BEST OF 2013 PT. 2: Top 5 R&B Albums/Top 5 Mixtapes

Here is part two of my best of 2013 blog. This time is my favorites of the year in both R&B and hip hop mixtapes. Unlike regular hip hop albums, it took me a lot more work reviewing R&B and mixtapes. So needless to say, both of these lists were hard to put together. Which is why it's only a top five for both. This year R&B continued is growing new sound of hip hop blend among the more popular singer. While the others stuck to what they do the best. Meanwhile the mixtape game this year put a lot of newcomers on the map as well as prepared fans for what's to come next from some of the artists. This will be more brief than part one so without further a due, Here is my top five R&B albums of the year:

5. The-Dream - IV Play

Grade: B-

Made to be a modern day version of R. Kelly's 1993 classic, it was certainly an album that grew on me after time. While it obviously doesn't match the genius that is 12 Play, it certainly was a good baby making project for couples to enjoy. A mixture of everything from the hip hop sound to your common slow ballads. The-Dream proves again why he's one of R&B's top crooners.

4. Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines

Grade: B

Probably no other R&B album this year got the party started like Blurred Lines did. Filled with dance/funk/techno/disco fused sounds that's perfect for anyone of any age to groove to. At the same time, Robin still shows off his gentleman charm towards the ladies with a few ballads for them as well. But if there's one song people will remember from 2013, it's the title track and single "Blurred Lines". One of if not the biggest tune of the year. Black and white striped suits and all, Robin Thicke had a huge year and a huge album.

3. K. Michelle - Rebellious Soul

Grade: B+

From reality show superstar to R&B superstar in the making, K. Michelle's debut year in the music world was certainly one to remember. She is the only female singer in my top five and rightfully so. This was a great project. A very dark, soothing toned album filled with plenty of emotion, heartbreak and drama. Of course also, there was plenty, and I mean plenty of flirtatiousness and sexual content to please any man listening. Due to her raunchy, ghetto and at times ratchet attitude and swagger, she takes these simple topics and make them more relatable and enjoyable. I never watched Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta but after this album, I am now a fan. 

2. John Legend - Love In The Future

Grade: B+

It's so unfortunate that I never got a chance to write a review on this because this was one of the best R&B projects of 2013. The impressive list of producers involved put together a well produced album. It gave off an eerie and somewhat dramatic sound that sonically you wouldn't expect a singer who a "piano man" to make. It's so unfortunate that I never got a chance to write a review on this because this was one of the best R&B projects of 2013. The impressive list of producers involved put together a well produced album. It gave off an eerie and somewhat dramatic sound that sonically you wouldn't expect a singer who a "piano man" to make. But John made it work in a way no other can. Most definitely one of the best listens of the year.

1. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience

Grade: A-

This was simply a no brainer. Justin just out does himself it seems with every release. A ten track album filled with dance grooves, party tunes, love ballads and just a radiant vibe of excitement. Timbaland's fantastic production on here was some of his best ever. "Suit & Tie" one can argue was the biggest song of the year . I could go on with how good this was. JT showed why he is not only on top of his game but on top of the R&B game as well.

Now for the mixtapes. I won't break these down like I did with the R&B albums. I will say that these were the mixtapes that stood out the most for many reasons. Whether it was their lyrics, their originality, the production, or simply the "catchy-ness". The mixtape evolved bigger this year and these five were the leader of the pack in my opinion. Here they are:

5. Los - Becoming King

Grade: C+

4. Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik Returns

Grade: B-

3. Big K.R.I.T. - King Remembered In Time

Grade: B

2. Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights

Grade: B

1. Logic - Young Sinatra: Welcome To Forever

Grade: B+

Thank you to all of you who supported me and these reviews in my first year doing it. I had so much from listening to so many different artists this year and I look forward to seeing what the new year brings to the table. Mic Navarro's Corner isn't going anywhere. See y'all in 2014!

BEST OF 2013 PT 1: Top 10 Hip Hop Albums of 2013

Well here we are. We reached the end of another wild year in music. This was my first year doing these reviews and I can honestly say I had fun doing every single one. Doing these reviews and listening to so many different sounds in both hip hop and R&B has now opened me up to so many new artists. It also helped me to find out about a lot of artists that I though I knew. While it all was a fun and exciting experience this year, it was also a learning experience as well. Well now it's come to this. After reviewing over fifty albums this year, I was able to put together my top ten hip hop albums of 2013. This list not only was hard to put together but it was even harder to put it in order from worst to best. I took every little thing about each album into consideration. Lyrics, production, creativity, originality, concept and collaboration. With that said here it is. My top ten hip hop albums of 2013:

10. J. Cole - Born Sinner

Grade: B

J. Cole's sophomore album Born Sinner was quite a surprise. Of the many concept albums that dropped this year, this one was wildly missed by many. Filled with great soulful and emotional production, it met it's meaning and message head on. Giving the album a very religious feel. Cole is a great lyricist and a great story teller. Despite the many who believe Cole lacked energy on this album and/or found it "boring", his messages were good enough to keep the average listener up and paying attention. From the self-esteem building single "Crooked Smile", to the salute to a legend on "Let Nas Down", Cole truly painted pictures in your head with every word. No sophomore slump here.

9. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

Grade: B

What was probably the most anticipated debut of 2013, Earl certainly didn't disappoint. Although many were taken back by Earl's calmer approach to the album, I found it to be quite good. He showed on this album that he's more than just the out of control foul mouth kid from Odd Future that we've come to know. He has a emotional side and has a heart. Tracks like '"Chum" and "Burgundy" show that. Already Earl is lyrically way ahead of his time and this album shows that he is capable of still being as lyrical and as sinister with his flow regardless of topic. Definitely one of the year's best.

8. Talib Kweli - Prisoner Of Conscious

Grade: B

Talib Kweli's wise veteran mind came into play strongly on this album. Many people may think they know what conscious hip hop is but Kweli showed you what the real meaning of it is here. With such a wide arrangement of sounds from the 80's throwback sound of "Turnt Up", the vintage Wu-Tang sound of "Rocket Ships", to the high tempo mainstream sounding "Upper Echelon". Talib Kweli showed that conscious hip hop can be displayed through any sound of hip hop. It's all about how you decide to approach it. Good album.

7. Hopsin - Knock Madness

Grade: B

Full of rage, anger and sheer controversy, Hopsin's long awaited sophomore album was well worth the wait. He continued his usual comedic tirade against the media, wack rappers and every one else that pisses him off. At the same time showing off a more softer side when it comes to the females on a number of tracks ("Good Guys Get Left Behind", "Still Got Love For You"). With such dope underground production and such high energy throughout the whole album, this is an album that I continue to keep listening to.

6. Jarren Benton - My Grandma's Basement

Grade: B+

Much like his homeboy Hopsin, Jarren dropped a high octane, high energy project that was definitely one of my favorites of the year. His comedic shock value lyricism took me back to Eminem's Slim Shady LP days. He took the trap sounding production and made it so much cooler due to his witty lyricism. With over the top horror core tracks like my favorite "Razor Blades And Steak Knives" and "Smells Like", southern trap influenced tracks like "Cadillac's And Chevy's" and "Life In the Jungle", to posse tracks like "Go Off" and "W On (My Own Dick)". It's an album that I still have in rotation six months later.

5. Childish Gambino - Because The Internet

Grade: B+

Two weeks ago Gambino released this sophomore album. It was album that certainly confused many. Including myself. The brilliance behind this album's concept is indescribable. Telling a short story about himself going through all of this drama from beef with enemies, women, the rap game and life in general. All connecting to issues that is in direct result of today's internet age. The experimental production made it pop even more. Yes it's a lot to take in from this album, but if you're patient and can sit and thoroughly listen to what's going on then it will all come to you. Then you will see why it's a 2013 top five album.

4. Pusha T - My Name Is My Name

Grade: B+

Another album this year that caught me off guard big time. Pusha T delivers a sophomore project that perfectly balances the mainstream with the underground/hood music without over doing it. He's always been known for his dark and gritty tales of the hood and the drug game and he had plenty to share here. From his menacing lyrics on "Numbers On The Boards", to his incredible story of a former friend on "S.N.I.T.C.H.", to his brilliant collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on "Nosetalgia". This was an album some magazine critics are already calling a classic. For me time will tell before I can make that assessment. But as of now, this was one of the best this year and maybe one of the best in some years.

3. Danny Brown - Old

Grade: A-

Never did I expect Danny Brown to do with this album what he did. Splitting the album into two showing his old self, where he talked about the horrors he face when it came to drug abuse and surviving the drug infested surroundings of Detroit. Then his current self which is the fun, wild and bizarre Danny Brown that many are familiar with. But despite his looney character and voice, he's shows that his talent for story telling and his creativity are top notch. I loved this album and this will certainly go down as Danny Brown's triumphant album.

2. Ghostface Killah - Twelve Reasons To Die

Grade: A-

Arguably the best album concept of 2013. I was blown away by what Ghostface did here. This was no hip hop album. What this was was a movie told through music. He gave you the dark, haunting story of the underground Italian mafia life. Everything from drugs, violence, love, betrayal and revenge. Adrian Younge's production brought it to life even more with eerie organ sounding beats that sounds like something from the vintage mob/mafia films. This is why Ghostface Killah and the entire Wu-Tang Clan have been a force for so long. Only they can come up with something as brilliant as this. Forget a Grammy, this album deserves an Oscar. 

1. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2

Grade: A

Do I even need an explanation for this one? Eminem showed once again why he is hip hop's most prolific lyricist. While the album had it's moments, there wasn't too many other albums this year that I thoroughly loved from start to finished. So many enjoyable songs. From the anticipated sequel "Bad Guy", the dad bashing "Rhyme Or Reason", to the head exploding lyricism of "Rap God", the throwback sounds of "Bezerk" and so much more. No album in 2013 kept me more entertained both lyrically and beat wise. Although it doesn't quite match the brilliance of the original Marshall Mathers LP, this is without a doubt another classic from hip hop's "rap god" Eminem. Album of the year for sure.

Stay tuned for part 2...

Childish Gambino - Because The Internet ALBUM REVIEW

Donald Glover: Rapper. Producer. Actor. Comedian. Writer. As you can see, it would be quite hard to find many other artists this diversely talented with that many titles. Especially among the new school of artists. Much like Drake, Childish Gambino started out as an actor. He appeared on NBC's Community. He also was a writer for NBC's comedy series 30 Rock. This was from 2006 to 2010. Though he got plenty of awards and recognition for his television work, it wasn't until he emerged as a MC in 2011 when the recognition grew larger. It's also when I took first notice as well. That year he dropped his debut album Camp which was easily one of my favorite albums of 2011. Top five even. It was just masterfully done with brilliant concepts, brilliant production using live instrumentation and tons of over-your-head lyrics with clever and witty word play. It's that trait that drew me into becoming a fan of Gambino. With, in my opinion, a damn near classic debut, you can clearly understand the huge anticipation for this. His sophomore album Because The Internet (which I might add is one of the best album titles of the year). Last year Gambino dropped a mixtape called Royalty in which he totally switched up everthing to a heavy mainstream sound. This didn't please me at all. Granted it was only a mixtape and I probably shouldn't care too much. I was just a little worried that he listened to what the critics said and decided to switch up and change everything. I was praying that it wouldn't carry on to this album. Thankfully it didn't. This was a impressive sophomore album from Childish Gambino. However I have to admit, this was probably the most difficult album of the year to understand. It literally took me close to ten listens to finally grasp everything that's going on. In a way it's all over the place as far as sound, concept, genre and much more. As far as sound you get everything from  rap, R&B, pop, techno and psychedelic ("trippy") sounds. That was easy to point out but the hard part was making out the concept. As you can see by the album's title, the album is centered around things today that the internet gets blamed for. Or the evils that come as a result of today's internet age. Lines hear and there referring to internet related things. Gambino throughout the album gives you his personal story of how it affects him. He goes through a big time emotional roller coaster through the album. Everything from joy and happiness, anger, sadness, love, depression and even fear. Needless to say, this album will confuse many. It's a lot to take in I know. This is the type of album you gotta listen to for it's concept and not just for the sound. With all this said, here is my highlights of the album.  The album started out pretty damn good. The first track "Crawl" was really dope. I love the female vocals and samples on the hook The production was excellent here too. "Sweatpants" may be my favorite of the album. I thought Gambino spit the best on this track ("I got beach houses on both coasts/Ph balance"). This also was my favorite beat on the album. It's cool enough for underground but still cool enough for mainstream. Though I thought he could have done a little better with the hook not making it so sing-a-long-ish, I still love this track. Now the internet theme starts to come into play. "Worldstar" pretty much speaks for itself. Though I thought he could have done a little better with the hook not making it so sing-a-long-ish, I still love this track. Now the internet theme starts to come into play. "Worldstar" pretty much speaks for itself. The one internet source for all things coonery. The song was pretty much jokingly made about the kick everyone gets out of fights and all other kinds of crazy videos on Worldstarhiphop.com. Even including excerpts from videos and people yelling "world star". Cool song. "Shadows" to me sounds like Gambino spitting game to a girl via the internet. It's a cool song but I think he should have went further with the concept. "3005" had a really dope R&B hook. This was also one of a few songs on here where he sounded very similar to Kendrick Lamar flow wise. Here it sounds like he's spitting game again but being extra thirsty this time. As we commonly see on Facebook and Twitter and such. I don't know if it's the same chick from the other song or not but nonetheless I like the song. "No Exit" deep warped sounding beat that kinda sounds like something from Kanye West's Yeezus album. It sounds like here he's trying to get away from someone or some drama that went down at a party that happened on the previous track. I mentioned how he sounded like Kendrick Lamar on a few songs and this one reminded me of Kendrick's song "The Art Of Peer Pressure" from his Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City album. I like the song a lot. The final track "Life: The Biggest Troll". plays into the internet theme as well. The internet of course is full of trolls who are irritating and here Gambino breaks down how life is the same way. Makes you think a lot and agree with a lot of what's being said. "Earth: The Oldest Computer (The Last Night)" had this very cool crossover R&B/pop hook that I actually liked. It pulled me into liking the song more than what I did. He compares the world to one giant computer and how it will not last if constantly abused or mistreated. Just like what constant internet abuse can do to your computer or laptop. Now my lowlights (nothing major). "The Worst Guys", while it wasn't a bad song, it was kind of a disappointment. After just being introduced to Chance The Rapper earlier this year I was hoping to hear him spit along with Gambino but all he did was a repetitive hook that was just....ehh. It's catchy but could have been much better than that. "Telegraph Ave." I want to like. I really do. But when I hear it takes me back to Drake's Take Care album. An album I didn't like to well. This sounded like Gambino stole a lost Take Care track and made it his own. But because Gambino's singing is much more tolerable than Drake's this song might grow on me. "Fligh Of The Navigator" was a bit too trippy sounding. I know he was experimenting on this album with the psychedelic sound and he did good but this song had me so lost that I gave up trying to figure it out. As far as how it ties in with the story/concept. Well overall this album was very good. I was very impressed with the albums concept, the story and the experimentation with the sound. I give it a final grade of a B+. In today's world, damn near everything is connected in some sort of way to the internet. Music, videos, shopping, meeting new friends, dating and so on can all be done through the internet. Sometimes however it takes a negative toll on you if there's too much of it. That's what Childish Gambino shows you on this album. The ups and downs. I'm glad he acknowledges what the internet is really capable of while others ignore it. I say to you all this: Use the internet. Don't let it use you. End.

Final Grade: B+

CREDITS

Executive Producers

Donald Glover

Fam Udeorji

Lead Artist

Donald Glover

Production

Donald Glover

Ludwig Goransson

Christian Rich

Stefan Ponce

Collaboration

Alessia Brigante

Michael Tyler

Chancellor Bennett

Jason Martin

Lloyd Polite

Jhene Chilombo

Miguel Pimetel

Lakisha Robinson

Azealia Banks

Label

Glassnote/Island Records

Hopsin - Knock Madness ALBUM REVIEW

Controversy is something hip hop has certainly seen a lot of in it's existence. Some rappers through the years have actually made their name off of nothing but sheer controversy. Whether it be their behavior away from the studio and in public, their thoughts or ideas about certain issues, or simply the content within their music and/or lyrics. Let us now enter the twisted and demented mind of Hopsin. An underground lyricist since 2009, it wasn't until 2010 when myself and many others took immediate notice. When I heard his single "Sag My Pants" along with "Ill Mind Of Hopsin 3", listened to his sinister lyricism and gazed upon his demonic like appearance (with the eye contacts and all), I knew this was a artist I had to keep an eye on. That year he dropped his sophomore album Raw. An album I was very impressed with. Filled with controversial lyrics about an abundance of things. Mostly taking shots at other big name rappers and other figures in pop culture. Along with many other jaw dropping topics. Hopsin is basically a perfect example of horror-core and/or shock value rap. Now as the ring leader of the up and coming rap group Funk Volume, and with all the heads he has turned for the last three years, the anticipation for the next project was beyond eager. Here is his third album Knock Madness. I didn't have any kind of particular expectation for it because Hopsin doesn't change anything so I expected typical Hopsin. Well...that's exactly what I got. I don't know if I can say this is better than Raw or Gazing At The Moonlight just yet, but I did enjoy this. Again, Hopsin changes nothing. Everything on this album is why Hopsin has become so popular on the underground scene. There were some moments of emotion but he doesn't shy away at the thing that got him here. Which, again, is really his controversial shock value lyrics. They're insanely graphic, vulgar and at times disturbing. Granted a lot of it is still quite funny and entertaining because his high energy just gets you amped regardless of what comes out his mouth. Him taking pages out of Eminem's playbook (as far as flow and content) has certain done wonders for him and it shows more than ever on Knock Madness. In fact, a lot of the production on here sounds like material Dr. Dre would have given Eminem in '99 (even though the production wasn't that strong for me). Here now are the things I liked about the album. The album starts off in typical Hopsin fashion. The second track "Hop Is Back" finds him blurting out his shock lyrics and calling out rappers in the process. He even takes shot at Kanye West and how bad Yeezus was and also takes a shot at Kendrick Lamar regarding his height and stuff. That's the Hopsin I know. It continues on the next track "Who's There". It features fellow Funk Volume members Jarren Benton and Dizzy Wright and is a lyrical slaying with each bringing their own unique style. Jarren and Hopsin making threats to industry folks while Dizzy is more chill and bring his mainstream style. I think my one stand out track to me had to be "Nollie Tre Flip". On an album that had just decent beats, this was hands down the best beat. What was really coll was how he rapped with a old school DJ Quik like voice. The skateboarders will certainly enjoy this one as well. The following track "Gimmie That Money" is a song many celebrities can relate to. He talks about how people only comes to him for money or they want to be his friend for that reason. Also how girls that turned him down in the past now are all on him because of his money. These are topics I love hearing talk about because you can tell how bad it pisses him off by his tone and his words. "Lunch Time Cypher" may be the unique and creative track. He gets help from Passionate MC and G-Mo Skee and put together a actual cypher where they all are just taking turns rhyming. Just like back in school during lunch time. The simple beat boxing production makes it more of a stand out. Really dope track. "Hip Hop Sinister" is a track that screams pure anger...literally. He's literally yelling on this track in a extreme aggressive manner. He almost sound like a member of Onyx on here. He also continues to cross the line as well with lines about George Zimmerman and such. Still I like this son, just with the volume down a little. Time and time again he always talk about how he hates collaborating with anyone outside of FV but he gets Tech N9ne for the track "Rip Your Heart Out". Another track with more threats to industry lames. I'm starting to believe he has a fantasy of just going on a violent killing spree throughout hip hop and taking out all these rappers he hates so much. The "madness" continues on "Bad Guys Get Left Behind". This was a short two minute track of nothing but spitting the most extreme yet humorous shit on the album. With lines like "i've come to conclusion that life sucks/the only good that comes out of it is sticking my dick in nice butts", "you Hollywood niggas that write songs/I'll give you a black eye now that's a good reason to put some ice on", "my niggas we only fuck with the dopey blonde broads/we play them and trade them like they was Pokemon cards", "fuck these niggas I'm a racist bastard/you hear the devil speaking in tongus on this song if you play it backwards". Just to name a few. This track was actually a part two to a previous track before it which I'll address later. "Old Friend" is a emotional track about an old friend of his whose life he tried to save from making bad decisions. Specifically drug use. Another situation some can relate to. Now the things I didn't like. The most glaring negative about this album and something that has been an issue with m about Hopsin for some time is his lack of making good hooks. This kinda killed the album a little bit. I know he doesn't like to collaborate with artists because well...he hates them, but I think he might want to consider it. At least for the hooks because that's a major weakness for him. The worst hook on here was on "I Need Help". Whatever that little singing thing was that he was doing was terrible. He actually sounds like he's impersonating Lil Wayne, which might be the case. Could have been intentional. But either way it's a terrible hook that ruined the song for me. I mentioned that the song "Bad Guys Get Left Behind" is a part two. Well part one is "Good Guys Get Left Behind". The track right before it. Surprisingly Hopsin had quite a number of songs regarding females on this album. This was one of them. Here he talks about a girl he met a while back that basically played him. She got with someone else behind his back, had a baby with him and just giving Hopsin lie after lie about being busy when he wants to chill. This is something that happens all the time but never would I have imagined Hopsin would be a victim of this. I disliked the song because of again, another poorly sung hook. I think the two songs basically explain how good guys and bad guys get played and how women are confused about who they want. But one song was better than the other here. The award for worst beat on the album goes to "Jungle Bass". I understand the whole thing with the jungle drums and all feeding into the theme but he could have did something better than this. Then I was kind of disappointed with SwizZz's verse as he usually kills these type of tracks. The women problems continue on "Tears To Snow". This one he talks about the goods and bads (mostly bads) about being a rapper in a relationship. This is another poor hook but I really didn't like the aggressiveness on such a mellow track either. Well I'll end it here. In closing, I enjoyed the album. As I said Hopsin continues his lyrical assault and trash talking on the industry and shows no fear in doing it. I give this a final grade of a B. In short, Hopsin is the definition of a rapper who simply does not give a fuck. He will say whatever he wants and talk about whoever he wants to talk about. That's honestly why I dig him. He's always embraced his underground/independent status and always sounds off on never wanting to sign a major deal. I agree. He is a rapper that mainstream land simply is not ready for anyway. Plenty of MC's stayed underground their whole career and still became recognized by everyone. At this pace Hopsin will too. End.

Final Grade: B

CREDITS

Executive Producer

Marcus Hopson

Lead Artist

Marcus Hopson

Production

Marcus Hopson

Collaboration

Jarren Benton

La'Reonte Wright

Aaron Yates

Justin Ritter

Kyle Gobern

Label

Funk Volume/Empire Distribution