Drake (feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga) - The Motto (Young Money, 2011)
How Wayne manages to look the most suspect in a video with Drake and Tyga, I’ll never know, but the video itself succeeds thanks to some finely timed cameos and Tyga’s weird methods of space travel.
Also, Chase N. Cashe. Seriously, this dude’s work as of late has been excellent, and I can’t wait for 2012, which will undoubtedly be an even bigger year for his production.
Drake & Slim K - Take Care: The Prelude (Chopped & Screwed) (datpiff, 2011)
There was a time where I would’ve been worried about including Drake’s music on this blog, because despite being a longtime fan (and writing about his music in this blog’s early incarnation - when no one read it), the readers I garnered never took kindly to young Aubrey. Nothing’s really changed about that except for the simple fact that I rarely contribute anything on the internet anymore, so I’m going off the notion that no one is paying attention.
Slim K is best known around our circles for his beautifully slowed renditions of ASAP Rocky’s leaked tracks. It seems only right that Slim would also be able to expertly screw Drake’s music, not only because Rocky will be on Drake’s forthcoming Club Paradise tour, but also due to both artists’ similar quiet storm aesthetics.
Dreams Money Can Buy was already melancholic before Slim got ahead of it, but with the tempo slowed to a snail’s pace, it takes on a new life of its own. The same can be said of Marvin’s Room and this tape’s highlight, Trust Issues, which strikes even more of the paranoid-laden notes it was attempting to reach than the original. Even Future, 2011’s MVP, has his hit single Tunney Muntannah get a new life breathed into it by Slim’s treatment. And Drake’s verse doesn’t sound as out of place here! (it’s still a pretty awkward place for a Drake verse, but it’s something, y’know?)
Lil Wayne - Sorry 4 The Wait (YMCMB, 2011)
Noz pretty much covered the general ideas and problems with this mixtape by listening to one song. Like No Ceilings was, this is cookie-cutter Wayne; Wayne doing his best impression of himself, or at least what he once was. I wish I could say this release is depressing, but I think the majority of us gave up on the young Carter (the old one too) sometime in 2008. Wayne sounds about as bored rapping as I do listening to him, but the Young Money fanbase’ll eat this shit up with no complaints. And that’s who this mixtape is made for; those naive, overly loyal kids who still think Wayne is the shit just because defecation is his favorite subject.
As I keep telling people who ask me when the Carter IV is dropping, or what I think about Wayne - I don’t really care anymore. We don’t really need Wayne anymore. His influence lives on in every active rapper but himself.
Lil Wayne - I Hate Love (internet, 2011)
This is over a month old, but I still can’t really get over how great it is, especially compared to the second official single, John - it seems that a significant amount of people are coming around to that record after the video was released (and the video is, as random as it is, pretty great), but I still feel the only thing redeemable from that record is Ross’ second verse, which is just delivered on a collassal (even for Ricky) scale. I Hate Love is a lot closer to what I’d rather hear from Wayne; it sorta continues the prog-rock vibes of lone-Rebirth stand-out Drop The World, with a very strong presence of guitars and tinny drums; but it’s offset by what’re some of the most revealing lyrics Wayne’s done since, well, Single. The atmosphere is very inviting, those opening synths welcoming you to what is about to be one of Weezy’s rare modern-epics.
Unfortunately, this won’t be on Tha Carter IV, which still has promise despite a terrible second single and ever worse cover. That was pushed back to June 21st; which is completely fine because GOBLIN will be here in less than two weeks, and I’m pretty sure that’ll dominate my 2011 musically.
I wrote about Young Jeezy’s BMF rip-off over at No Jumper.
Lil’ Wayne (feat. Cory Gunz) - 6’7” (Cash Money, 2010)
How could anyone who loves rap ignore this? Mack Maine apparently described this song as A Milli on steroids, and that’s probably the only true thing Mack’s ever said; this crazy Bangladesh beat (yes, the problems are resolved) prove once again that his frantic, bass-heavy, minimalistic-sampling tracks bring out the best in Wayne. This is the first post-prison song I’ve heard from Wayne personally, and to say he sounds inspired would be an understatement. Not only is he rapping well again, which he’s pretty much been doing since No Ceilings, but he’s rapping with the energy that’s been sorely missing from all his recent material, save Bill Gates and maybe I Am Not A Human Being. Cory Gunz still isn’t all that impressive to me, but he doesn’t detract anything from the song at hand. Wayne’s charisma is absolutely seeping (ayo) through the speakers on this song, and it’s hard not to smile and chant SIX FOOT, SEVEN FOOT, EIGHT FOOT, HUT! along with the sample.
I’m still convinced this will always be my favorite Lil’ Wayne album.
Freekey Zekey (feat. Lil’ Wayne & Jha Jha) - Beat Without Bass (Diplomats, 2007)
So, now that Wayne’s free, could he please free himself? (Pause) I still remember listening to this track everyday, knowing Wayne’s verse by heart; his sentiments here felt so genuine, as he seemingly threw shots at both of the Kings of New York (though that’s disputable). Old ass rappers better stay on tour/you’re like 44/I got a 44/I’m 24, I can merc you and come home when I’m 44! This is one of the last times I genuinely remember Wayne living by the M.O.B. motto as well, threatening to feed rat poison to white bitches, and pronouncing to strippers that bitch, I ain’t God! Nowadays he’d be singing to a diddy to them in autotune.
I also remember turning this song off after Wayne’s verse everyday. Jha Jha is ass, and I don’t care about Ezekiel that much.
Pink Friday is pink.
Let’s hope this is more Monster/Bottoms Up level of greatness, and less of that song with will.i.am. That’s probably asking for way too much.
We’ll find out November 23rd.
Contact Me:
Email - yayodancing@gmail.com
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AIM: KingEvo101
Twitter - @yayodancing
