JUNE 2020 ALBUM REVIEWS

What's good my readers that are leaders. Not many releases last month but June was a definite case of quality over quantity.


RUN THE JEWELS- RTJ 4



'Critics want to mention that they miss when hip-hop was rappin'
Motherfucker, if you did, then Killer Mike'd be platinum' Kendrick Lamar, Hood Politics

The above bars by K.Dot were from 2015. 5 years on the rapper, actor and activist that is Killer Mike is mostly known to the mainstream for the latter. It is mainly the quote unquote hip hop heads that know the Outkast affiliate for the former. In spite of this, Killer Mike has been enjoying success as one half of Run The Jewels... the other half being El-P. 
  Each of their projects have been met with critical acclaim and their latest release RTJ 4, which dropped early June, was their first album to break into the Billboard Top 10. Not platinum yet but the progress is undeniable.

Both Killer Mike and El-P can bar. The verses on the opening tracks are quite miscellaneous but that doesn't matter cos they both have the wordplay and wit to make you mean mug whatever's in your view. As the album progresses the content gets pretty heavy as they cover many issues that are plaguing the world. So that would no doubt include racism, police brutality, overcoming doubters and past problems, media brainwashing and also struggling to walk the 'narrow path'.
   Despite all the heavy topics that were just mentioned, the beats on RTJ 4 lighten the mood so it won't surprise me if you end up wanting to wild out instead of lamenting over the lyrics. 


The previous paragraph now leads to the beats. The production is predominantly handled by El-P. Whether some of the beats were straight hip hop or rock-influenced, every beat was gassed from start to finish. Ooh la la is a head nodder for the 'strictly hip hop' crowd while tracks like the opener yankee and the brave and the ground below were made for the mosh pits. 

RTJ4 successfully bridges the gap between El-P's New York and Killer Mike's Atlanta ... the gap between rock and rap ... most importantly in my view, the gap between information and entertainment. Definite shout for album of the year. I'll give this an 8.5.

FAVES
Beat- ooh la la
Verse- Killer Mike- goonies vs E.T. 
Feature- Zach De La Rocha
Track- the ground below



AMBUSH BUZZWORL- ASK MY BROTHER



Camden rapper Ambush dropped his latest project Ask My Brother on June 5th. There hasn't been much info regarding how it did commercially though it has been well-received by several publications.

Best known for his immensely popular 2018 single Jumpy, Ambush has encountered a few obstacles since then. In 2019, he served some time in prison which stopped him performing at Wireless and Merky Fest. Also very recently in an insane flurry of social media exposes (e with an accent), RnB singer Ray BLK revealed on Twitter that Ambush had groped her during a night out. With all this controversy surrounding his name, It's gonna be an uphill battle for the NW spitter to regain his 2018 momentum. 

Speaking on the album though... AMB kicks off with the intense AMB (Intrill) where he raps

'Federales kill my nigga and I’m mad still
How my nigga kill my brother and it's that real?
I'on really know if niggas know how that feels
Shit's trippy dawg, it's like a I took a bad pill'

The first line would likely refer to Nuno Cardoso, a law student who was a victim of police brutality in 2017. Seeing as the issue of police brutality and anti-black racism is at the forefront in 2020, Ambush's verse is as relevant as ever. 

Though he raps about drip and ballin' out of control just like many other rappers, it is clear he rides his luxury whip down a bumpy road. Evident in the raw emotion in his voice as well as the intensity of the production. Ambush thinks so himself based on the bars below.  

'Huh, I'm a G, it's in my vibe
You can hear it in my voice, the way I talk' How I Feel

Aside from the aforementioned drip talk, AMB was predominantly hood talk, playa talk (Side Bitch was like a cross between 50's 21 Questions and Fab's Can't Let You Go) and trapper talk. For me this made Eastenders, a track where Ambush tells 2 crime-of-passion stories, a standout. Seeing as he said it was based on a true story, I am sure that the second verse alludes to the highly-publicised stabbing of fashion model Harry Uzoka. 
  Ambush can definitely spit. He has good levels of technical ability and his delivery is top-notch. 

Apart from Side Bitch which is as female-friendly as it gets on AMB (not the bars.. or the title), the beats are gutta and made for the roads. Production-wise, the only thing that fluctuates in AMB are the levels of aggression. The quality is pretty consistent throughout. 

It's strictly an UK affair in terms of features. Other than grime legend D Double E, the rest of the features were road rap specialists. That includes Giggs who featured twice, C-Biz as well as H Moneda and RA who impressed with their verses. 

Overall this is a very solid release. His indiscretions outside the studio will likely cause him to encounter even more speed bumps on this road he's travelling but if I'm speaking strictly from a musical perspective, this is currently the best UK project to drop this year. I'll give this an 8.  

FAVES
Beat- Been On
Verse- Eastenders verse 2 
Feature- RA/ H Moneda
Track- AMB InTrill


July reviews coming next month... well later on this month. See you lot then and keep strong and safe during these trying times.

Peace Out!