I haven’t written much lately. I hope this makes up for it.
Albums:
1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy :: Kanye’s fifth album in six years is his most fully realized to date; an epic prog-rock inspired album full of songs that often go onto long, but never feel cluttered. This is going to be many writers’ number one, and with perfect reason.
2. Waka Flocka Flame - Flockaveli :: Flockaveli isn’t shocking or profound, and it isn’t likely to leave listeners and bystanders (so) appalled; but it harkens back to the days when hip-hop albums had that type of effect on people. Lex Luger and Waka Flocka are the perfect producer/rapper duo in 2010, and on Flockaveli, they could do no wrong. An almost flawless debut, and a personal, biased favorite.
3. Domo Genesis - Rolling Papers :: If I could place BASTARD here, I would, but it’d be unfair as it was released in the tailend of 2009; Domo’s Rolling Papers is the most fully realized project to come out of the OFWGKTA camp this year, as EARL was too short in length and Blackenedwhite was a rather bumpy, though exciting ride. Domo is looked at as one of the weaker links of Odd Future, but he’s easily my third favorite behind the Tyler and his brother; he has an effortless cool that more seasoned veterans like Gucci and Curren$y possess, despite being a stoner-rap staple, he has a wonderful idea of conceptual songs.
4. Diddy-Dirty Money - Last Train To Paris :: I honestly don’t care how anyone feels about Diddy as a person or an artist (he mooches off his dead best friend, hypes up rappers long past their initial due date, doesn’t write or produce his own music), he consistently releases great albums, and Last Train To Paris is one of his strongest yet. It’s not heavy on rapping, but the little bit that is here is competent enough, and the ensemble cast that Diddy gathered to feature really take this album to extra lengths. The production is just masterful; this weird little electro-hop album is one of the most refreshing things I’ve heard all year.
5. Curren$y - Pilot Talk :: Pilot Talk II may’ve found more praise amongst my circle of bloggers, but Pilot Talk is far more appealing to me than the good, but flawed follow-up. Curren$y’s pen game might not be a sharp on the predecessor, but his presence here is nearly unmatchable; making rhymes about eating chips and playing NBA2K sound as glorious as they ever have, all whilst admiring the view from his hotel suite. Ski Beats provided a lush layout for his stoner-charm, and this became the feel good album of the summer.
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