Category Reviews

Jan 11 2012

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #2 Kendrick Lamar “Section 80”

Kendrick dropped a Classic, yes CLASSIC!!!! album with Section 80. Section 80  was released independently by TDE on July 2nd 2011. Kendrick claims that most of the inspiration for writing the album came from a dream he had; where Tupac told him “Keep doing what you’re doing, don’t let my music die”. Section 80 is a direct refection of our Generation. With songs like Tammy’s and Keshia song telling stories about female hardships dealing with lying boyfriend’s and living dangerous lifestyles respectively. To songs like “Ronald Reagan Era” & “HiiiPoWeR” our society and how people deal with the issue life throws at us.Section 80 which was written for people born in the 80’s up untill now, has something that almost any and everyone born in that time period to relate to. Song to listen to all of them, really tho!! From “Rigamortus” to “The Spiteful Chant”, Kendrick spits some of the hardest, most though provoking lyric you will ever hear.Section 80 which was produced in house by the incredible TDE camp, with beats from Sound-Wave, Willie B, THC, Terrance Martin, Tae Beast, Tommy Black and more. Even J.Cole produced the single HiiiPoWeR, where Kendrick pretty much give us the blueprint for the meaning of the movement he and his fellow Black Hippy members created. This was definitely my favorite project of the year, and will be something that I cherish for the rest of my life. I really don’t have a favorite track on this album. I could really go in on every song on the album being my favorite at some point in time. I guess it depends really on what my mood is. Section 80 has incredible replay value, i don’t think its ever going to leave my playlist.

Jan 5 2012

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #3 J.Cole “Cole World: The Sideline Story”

J.Cole’s debut album was released on September 27th,2011.  The album debuted   #1 on the billboard charts, selling over 218,000 units. With most of the production done by Cole himself and also NO I.D. We still got the same chills Cole gave us on his three previous mixtapes on the album. Sideline Story was a very well rounded album, with songs that dealt about life issue, to songs about his personal life. As well as some party hits such as “Work Out” & ” Can’t Get Enough. Songs to listen to: definitely “Lost One'”, one of the deepest songs to come out in 2011. Lost One’s which was recored three years earlier to the album release,it deals with a young man and women struggling to deal with  getting an abortion or to keep the baby. Channeling both the point of view of Cole and his significant other. “Lost One’s” is a powerful song and a must listen on this album.  Cole also resurrected Missy Elliot on the album getting her to feature on “Nobody’s Perfect”, he also enlisted the big homie Jay-Z for “MR.Nice Watch”. In it’s own right you can argue for Cole World being the best album of 2011, because Cole put in the most work by doing most of the production and also murdering all vereses.

Jan 4 2012

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #4 Common ” The Dreamer/The Believer”

Common’s ninth studio ablum was relased on December 20th. With NO I.D. doing all of the production on this one, The Dreamer/ The Believer is one of the most inspirational albums of 2011. The album kicks off with The Dreamer a dope song which ends with some inspirational words from Mya Angelou. Then goes in the banger Ghetto Dreams featuring Nas. Common did get away from the theme of the album with Sweet; Where he clearly goes in on Drizzy Drake, saying, “Nigga You Ain’t No Frank Sinatra”. Overall Common did it again with another dope album and proves to listeners that he hasn’t lost a step.

Jan 4 2012

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #5 The Roots “undun”

The Roots thirteenth studio album, damn 13 tho!!! was released on December 6th, 2011. Undun tells a story about a semi-fictional character, Redford Stephens. The album gravitates around Redford growing up in an urban setting and  struggling with survival. He is torn between the choice of making something of himself or living a life of fast money and crime, and he chooses the life of crime. A very creative album and musically flawless with potent lyrics from lead man Black Thought this is definitely a classic and a must listen. Songs to listen to would be all of them, this album is like a book so if you miss out on a track your gonna miss a part of the story.

Jan 3 2012

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #6 Young Jeezy “TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition”

Thug Motivation 103, Jeezy’s fourth studio album was released on December 20, 2011. The third and final installment of the Thug Motivation series; TM 103 debuted on the billboard charts at #3 selling over 233,000 units. This album hasn’t even been out for a month. After a 3 year album hiatus, Jeezy blessed us with a really dope album. Songs to listen to pretty much all of them, I still don’t have a favorite yet. But since i have to narrow it down for you; Trapped featuring Jill Scott, where Jill goes hood on us and spits a couple bars. I Do featuring Jay-Z and Andre 3000 where they talk about being married to the drug game, a least Jeezy and Hov did. Also This One’s For You featuring Trick Daddy, Never be The Same, and the smokers anthem Higher Learning featuring OG’s Devin The Dude and Snoop Dogg. This probably should be higher on the list but its only been out for a month and the top 5 are better at this point.

Jan 3 2012

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #7 Drake “Take Care”

The second studio album from Drizzy was released on November 15,2011. Take Care debuted on the billboard charts with 631,000 copies sold. As of December 21st the album had reached Platinum status selling over 1,175,000 units.  Many would say the album was too poppy and it sounded like an R&B album. Actually a lot of dudes would say that. Personally I thought the album was great, with 40 doing most of the production the album was defiantly more than a Rap album. Personally i can relate to some of the things Drake talk about on this album. Which is probably why i liked it as much as i did. Drake did kill all the song he actually rapped on this album which is no surprise the boy got lyrics. Drakeisms also dominated social networks late 2011; with everyone and their momma quoting a Drake lyric. Overall if your a female you liked this album, and if you were a nigga who doesn’t get pussy you definitely hated this one.

Dec 28 2011

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #8 The Game “The R.E.D. Album”

The Game’s fourth studio album was released on Interscope Records on August 23, 2011.After the release date being rescheduled more than 10 times. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 98,000 copies in its first week. Songs to listen to: Red Nation Ft. Lil Wayne which was banned from airing on networks like BET & MTV because of it’s gang promotion. The City which is the first track on the album featuring an incredible closing verse by Kendrick Lamar and Martians Vs. Goblins Ft. Tyler The Creator & Lil Wayne where Tyler goes in on The Game’s name dropping. While the Game chimed in on Lil B and Lebron and Delonte West.

Dec 28 2011

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #9 Eminem & Royce da 5’9″ “Bad Meets Evil”

Em and Roy’ce dropped this album  on June 14, 2011, which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. Selling 171,000 records. With hit singles Lighters which reached #4 on the billboard charts. Im pretty sure you here this a million times on the radio. Also Fast Lane which got as high as 32 on the billboard charts.

 

 

Dec 23 2011

NerdsofRhyme Top 10 Albums of 2011 #10 Lupe Fiasco “Lasers”

Lupe’s  Third studio album was released on March 8th this year, on Atlantic Records. The album which Lupe has been quoted saying he hates it, and Atlantic made him put it out; debut #1 on the billboard charts with over 200,000 copies sold.With “The Show Goes On” reaching double platinum in sales. People will say the album was way too “poppy” with 4 of it’s song cracking your local radio stations and stations around the world’s playlists. But overall Laser’s was pretty dope!!

Song to Listen to:

“Word’s I Never Said”- Powerful song, dude goes in on Obama, The Government, 9/11 and more on this track.

Quotable: If you turn on TV all you see’s a bunch of “what the fucks”/Dude is dating so and so blabbering bout such and such/And that ain’t Jersey Shore, homie that’s the news/And these the same people that supposed to be telling us the truth/Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist/Gaza strip was getting bombed, Obama didn’t say shit/That’s why I ain’t vote for him, next one either
/I’ma part of the problem, my problem is I’m peaceful/And I believe in the people.

“All Black Everything”- A very creative track and inspiration track that reverses many events in the world culture.

Quotable “Somalia is a great place to relax in/Fred Astaire was the first to do a backspin/The Rat Pack was cool group of black men/That inspired five white guys called The Jacksons/Eminem fitted in but /then again he inspired a black rapper tryin to mimic him/And that’s what really rose up out of Michigan, the sign of white rapper by the name of 50 Cent, ha!

Dec 21 2011

Is It Time To Dead Nigga’s In Paris??? Eleven Times Tho??

Okay i think it’s officially about that time to dead, Nigga’s In Paris, on of my favorite songs off WTT. Also always get the people going when im Djing. But after The Throne performed the hit 11, yes Eleven times at in Vancouver,BC  it’s time to stop the madness. I witnessed the WTT Tour during their stop in Baltimore last month. They performed the song just 3 times which was perfectly fine for me. But eleven times, come on son, I can name more than eleven songs they didn’t perform that would have fans going crazy. The video below was they nail in the coffin for me, wow like really nigga you need to chill on the drugs homie lol. Don’t get it twisted tho, ima still give the people what they want whenever im on the turntables; but you never catch me bumping this in my car, headphones etc for a while!!

Sep 15 2011

Allindstrom X The Source Tha Carter IV Roundtable

Before Lil Wayne’s album reached platinum status , Allindstrom and The Source, gathered B.Dot,Combat Jack, Angela Yee, Jeff Sledge, and Big D. They talk about everything from their thoughts on the music, the sales and promotion of the album, and the rumors of record labels “fixing” the numbers. And of course we had to bring up the Watch The Throne vs Carter 4 topic.

Aug 17 2011

Complex Magazine: 15 New Rappers To Watch Out For

Complex magazine takes a look a 15 new rappers to watch out for. Artist from Casey Veggies, V-Nasty (aka Female version of Waka Flocka), Hopsin, Das Racist, Stalley and more… As well as one of my favorite rappers period Ab-Soul are featured on this article. Complex lists the pros and cons of each rapper as well as how likely the are to blow up. Read More Here

Jun 27 2011

A look back-Top 10 mixtapes of 2010 #3 J.Cole Friday Night Lights

J.Cole dropped this mixtape back in November of 2010. Cole elevated his lyrical content to another level with tracks like Before I’m Gone, Too Deep for the Intro, 2Face and Back to the topic. Cole also did heavy production on this tape and also did his own rendition of Kanye’s Devil in a Dress (Villematic).  Wale & Omen were the only features on the tape with You Got it and Premeditated Murder respectively. Nerds of Rhyme give this tape a 4.8/5

Download Here 

Apr 6 2011

Wiz Khalifa Sells 197,000 in First Week

The Taylor Gang general’s major label debut Rolling Papers comes in at #2 on the billboard charts. Out done by Britney Spears Femme Fatale which sold 276,000 in the first week. Some OG Taylors have expressed their dis-approval of the album. Saying the album was too pop and commercial.But Wiz still maintains his buzz with support  from the Taylor Gang and new fans who just caught on to Khalifa fever. I’ve been a Wiz fan since 2007, while i was disappointed with the album overall; the production for the most part was outstanding. Mostly In-house produced by IDlabs, Stargate and more, I’ve only been able to fuck with 6 out of the 14 tracks. Three of them I already played out cause they were leaked 😦 . Khalifa did drop Cabin Fever which was full of bangers; made me feel a little better about Rolling Papers. Wiz has been an underground artist ever since he drooped Say Yeah back in 2007. So all the money and fame is well deserved; for someone who a lot of people in the game say is a hard worker. I’m interested to see what next for Wiz in the future.

Overall Rating: 2.9/5

I came across Wale twitter, where he had a good point on fans abandoning artist because of pop success.

One of my Favs on  the album