervo in a bear coat / Hair long, tomatoes, grow my ver' own." But, I oddly do like this one. I cannot really figure out why, but the chill nature of this track is really appealing and really hooks you in. Certainly not a standout, but pretty solid.

Tangerine Girl: 4/5
-This is a really different track, as Asher trades in his rapping for the first 2:30 of this track. I really do not know what to say about this one, it was just such a switch up from what I was expecting on a rap album, it has caught me off-guard. His only rapped verse is good, his flow and delivery on are both tight and loaded with charisma. While this was a major switch up, I did enjoy this track. Extremely laid back and chill feel yet again, perfect track for just sitting back and relaxing

Pull It: 4.5/5
-"One finger in the air just like this / One finger in the air and I’m gon’ pull it / Yes, I’m gon’ pull it, yes, I will pull it / Yes, I’m gon’ pull it, yes, I will pull", right off the bat we hear this hook and damn, is it ever catchy. Repetitive, yes, but definitely infectious and it is hard to resist from singing along with him. This track, just like every other track here, has a really laid back and slowed down beat to it that really allows you to sit back and relax while listening. It is incredibly sonically pleasing, but Asher is also dropping some pretty solid bars in his verses, in particular the ending to his second verse certainly stand as some of my favorites from the whole album, "Please need these demons to leave me / Need peace, no reason to repeat / Retreat, it’s easy, just release / Relief, be free, let it go / Fiening a leaf, ain't no need to control / Planting a seed, let me reap what I sow / Defeated the pieces he blow, pow". Strong bars, sonically pleasing beat, and the charisma that Asher has shown throughout this album make this track ones of my favorites.

Something for Nothing (ft. Coyle Girelli): 4.5/5
-Asher is seriously going in on this track as this track is a bit more up-tempo (at least in the first verses and in the beat) and I personally really enjoy, "When he first saw her, how he want a daughter / But her mother better be cut from the goddess cloth". The second verse could really stand to be a bit longer, but I guess less is more as I really enjoy the second verse as well. As for the hook and Coyle Girelli's "verse" at the end, his singing his very atmospheric and laid back, which is a perfect contrast for Asher's more hurried and less laid back delivery on this track, as it really keeps the mood of the album going. On top of that, his singing really goings well with everything else that is going on here.

Fast Life (ft. Vic Mensa): 4.25/5
-Have yet to hear a track from Vic Mensa before, but he reminds me a lot of Chance the Rapper, but with a less "annoying" voice, which is definitely a positive, as I like what Chance is saying, but his voice is a turn off. Vic Mensa seems to be a happy medium as, here, his verse feels a little brief, but overall, is top-notch. For Asher, his singing of the hook is great. You never know what to expect when rappers decide to sing, but his singing really works on the hook and his verse is great as well. Overall, this one is way more up-tempo than anything else here (I guess it is only appropriate, ya know, "Fast Life") and feels far more urgent than anything else thus far. Overall, a pretty solid track as Asher tackles an important issue as he urges people to slow down and enjoy what they have.

Last of the Flohicans (ft. Major Myjah): 3.75/5
-I love the guitar at the beginning of this track as it really sets the mood for the affair and serves as a great intro to the track. It really hooks you right in. Asher definitely delivers his verses with a sort of urgency and, hell, even the hook is delivered with a sense of urgency. This track certainly does not standout on its own, but works in the context of the album pretty nicely, as his verses are solid and the hook works well. Not one that I will be playing constantly, but a solid little track that accomplishes its goal.

Be Right (ft. Major Myjah): 4/5
-"Fast Life" certainly represented a shift in the album, as thus far, this second half is far more up-tempo than the laid back and chill first half. For his verses, I think Asher would benefit from slowing down a tad. He is not going Twista fast, instead he is going nervous kid giving a class presentation fast, he is sort of rushing through it. If he slowed his pace down a tad on these verses and let the things he is saying sink in and take hold a bit more, it would be far more effective. Major Myjah certainly delivers the hook well though and the hook, especially the beat during the hook, are definitely something you look forward to and that is incredibly nice on the ears. Overall, a solid, but not great track.

Pot of Gold: 4.75/5
-This may be my favorite track on this album. The hook, sung by Asher Roth himself, is great. It is entirely elegant and depressing at the same time, yet still very much hopeful for the future. The beat for this track is great too. I cannot really place my finger on what works best for it, though I do love the humming that is there throughout much of the track. It really helps to tie everything together and add nice depth to the beat. As for Asher's only verse on the track, I love his delivery and flow here, both are perfect and really serve to amplify what he is rapping about. The verse has to be one of my favorites on the album and is great enough that, while I would not argue with a second verse, it does not leave me feeling like the song would benefit from one, the one verse is good enough on its own.

Keep Smoking (ft. Chuck Inglish): 4/5
-Here, Asher displays some pretty solid rap singing that reallys makes me wish his singing was a tad bit better on the hook. It is far from bad, but it is not what it could have been in my mind. The beat and Asher's delivery of his verses are incredibly laid back and borderline atmospheric as this marks a return to the laid back and slowed down tracks of earlier. In terms of his delivery, it is incredibly effective and really suits this track well. In the guest spot, Chuck Inglish turns in an ok to solid guest spot that has its definite bright spots, but, to me, could have certainly been better. For a closing track, this one is a nice, relaxing way to end a satisfying experience, but would have been really nice if the closing verse was done by Roth, but that is only a minor knock.

41.75/50 -> 4.18/5

As my intro to Asher Roth, I came away pretty pleased as a whole. I had heard bits and pieces of his discography prior and never really thought he was anything special. However, here, he really won me over. RetroHash will undoubtedly go down as one of the most creative rap albums to come out in 2014, as he really tried new things out that you do not hear frequently in rap and did it very successfully. The album has a very laid back feel to it and is certainly something I can see myself playing on repeat for a while now, as many of the tracks are teeming with replay value. Standouts for me would undoubtedly be "Pot of Gold" and "Pull It". In terms of my least favorite track, if I had to pick one, I would say "Dude", but even then, I still liked that track a good bit. The album is incredibly short, coming in at just 10 tracks, but that succinctness is a definite plus as there is no real filler here and all 10 tracks truly bring something different to the table. I was not expecting to like this one that much, but this one really wound up surprising me. Very impressed.

Sampha >>>

<object width="460" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgfZgBpDzPM"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qgfZgBpDzPM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="315"></embed></object>

This track though... Damn..