Thatmusick! New reviews out every few weeks.
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DRAKE & PARTYNEXTDOOR – SOME SEXY SONGS 4 U
A wholly inessential chapter that adds nothing to the stories of Canada’s top crooning crodies. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ll be aware of Drake’s battle with Kendrick, and the constant ‘diss-course’ around it. I can’t open social media without a meme or another angle to their exhausted beef.…
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Central Cee Is British Rap’s Biggest Export to America – Which Artists Paved The Way?
However highly you rate Central Cee, the West London wordsmith has jumped a hurdle that seemed impossible to defeat for so long – a modern UK rap crossover to the mainstream US market. Cench has been doing numbers in Britain, with Can’t Rush Greatness securing his second UK No.1. But just as impressive, the record…
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MAC MILLER – BALLOONERISM
A weird, wonderful and all around worthy addition to the late songwriters catalogue. Posthumous albums can be a gamble. Growing up as a 2Pac and Biggie fanatic, it was clear to see the best of their discography lied in their earthly years. The Big Picture by Big L and The Shining from J Dilla are…
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KENDRICK LAMAR – GNX
A sometimes patchy but entertaining claim to the throne from hip-hop’s unstoppable star. At this point, the name Kendrick is synonymous with the word “hip-hop”. Your old mum might not listen to rap music, or the radio, or Spotify, but she’s probably heard of Kendrick after 2024. He holds commercial success that other socially conscious…
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RECENT GEMS: Top 5
Another 5 standout songs from the past few weeks! Enjoy… 1. A$AP Ferg – “Alive” Ft. Dapper Dan From Fergenstein’s new album Darold. Opening with a bumping Yeezus-esque industrial trap beat, he muses on the emptiness that comes with fame, addiction, suicidal thoughts and even exercise and therapy. And that’s just part one! Leading into…
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LL COOL J – THE FORCE
A solid addition to the dad-rap division from one of hip hop’s elder statesmen. Maybe I’m just old now, but it feels like today’s hip hop albums are becoming more overloaded, homogenous in trends and style, and impactful as a flash in the pan. Viral stars are underselling, release dates have been coming and going…
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RECENT GEMS: Top 5
Just a collection of my 5 favourite drops that have come out recently! Enjoy…. 1. Demae – “Speechless” Demae serves us a dreamy love song with a driving bassline and backbeat reminiscent of artists like Thundercat and FlyLo. Beautifully airy and soft vocals intertwine with glittery synths and jazz chords, with sugar sweet (and lovably…
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BACK TO BLACK
A simplified anti-drug PSA that can’t quite capture its stars essence. When I heard an Amy Winehouse biopic was landing on the big screen, I didn’t have so much faith. We already have the Amy documentary – a very intimate, honest telling of her story, enthralling and hard to watch at the same time. With…
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BASHY – BEING POOR IS EXPENSIVE
A thoughtful, detailed comeback reflecting on the past, but never sounding stuck in it. Bashy never got his full flowers for his contribution to the UK rap scene before concentrating on acting. He had a solid mixtape run – I remember rinsing The Chupa Chups tape on my old mp3 player. A few great freestyles…
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THE 40 YEAR OLD VERSION
An endearing, amusing tale of an artist trying to keep it real. When most people think of hip-hop films, the mind wanders more to “8 Mile”, “Get Rich or Die Trying”, “Straight Out of Compton”. Larger than life tales of struggling artists coming up and betting their life on hip hop, like warriors on a…