Podcast
Album Mode
Hosted by Demar Grant & Adriel Smiley · EN
Welcome to Album Mode where journalist, Demar Grant and The Cool Table host, Adriel Smiley breakdown and review the latest albums. Each episode features a new album where both hosts dive in-depth about the project and the artist’s path to its release.
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
J.Cole's "The Fall-Off" is a love letter in disguise | REVIEW
Feb 1601:25:04Tap to summarizeDémar and Adriel discuss J.Cole's final(?) album, The Fall-Off, whether he accomplished what he wanted in his career and if "The Fall-Off is Inevitable" is one of the best songs in hip hop history.Démar’s rating: 7.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10The Love List: The Fall-Off is Inevitable, The Villest, Bunce Road Blues, Poor ThangTimecodoes3:10 How Drake vs Kendrick affected The Fall Off10:49 The Fall Off lore16:45 The Fall Off is inevitable23:02 Disc 1 vs Disc 227:30 Future’s best features33:10 Reasonable Doubt comparisons37:15 Dreary Keys on the back half of Disc 239:37 I Love Her Again48:14 Lyrics54:26 Poor Thang1:02:45 Double Disc Supremacy1:04:05 The Cover1:09:10 The Scores Follow us:TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepodAdriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant===================================J. Cole - The Fall-Off / 2026 / Hip Hop, Rap
Transcribe →Don Toliver is high "OCTANE"
Feb 1000:53:38Tap to summarizeDémar and Adriel discuss Don Toliver's latest album "OCTANE", whether his lyrics matter and how his melodies and production are second to none.Timecodes:4:18 4th time reviewing Don Toliver7:50 Best Feature10:30 ATM15:55 Falestto for Falsetto25:25 Potential features38:15 Where does he rank amongst his peers?45:21 Covers47:30 The ScoreFollow us:TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepodAdriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant===================================Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 9 / 10The Love List: Call Back, ATM, E85, Body, Rendezvous , K9Don Toliver - Octane / 2026 / Hip Hop, R&B
Transcribe →Ari Lennox's "Vacancy" is renewed
Feb 900:40:17Tap to summarizeDémar and Adriel discuss Ari Lennox's latest album "Vacancy", her toned down lyrics and what a label switch can do for her moving forward.Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant===================================Démar’s rating: 8.5 / 10Adriel's rating: 8.5 / 10The Love List: Under The Moon, Twin Flame, Dreaming, High Key Ari Lennox - Vacancy / 2026 / R&B
Transcribe →Drop January and J. Cole's "Fall-Off" begins
Feb 100:30:11Tap to summarizeIt's apparently "Drop January" as a plethora of artists have annouce they have new projects coming up Déma rand Adriel talk about what that means for music this year. Also J. Cole released his first single for his upcoming album, "The Fall Off", Adriel tries to dodge the question but Démar asks how he feels about the rappers alleged end coming up.===================================Follow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram: Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter: Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant===================================
Transcribe →A$AP Rocky's "Don't Be Dumb" is aged wine | REVIEW
Jan 2501:19:15Tap to summarizeDémar and Adriel discuss A$AP Rocky's comeback album "Don't Be Dumb", whether he took too long to return and if his music is experimental anymore.Timecodes:2:00 The Kanye Zone6:18 1st A$AP Rocky Review11:55 Is LONG.LIVE.A$AP a classic album?15:45 TESTING24:04 Favourite Feature31:20 Moshpit energy39:46 A$AP Rocky vs The Discourse53:15 The mature version59: 00 Female Rappers with A$AP Rocky1:08:25 Cozy Tapes 31:09:52 The Cover1:13:27 The ScoreTikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram: Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant===================================Démar’s rating: 7 / 10 Adriel's rating: 8 / 10The Love List: STAY HERE 4 LIFE, WHISKEY, ROBBERY, STOLE YA FLOWA$AP Rocky - Don't Be Dumb / 2026 / Alternative Hip Hop, Rap
Transcribe →Top 10 Albums of 2025
Dec 2401:19:29Tap to summarizeFinally the episode you've all been waiting for, Album Mode's top 10 albums of 2025! Adriel and Démar list their best albums of the year. After years of reviewing music together the duo divergence has become more obvious and this year's year-end list is evidence.P.S. Demar's Spotify listening age is 25, Adriel's is 45.TIMECODES:3:30 - A lot of albums that we did not review4:10 - Don’t Tap The Glass7:30 - West End Girl9:48 - Miley Cyrus supremacy15:55 - Yacht Rap16:49 - An Ambient Demo but good21:16 - What genre is this?24:04 - Demar wants the Naomi Campbell album29:06 - Chainz revival38:00 - One of the best albums of the decade43:10 - Comeback Album of the Year48:12 - Feels like a racing game52:25 - The Best of Wale56:00 - One of the Greatest Rappers of all Time01:01:39 - The Longest No Skips Album01:06:05 - Two or Three listens a day for Demar’s Number One1:11:01 - Honourable MentionsFollow us:YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@AlbumModeTikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepod Adriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcom Démar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemi Instagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/ Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/ Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/ Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepod Adriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_ Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrantDémar’s Top 10:EsDeeKid - RebelThe Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow Little Simz - Lotus PinkPantheress - Fancy That Bad Bunny - Debi Tirar Mas Fotos Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out Amaarae - Black Star OkLou - Choke Enough Miley Cyrus - Something BeautifulTyler, The Creator - Don't Tap the GlassAdriel's Top 10:The Weeknd - Hurry Up TOmorrowLittle Simz - Lotus Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out Wale - Etherything is a lot Chance the Rapper - Star Line Destin Conrad - LOVE ON DIGITAL Larry June + Alchemist + 2 Chainz - Life is Beautiful Venna - MALIK Freddie Gibbs - ALFREDO 2 Lily Allen - West End Girl
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