Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik Returns MIXTAPE REVIEW

It's not often that I get drawn into liking a artist right off the back after just hearing one song. Well...that was the case in 2010 when I played Yelawolf's tack "Pop The Trunk". Since then I've been on the Yelawolf bandwagon. After dropping two projects that I thoroughly enjoyed in Trunk Muzik 0-60 and his major label debut Redioactive, I've been wanting more. Well here we have Trunk Muzik Returns. The follow up to the 2010 mixtape. Just like the last one, Yelawolf gives us another short (10 tracks), bass bumping, adrenaline rush project with that country red neck Alabama flavor. I was for the most part very pleased with this mixtape. As always, I'll start with the things I loved. The production is what I expected. Bass heavy "trunk music" with a country flavor as I stated a few sentences ago. "Gangster" would have to be my favorite track from the mixtape. This song reminded me a lot of "Pop The Trunk". Big Henry had a cool verse but I expected a little more from A$AP Rocky. I thought he would have went harder on such a dope beat. Still a great song nonetheless.  On "Rhyme Room" he links up with Raekwon, again, and Killer Mike to put together three dope ass verses on a much more calm beat. I like how Yelawolf in his verse talks about and admits to the flaws of his Radioactive album and the songs on it that tried for a commercial and/or radio sound. Something critics nagged about when it came to that album. "Catfish Billy" is where he raps as his alter ego of the same name, delivering another one of his fiery rapid speed flows on the second verse (something like "Get Away" from Radioactive). "Way Out" and "Hustle" which features Paul Wall are both mega trunk bangers as well. On "Fame" he tells a true story that I was never aware of. Talking about the time he almost had a deal with Def Jam and why he turned it down and all of that. There were a few disappointments though. "Box Chevy Pt. 4" I was truly let down by. This song was more beat than raps. I really don't know what that awkward instrumental break in the middle was all about but it didn't make the song any better. "Firestarter" I think was not a good way to start this mixtape off. Look at the intro songs that started off his last two projects: "Get The Fuck Up!" and "Radioactive". Both had high energy and hard lyrics. This song was just way too mellow to start off a mixtape. Really wasn't feeling the beat too much either. Overall, I enjoyed the mixtape but its probably my third favorite behind the previous two projects. I give a final grade of a B-. If you're a Yelawolf fan like me you should enjoy this too. I do believe he one of the best new lyricists in rap today. With one of the best flows. The questions now is, will he ditch the commercial sound for his sophomore album and stick to this sound? *shrugs*. Guess we'll have to wait and see. End.

Final Grade: B-

Lil Wayne - I Am Not A Human Being II ALBUM REVIEW

Well...you either love him or hate him. But one thing you can't deny about Dwayne Carter is that he is indeed on top of the rap world right now. Chart topping hits, record sales, CEO of the popular and ever growing Young Money label and so much more. But of course...everyone is gonna have their own opinion and probably not agree with any of that. I'll be honest, my interest for his music has definitely declined in recent years. His lyrics and voice have gotten worse and worse (the drugs ain't making it any better) and decent music content, which he used to have, is now non-existent. That said...here we have I Am Not A Human Being II. The sequel to the 2010 EP.  Now I already had low expectations for this not only because of the early reviews I've heard from others but based on what I heard from 2011's Tha Carter IV. Which was nothing but piss poor lyrics with good production. Well...to no surprise, that's exactly what IANAHB II is. But much...much worse. Cons are definitely outweighing pros on this one. I'll start with the very few good things I have to say about this album. Production was okay at best. More good ones that bad ones. "Gunwalk" and "Trigger Finger" were probably the two best beats on here. "God Bless Amerika" I would say is the only song I played again. It reminded me a lot of "President Carter" from his last album. Which was my favorite track from that. Even tho he sounded drugged up it was the only song where he seemed relaxed and not over doing it. Now what I didn't like. Obviously the lyrics. Like I stated before his lyrics, flow and voice have gotten so bad its almost hard to listen too. Corny punchline after corny punchline. Just corny shit being said period. From things like "I'm in the ocean getting shark pussy" to "she swallowed so many nuts you fuck around and find a squirrel in her throat". It also appears his favorite word is "pussy". I've been listening to rap music for 16 years and I've never heard "pussy" be said so many times on a single album. Buy hey...long as his bitches love it right? "Back To You" was by far THEE worst track on the album. This was basically "How To Love" part 2 but even worst. It sounds like he's singing on stage doing karaoke while drunk. He clearly didn't even try to make this shit sound good. "Romance" was just....I can't even put in words. The hook went like "the best part of waking up is breakfast after a nut". I'll leave it at that. Even the intro song was terrible. He added soft pianos like he was about to spit something real but nope. More coon lyrics. What's even sadder is that the lyrics were so bad that every guest featured in my opinion out did him on his own song. 2 Chainz, Gudda Gudda, Gunplay, Trina, even Soulja Boy and that's saying something.  "Hello" was him going back his Rebirth rock music shit. Wack. This overall sounded rushed and sounded like he didn't give two fucks on making a good album. With the exception of a few good beats and that one song, nothing on this album impresses me. I give it a final grade of a D. I stand by what I said that Lil Wayne hasn't dropped a decent project since Tha Carter III. It's been down hill ever since. But for you Wayne fan I'm sure you will appreciate this madness. Me personally, I ain't got "no worries" either. Except being worried about having to review another Lil Wayne album soon. End.

Final Grade: D

Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience ALBUM REVIEW

It's been nearly seven years since JT last hit us with an album. 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds. One of my favorite R&B/Pop albums ever. So it's easily understandable why this was such an anticipated release for 2013. Fans have been feinding for more since 2006. Well here it is...The 20/20 Experience. I can honestly say...the wait was well worth it. This album was just as great as the last. Well right off the back, the first thing I noticed was the length of these tracks. They're like....incredibly long. It's a ten track album but it seems longer. In fact, "Suit & Tie" is the shortest song on the album and even that is like five and a half minutes. I guess with such good production on here, mostly courtesy of Timbaland, I guess letting the beats ride a little longer extending the song isn't so bad. So here's some notable tracks for me. "Pusher Love Girl" was a cool song. Not something I would start the album with but cool nonetheless. "Strawberry Bubblegum" surprised me. Just reading the title I thought this would sound like some weak ass simp shit but I like it. Probably has the best beat and tempo combination of the entire album. Like many of JT's hits, there's a lot of songs on here I could see becoming major dance hits and that's one of them. "Tunnel Vision" is another one. This almost sounds like a sped-up version of his classic hit "Cry Me A River". It's a dope song. "Mirrors" was another well produced track that I enjoyed. Kinda sounds more like a rap beat. Though the pros out-weigh the cons by a large margin on this albums, I did have a few gripes with some tracks. The last track "Blue Ocean Floor" really took the momentum away from the whole album. This was way too soft and mellow. It sounds like a lullaby, like he's trying to put a baby to sleep with this song. If a little more simp sauce was added to this then it would sound like something Drake would make. It didn't mesh with the rest of the album's sound at all. "Let The Groove Get In" will probably have to grow on me. This sounds like some dance floor salsa music. I'm not a salsa fan. For now I could do without that track. "Don't Hold The Wall" would have been better if Timbaland wasn't trying to steal JT's thunder on the track. I mean we know you produced it Tim but shut the hell up and let the man sing! He made it sound like Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake instead of the other way around. Well, like I stated before, the pros out-weigh the cons and overall I was very pleased with this album. I give it a final grade of a B+. I honestly can't see a JT fan NOT liking this album. You know, the last artist that waited seven years to drop another album after dropping a classic name was Dr. Dre. That album that followed became a classic a well. Will that be the case for Mr. Timberlake with this project? Only time will tell. But from now on sir...a two to three year gap minimum at least. Please and thank you. End.

Final Grade: B+