Album Review: Untitled Unmastered - Kendrick Lamar

So the Hip Hop Gods (and apparently Lebron James) shined upon us (and gave me something to blog about this week) with the release of Kendrick Lamar's surprise EP, Untitled Unmastered. The tracks are all just that. None of the tracks have names but they are timestamped to give us an indication for when they were recorded. I go into my review which I give my thoughts on Kendrick's new album. What I also do is give my vision of what this album would have been called and the track names had Kendrick decided to go that route. This is all my opinion and speculation. Check it out below! 

Kendrick Lamar - Untitled Unmastered (or [The] Gemini)

1. Untitled 01 | 08.19.2014 (or The Gemini/Young Nigga) - A great starter to Kendrick's surprise EP. He starts us off with a pimpish sounding gentleman that lulls us a little right before the drop of the beat as he jumps in head first lyrically. Reminiscent of something straight out of the mid 90s gritty MC era this tracks sets the tone for what turns out to be a low key and consistent EP.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
2. Untitled 02 | 06.23.2014 (or On the Phone) - My favorite track on the album. This head knocking beat and Choral track was focused more on sending a message and less on being too lyrical. It is also alleged to be a drake and Jay electronica diss. Great track nonetheless!  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (4.25 Stars)
3. Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013 (or Spoken World/What the People Say) - This imagery/story driven track that we've come to  know Kendrick for delivers on beat, message and lyrics. Soulful melodies and slick lyrics makes this an easy listen ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
4. Untitled 04 | 08.14.2014 (or Head is the answer/What's the Answer? Interlude) - I had to laugh at this one the first couple of times I heard it. I had to make sure I was hearing it correctly. I also had to decide if it was an actual track or just an interlude. Since Kendrick doesn't spit on it and leaves the message "head is the answer" as the focus, I chose to  count it as an interlude. (Meets Standards)
5. Untitled 05 | 09.21.2014 (or Means the World) - A Jazz infused beat that I felt epitomized the section 80/Overly Dedicated Kendrick. The background horns make for a well placed clash to the gritty lyrics from Mr. Lamar.  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
6. Untitled 06 | 06.30.2014 (or Explain ft. Cee Lo Green) - My second favorite track (not just because it features Cee Lo Green). This track is more lighthearted and something for the ladies. Smooth and melodic is the best way to describe this one. Definitely a song that keeps your head moving and your foot tapping. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/4 (4.25 Stars)
7. Untitled 07 | 2014-2016 (or High as This/This that Shit/Levitate/Head is the answer [in the studio]) - Solid tracks. This extended joint gives a listen to a few tracks which include a raw version of the interlude "Head is the answer" (my name for it) or Untitled 4 as you may know it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
8. Untitled 08 | 09.06.2014 (or Blue Faces/The Blues) - A quality end to a strong showing from Kendrick. This funk inspired track addresses the tough times that some of us may go through. Funky beat, catchy flow and soothing background vocals help to leave us satisfied with the end of this gem that Kendrick blessed us with. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)

Overall rating: 4/5

Overall a really good showing for Kendrick. Any of these tracks could have easily made To Pimp A Butterfly and still made it pop. No song sticks out so vividly that it changes my life (which is often a possibility when listening to Kendrick) but there were tracks I'd add to my rotation or bump in passing. Definitely something that will get some play In the next month or few weeks and a nice primer to hold us over until the next major Kendrick Lamar release. You can stream the EP via Spotify (Free) or Tidal (30 free trial/$9.99/mo after).

Be Exceptional! Live Life!

Sidanii

Editor and Contributing blogger,

Visions Of Quest 

Sole Religion 

Twitter @Sdot_Bell - @SolereligionSid

Instagram: @Sdotbell - @Solereligionsid

Snapchat: @ColdestWinter

Album Review: The Life of Pablo (T.L.O.P.) - Kanye West

     Hey! It's been a while since I took the time to review an album. So it's only right that I dust off my blogger cape and bring back my reviews for Kanye's highly anticipated The Life of Pablo (T.L.O..P). I rate each song on a 5 star scale also assigning quarters and halves where I see fit. I also didn't give tracks that weren't songs star ratings instead I assigned either below, meets or exceeds standards on its placement on the album and how it assisted the transition. I also give detailed looks at my opinion of each song (if it warranted such). So check it out!! 

The Life of Pablo (T.L.O.P.) 

1. Ultra Light Beam - Phenomenal song that transcends this album, like other classics before it, that takes us to church both literally and figuratively. The addition of Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, The Dream and Kirk Franklin help to round off what might be one of the best Kanye songs ever. The only gripe I have about this track is that he didn't save it for the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars)
2. Father Stretch My Hands - one of my favorite songs on the album. Simple as that. Beat is awesome, Kid Cudi's on it, and yea that's about it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (4.5 Stars)
3. Pt. 2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars) 
4. Famous - A true to form Kanye track with a banging beat that leaves a lot to be desired on the lyrical side but definitely keeps your head moving.  Rihanna's singing and Swiss Beatz on the production end makes a nice addition to this track. ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 (3.75 Stars)
5. Feedback - More lyricism and word play on this track and another head knocking beat and one of the harder tracks on the album.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
6. Low Light - Solid transitional interlude and adds to the gospel like tone of Ultra Light Beam but isn't as great in the continuity aspect in the overall scheme of the album. It would have been a great Outro to go after what should have been the last track (Ultra Light Beam). (Meets Standards)
7. Highlights - A more dance/party song that plays more to the modern radio worthy songs. I could see this track as a huge radio hit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 (3.75 Stars)
8. Freestyle 4 Blah. That's about all I could muster to say about his one. ⭐️⭐️1/2 (2.5 stars)
9. I love Kanye - A cheeky track that gives us Kanye in his essence and you can't help but to enjoy it for the buffoonery that it is. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
10. Waves - I can imagine this being played in the club. Dope track in terms of production and sound. The usual bravado of Kanye with the melodic voice of Chris Brown makes this the albums resident drunk anthem. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
11. FML - This is a more experimental weeknd-ish style of track featuring of course The Weeknd who is as hot as ever right now. Again is a song that plays more to the radio than anything else is still a melodic track nonetheless. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
12. Real Friends - Probably one of the best songs on the album and reminiscent of the Kanye that we love the most. Adding both a great sound and message about the friendships that occur and how fame plays a role in them. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (4.5 Stars)
13. Wolves - Amazing song that is like a happy medium between 808s and Heartbreaks and Yeezus Kanye. My question is: How'd Kanye get Frank Ocean to be on T.L.O.P. before he was on his own album!? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (4.5 stars)
14. Silver Surfer Intermission - loved that he actually got Max Bs blessing should have gone before or after waves would have added so much more to that track. (Exceeds standards)
15. 30 hours - reminds us of the late registration/graduation Kanye where he was in my opinion at his lyrical pinnacle and the song that stole the show. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars)
16. No More Parties in LA - This was the Kanye that was producing beats for Mos Def and common and trying to put himself on. Many mainstream music lovers have no clue who Madlib is but that very well might change because of this track. The combo of Madlib and Kendrick is musical porn to those who lean more on the "conscious" or "underground" style of rap and this song delivers on all levels. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 (4.75 Stars)
17. Facts - The sound of the times influenced this track. The type of track you could bump when you're trying to stunt or just chilling with the homies. A song that might have easily fit on Watch the Throne, you could call it Niggas in Paris reprised. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (3.5 Stars)
18. Fade - A proverbial cherry top on top to the variety of sounds we get from Kanye on this album, Fade tapers us off with a smooth underground house vibe that you can fade off to (pun intended). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)

Overall rating: 3.75/5

One subtlety that I loved about the album was his use of sample snippets for virtually every sample he used. We get a peak into the sound of the original song and works as an homage to each of the songs original creators and the style of production we've come to expect from Kanye. Based simply on ratings, the grade I gave the album was a 4 out of 5 but I took off .25 because many of the songs, on their own, make great songs but In the cohesion of this album didn't fit as smoothly as we would expect from Kanye. T.L.O.P. is good but not great. It, in my opinion, just missed the mark and falls somewhere in the lower end of the Kanye albums list. Let's hear your opinion! Let me know what you think of The Life of Pablo! ***T.L.O.P. is streaming exclusively on Tidal. You try Tidal Free for 90 days. After it'll set you back $9.99/month***

Be Exceptional! Live Life!

Sidanii

Contributing blogger,

Visions Of Quest 

Twitter @Sdot_Bell 

Instagram: @Sdotbell

Snapchat: @ColdestWinter