Street Poetry

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

How Rap Has Changed Me

For me, Rap/Hip-Hop is more than just some beats, strung together with catchy lyrics. It inspires me in so many ways. The heart, the passion, the flow, the vibe, it's an unbelievable feeling when you find yourself listening to something real. This is the same feeling I get when I am listening to some of the greats, Pac, Big, Tribe, Nas, Hova, etc. Sometimes I like to just close my eyes and take it all in. It's like a medication to me.

It started at a young age for me. When I was about 11 years old I started really getting interested in rap and new music. One of the first albums that I listened to and really fell in love with was actually 'Take Care' by Drake. It's still one of my favorites by far. Take Care came out in 2011 and I just remember I knew nothing about rap, besides Drake. I used to love 'So Far Gone' and I had no idea what any of the lyrics meant or anything, but I just loved Drake. He was no where near as popular as he is now when that came out, but I just loved it. As for Take Care, I think it had the perfect balance of softer songs, while still having plenty on fast paced, turn up songs. Drake is known for making straight anthems, songs that everyone knows and listens to constantly. Throughout 'Take Care', it takes you from wanting to go party with a song like 'HYFR', to then wanting to go visit your ex with a song like 'Doing it Wrong'. The sensitive part of me really loves Drakes softer songs. After Take Care, the love for rap really just took off. I just became obsessed with finding new songs, as well as learning about older classics. I still love that to this day. Along with football and basketball, rap was one of my first loves.

Rap has always gotten me through whatever I was going through at the time. It seems every time I am feeling down and put on my playlist, the music just speaks to me. In an indescribable way. I've had some pretty rough times, and sometimes rap is the only thing there for me. One thing I'll always remember, is about 3 years ago, I had a lot of health problems. I had multiple surgeries over the span of 2 years. It was pretty rough, but I remember going to the hospital on Christmas night. On my way to the hospital, in massive pain, and I was really just a mess and it really ruined my Christmas. When I got in the car, I put on my playlist, and the first song that comes on? 'I Need a Doctor' by Dre. Not only was it a coincidence, but it is also one of my favorite songs when it came out. It really just spoke to me, and honestly made my trip to the hospital a little better.

If you didn't already know, I play football for my high school. And for me, music, or more specifically, rap, gets me probably more hyped than anything else. We play mostly rap and rock for our warm-ups and believe me, it gets us all ready and pumped. I mean besides all the fans and the lights, music is definitely the thing that gets me most hype during games.

I'm not sure what it about this music, but I am just glad I found it. Rap will forever be something I love.

2014 Forest Hills Drive Review - One of my all-time favorites

Since there isn't too many releases that have come out or are coming out that I'm not overly hyped about, (besides a few) I decided to review one of my all-time favorites. 2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole. I know I just recently did a review on 'The Warm Up', but while I'm waiting for new releases, I wanted to review this album.

J. Cole dropped his 3rd studio album '2014 Forest Hills Drive', December 9, 2014 by Dreamville Records, Roc Nation, and Columbia Records. This album was announced three weeks before its release. It had hardly any marketing or promotion, with no singles taking place prior to its release.

'2014 Forest Hills Drive' was actually Cole's address of his childhood home in Fayetteville, NC. This house is one of the first places he started writing his rhymes and where he really became serious about becoming a musician. The album takes you through his journey of leaving his hometown of North Carolina and moving to New York City to pursue his dreams. He tells stories about his battles with the transition and changes he made in order to be successful. As a child, Cole's family moved around frequently while his mother tries to make ends meet. Cole now plans on allowing a new family to move into his old home, for an extremely cheap rent, in hope they will find their feet like he once did.

2014 Forest Hills recieved unbelievable positive feedback, and rightfully deserved. In my opinion 2014 Forest Hills Drive was not only one of the best albums of 2014, I believe it was one of the best I've heard. It's combination of down to earth songs, along with powerful and meaningful songs, with fun and turn up songs is in my opinion, a perfect balance. The positive feedback includes countless awards and nominations including a #2 ranking for the Top 10 albums of the year by Associated Press, as well as winning the album of the year by BET Hip Hop Awards and Top Rap Album at the Billboard Music Awards.

This album did more that just have a few good songs put together to form a good album, it inspires anyone who is lucky enough to listen to this. From 'Intro' to 'Note to Self', this album takes you on a trip back home, and makes you appreciate all things in your life. This album is and always will be in my rotation and will always be on repeat. Songs like 'Love Yourz, Hello, Intro, and Apparantly', are easily some of my favorite songs for chill vibes. And then songs like 'Fire Squad, G.O.M.D, No Role Modelz, and '03 Adolescence are great lyrically, that all come with his own beats that just slam. Listening to this album gives me an indescribable feeling.This is also on my list of records I need for vinyl.

Usually, I list some of my favorites from an album or artist, but there are too many from this album to list, so here's the entire album. Listen to it in it's entirety:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ3fMNXgxsU

I give this album a 9.4 out a possible 10. And I just can't wait for his next album. I'm sure it'll be exactly what I'm expecting it to be.

Why I Love Logic

There's a lot more to Logic than his bold, nerdy personality and him just being a white rapper. He's an avid gamer and is unbelievable with the rubik's cube. He is an incredibly humble and caring person. He is a genuine, down to earth person, with a very unique personality. He is very different compared to any other artist. He spent the summer of 2015, touring to fans households, to give them a listen to his new album at the time "Under Pressure"before it has even been released. I have never heard of any artist, (besides maybe Taylor Swift) doing that all for the true fans. But there's even more to Logic. Of course, his music is what people pay attention to when talking about him. Which is some of the best music from today I've heard. To me, there's almost no reason to dislike anything about Logic. He is lyrically, very special to our generation. Along with his flow, and simple yet beautiful beats, and the amount of production, and effort he puts in all his songs, it shows why he's a lot of peoples favorite rapper.

He is very, very, versatile. He has the ability to make real, dark music, featuring gang stories from his childhood, based on his point of view, as well as other people's point of view, (majority of 'Under Pressure') and the ability to make a sci-fi rap project based on a space adventure, ( all of 'The Incredible True Story') as well as a complete turn up mixtape in 'Bobby Tarantino'. Through all his mixtape's, and albums, I have yet to find an album or mixtape that I disliked. As for songs, I have yet to find a song that I dislike as well. He is so consistent with his music, and comes out with so much music. You can just tell that he loves what he does, and works hard, and when you listen to his albums, it shows.

He has BARS. His flow can be anywhere from sort of a singing vibe, to fast rhymes. He can spit very fast, while still sticking to his amazing lyrics. Some examples of some of his fastest flows are in songs such as 'Gang Related, Stainless, Bounce, Metropolis, etc.' His music is consuming to the listener.

I have seen Logic twice in concert so far, and plan to go to the next one, and buy tickets featuring the meet and greet, to finally meet him. And I'm telling you here first, seeing Logic in concert, just enhances your appreciation for his music, and for him as a person. He is an unbelievable performer and his concerts are breathtaking and the concerts I've been to were both easily the best concerts I've been to. I highly recommend seeing him.

I personally have been listening to Logic since 2011/2012 and his music has never gotten old. It's timeless. I believe that considering his age, (26) he will be one of the best of our generation come a few years. Just remember who been listening to him since the beginning when he blows up.

There's just so much to love about Logic. If you don't already listen to him, I recommend checking him out, he will not disappoint.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Song of the Day 11/2/16

MY SONGS OF THE DAY:

FATHER, FATHER - JAY PRINCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4xaiSo41VM

FAKE LOVE - DRAKE

http://genius.com/Drake-fake-love-lyrics

Monday, October 31, 2016

Song of the Day 10/31/16

MY SONGS OF THE DAY:

BLACK BEATLES - RAE SREMMURD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8m9zhNAgKs

ON THE REGULAR - MEEK MILL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjqKDM4LScw

BLUE NOTES - MEEK MILL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKHz-_MmH68

DC4 REVIEW COMING THIS WEEK

HINT: IT'S FIRE

Friday, October 21, 2016

My least favorite part of Hip-Hop

I am always interested in new, upcoming artists and I always love to see what they have to offer. What kind of flow they have, the beats they use, etc. There are plenty of young artists I enjoy. Denzel Curry, Anderson .Paak, an occasional Lil Uzi, Big K.R.I.T, etc. But there is one artist who is making a splash in the rap game that confuses me. He goes by the name of Lil Yachty. Lil Yachty is an interesting, unique character. He was made in southern Georgia and is currently only 19 years old. He also is known as 'Lil Boat' or just 'Boat'.

His style of music is very very unique. He isn't very lyrically gifted at all, he has even admitted it. He was quoted saying "not every song has to be crazy, if the beat is hard, people will listen to it." He also was quoted saying, "I don't honestly" after being asked if he takes Hip-Hop seriously. So he's just having fun with it, I respect that. I do have to admit, although I'm not a fan of his music, his beats definitely slap, and his melodies are very catchy.

Earlier in the quote from before, he also quoted saying he doesn't consider himself a rapper. The quote continues, "I dunno. I would say artist." After being asked what he was.

So you might be asking, why do you dislike his music so much? There's a few reasons. One reason is the lack of meaning in his songs. There's just no message or meaning that an artist like Kendrick or Cole have in their songs, making their songs equivalent to a drug to me. Another reason I don't listen to him is how wack it sounds. I mean, honestly, it just sounds awful. I can understand if people listen to him while partying or whatever, but listening to him daily? No way. Believe me, I've given him a shot, I've listened to both his mixtapes in complete, and it's just not my thing.

But maybe I'm just being too serious too enjoy his music. But as far as I know, it's complete garbage. I have nothing against him or his fans, it's all just my opinion. And if you're shocked that I said this about him, you should know by know, this blog is very biased. I respect what he's doing and his success, I'll just stick to the good stuff.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Song of the day 10/20/16

MY SONGS OF THE DAY:

THE SPITEFUL CHANT - KENDRICK LAMAR FT. SCHOOLBOY Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISFUG005Flg

ON MY GRIND - TUNJI IGE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGym34LlP9E

BREAK FROM TORONTO - PARTYNEXTDOOR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXYq9ImJIN8