The day the album dropped, iTunes fulfilled my pre-order and I synced the album onto my phone before I clicked play on my laptop. I hopped in the whip and swerved the whole way to work bumping DWMTM loudly. The sophomore effort from Meek Milly starts off with a triumphant track backed by a orchestra sample and grand drums. Meek matches the beats intensity with tales of his struggle, rise, return to jail and finally return to rap. The track goes for just over 5 minutes and sets the tone for the rest of the album thematically. Following ‘Lord Knows’ is a Bangladesh produced track titled ‘Classic’ featuring Swizz Beatz and Jeremih (though he doesn’t get an official featured title he is credited in the liner notes). Easily one of the best tracks from the album ‘Classic’ is a hype track with a nasty drum arrangment. Meek effortlessly raps over the beat switching up his flow to ride the beat perfectly. Swizz adds some adlibs and assists with the hook, but really the beat and Meek’s bars would have been enough to make this a classic.

The Future assisted ‘Jump out the Face’ bangs in the whip and surely the Nicki Minaj and Chris Brown features will get Meek popping on the radio but nevertheless, he stays true to his core with bangers like R.I.C.O. featuring Drake. Produced by Vinylz, track 6 is a solid cut for your crew to party to with lines from Drake like “everyone home for the summer, so let’s not do nothing illegal” and “cause we in the field with them birds like we play for the Eagles” from Meek. ‘Ambitionz’ samples Pac’s ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ and The Weeknd lends himself to ‘Pullin Up’ which brings the XO kid’s sound to Philly. Earlier this year we heard Meek go in on ‘Monster’ that was released as a loosie for buzz but ‘Check’ from the new album sounds like a perfect sequel. The chant-like hook is guaranteed to have the clubs turnt up with crowds yelling “check, check, check, check”.

All in all, this album is a solid sophomore effort from Meek. There is definitely a lot less clutter or filler tracks like the previous albums ‘Young and Getting It’. The nauseating auto tune on the Kirko Bangz assisted hook was an easy skip. But this album is an easy listen through. From front to back, start to finish, Dreams Worth More Than Money is Meek’s best attempt at mainstreet rap (Ha! Coined!). No wonder the kid from Philly held the number 1 spot for two weeks and has almost gone gold. With excellent beat selection, sharp bars and unmatched energy Meek has a great follow up on his hands. Well done Meek, keep bringing it.

Buy the album here.

The post Meek Mill Returns with a Solid Sophomore Effort appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

After building crazy momentum with a banging 2014, Detroit native Big Sean set out to release his third studio album with Def Jam and GOOD Music. Big Sean’s third major release, Dark Sky Paradise is a great example of how an artist can evolve and find his voice. Following through on his creative vision, this project is Sean’s best work to date. I sat down with this album and listened the whole way through multiple times and with every listen it became clearer that Big Sean is working really hard to solidify himself as one of the greatest from the new school of rappers. Dark Sky Paradise is a 12 (15 if you copped the deluxe version) track album that seems like his first concise album which features strong lyricism, great production and overall great songwriting. Check out the track by track review below.

1. Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)
Setting the tone with the opening like every great album should, the intro track is Big Sean reminding us of how he “started from the basement, made it to the skyscrapers”. Over Rob Got Beats’ production complete with thunderstorm sample sounds, Sean combines clever bars with a fast paced flow set to open your ears for the rest of the album.

2. Blessing feat. Drake
With some assistance from his homie Drake, Sean goes waaaay in over Vinylz production. When it dropped as a single-for-stream on Sean’s SoundCloud page (before it got taken down), the Internet went crazy. Though the cut form the album doesn’t feature the bonus Ye verse we heard on the original drop, this track still goes hard. The beat might be a little difficult to catch a bop to, but the bars on this joint are dope nonetheless. Drizzy’s hook is super catchy and induces a huge chant like response when he says “I’m waaay up, I feel blessed”!

3. All Your Fault feat. Kanye West
This joint is deceptively turnt up. It has a slow start but picks up a quarter way through every verse. The wide kicks and soul sample make the track seem mellow but when you hear the trap snare start snapping you can’t resist the urge to wild out. On this track Sean Don and Yeezus spit solo verses but before the track closes out the two trade bars for a sweet 16. Straight up!

4. I Don’t Fuck With You feat. E-40
Track number four from DSP is the break up anthem we caught mid September. If you recall, Sean dropped this as a part of the 4 song playlist of new music after signing his management deal with Roc Nation. Featuring DJ Mustard’s famous production (and production tag – Mustard on the beat hoe!), an infectious hook and clever bars, Sean landed himself a platinum plaque with this one (seriously, how did this make it to radio?), but more importantly made a kinda light track to contrast from the rest of the dark ass album.

5. Play No Games feat. Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign
Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign had a pretty good 2014 with songs all over the radio and the in the clubs and this song will likely catch a few spins. The two features are solid and Big Sean sounds dope on the Key Wane produced beat. Chris Brown’s hook is super catchy and his declaration of no-game-playing is something that will have every man singing along. I ain’t like them other ni**as!

6. Paradise
BARS. Simply put, Sean is flexing hard on this track. This extended cut is a little shy of 4 minutes but with the amount of quality bars you get on this joint, you won’t be disappointed. Big Sean’s flow and energy match Mike WiLL Made It’s production perfectly. The trap drums and ominous horns really sound like you’ve entered a Dark Sky Paradise. You have to listen to this.

7. Win Some, Lose Some
For some reason Jhené Aiko goes uncredited on this joint but either way her vocal addition is a nice touch on this sentimental joint. Big Sean walks us through his wins and losses, trails with family and triumphs with his homies.

8. Stay Down
Never questioning the loyalty of his homies on this 4 minute crew anthem, Big Sean tell us what loyalty is all about. With Da Internz handling the production, Big Sean handles the bars and he really grabs your attention with the hook. His kinda faded voice inflection matches the beat perfectly so you can imagine the next time your squad is getting ready to catch a buzz this is something you should definitely play.

9. I Know feat. Jhené Aiko
Event though this another Mustard production, I’m not mad at it. This toned down, smooth and sultry track is for the grown folks. Sean dabbles with some auto-tune but again, not mad at it. The vibe on this joint is really laid back and sexy but keeps up with the tone of the album with the slow and deep melodies. Jhené sounds great on this joint and when her vocals get layered with Sean’s as the song comes to a close, sonically, it sounds amazing.

10. Deep feat. Lil Wayne
Rolling right into his third production credit, DJ Mustard blends the end of ‘I Know’ with the beginning of this joint seamlessly. Rapping about the depth of life’s problems as a celebrity and adjusting to his fame and relationship with women, the Whoa God spits, “deeper than your sister dying and you telling your nieces, the deeper it gets boy, the pressure increases”. Wayne offers some back up vocals on the hook and a decent verse.

11. One Man Can Change The World feat. Kanye West and John Legend
This song leaked just days before the album dropped and it is easily one of my favourite tracks from this album and Big Sean’s entire catalogue. John Legend on the keys combined with the beautiful vocal sample create a powerful backdrop for Big Sean’s inspiring lyrics. In the second verse B.S. details his grandmother’s life and at the end of the track he dedicates the song to her. Truly a great moment and a great way to lead to the close of the album.

The post Review: Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

1. Intro
Right from the gate, Cole sets the tone of the entire project with the intro. Over somber but elegant key strokes, Cole sings, “do you wanna be happy, do you wanna be free”, almost as if he’s asking the listener and himself. The intro gives us a glimpse into the interpersonal reflection that takes place throughout the album. In the video below, you’ll see humbled J.Cole ride around the city on a bike which he confirmed is how he chooses to get around after selling his car.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtjrFw4i2Qo&w=560&h=315]

2. January 28th
“The real is back, the ‘ville is back, flow bananas – here, peel this back” Cole spits as he kicks off track number two. Jumping straight into the bars, January 28th is track where Cole stunts over his own production rapping about his come up and where he is now. There are a ton of quotables in this song alone and right before the beat plays out, Jermaine raps “or you might be Drizzy Drake or Kendrick Lamar, but check the birth date nigga, you ain’t the God”. As you may have guessed it, January 28th is Cole’s birthday, which is a clear nudge to his peers letting them know that he is the current rap god.

3. Wet Dreamz
Yeap. This is exactly what you think it is. Though a lot of rap cats would shy away from being this real, Cole definitely does not. In one of the best displays of storytelling, Wet Dreamz is a track in which J.Cole takes us back to high school where he tries to score with his crush. Throughout the entire song, Cole paints a picture of his younger self transitioning from flirting with his crush, to practicing putting on condoms, to finally having sex. The way he puts the story together seems almost effortless and it flows perfectly. The hook’s simplicity and repetitive nature serves as a great way to close out the song when in the last verse Cole finds out that his crush is also a virgin. From her perspective he raps, “I gotta get something off my mental, I could tell you a pro, but baby be gentle cause…I ain’t never did this before, no”.

4. ’03 Adolescence
In 2003, Cole was an eager 18 year old wanting new clothes, money and women. This track guides us through his adolescent years as a high school senior with low self-esteem who looks up to his homeboy selling dope. We learn that Cole always wished for more “tie my shoe up, wish they was newer, damn need something newer, in love with the baddest girl in the city, I wish I knew her” and as the track progresses he describes a conversation with his friend who puts life into perspective for him learning to never take what he has for granted.

5. A Tale of 2 Citiez
Produced by Vinylz, ‘A Tale of 2 Citiez’ is a lot more than just bars over a grimey beat. The song is inspired by the Charles Dickens novel ‘A Tale of Two Cities’. In the novel, Dicken’s explores the financial disparity between the rich and poor in London and Paris during the French Revolution. J.Cole’s version delves deep into similar issues and how he deals with them as he grew up in Fayetville and as he lives on his own in NYC. The dark beat, in combination with hook that makes you act like you’re pulling back the hammer on a gun add to the overall ambiance of this joint, “last night, they pulled up on my nigga at the light like, ugh, nice watch – run it”.

6. Fire Squad
You probably have already heard this track or heard about it. Though Cole has recently shut down claims of alleged “shots” against the artists mentioned in the track, ‘Fire Squad’ is still one of the hardest rap records out. In a recent interview with Power 105’s Angie Martinez, Cole talked about how the mainstream media blew the lines about Iggy Azalea out of proportion without listening to what he is saying about the commercialization of hip hop. On this track Cole solidifies himself as one of the best, lyrically shining throughout the whole track: “My inhibition’s fighting my intuition, premature premonition, showing me the demolition of these phony niggas, so ahead of my time even when I rhyme about the future I be reminiscing“. Bars.

7. St. Tropez
“He’s on his way, he’s ’bout to get paid, he’s on his way to Hollywood“. There are very few bars on this song, but it still does a good job of bridging the album together as the next few tracks have him realizing what life is like after achieving a level of celebrity.

8. G.O.M.D.
One of the best tracks from the album ‘G.O.M.D.’, showcases J.Cole production chops. He has always been known for dope production but this track shows us that Cole is just as serious on the boards as he is with the pen. The beat builds with a chopped gospel-like sample that merges with light drums. After four bars, the drums switch to a heavy bass bounce and as soon as he introduces the strings the song begins to take shape. Cole describes his transition from becoming a Hollywood rapper to going back to finding his roots. “The breakup” and “the makeup,” all heard before certain beat breaks and verses, both indicate that the track is split into chapters. The chant-like hook is also a major highlight of this track. “Get off my dick” will likely become a more popular phrase after this song makes its rotations.

[spotify https://play.spotify.com/track/16qYlQ6koFxYVbiJbGHblz]

9. No Role Modelz
‘No Role Modelz’ continues with the theme of Cole achieving his “B list celebrity” status in Hollywood as he struggles with trying to find a real relationship and love with the women in LA. In his interactions with women, Cole learns that the people of Hollywood are fake and seek to only benefit themselves. The irony of the track is that it is definitely something that can catch play in the club thanks to the chant-like hook and the beat, all while it calls out all the girls up in the club who are shallow.

10. Hello
A continuation of the previous track, ‘Hello’ is a track where Cole tries to reach out to a girl from his past. In the words of the song as well as his voice you can hear sincere emotion. This song is Cole searching for something real after he learns everything in Hollywood is fake.

11. Apparently
As Cole get closer to his roots, ‘Apparently’ is a song where he thanks his family and friends for believing in him through his evolution as a man and artist. Reliving his guilt through his lyrics, J.Cole tells us about how even when his home on Forest Hills Drive was foreclosed and seized from his mother he was still chasing women and success in New York. Soon after reminiscing on his family life, Cole grabs a hold of the second verse and ups the tempo with some serious bars: “Waiting on thanks from a few, cause without me you wouldn’t exist, you know that shit, gave you the blueprint don’t forget, Cole is your phone on zero percent, going off, now niggas showing off, niggas swear they hard but they flowing soft, I’m taking off like boing on a big ass Boeing, getting head like a coin toss, too easy.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRaFMlZ1YHA&w=560&h=315]

12. Love Yourz
Though he’s not performing lyrical acrobatics on ‘Love Yourz’, J.Cole eloquently tells his listeners to love their lives. By way of sharing his experiences going from a middle class kid to a young rich celebrity, Cole raps, “beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success, hear my words and listen to my signal of distress” and “think being broke was better, now I don’t mean that phrase with no disrespect, to all my niggas out there living in debt.” Soon after, Cole gives us some insight on why it’s important to love who and what you have: “Always gon’ be a bigger house somewhere but nigga feel me, long as the people in that motherfucker love you dearly.” This song does a great job of letting us further into Cole’s life as he comes to learn what life is really about.

13. Note to Self
The last track of the album begins with Cole rapping over a simple beat backed by a piano and choir like vocals that indicate a triumphant close to the album. At around the 3 and a half minute mark, J.Cole simply runs through a list of people he wishes to thank and actually hits on a few points that resonate with any J.Cole fan. This album is J.Cole returning to what he does best; making good music. His approach to the whole project, from the limited promo and irregular launch, to the “Fuck Money, Spread Love” tour are his way of disconnecting with the commercial rap he may have previously tried to create and release and reconnect with his roots and fans. On this 14 minute track, Cole addresses record contracts, his relationship with Roc Nation and his rap peers such as Drake, Kendrick and Wale letting them know that there are no more crowns and kings in the game.

2014 Forest Hills Drive is truly a great album. With this project, J.Cole has shown us that he can put together a concise body of work that takes the listener on a real journey. Even with only a few weeks to promote the album, J.Cole has earned himself another number one record selling an estimated 300,000 units in his first week of sales.  Personally, I love the album and am not afraid to put the classic stamp on it because this album really delivers. You can stream the album in its entirety below and purchase it here.

Full Album Stream:

[spotify https://play.spotify.com/album/7viNUmZZ8ztn2UB4XB3jIL]

The post REVIEW: J.Cole Returns Home with 2014 Forest Hills Drive appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Last night (June 24, 2014), Logic brought his While You Wait Tour to the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. If you frequent our site, you know that we’re huge fans of the talented up-and-coming artist. So much so, that we named him the Best Rapper Without an Album Out a few months back. I’m pretty sure it goes without saying that we had high expectations for the show and Logic did not disappoint.

Things kicked off with Logic’s DJ Rhetorik warming up the crowd with a heavily narrated set, chalked with hits. It’s the most I’ve ever seen a DJ use the mic while playing, but his stories and comments lead into the tracks well and the crowd seemed to be enjoying it. After a short break, fellow VMG artist Quest took the stage. He was a solid opener dropping some dope bars, getting the crowd amped up and showcasing his skills as an artist. One of the most memorable moments of the set was him dropping his verse off of ’24 Freestyle’. As the verse closed, Rhetorik cut the beat to punctuate the closing lines “VMG, yes n*gga VMG/ Only competition that we see is TDE”. Unsurprisingly this elicited a strong reaction from the crowd.  His set closed out with a banging new track and Quest taking a pic with the audience. After which he didn’t hesitate to ask the crowd to check the pic out by following him on Instagram. A brazen but intelligent promotional move that I am sure has been paying off all tour.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/131596557″ params=”color=0066cc&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

After a short wait, Rhetorik returned to the stage to get the crowd ready for the main event. Anticipation was building until he dropped ‘On The Low’ and Logic came busting out from behind the curtain, killing his verse with an intense energy that carried throughout the show. The hugely talented MC played an excellent cross section of his catalog with tracks off his Young Sinatra mixtape series (‘925’, ‘Feel Good’, ‘Roll Call’, ‘All I Do’) , While You Wait EP (‘Now’,’Alright’) and even a brief preview of one or two tracks off his upcoming debut album.

He took several breaks to slow things down and talk to the audience, tell stories and engage directly with his fans. He even went as far as to pull a kid out of the crowd who was rapping every bar and put him on the spot. To my surprise the fan embraced the opportunity, absolutely killing the second verse with some serious stage presence. The show also saw some interesting breaks where Rhetorik dropped bangers from artists other than the performer. Notably, he dropped a number of Kid Cudi tracks which Logic addressed, “People be like Logic why you playing Kid Cudi in your shows? Cause I Fucking love Kid Cudi!” (seems logical). He went on to shout out Cudi for bringing him on “The Cud Life Tour”. Other standout moments included Logic freestyling while Rhetorrik swapped between a number beats and his acapella version of  ‘Dead Presidents III’. Logic opted to spit beatless a number of times throughout the night which was a true highlight; allowing his impeccable flow and annunciation to take center stage.

The night closed out with ‘Common Logic/Midnight Marauders’ which served as a perfect outro. After heavy chanting from the audience, Logic came back out with the fierce energy he started with, dropping ‘Ballin’ as an encore. Overall the show was stellar, Logic reinforced why he is debatably the best rapper on the rise. My only complaint  is that the show could have been longer. Clocking in at just over an hour, it wasn’t disappointing, but an extra 15 -25 minutes really would have taken it to the next level. With that said, Logic was at the venue well before the show talking to fans, signing autographs and snapping pictures for anyone who purchased VIP tickets. If you’re a fan of Logic or simply just one of hip-hop, Logic’s live show is a must see. There’s still a few stops left on the tour so be sure check the site here. And don’t forget to follow Logic on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Review: Logic brings the ‘While You Wait Tour’ to Toronto appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

With expectations high, Thugli took to the stage and put forth a high energy, hard hitting set that absolutely set the place on fire. Their set consisted of a mixture of rap and trap bangers including a number of their originals and remixes. The first transition that really blew me away was when they dropped their Kanye West – Send It Up Remix into Gesaffelstein – Hellifornia. Another highlight was playing Yellow Claw & Cesqeaux – IBETCHU and switching out the final drop for their own track What Happened (Which is a rework of Baby ft. Clipse – What Happened To That Boy.) I’m pretty sure at least a few patrons did “Lose their mind when the sh*t dropped”. All of their transitions were seamless; blending songs perfectly and coming through with an unrelenting pace. Watching them perform you can tell they love every song they play. They are constantly bouncing, dancing and singing along to every tune. This energy is directly felt by the crowd and makes the set that much better. On top of all this, they premiered their killer remix of Diplo & GTA – Boy Oh Boy which was released today. Another amazing exclusive was an unreleased tune from fellow Canadians Keys N Krates & Grandtheft – “Keep It 100“. In a set filled with bangers this one stood out above them all. All-in-all Thugli put on and absolutely amazing show, proving why they are one of the best trap duos out right now. 

Skratch Bastid took the stage after Thugli starting things off with Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail which progressed into a pretty dope scratch routine. Shortly after he laid down ‘Miley‘ with some live improvisations. His set spanned a wide variety of music from reggae, house, rap, pop and everything in between. One of his most notable transitions was using Action Bronson – Strictly 4 My Jeeps “Need to slow down baby” sample and dropping it into DJ Snake x Yellow Claw x Spanker – Slow Down. Another stand out section of the set was mixing ODB’s – Shimmy Shimmy Ya into Wu-tang Clan’s – Triumph and then “Taking it back to 79′” with none other than Sugar Hill Gang’s – Rapper’s Delight. The thought behind this selection was likely overlooked by many, but it doesn’t make it any less special. Skratch Bastid’s set didn’t have the same level of intensity of Thugli’s but his skills on the decks easily made up for it.

Ryerson’s end of the year party was an excellent event thanks to amazing performances by the headliners and a perfect venue selection. I give Ryerson’s Student Union a lot of credit for putting together such a great event with top-notch Canadian talent (Tom Wrecks is even Ryerson Alumni!). I can easily say this was the best $3 I’ve spent this year. 

The post Review: Thugli & Skratch Bastid @ The Hoxton appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Whoa.

CyHi is probably one of the “non-active”, if you will, artists on Kanye West’s GOOD Music label. But the recent release of his Black Hystori Project will definitely have you thinking otherwise. He’s been dropping guest verses for a minute, but he really shows us that he can hold his own and craft a great body of work with his latest mixtape. The Black Hystori Project is very impressive. The approach and concept is cool, it follows an elementary school student sharing his Black History project about Cydel Young (CyHi’s government name) and delves right into the music. The bars, flow and delivery are insane and equally matched with the beats. So, let’s get into it.

There are 18 tracks on BHP, and almost every one of them is packed with intelligent, clever and sharp bars. Most of the production is carried by two producers, M-16 and Tec Beatz, with beats from a handful of other producers. Quite simply, the beat selection is perfectly fitting. Some of the track titles highlight major figures in Black History including; Huey (Huey P. Newton), Mandela (Nelson Mandela), Basquiat (Jean-Michel Basquiat) and these tracks also happen to be the standouts we’ve chosen to cover in this review.

Huey is one of the hardest tracks on the entire project. Firstly, the beat is dope, it bangs! The keys and the vocal sample (“oooh”) coming together over the horns and drums is insane. Secondly, lyrically, CyHi delivers quality bars with a crazy flow. One of the lines that really stands out is this:

“I’m from where the dudes rob and argue all day about/ who’s the best MC? Cyhi, Stacks or T.I/
while doggin’ the GBI my bad I left Jeezy out/ but I’m still the best to ever do it and I ain’t even put a CD out”

Black leather, beret cap era, guns at your capital, take it to that measure!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PYCMYdXNQI&w=560&h=315]

Mandela follows Huey and it goes just as hard. The sound is grand and CyHi drops the bars to match. His flow get ridiculous when the beat intensifies and it makes you want to chant along with the hook. This has that stadium status feel.

Mandela, Nelson!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1BxMcNDCs&w=560&h=315]

Basquiat is a major standout for us as well. The beat samples Soho’s Hot Music and Lyn Collin’s “Think”, and its done exceptionally well. CyHi’s flow on this is really dope. He shows us that he can speed it up and not risk lyrical ability, a difficult task to the unseasoned rapper.

I do this shit for Basquiat!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSRGjD9DLw4&w=560&h=315]

CyHi is officially on my radar. He is easily one of the most overlooked and underrated rappers that’s actually signed to a label with a major distribution partner (GOOD/Island Def Jam). No word on the progress of his debut album but we hope CyHi keeps delivering dope music. The boy can rhyme, he’s got the bars and the delivery. He’s also got a strong ear for beats, this project proves that with every play. I love that CyHi addresses the people who claim Atlanta can’t produce lyrical rappers (people obviously forgot about OutKast). I encourage you to check out the Black Hystori Project and though it may be too early to call it, I’m willing to say that this is one of best mixtapes to come out in 2014.

“my father named me Cydel/ my momma pushed out a diamond/ took out the del off my name and put the H-I behind it/
that’s CY-HI short for your HIghness/ then I added The Prynce so you know where my mind is”

The post Review: CyHi The Prynce – Black Hystori Project appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

ScHoolboy Q has been around for a minute. He’s been featured on a handful of bangers throughout his tenure in the mainstream rap game (A$AP Ferg’s Work Remix) and we all know him for his famous ad lib. He’s also dropped 2 mixtapes of his own: Setbacks in 2011 and Habits and Contradictions in 2012 that did relatively well. Being the second artist from the TDE label to drop a debut album, there’s a lot of pressure on Q to deliver a project that stands up to Kendrick’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. city“. But the boy from Hoover Street delivered.

Oxymoron is a solid debut album. ScHoolboy Q brings you the harsh realities of his past with gangs and drugs and intertwines those stories with his more recent successes like making it with rap. He does all this over some dope production and with clever bars.

The album kicks off with “Gangsta” which features Q’s daughter introducing her pop as a gangster. The first track off the album should always set the tone of the album and this track does that perfectly. ScHoolboy Q in many interviews has said that he’s a gangster rapper and he’s expressed that most rappers in today’s game are too “nice” and he wanted to return to the hard hitting beats, bars and imagery. This track has probably one of the most infectious, chant-worthy hooks out. Listen and tell me you don’t agree.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiqT54dNUog&w=520&h=315]

Speaking of hooks, ScHoolboy is pretty good at writing hooks. This is pretty evident on tracks like “What They Want“. With MikeWillMadeIt on the boards and a feature from 2 Chainz, this is that ignorant shit you love to hate but will bump regardless.

Two of the best tracks off the album are “Hoover” and “Prescription/Oxymoron”. These tracks really highlight ScHoolboy’s ability to tell stories about his cripping and drug dealing past. Hoover has Q sharing stories form his childhood and adolescence when he was first exposed to the gang and drug life through his uncle. Prescription/Oxymoron is more about Q’s addiction issues. The beat combined with the vocal additions from his daughter, make the track that much more real. It’s almost sad. When the track splits into Oxymoron, Q drops one of the catchiest chants off the entire project. Peep below.

I just stopped selling crack today!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQAwe6qEenU&w=520&h=315]

If you’re looking for good tracks to jam to, the boy from Hoover brings you at least three tracks (all one after the other) that you can bump. “Hell of a Night” is up first and before writing this review, I expressed how much I was bumping this track. It is easily one of the best tracks and what’s nice (for Q and the label) is that its commercially viable. This track will be heard in clubs and at festivals all summer. Again, the hook is super infectious. The beat is produced by DJ Dahi, the same dude who brought us Drake’s “Worst Behaviour” and that’s an anthem in itself. So is “Hell of a Night”. This track is followed by “Break the Bank” and “Man of the Year“, which have been in rotation for a minute now.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-YuYbEt3hI&w=520&h=315]

Kudos to ScHoolboy Q for dropping a dope debut album. It’s no simple feat, and for him to drop this after nearly 2 years, I’m sure this will please fans of the TDE artist. There are a few other tracks that deserve an honourable mention. That list follows below. Check out the album and sound off in the comments to let us know what you think.

Honourable Mentions:

1. Studio featuring BJ The Chicago Kid

2. The Purge featuring Tyler the Creator and Kurupt

3. Blind Threats featuring Raekwon

The post Review: ScHoolboy Q – Oxymoron appeared first on FUXWITHIT.