[Severian]

Ps: listened to Killah Priest all day, and you're damn right it's good. Makes some of the other releases of the year sound pretty thin by comparison. Still, for me, it's missing the immediacy and (hate to say it) "fun" of Yeezus and 12 Reasons. Neither of which is really fun overall, but they both have some really compelling and simply enjoyable elements. Ridiculous concepts, grinding 3-minute "fuck you" anthems, names like "Yeezus" etc.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Severian

Ps: listened to Killah Priest all day, and you're damn right it's good. Makes some of the other releases of the year sound pretty thin by comparison. Still, for me, it's missing the immediacy and (hate to say it) "fun" of Yeezus and 12 Reasons. Neither of which is really fun overall, but they both have some really compelling and simply enjoyable elements. Ridiculous concepts, grinding 3-minute "fuck you" anthems, names like "Yeezus" etc.

Its missing the immediacy, but only because it feels more like a Conclusion which takes time. TPWOWR seems like a Confession from Killah Priest, a culmination of all that he has done and believed since his in your face introduction. Yes Yeezus feels like its more immediate, and Twelve Reeasons feels like it drags you in fast, but TPWOWR has substance, depth, and meaning, which transcends well beyond just about any other hip-hop record I've listened to since Dead Prez Lets Get Free. Seriously, I'm debating in myself if its not just the best record of the year, but one of the best hip-hop records of all-time.

[louder]

Sev, how about checking out Nostalgic 64? i'll hook you up with a download link if you're interested.

seriously, crazy album. reminds me of old Wu, like foreverasskiss (i think) already pointed out.

[louder]

also, it seems like i'm the only one here who's excited about Pusha T's debut album? easily the best rapper in GOOD Music, if you ask me.

Drake, Danny Brown, Pusha T, Future and maybe Schoolboy Q if we're lucky. all there's left to anticipate from hip-hop this year.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

Its missing the immediacy, but only because it feels more like a Conclusion which takes time. TPWOWR seems like a Confession from Killah Priest, a culmination of all that he has done and believed since his in your face introduction. Yes Yeezus feels like its more immediate, and Twelve Reeasons feels like it drags you in fast, but TPWOWR has substance, depth, and meaning, which transcends well beyond just about any other hip-hop record I've listened to since Dead Prez Lets Get Free. Seriously, I'm debating in myself if its not just the best record of the year, but one of the best hip-hop records of all-time.

Wow. Let's Get Free was a long time ago, man. Great album, but I feel bad for you that you've found so little to enjoy about hip hop over the last many many years. I can see you're into more "seriously serious" shit, which is cool. I have gone through phases of that myself.

I love the spiritual element that is a constant in Priest's work, and this album is full of it. Deeply philosophical and meditative. It's very "Wu" sounding in places, and very much it's own thing on others. Shit, why this album has gone under the radar for so many of us is beyond me. Definitely a year-end list top 5 contender.

Again, helps put some of the years's other mi tapes into perspective.

Thanks for the lead.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by louder

also, it seems like i'm the only one here who's excited about Pusha T's debut album? easily the best rapper in GOOD Music, if you ask me.

Drake, Danny Brown, Pusha T, Future and maybe Schoolboy Q if we're lucky. all there's left to anticipate from hip-hop this year.

No way man, I'm all about that deluxe edition.

I'm becoming more of a GOOD fan with every release, and Big Sean's Hall of Fame was a surprise hit for me. Really solid album. I have extremely high hopes for Pusha. That album cover is pretty goddamn badass.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Severian

Wow. Let's Get Free was a long time ago, man. Great album, but I feel bad for you that you've found so little to enjoy about hip hop over the last many many years. I can see you're into more "seriously serious" shit, which is cool. I have gone through phases of that myself.

I love the spiritual element that is a constant in Priest's work, and this album is full of it. Deeply philosophical and meditative. It's very "Wu" sounding in places, and very much it's own thing on others. Shit, why this album has gone under the radar for so many of us is beyond me. Definitely a year-end list top 5 contender.

Again, helps put some of the years's other mi tapes into perspective.

Thanks for the lead.

You misunderstand. Lets Get Free is perhaps the most meaningful, substantive, and deep hip-hop record of all time. Easily in the all-time top5 for conscious rap with substance. Its not that I haven't listened to any rap or hip hop since Lets Get Free, its that in all honesty, I can't think of a single record with as much substance and meaning that has come out SINCE then aside from The Psychic World of Walter Reed, and if anything, Killah Priest may have just topped it. Again, I dare say TPWOWR may just be the most meaningful rap album of ALL TIME, I mean seriously, list me five equally or more substantive records to come out in the past 15-20 years?

[Severian]

Originally Posted by louder

Sev, how about checking out Nostalgic 64? i'll hook you up with a download link if you're interested.

seriously, crazy album. reminds me of old Wu, like foreverasskiss (i think) already pointed out.

I'm totally interested, and am I fact surfing from crap, non-legit download link to SUPER crap, non-legit download like ( with guy porn ) as I type this.

Send me them shits!

(Heh. Remember "them shits?" Was that a thing in anyone else's area roughly six-seven years ago? I was too old to pull it off, even then. But it always made me laugh. Stupidly.)

[Severian]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

You misunderstand. Lets Get Free is perhaps the most meaningful, substantive, and deep hip-hop record of all time. Easily in the all-time top5 for conscious rap with substance. Its not that I haven't listened to any rap or hip hop since Lets Get Free, its that in all honesty, I can't think of a single record with as much substance and meaning that has come out SINCE then aside from The Psychic World of Walter Reed, and if anything, Killah Priest may have just topped it. Again, I dare say TPWOWR may just be the most meaningful rap album of ALL TIME, I mean seriously, list me five equally or more substantive records to come out in the past 15-20 years?

Depends on your definition of meaning and substance. You're right that the album is off the charts in terms of spiritual reflection and socio-culturally relevant lyrics. However, I also find it to be rather single-minded; it's not, in all likelihood, extremely meaningful for the average person. It's not meaningful in the sense that it makes you look at your own experience from a global perspective, and see it for what it is. Rather, it's probably meaningful for people with strong spiritual and religious opinions, who already fall in line with Killah in his ideology.

I do love it, but I love it not because it reflects my own beliefs, or because I agree with the sentiment, but instead because it's really well executed rap music. I'll bet it would actually be quite alienating for a lot of people if it were targeting a more mainstream audience.

Now, my definition of meaning is different (or maybe just less decisive). I find My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to be an extremely meaningful record, in the "wake up and smell the fucking coffee; your life is shameful" kind of way. I doubt many people hear it that way, but to me it's so dead on in the way it addresses gender issues, media issues, materialism, male archetypes in modern relationships, and the way a heart can be quietly broken without being heard, due to the obliviousness and selfishness with which we treat one another, and the complete lack of empathy we have for everyone who isn't us (me).

But I can see meaning in this motherfucking beast of an album too. I just don't feel it. It's not likely to make me cry, or make me feel the stung of my own careless choices, but it definitely is thought provoking and compelling.

Point is, I could easily name ten more meaningful albums, but they'd only be "more meaningful" to me, so it's an impossible challenge to even try.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

[quote=Severian]

Point is, I could easily name ten more meaningful albums, but they'd only be "more meaningful" to me, so it's an impossible challenge to even try.

That is true, but ALL music has meaning by that definition. By meaningful I meant to imply in the scheme of things, as an edifying contribution to our culture. Dead Prez put out that record as an education, and it seems Killah Priest is taking that kind of vibe even deeper. This record is a transformative album. Again, name ten more transformative albums to come out in between Lets Get Free and The Psychic World of Walter Reed....

I'm waiting

[Severian]

[quote=SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Severian

That is true, but ALL music has meaning by that definition. By meaningful I meant to imply in the scheme of things, as an edifying contribution to our culture. Dead Prez put out that record as an education, and it seems Killah Priest is taking that kind of vibe even deeper. This record is a transformative album. Again, name ten more transformative albums to come out in between Lets Get Free and The Psychic World of Walter Reed....

I'm waiting

Again, I believe MBDTF fits that bill as well, and is a plea to make us look at ourselves from a meta-cognitive perspective. But *more* transformative? I'm not the guy to ask. I'm bound to be more moved by personal and emotional albums than by educational, or even socio-political albums. That's just who I am. But is it a kickass fucking album? Hell yeah.

[louder]

Originally Posted by Severian

I'm totally interested, and am I fact surfing from crap, non-legit download link to SUPER crap, non-legit download like ( with guy porn ) as I type this.

Send me them shits!

(Heh. Remember "them shits?" Was that a thing in anyone else's area roughly six-seven years ago? I was too old to pull it off, even then. But it always made me laugh. Stupidly.)

"Severian has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space".

btw, i still have faith in Lupe. Food & Liquor and The Cool are some of my fav hip-hop albums. and don't take my word for it, but i think he might drop a mixtape today where he's supposedly rapping over Yeezus/MCHG beats.

[louder]

it took me several listens to realize that Guilt Trip is an amazing fkn song!

[Severian]

@SuchFriends-

Ok, I get where you're coming from on Psychic World. I can't quite blast it all day long, like I did with Yeezus and 12 Reasons, but I can tell that this is is an album of (occasionally overwhelming) depth and insight, on a number of different levels.

And not for the first time, I find myself wishing that U-God would be replaced by Priest, making him an official member, and letting U-God make grossly unsatisfying and generic solo efforts without crapping on the legacy and level of standard of excellence that Raekwon, Gza, GFK, ODB, and RZA established in the 90s, and have (for the most part) upheld. Inspectah Deck too. Totally underrated and underplayed, that one.

But this is an incredible album, and definite contender for me.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by louder

"Severian has exceeded their stored private messages quota and can not accept further messages until they clear some space".

btw, i still have faith in Lupe. Food & Liquor and The Cool are some of my fav hip-hop albums. and don't take my word for it, but i think he might drop a mixtape today where he's supposedly rapping over Yeezus/MCHG beats.

Should be room now, but no need to bother unless you have an expanded edition or something wild like that. I got it, and listened to it today. I have to say that I'm surprised. I was expecting a completely different kind of album based on the cover art and hinted-at neediness. Maybe something lighthearted and soul-based; darker than Chance, more produced than Tree, but along the same levels.

Not the case. One listen in and I'm far from ranking this album anywhere near the year's best. I like it, and I took note of a few songs that could be serious fucking favorites in the future, if they grow well, but my first impression is this:

1. Denzel Curry really likes A$AP Rocky. A lot. You guys said you heard Wu-tang? I can see that, but all I hear is A$AP minus the almost shoegaze I Clams production that is really what makes his albums so god damn amazing.

2. I think he's trying I get the best of both worlds: social/conscious and thug. But I don't think he's old enough to have a real social conscience, so it comes across as ... Odd.

3. He can rap like crazy, and he's going to be incredible, and I love the future him already. The present him is a natural emcee with a great taste in cover art ( anyone else see Jar Jar Binks if they squint and state at the boobs? I swear, there's a nose and rasta- amphibian mouth in between those tats.) He just needs to move somewhere that isn't Florida, so he can have a soul.

(3.5/5 after 1 shuffled listen)

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Severian

@SuchFriends-

Ok, I get where you're coming from on Psychic World. I can't quite blast it all day long, like I did with Yeezus and 12 Reasons, but I can tell that this is is an album of (occasionally overwhelming) depth and insight, on a number of different levels.

And not for the first time, I find myself wishing that U-God would be replaced by Priest, making him an official member, and letting U-God make grossly unsatisfying and generic solo efforts without crapping on the legacy and level of standard of excellence that Raekwon, Gza, GFK, ODB, and RZA established in the 90s, and have (for the most part) upheld. Inspectah Deck too. Totally underrated and underplayed, that one.

But this is an incredible album, and definite contender for me.

Glad you discovered just how deep and meaningful this album is like I was talking about. It took me several months to really dive into the depth of this record, I only skimmed it when it came out, and though it was cool like the past few Killah Priest records, and then recently I was listening to it more carefully while doing my grading for the night, and it simply blew me away. As to why its totally underrated (which it is) you've already explained it perfectly, this is niche album towards hyper-conscious, deeply spiritual people. I was thinking, "How the fuck did I not notice this months ago?" Of course this is a Spirit infused album, and as such, the Holy Spirit works on His own time, and everything happens for a reason. I think that where I am at in my life now as opposed to where I was over the summer is much more conducive to let this album really sink in to my inner essence where it resonates to the core of my being. I mean that quite literally. I have concluded that as far as I am concerned, this is the single greatest hip-hop album I have ever experienced in the way it has affected me. When it came out, I was overwhelmed by the stress of trying to get my money together for grad school so I just wasn't ready for a record of this caliber yet (its my third attempt in the past 5 years, I finally got accepted to University, couldn't get the loans, had to drop out, trying again for Fall 2014, sucks, is what it is, and this record has helped me put it in perspective). I literally had my first ever panic attacks, it was truly frightening to lose control of your body and especially your thoughts, to be almost possessed by a primal fear.

I went through all the stages, really, even though I'm in my early 30s, I was having a mid-life crisis of sorts as I realized that I am so far behind schedule as to where I need to be and what I need to be doing to get my goals accomplished. But hey, me and 15,000,000 other people under 35 whose life-plans all got absolutely shit on by the Recession. In Rastafari we've been prophesying the End of Western Civilization for almost a century, and big surprise, the only people that it collapsed on were people 15-35, our parents all are actually being OVER-WORKED and making TOO MUCH MONEY, meanwhile too many of us are stuck living with them

I digress, the moral is that this record really helped me find spiritual balance and self-reflective perspective. I was getting overwhelmed by fear but now I have fallen into acceptance. Life goes at its own pace. I want to do certain things by a certain age, but I can't consider myself a failure of external circumstances out of my control limit my opportunities. Life is about staying positive through it all, building love against all odds.

Originally Posted by Bunny Wailer

Only muscle and blood and pass this the test..

[louder]

Originally Posted by louder

and don't take my word for it, but i think he might drop a mixtape today where he's supposedly rapping over Yeezus/MCHG beats.

was just a false rumor. knew it sounded too good to be true. ahhh.


Yeezus' EPIC rant @ Pusha's album listening party last night (WATCH THIS YOU BASTARDS! ) - https://youtube.com/watch?v=szM0WPWt_8o

hype for Pusha's album just increased 200%. WOW.

[louder]

Originally Posted by Severian

Should be room now, but no need to bother unless you have an expanded edition or something wild like that. I got it, and listened to it today. I have to say that I'm surprised. I was expecting a completely different kind of album based on the cover art and hinted-at neediness. Maybe something lighthearted and soul-based; darker than Chance, more produced than Tree, but along the same levels.

Not the case. One listen in and I'm far from ranking this album anywhere near the year's best. I like it, and I took note of a few songs that could be serious fucking favorites in the future, if they grow well, but my first impression is this:

1. Denzel Curry really likes A$AP Rocky. A lot. You guys said you heard Wu-tang? I can see that, but all I hear is A$AP minus the almost shoegaze I Clams production that is really what makes his albums so god damn amazing.

2. I think he's trying I get the best of both worlds: social/conscious and thug. But I don't think he's old enough to have a real social conscience, so it comes across as ... Odd.

3. He can rap like crazy, and he's going to be incredible, and I love the future him already. The present him is a natural emcee with a great taste in cover art ( anyone else see Jar Jar Binks if they squint and state at the boobs? I swear, there's a nose and rasta- amphibian mouth in between those tats.) He just needs to move somewhere that isn't Florida, so he can have a soul.

(3.5/5 after 1 shuffled listen)

aight dope, thanks for the listening and your output.

yeah he's from A$AP's breed, but seemingly inspired by the Wu too, and can definitely rap.

i hope he'll actually have a future and won't just fade into obscurity, because that album is really dope, especially considering he's just an 18 year old kid.

[Severian]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

Glad you discovered just how deep and meaningful this album is like I was talking about. It took me several months to really dive into the depth of this record, I only skimmed it when it came out, and though it was cool like the past few Killah Priest records, and then recently I was listening to it more carefully while doing my grading for the night, and it simply blew me away. As to why its totally underrated (which it is) you've already explained it perfectly, this is niche album towards hyper-conscious, deeply spiritual people. I was thinking, "How the fuck did I not notice this months ago?" Of course this is a Spirit infused album, and as such, the Holy Spirit works on His own time, and everything happens for a reason. I think that where I am at in my life now as opposed to where I was over the summer is much more conducive to let this album really sink in to my inner essence where it resonates to the core of my being. I mean that quite literally. I have concluded that as far as I am concerned, this is the single greatest hip-hop album I have ever experienced in the way it has affected me. When it came out, I was overwhelmed by the stress of trying to get my money together for grad school so I just wasn't ready for a record of this caliber yet (its my third attempt in the past 5 years, I finally got accepted to University, couldn't get the loans, had to drop out, trying again for Fall 2014, sucks, is what it is, and this record has helped me put it in perspective). I literally had my first ever panic attacks, it was truly frightening to lose control of your body and especially your thoughts, to be almost possessed by a primal fear.

I went through all the stages, really, even though I'm in my early 30s, I was having a mid-life crisis of sorts as I realized that I am so far behind schedule as to where I need to be and what I need to be doing to get my goals accomplished. But hey, me and 15,000,000 other people under 35 whose life-plans all got absolutely shit on by the Recession. In Rastafari we've been prophesying the End of Western Civilization for almost a century, and big surprise, the only people that it collapsed on were people 15-35, our parents all are actually being OVER-WORKED and making TOO MUCH MONEY, meanwhile too many of us are stuck living with them

I digress, the moral is that this record really helped me find spiritual balance and self-reflective perspective. I was getting overwhelmed by fear but now I have fallen into acceptance. Life goes at its own pace. I want to do certain things by a certain age, but I can't consider myself a failure of external circumstances out of my control limit my opportunities. Life is about staying positive through it all, building love against all odds.

Dude, you sound like you are in the EXACT same boat as I am, grad school wise. I too dropped out near the end of a unique and highly specialized grad program, because I was a wise ass little fucker at the time. I was quite close to finishing, but had difficulties with a teacher, and things got ugly, and I said fuck it. Huge mistake of course, as I am now desperately in debt, and also panicking about where I am in comparison to where I "should" be. I will have to start another program from the beginning, and I'm freaking out over finding the time and money to apply to another program ( December deadline, so wish me luck).

At least you're a teacher. This is a meaningful job, and one that is near impossible to attain for someone without at least a masters (is it your PhD you're trying to get then?) I'm in business, you see. My knowledge of neuroscience is being put to absolutely no use whatsoever, and I'm crunching numbers and doing statistical trade analysis work for corporations, trying to save them money. It's pretty much eating my soul.

Anyway, luck to both of us.

[Severian]

Wow, I just bought the reissue of Ready to Die, replacement copies of Midnight Marauders & Liquid Swords, AND Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja while picking up my 5 dollar promotional copy of the Body/Head "Coming Apart" album for just over $20.00 with tax.

I feel like I must have done something illegal. The record store may have, but I consider myself clean.

Sometimes you just gotta live in the '90s, if only for a drive home. I feel satisfied.