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- [00:02]
A
Welcome everyone, to a special episode of Dissect. I'm your host, Cole Kushna. And today we are celebrating one of the most prolific months in new music in recent memory, at least in my memory, specifically from hip hop's middle class. In August alone, we had releases from Jid, Chance, the Rapper, Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs. We also got projects from Westside, Gun Rock, Marciano, DJ Premier, Ghostface Killer. The list goes on and on. This is just one. One month of music has been very enjoyable, very overwhelming. We even got a release not too long ago from Tyler, the creator that I'm still listening to. And so I thought I'd recap what feels like a historic month in music, especially for the raps middle class. I've got two of my favorite voices in hip hop with me today. Friend of the show, rap lattes. King Green is back. How you doing, man?
- [00:49]
B
What's going on? It's good to be back always.
- [00:52]
A
Yeah, yeah. And we got Jeremy Hecht from the Bigger Picture. First time guest, but I've been listening to your stuff forever. What up, Jeremy?
- [00:59]
C
What's going on? I was just thinking in my head, I'm on, if not my favorite, one of my favorite all time music podcasts in the history of podcasting. So thank you for having me.
- [01:10]
A
Hell yeah. Hell yeah. I appreciate that. Are you guys as overwhelmed with music as I am right now? I feel like there's been just a ton of great releases, but I haven't had time to really enjoy every single one of them. I don't know. I feel overwhelmed, but in a good way. Right, Jamri?
- [01:28]
C
It feels like partially the most enjoyable month in recent memory for music and partially, like listening to music isn't my actual job because there's days where I'm like, I have not caught up on this album. I haven't been able to really sit, and if I do, I'll sit through it once and I'm like, I gotta go back and really read the lyrics. Like, it is overwhelming to say the least. Yes.
- [01:50]
A
How you feeling, Green?
- [01:52]
B
Same. There's just too much damn music. Like, I had to. Luckily I've been on my gym thing, so I'm able to like, just go through stuff through the process. So I've gave every single project you listed and more a listen.
- [02:04]
A
Yeah.
- [02:05]
B
But even like Lupe's new deluxe thing he did, it's like there's just so much music going on.
- [02:11]
A
Kid Cudi, too. Yeah.
- [02:13]
B
Actually, I have not listened to the Cuddy.
- [02:15]
A
Yeah, I haven't either.
- [02:16]
B
Yeah.
- [02:17]
C
I liked it. I like it.
- [02:17]
B
Too much music.
- [02:18]
A
Well, I think I want to start. I think we're going to focus mostly on three Jid, Chance the Rapper and Earl Sweatshirt and we'll get to what we can after that. But I think these are the ones I'm. I'm personally most excited about and the ones that I've had enough time with to talk about with some, some level of depth. No crazy dissections this, this episode. But I want to start with probably the one that I was most excited all year about, which was Jid's God does love does like ugly.
- [02:43]
D
This episode is brought to you by NBA 2K26. A favor to my sons and me. All right, quick break. NBA 2K26 stack this year. Gameplay new motion engine. Smoother catch and shoot. The rhythm shooting is dialed in. My team added the W. So now you can get Caitlin Clark pulling up from deep. Larry Bird talking trash mid game. Jokic casually dropping triple doubles. It's absurd in the best way. My career has a whole new storyline. The city's tighter and you're on the court way faster. I've been playing video basketball games. I think the first one was early 80s. I'm stunned. Like when I. When I go and my son's playing with his friends and I go in and I barge my own and I start playing with them. I'm just amazed by how good, how detailed all the games are, how they really look like NBA players. 2K26 is finally here and yeah, it is absolutely loaded. If you care about basketball even a little, you're checking it out today. Ball over everything. This episode is brought to you by Prime. Prime delivery is fast. How fast are we talking? We're talking a cooler for your snacks, a folding chair, a Bluetooth speaker, and a six pack of your favorite seltzer delivered by tomorrow. Fast. Oh yeah. Extra napkins, last minute guac bowls, backup phone chargers, even a replacement remote. Fast. I feel like I've ordered all of those things. We're talking everything you need for game day. Fast, fast. Free delivery. It's on Prime.
- [04:08]
B
Look live from the depths of hell with angel wings that have yet to flail. And fans argue about record sales like they record execs themselves. It's like we all under a spell and still I hope this message reaches you.
- [04:20]
A
Well, to me I was, I mean pre released pre this album. Jid, I mean for years has been someone that I've been really keeping my eye on. Huge fan of him and he seemed like the rapper maybe with the Most potential to break through this quote, unquote, middle class and really take it to that. That next level in terms of like putting him in the conversation with the Kendrick Cole, those. Those types of names. This album kind of cemented for me that he, one, isn't quite there and probably two. And most importantly, he doesn't really want to be there. He doesn't seem to be chasing hits. There's not on this album, which is incredible, which I very much enjoy. There doesn't seem to be a lot of hit chasing in the way that you need to make these big commercial successful songs to kind of accelerate you into that upper echelon. And so it kind of answered the question for me there. And that being said, I. I really enjoy this project. It feels totally authentic to what he's trying to do. And I think it shows a maturation of subject matter that has always kind of been there in his music, but not maybe this explicit. Jeremy, are you a fan of this as much as I am?
- [05:33]
C
I loved it. Like you, I've been championing JID for the last year and a half as pretty much the only guy who I thought had true potential. I think I said him Joey, and I forget a couple more where it's like even. Even Earl to that degree, where, like, if you really want it, you have the skill and the capability to do so, but you really need to participate in terms of, like, having a really classic album and like you said, having maybe a big song that takes you outside of your own audience. Even though I agree with you, he may not have accomplished the latter. I think in terms of an album, I couldn't ask for more. Like, I really couldn't ask for more conceptual, even if it not as overtly conceptual as some of the other albums we've received lately. Lyrical depth, storytelling, features, great use of features. And I love the fact that at first we didn't get the features. I know, like some people have done that. Kanye's done it, Astroworld did it. But I'm actually a huge fan on first listen of not knowing what the features are and having to guess it and dissect it a little bit and then just really appreciating the music. Music. But top to bottom, I don't have a skip on the album. I have some that you could maybe remove and it would be okay. But exceptional album. Exceptional album. Definitely one of my favorite albums over the last few years.
- [06:52]
A
Green, what do you think?
- [06:53]
B
I think it's interesting that that's like a common thing I was talking about it Was Crew Face talking about tour on Rap Latte? That we just feel like we are all fans of this guy. We want him to be at a higher level, right? But we all see him in this mid level and it's not. And I. And my question is, as an. If I'm him as an artist, I'm like, what do you want me to do? Especially if you like the album, right? It's like, what. What does he need to do? If the album's good and we all say that he's good and he could rap well, and we're gonna maybe buy a ticket to the show, what does he need to do to get into that space? Is the question that I've asked myself and asked everybody but me personally, when I come to my taste and all that. Cause I completely agree with all those statements and think that he's. He's a spitter. He can. He can rap very well. And then you have to execute, right? You have to achieve. That's the difference between the great ones and. And not. It's the achievements. It's like, what are you doing? He. On this album? For me, I'm like you. He finally becomes singular in the sense of, like. I used to feel like he sounded like his influences, but now. The last album I loved, actually. What was that?
- [08:01]
A
Forever Story.
- [08:03]
B
Forever Story. And this one is good. But I actually felt like it trailed at the end. For my own personal taste, I like Forever Story a little bit more. So I thought about. I just think about that. That's why I ruminate on and asking y'. All. It's like, what does he need to do? Because he shouldn't really need to do anything if everybody likes the album, right? It's like we all say, yeah.
- [08:25]
A
I think it's more of a conversation like people beyond us, people that are. I mean, I think we're all kind of. We share a passion for. For music and hip hop specifically. And so I think he. His core audience are people like us. I think it's interesting, though, that I don't think. I don't think he's necessarily chasing what we're talking about, which. And I think.
- [08:43]
B
No, but artistically, do you feel like it's at that tier? I'm not talking about numbers and fan fanfare. I'm talking about artistically, do we feel like the album is at the level of the top tier artists? We. You're talking about the Cold, the Kendrick is the same quality type of albums.
- [09:02]
A
I mean, personally speaking, I. I would put him for my personal tastes. What I want to listen to. I'd probably put him above Cole at this point, and I think he's still a step below Kendrick, but artistically, yeah, I don't think there's much more I would really want from him. I don't know. Jeremy, what do you think?
- [09:22]
C
Well, for me, I think it comes down to, in terms of answering your question, he doesn't have to do anything. Like, he really doesn't have to do anything else. Artistically. He did what he set out to do, and I think he did satisfy the entire fan base. Like, as a huge JID fan, I'm satisfied. More than satisfied. I would put this body of work up against any body of work over the last five years and say that it's up there with the best of them. It's in terms of whether or not he wants that next level spot, which, if you do want that, I think as an artist, you need to play into the mainstream a little bit, which he has to some degree with his features. Right. He's wrapped with Eminem, he's. He's wrapped with Imagine Dragons. But I think for him, work was maybe an attempt at that. And I like the song a lot. I just don't think it carried over to the next level of smash hit. But if you look at all of his influences and all the people we talk about who are maybe a tier ahead, whether it be Cole, Kendrick, Drake, whoever you want to mention in that, there's very few in that match, even Tyler, they all had hit songs. They really all had hit songs that took them there into that mainstream, and we still appreciate their bodies of work. But if you look at, like, Cole had it early, even though he dislikes the song, Kendrick, even with Damn, had both of those things, but he had the art, he had the concept. It was a Pulitzer Prize winning album. No one's denying the conceptual nature of that album. But he had a humble on there. So I think if Jed really does want that, you need that song or two songs or whatever it may be, if he doesn't care and all he wants to do, which he might just want to be the best for his audience, where he said, like on Community, I know we're going to talk about it, but he said, like, you know, I don't give a F about the people at the top. The biggest dude on the block could still get shot. I think that's kind of. That kind of encapsulates like, he's not worried about industry. He's not worried about his spirit spot necessarily. He's Worried about impacting his community, telling his story, his family, and his fan base. So maybe he doesn't want that.
- [11:22]
A
Talk about lack of hits, whatever. But Community, to me, is a perfect rap song, A perfect song, and probably currently my song of the year.
- [11:31]
B
Ain't nobody give a but Tay was.
- [11:33]
C
Dead in the street.
- [11:34]
B
I don't do the shit you see on the screens I've been tapped in with true things I peep your rap cap and I unscrew things. I don't give a about them at the top.
- [11:44]
A
Like, this is in my. My household. Community is a hit. Like, I've had this thing on repeat since it came out. Like, I am so impressed with this song for so many reasons. I know, Green, you're a big fan of it, too. I think we'll talk about. Maybe we can just talk about it in depth here a little bit, because I think it does encapsulate kind of the themes of the album. To your point, Jeremy, there's, you know, there's a few times on this album where he's, like, talking about music industry stuff, talking about petty squabbles within the industry and him not really wanting to play that game because there's this separation that they. They really hone on pretty explicitly in this song. In terms of, like. I think of the opening line of Malice's verse saying, my ghetto's not your culture. You know, in terms of, like, this is real shit. There's real actual conflict and problems going on, and this other thing is just, like, insignificant compared to all that. And so I don't know, Green, where do you start in this song? I know you're a huge fan of clips, obviously, but also of this song. You've broken down Malice's verse, specifically.
- [12:51]
B
Yeah, yeah. That's like, my favorite verse of the year. And the song is great. Now, this is like, Jid at his best. And this is just great rap music, like you said, like, from the motif of the apartments. Apartments, really? That motif to them tackling the ideas, like Jeremy said, where you're actually tackling, like, your street, hood, community aspect from all levels. Right. And you're also kind of using that as a metaphor for the industry looking out at it. And then Malice shows you that's what the song's about by juxtaposing, like, people being exploitative when it comes to, like, hood culture. And it's like, my ghetto is not your culture. How real it can it be in these neighborhoods? So it's like, I love this song the same way to you. So, like, Obviously, I'm a clip super fan, so I'm a clipster, so, like, I'm gonna love it anyways. But then they really. It went crazy. And so did. Every single verse is crazy on here. That's the thing that gets me about Mouse's verse is that how are you better than everything when the whole verse, the whole song is perfect like you said it was.
- [13:59]
A
Yeah. And as a perfect, like, I love feature, uses like this, where it's not at all arbitrary and it's not just bringing in a big name or a big duo in this case. It was like. I love the way Jid even sets up. Push his verse and, like, throws him the baton, essentially pretty explicitly. And, like, references him. So apparently he went to Virginia for. He moved from Atlanta, Virginia for. For college. And then passes. Push the baton and let me show you what I'm missing. And then he picks up the. Picks it up and like, it's so seamless in terms of, like, that transition and then a perfect use of features. And then, yeah, to your point, like, every time malice comes in, I'm just like. I just get the hugest grin on my face just in terms of like, as a fan of music. Because to your point, like, Jid's verse is incredible. The beat is incredible. Pusha T's verse is incredible, the hook is incredible. And yet. And it's per what I think is a perfect 16 bar verse, he somehow finds a way to top it all. And then the last line, tying a bow on the entire thing, bringing it back to the apartments, giving you vivid imagery, juxtaposition, like just thematically understanding exactly what the song is and what it needed. And, like, put a bow on it to the point that they don't even need the hook. They don't even need to. They just end the song because he just. He wrapped it up so perfectly. It's so good, elevated it.
- [15:19]
C
It was such a good. Such a good song. The crazy part was when you first heard it because, like, you're. You're hearing it with no features at first. So when you hear Jid rap, I actually was double taking if it was him because he's known to be like a flow guy, right? We always talk about his flow and he always kind of does tricks in terms of like double timing and speeding up, slowing down. But his tone was so aggressive and so different than he ever, honestly, than I've ever heard him rap, which was such a per. Like, this to me was like, no, this is real shit.
- [15:51]
B
Like.
- [15:51]
C
Like we've been speaking about, like, he used his tone to do that. So, like, so perfect that when Pusha came in, I was like, oh, okay. I. What's about to happen? And I actually had Pusha as the better verse at first until I listened again and then I was like, no, Malice. I love Pusha. I love Jid. But Malice is having the craziest run of perfect verses that I've ever seen.
- [16:14]
A
It really. I mean, God, it's this verse, the Fico verse. I mean, take your pick off of Let God Sort Him Out. I mean, so Be it verse. Ace Trumpets. Do you have a top three King Green Malice verse? Have you ranked them yet officially, or.
- [16:34]
B
Community. Ace trumpets and Fico.
- [16:37]
A
Okay. Oh, Ace Trumpets over Fico.
- [16:39]
B
The swag on these trumpets is just crazy.
- [16:42]
A
Yeah.
- [16:42]
B
Penny out of like, I can't. The swag is crazy. The swag on that gets me. The actual writing on Community is crazy. And Fico has some great. But then even POV is hard when the beat switch.
- [16:55]
C
Yeah, that's mine.
- [16:56]
B
That's crazy.
- [16:59]
C
I think I have all.
- [17:00]
B
I could talk about malice all day.
- [17:01]
C
So all things considered. No, sorry. So Far Ahead is my number two. I think I have POV at one. So POV so far ahead. And then depending on the day, I might go Ace Trumpets or Community.
- [17:16]
A
A test of a good album is like your favorite. Your favorite song keeps changing. And that's the case with. With Let God Sort him out. And now we're. They have now over. Took 10 minutes to. To get to them and now overtaking the conversation because the album is so good. It's like. It's so good. Okay, but let's. Let's go back to Jid because I don't want to overshadow what he did, I think. Yeah. I mean, I feel like the first seven songs on this album are pretty unassailably great. I feel like it's like that is a perfect seven song start in my mind. I think a lot of. At least from what I've seen, there's been kind of some mixed reactions to like the second act of the album where it's very intentionally in a way that I. I don't know if I've ever really heard, where it does shift to like, at a totally different mood. And it sustains that mood over four or five tracks. And it's kind of more R B, more down tempo. And I. I guess I still honestly don't know how I feel about that section of the album because I think he gets it when he gets back to like on McAfee and Blue and ends the album. He kind of brings the energy back up. But Jeremy, I know you're a big fan of this middle section. You want to let us know why?
- [18:30]
C
Yeah. So I went in not expecting that of Jid. Not to say that he hasn't done it before. I know he can be melodic. He has a R and B songs on. On his past projects. But I didn't expect him to do like you said, a sustained section. But I actually loved it. Like I got what I needed. Storyline wise, rapping wise. There was no Mrs. On those first seven or first seven songs. Besides skate was kind of like on the fence for me at first. I did end up end up liking it but when I first heard it I wasn't sure. But for him to do what he did with that Don Toliver, Ty Dolla sign Jesse Reyes features back to back to back and and put you in the vibe without taking it out because I think a lot of the times a rapidly rapper like Jid the big critique is like they ruin a song like that. I know a lot of people had that critique which I don't agree, which I don't agree with of a Kendrick or people who are like really high quality rappers. Can they match the mood? But I think he matched the mood perfectly. Took me out just enough while still giving me like some of the storyline but mostly like this is the love side of me. I'm dealing with this for a little bit. And then of Blue I think you still do get the like here's what really happened. Here's where my. My connection is to the top half of the album. But I loved it personally.
- [19:45]
A
Green, you have any thoughts?
- [19:46]
B
Yeah, this when you guys were talking about. I feel like this is him. He's always. He's always artful art first. He's one of those type of artists so that's why we all respect him and love. But I feel like this is him trying to appeal to a different audience. So when we say that he's not like chasing certain things, I feel like this kind of is that for me and it just doesn't land for me in my particular R B taste. So it's like there's a lot of R B songs from all the rappers I love where I personally don't rock with. It's when it doesn't feel like a blend. You know when it feels like you put a verse on an R B song as a rapper or if it feels like you put R and B chorus just on the random Song. It can feel like that sometimes. Unless it's just sometimes Shits is undeniable, but it's a hit, you know what I'm saying? But usually on that version, it's just not my personal taste, so I can't really rock with it.
- [20:43]
A
Yeah, I've kind of. That's where I'm now. I'll give it more time. I rarely ever skip it. I just kind of. Just to see if it grows on me. But personally, yeah, not my particular taste. But again, I think the album does end really strong. I think K Word is really, really great ending to the theme of God does like ugly and like this idea of being perceived as ugly and then finding, like strength and beauty in that quote, unquote ugliness. And then obviously faith kind of running through all of this in a way that I think is going to be kind of similar to the conversation we'll have about Chance. I know, Jeremy, I saw you talking a little bit about. On the Bigger Picture about some of the themes on this. So you want to share any thoughts on that before we move on to Chance?
- [21:26]
C
Yeah, I think it was funny because we all kind of expected a concept album after the Forever Story. And I think people have gotten to know Jade's mind enough, well enough to think that's what this album was going to be. But upon first listen, I don't think it was super clear. Like, it definitely was more obscure as to what this theme was. Was there a through line? But I definitely saw when I saw glory up front as like, he's talking about the glory of God on track two, I knew there was going to be something that connected that because it was kind of a bold upfront statement. And for me, it was really cool to see. I called it the reverse engineering of his faith throughout this album, where we start with full faith, full belief, you know, all glory to God up front at the top of the album. But then you go through all of the struggles, specifically with his. His own family members, him, himself, dealing with the obstacles to obtain success, whether that be in football or in music or just getting around as a person and surviving the day. And then his own community, which we see not only through the song community, but I think more so the American dream and the ceilings that may be in place for black Americans, that you realize even at the height of it with Vince Staples, who I thought had a standout verse where both of them are kind. And nobody knows that better than Vince Staples has attain success in, you know, he has a Netflix show. But even Vince Staples, I'm sure, deals with what the American dream really looks like for him at that level. So I think the theme and dealing with understanding, you know, on a personal level, addiction, which he talks about in Of Blue, on a community level, on an industry level, shaking his faith throughout and maybe dealing with, am I enough? Is there something more for me? And then realizing the only path through is that faith. And you kind of get a very clear sentiment on Of Blue, of, like, faith in God is what got me through this. I thought it was a really cool through line that. That I haven't necessarily seen anyone do in the exact same way that that Jit did.
- [23:30]
A
Yeah, that's why I love the K Word kind of being before For Keeps, which feels like a epilogue kind of celebratory track about his journey and dedication to his fan base. But like K Word ending on the idea of karma, about the individual decisions that you. You make and those being the choices that are within your control and allowing those to, like, flourish in terms of good or bad karma. I thought that was a pretty interesting end conceptually to the project, but it's an album I'm going to continue listening to. It's one I want to keep. Keep digging into deeper and deeper because it does. I think it has enough to persist in terms of this kind of conversation. But why don't we move on to, I think, similarly different, but similar in terms of themes. Another one I was very, very curious about in Chance the Rapper's Starline, which just came out a couple weeks ago.
- [24:24]
B
No if and bus get in the whip shotgun to your back don't give any lip don't give up the names don't give up the codes this game here to be so not told now you're a soldier now walk that blade let's get you a corner let's rock.
- [24:34]
A
Let'S roll Interesting for me because this was labeled a comeback album. It's been discussed as a comeback album. Obviously, he's been gone for. For six years. In terms of albums, he has been dropping singles pretty consistently. But I think I can. I guess one of my takes is like, was Big day as bad as we think it was? Like, yeah, was. Was. Okay, okay. You're on this. That side of the fence. Make the case because do you think the reaction and like the perception of him seemed to change overnight? And I wonder if, generally speaking, we are too hard on him.
- [25:14]
B
This episode is brought to you by the all new ESPN app. All of ESPN all in one place. Your home for the most live sports and best championship moments. It's the ultimate fan experience. Step up your game game and get even more than before with no annual contract required. Level up. For more on the ESPN app or at stream espn.com Sign up now.
- [25:40]
D
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- [26:31]
B
Media everyone's always too hard on on people when they want to him to lose. The problem is, is that Chance the Rapper was in that sweet spot where he had all sides or both sides if we just want to keep it simple championing him, right? He had like street people will be like, yeah, yeah, that's Chance though. Brandon sponsorships out of street level Fucking and Brandon sponsorships and Coca Cola are.
- [26:58]
C
Gonna that the whites likes Chance quite a lot.
- [27:01]
B
The whites love Chance. And that's why. And that's why you have so many clones of him in that space too. There's so many Christian white rappers that just sound like Chance the rapper in 2016. And I'm like, and to me, I wanted him to talk about that too on the album. Like, yo, do you know that there's like, there's like seven or eight sons out here of Chance? And I was like, wow. You know what I'm saying? It's like what's going on over here? But, but, but yeah, too hard. Hell yeah, it was too hard on On Chance. Did it suck? Yeah, it sucked. Like, album sucked.
- [27:39]
A
He did call it an F minus on the opening track. Yeah. Which. Okay, that's like let's just say up front, at least for me. I think this album is really good. I think the first half especially is fantastic. I think unassailably in the same way that Jit's first seven, eight songs is, I think same thing here. I'm still a little bit undecided on the back half. So Let me just start there. But I love. One of the things I loved is, was he wasn't. So obviously this was a huge narrative and it was kind of, he kind of have to acknowledge it. And I think the way that he did acknowledge it was really tasteful. It wasn't heavy handed, it wasn't Woe is Me. It wasn't all you guys, you guys were wrong. Like, it was just subtle. Acknowledged it enough to like address the elephant in the room. But also I think what I mean, especially the first song makes it very clear is like, actually I'm just gonna prove to you guys how good I am. I'm gonna remind you guys why you love me in the first time. And I think he does that, especially on the first half of the album. Jeremy, are you, are you a fan of this album?
- [28:41]
C
I really enjoyed the project and I was literally like praying hands and knees like, please God, allow chance to deliver. Because as someone who was championing for him and like was really hoping and who was a fan of his output over the last four or five years, those Lucy's, the singles, the features, he was rapping at a high level. I'm just like, I could tell he was in his head, like he was pump faking. He was like talking about the album and maybe scared to drop it, which I think he's alluded to in interviews.
- [29:14]
A
And so I'm just like, understandably, understandably.
- [29:17]
C
Like, like Green was talking about like we were way too hard on that collectively as a society. But I do think that we know the Internet well enough to know they weren't going to go any easier on him if he doubled down with another bad project. I think his main career musically might have been over. So I was like very highly anticipating and I think he delivered more than enough for me to be so happy for him, genuinely. And to your point, I thought initially I'd wanted to hear more reflection on that time period. What it was like to be at the top of the game and then have people shitting on you and have to deal with a build back. But I do actually like how he handled it. Even just the first bar, like, surprise. It's the Boy who Lived, I think is a great summary of like, I'm, I'm acknowledging it. I know I dropped a F minus. Like Lauren Hill told me, like, why aren't you using your voice? I let Lauren down and she doesn't even use her voice, so she must feel a certain way. But I think conceptually, lyrically, I'm with you. Second half, I Think like it could have been a perfect 12 song album or 13 song album. And it was a good 18 song or 17 song album. But still beyond expectation for me.
- [30:32]
A
Green.
- [30:33]
B
I don't. I'm tired of these long albums when they're not supposed to be like, I'd be pissing me off. It's like brevity is. But also just as an artist, as a listener, brevity is the most potent thing to me personally, because I feel like you. If you could condense something and it be that impactful, that's genius. That's harder to do. You know what I'm saying? Whereas sometimes you're just, is this song gonna work? I mean, I like it, you know, I'm saying it becomes that like, oh, I like the song. Might as well just throw it on there, right? Whereas having that curation ability and that like discernment to be like, nah, these are the 12 ones. I feel like that a little bit. I do like the Jay electronica one on that and. But I love this album. I really enjoyed this album. I was listening it for a little bit. It's the only album that and Earl that took me away from listening to the clips every day. So I was like in it. Like, no more old men letters. Just so many concepts and spaces. And his rapping, like, that's fam. Yeah, his name is Chance the Rapper for a reason. Like, he's gotten so much better and we've seen it with his little vignettes and songs that he was putting out. But he's rapping better than he's ever rapped on this project. I'll say that.
- [31:52]
A
I agree. I was so impressed.
- [31:54]
C
Like, he didn't need like, yes, you had the callback ad libs. But usually Chance is like kind of like a crazy flow guy. He got the ad libs. He's got the voice changing like it was the bars that did it.
- [32:04]
B
Melodical.
- [32:06]
A
Yeah, yeah. The talk about a good use of features. I think he does use features. A lot of Chicago based artists obviously on this album, but the one that took me back, I don't know. This might be showing my age. I don't know if you guys are familiar with do or Die, but when I heard do or Die on the second track Ride, I got the biggest smile on my face. It brought back so many memories of high school for me. Are you guys familiar with do or Die at all?
- [32:43]
C
I had to learn about that.
- [32:44]
A
Okay.
- [32:44]
C
They're like, my homie from Chicago was telling me like how important they are in the Scene.
- [32:51]
A
Yeah, they were just, I mean back when I was young and was just enamored with rap and was, you know, just a white. I'm still a white kid from the suburbs. Like, oh, you're still alive. Yeah, they were, they were like. It was like them in Twista, they would do the super fast rapping thing and they were so do or Die was like a trio. But essentially they all kind of did that, that kind of spectacular, very fast double time flow which as a kid you're just like hold. Like how is this even possible? You're so enamored. Anyways, so when I heard him bringing Back Them On Ride, which was like one of my favorite songs on the project. Very good use of a feature there. Yeah. Then the themes like the self. There's like obviously these overarching themes throughout the entire project that I'm still trying to put together with this idea of Starline which feels at the more and more I'm listening to the album and like listening for star references. It's like throughout the whole fucking project, it's like he's iterating on this motif of stars, Starline. The kind of main message is like the reference to the Marcus Garvey project of the black owned shipping projects that ultimately failed because he was put in jail. But then obviously he's talking about like north stars. He's talking about himself being a star and like looking in the mirror. He's a lot in the over crusty album, like I think kind of regaining his self confidence and kind of a metaphor for that and then talking about like God as being your ultimate North Star. And so the way he. I think he's integrating this theme throughout the entire album has been really fun to kind of dissect and try to put together. I'm finding connections between like even the very last line of the song or the very last line of the very last song connects to the sixth song of the album. So there's a bunch of different threads that I think this is more conceptual in terms of like overarching narrative stuff. Then maybe I'm. That maybe isn't on the surface right away. So I'm really enjoying. But in terms of like self contained songs, in terms and themes like you have no more old men, the Negro problem, the Highs and Lows is a great, great duo with Joey Badass. Just like. And yeah, the Letters is one of the most powerful songs I've heard in quite a while. Yeah. And yeah, I just, it's. I think the standout seven first seven songs Are like, you get it on the first listen. You know how great they are. But I'm really enjoying kind of exploring the other parts of the album and finding little gems here and there.
- [35:21]
B
Amongst that. With the Starline thing, because, you know, he had that festival in Ghana. It's also like with the Marcus Garvey thing, like Black Redemption and North Star, as in, like, how do black people kind of get back to the. To the motherland, figuratively and literally. And it's kind of through all that, when you look at it, it's all the, like, the nego problem. No more old men. It's really like the black plight in America in the diaspora. And it's like, what can actually achieve that, that movement to get us salvation. That's kind of what he's saying from a personal aspect, from the idea of the speed of love, like, love being the answer and letters talking about, you know, the black church and how. How everybody sees it. That's really the theme throughout the whole thing is, which is obviously personally very appreciate and can just. Can feel in there like something that he actually cares about because he's seen it in his life. Like, he had that whole festival and gone and everything like that. And then he has an album that's still directing his fan base to the concepts and things that he cares about. So that's something that I appreciated where it felt real mature and like, it wasn't preachy because it's not just surface level. It's like, how do. How am I dealing with that? Look at how my neighborhood is kind of dealing with this and looking. Looking at everything from a macro sense as well as a personal sense. So that's why. That's why I really enjoyed the album.
- [36:51]
C
Well, I think it was cool because all of the things you just said, like, he didn't have to do any of that in his position, in the sense that this still was a big risk of thematically because you talked about earlier how beloved Chance was. He's still on the Voice. He's still super famous. My mom still knows, like, Chance the rapper as an entity, so. And then you also have, on the other hand, like, he was still held in high standard in the Christian rap world or just in the Christian world of, you know, putting his faith on full. Like, I have a friend who doesn't listen to much hip hop, but he. I put him on a chancellor rapper and he's, you know, all in the church and he loved him. So I think for him to really kind of not cater to those crowds of Being. I know this is risky that I'm criticizing the church or the megachurch. I know this is risky that I'm talking about things that the mainstream white America is going to be uncomfortable with no matter what. You know, even the Negro problem, where at the end he's basically like trying to say like, our problems should be each other's problems, but they're not. You know, you ice. We were isolated over there. I think, like that that's why I was so happy that it paid off. Like, to. To risk all of that thematically and for it to pay off musically was really cool to see.
- [38:07]
B
Very much so. And I like that you said about. He made like Kanye did Jesus walks. We know that. Right. And Kanye was somewhat had the like, tinge or a hint of the Christian rapper moniker on him. Right. He's probably the first one to kind of have that and be in the mainstream. But Chance made that shit cool. I feel like it's the same thing as, like, Nicki Minaj was the female rapper that she was when she was popping and she was at the top. No one else could be there. No one could exist her space because she was occupying it all. But Cardi B came, came up, and she allowed for all these other females to feel empowered, to be. That's. I feel like she opened the door or for anyone to feel like they come. Whereas Nicki Minaj was like, you gotta be just as good as me to be at that top. You know what I'm trying to say?
- [39:00]
C
Kanye is such a superstar, just as.
- [39:02]
B
Polished and just as iconic as me, which very hard to be that iconic. Right? And Kanye's like, I'm gonna be bigger than Michael Jackson. Right? Think about what he's shooting for. Whereas, like, Chance was like, hey, I'm. I'm. I'm a cool Christian guy that. But that doesn't mean that I'm only talking about these things or I can talk about it and anyone can enjoy this. Right? So other people from his maybe walk of life, from his faith, from his perspective could come through. And that's what I feel like. People like that, like the every. Like your next door neighbor rapper, you know what I'm saying? It's like, like, oh, yeah, that's Chance over on what's it called, Street. He be rapping, so it feels like that. Which I think he needs a lot of credit for that.
- [39:47]
A
Yeah. I think he accomplished so much with this project. I think the core, I think definitely won back his core, if that was ever in question. I'm curious to see where he goes next. Obviously, he's probably going to tour this and. But very interesting career arc, I feel like, because, I mean, he was on. He. Yeah. I don't know. Did we say here yet?
- [40:07]
B
He was on the Voice.
- [40:08]
A
What's that?
- [40:09]
B
Yeah, I forgot he was on the Voice.
- [40:11]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [40:11]
B
I don't.
- [40:12]
A
I don't really watch that show.
- [40:13]
C
Crazy.
- [40:15]
A
Yeah, it's just. It's just, man. And then he seems like he went through a lot with, like, a divorce and, like, his manager lawsuits exchanged and stuff, so I'm really interested to see where he goes now, but anything else on this? Jeremy, are you good?
- [40:32]
C
No, I'm good. I. I think I'm with you.
- [40:33]
B
He thinks this is his best album, by the way.
- [40:36]
C
Chance does.
- [40:37]
A
Who did?
- [40:38]
B
Yeah, we. On our. On the rap latte, Chance commented and says, yo, I want to do a deep dive with y' all because I think this is my best album. And I was like. Because I think in that video, I said that coloring book was my favorite. But he thinks his best. Y' all think it's his best.
- [40:55]
C
Like, I'm not conceptually and lyrically, it's his best album. I actually don't think there's that much of a question, but in terms of, like, body of work, front to back, Coloring book is hard to beat. Like, I don't have a skip on there. That's a classic album. Acid rap, even. I don't know. I gotta look right now. I don't know that I'd have a skip on acid rap. 14. It's that 14 songs versus 18 songs thing, though. I think if this was a 13 song, 12 song, 14 song album, it might be 100% his best body of work. So I'm giving him conceptually. I'm giving him lyrically. I'm just not giving overall body.
- [41:35]
A
I would agree. I think. I think that would be similar to my thoughts, I think. Yeah. The length, at least right now. You know, this is. We're still early with these projects. Maybe they grow on you. But yeah, 17 song. Any 17 song project at this point, I feel like is. Is a hard sell and coloring book. I feel like this. Maybe this. I would say Starline is probably his most mature work. I think he's probably doing the best rapping of his career. The songwriting, though, I don't know if Is strong as a coloring book.
- [42:06]
B
So Same drugs is better than every song he's ever written. That is a beautiful song. Like, it's just. We just got a. To me, I look at things at the simplistic space, it's like Same Drugs is a beautiful song. At the end of that album, he has straight up gospel songs. I don't even listen to gospel music like that, but I listen to that over and over again. Like, we're talking about platinum in my house. So. Coloring Book. But maybe that's. Maybe that's personal taste. But I mean, that's what I'm saying. It's personal taste. I don't see it. I think the songwriting is way better in Coloring Book. The rapping is untouchable on this album. Untouchable. Just chipping on a frame, Zooming out of thick Malays and my cranium. Let's get on it for pitch and play.
- [42:49]
A
Tricky Kang.
- [42:51]
B
We scored three ways back to back and made our way home. Jiggy brick lay like J. Ho.
- [42:56]
A
Yeah. Okay, well, good segue into the next album because Earl Sweatshirt dropped Live Love Laugh. Was it the same or a week after? I think Chance did in. At least in my mind. There's a parallel between Chance, this Chance album and the big Day. In terms of, like, rappers. I guess what's also interesting about all these rappers is that they're kind of. All of them hitting their 30s have. I think all of them now have kids, were married, are married, or at least were married. And so I really like to see the different expressions of maturation, specifically with this group of rappers of this era and living through their youth and especially with Earl, like their. Or literal youth and teenagers and seeing them mature and see how that gets expressed in the music. And I think Live Laugh Love is a really artful and tasteful expression of joy and. And authenticity and. And things that we come to. I mean, just. It's in the title. It's like that's an unironic use of Live Laugh love in terms of like someone reaching a point of their life, having kids, getting a wife, and like finding the true value of what this cliche. Kind of corny cliche. And so I think where big a lot of the problems that we had with the big day or teams like thematically or at least how they were expressed is like expressed much more artfully on this new Earl project. Although I will say it's really hard to know what the fuck he's talking about most of the time. Unless you like, sit down with the lyrics. His lyricism has gotten so. Or just like the. The. I mean, it's a beautiful phrases and sentences, but it's like you really have to sit down to really understand what he's Talking about, but first blush, first kind of listens. What are you guys thoughts on live laugh. Love you guys enjoying the project, Jeremy?
- [44:54]
C
Well, I'm gonna need honestly your guys breakdown a little bit just in terms of like why you loved it so much. I didn't dislike it. Like, I thought it was a pleasant listen, sonically. I like the beat choices. I thought it felt like the title without being too overt. It didn't feel corny, but it was so dense lyrically. And Earl has been known to do that somewhat. Like, you know, some rap songs I feel like is kind of like that. But I always saw him as somebody who's kind of the master of the effortless flow where it sounds like he's not trying, but he's so technically good at his craft that you. It's so impressive. Honestly, to the outside ear as a rapper, you're just like, wow. But in this one I sat like two or three times trying to really like. And their song structure is really dense too. Like, I feel like there's no real hooks on a lot of songs. It's just like all the way through rapping. And again, I want to give credit to Earl because he did say in an interview, and I don't want to be the guy to do this where he's like, it's not our job to explain to the random white guy our art. You know what I mean? Like, he's like, he was talking about mumble rap. He's like, for anyone to say they don't understand that there's a racial undertone. And so it's like, I'm not trying to say, explain to me what you're speaking about, Earl, but I just would love to know what your guys takeaways were because I kind of missed them upon first listen.
- [46:14]
A
Yeah, I mean, when I said I don't know what he's talking about, I meant it in a good way in terms of the lyricism and the poetry is so abstract. But obviously it all has meaning. But it's not like you're going to catch what he's talking about. Just at first blush, like I sat down for the first time in preparation for this episode and like went through some of the lyrics on paper, which gave me a better understanding of what he's. What he's going for, which I think I can feel, just genuinely feel in just like the. Just the emotion of the album and his tone and his beat selection and stuff. But I think it is one of those albums where you have to sit down and really, if you want to. You have to, like, kind of, if you want to know what he's talking about. It's one of those. You gotta. You gotta spend the time. Because it's not just. And it's like the way that the album's mixed, the. The. The vocals don't sit on top. They kind of become part of the just overall aesthetic of the music and the lyricism, and it's, like, kind of hypnotic and very vibey, but. King Green, what are your thoughts on this album?
- [47:20]
B
I love it. This is. This is. I won't say it's my favorite because I like some rap songs a lot, but it. I. I don't see a difference right now, but I can tell you that. Tour Milan or Tourmaline, depending on how people say it, that is my favorite song he's ever made in. Everybody Wanna Be Bowser. I'm coming to see the fire come through me now. It's one of my favorite songs of this year.
- [47:54]
C
Same.
- [47:54]
B
Yeah, that shit is crazy. The melodic hook.
- [47:58]
A
Yeah.
- [47:58]
B
And how he's, like, mumbling it. And then the line that I love the most. Well, him saying that everybody wanna be Bowser. I'm plumbing the deceit out the fire come through me now that's fucking profound and poetic and so beautiful. And then. Struggle's not a team sport. That line going. Poetry is the number one thing you have to apply to this. And the fact that talking about how dense it is. There's so many ways to see the same exact line in here because of the language he's using. And this is the imagery that he's using with this, like, oh, I could see this in this way and that way. And that's why it's so deep as far as feeling. And then for it to be about something just so you say, cliche or basic, but so deep that you can't understand unless you're going through that. You know how. Yeah. I don't know if you guys have. I mean, I know you do go. But being a father and being a parent or whatever people always say, like, you don't get it until you're in that position. And when you're not a parent, you listen to people just sit there, talk about being a parent. You're like, that's boring, what you're talking about. I don't like, okay, cool. It's your kids spit up on you. People don't be caring. Right? Like, no one really cares unless they've been in that situation. But in this, he makes you feel it, even if you're not in there. Like, the depth of love and commitment he has for his family, you could feel in this song at a different level if you're really paying attention and feeling the world's words. Even the first line of the verse is ghost in the shell. You're a hell of a host. I was just like, wow. Like, Like.
- [49:43]
A
Or even the continuation of the. Everyone to be everyone want to be Bowser. So obviously like the villain from. From Mario that spits fire. I'm plumbing. So getting the Mario tie. Mario being plumber. The fire come through me now. But then describes his wife. Pitch black Tourmaline Tower, which black Tourmaline is like a. A gem that has, like, able to exonerate, like, negative energy. And then she says she found me on the street. She vowed to keep my feet grounded for my sweet child. So it's like. It's so poetic, so beautiful. And, yeah, the struggle, not a team sport is beautiful. Especially if you watch the music video, which is mostly a shot of a male. Female.
- [50:29]
B
Yeah.
- [50:29]
A
Playing basketball, which seems to be a metaphor. And I think the woman's on defense most of the time or the whole time. And so that line tells me. And she found me on the street. She vowed to keep my feet grounded for my sweet child. Like, kind of keeping his. His negative energy at bay. Keeping his. His worst tendencies at bay. And, like, being that supportive defensive rock I thought was super clever. And that's just like the sun bouncing through the fun houses. Like, there's just beautiful imagery about this beautiful life that he has found with his wife and child, which, yeah, as a father, really resonates. But again, it's kind of stuff you just have to sit down with and read as poetry almost to really get to the depth into the layers. But I do think it's like. I don't know if ironic's the right word, but this song is a standout, I think, to everyone. And it's the one song with melody on the album. Yeah, it's like, the one song that does have a hook.
- [51:23]
B
It's different for him, though.
- [51:25]
A
Yeah, it is.
- [51:25]
B
Yeah, it's very different for him. So it shows maturation in the actual songwriting and the vibe as well as maturation in the actual narrative of the song and concept. And just to go onto your plumbing line that I like, I just like the idea of you plumbing the deceit out. That imagery of, like, for, like, some therapeutic necessity, you plumbing something out of you is insane. Yeah. I'm letting it just shit out here. That's crazy.
- [51:57]
A
That's so good.
- [51:58]
B
I love.
- [51:58]
A
Or even like everyone. Everybody want to be Bowser that. I mean, everyone wants to be. The villain. Wants to be tough.
- [52:06]
B
Yeah, super.
- [52:07]
A
Like, I think metaphor for Matt. Like, you know something. Yeah, exactly. And just like, I don't. It's so good.
- [52:14]
B
And he talks about that in a skit too. That's why I like. I mean. I mean, obviously I think I like this too, because it's short. This is short. Straight to the point.
- [52:22]
A
Yeah.
- [52:22]
B
Gives me what I need. I can listen to it twice now. I could live with it. Ver. By the time I get to 12 songs on someone else's track, it's like I got shit to do. It's like y' all should. We'll give you an extra play if you can stick to 10 songs. You know what? I think there should be a rule that people should only make 10 track albums from now on.
- [52:41]
C
But anyways, 13 for me is like classic album territory. It's hard to make a classic above 13 songs. I think you usually trail off, but I'm okay with 10 too.
- [52:52]
A
Okay, so this is an interesting conversation. Cause the next. Unless you guys had any more on Earl, we can move on to Joey.
- [52:59]
C
The only thing I did want to give credit to is on Live or Live. That Lauren scheme was. That was lyrically the thing that, like, really stood out to me where he's like cooking him calmly like Lauren in the 90s. The Lauren is on me. You're gonna die on the hill of your choice I still hear the voices and then the whole Pisces bars I'm a Pisces part of me still in the void Fishy annoyed my inhibition's destroyed like he's. He's so clever and. And usually he is kind of like. Like leave it up to your interpretation. But sometimes when he wants to get a point across, he's very good at that too.
- [53:31]
A
Yeah. Beautiful. So Joey Badass comes with Lonely at the top.
- [53:43]
B
Got the screw face. But my.
- [53:45]
A
Want to talk about Joey this year. Year generally and the kind of the buildup to this album. But I'm a little bit like. So the. The risk of a short project, which I think Joey's is what, 11 songs on this new one. And the kind of. The catch with. With doing this is that if you do it. Do a shorter project. 11 songs. Yeah, 11 songs and 39 minutes. You kind of have to hit almost 90% of the time, which maybe I just haven't had enough time with the Joey record. But it starts out for me very strong. And kind of tapers on the back half. And so I'm a little bit at this moment, this is the freshest album at the time of recording. This just came out last Friday. So I haven't listened to it a ton, but I'm at this moment a little bit mixed. And I was. Maybe it's more of my expectations going into this album and like all the momentum that he had coming off of the kind of the battles a few months ago and kind of thinking we might still have some of that energy and that. That kind of fire which comes in moments on the album, but maybe not as much as I was expecting it to. So Green, have you had a chance to listen to this one?
- [54:58]
B
I think. I think. I think that you have the right sentiment for me. I was actually disappointed, if I'm gonna be honest. I really like Joey Battis as an artist in general. Like his perspective, his skill set as a rapper, top tier. All these mid level guys, as you said, are they all rap really well. And it's great to hear. Like the one with west side Gun. It's like having a Westside Gun track. We know it's going to be a new neo boom bab sound. We're here for it. I'm here for that shit. Yeah, go in. But then I hear super Flee. I can't lose Put me against whole crews style on N for Dolo Pulling up on the logo Hitting nothing but the bottom of the net no joke in the pole that's trash.
- [55:43]
C
I liked it.
- [55:44]
A
I like that song.
- [55:47]
B
I do not like that song. Maybe because it's a Virginia, like Neptune's reminiscent beat and it doesn't get to that level of that production. Maybe I have a bias against that.
- [56:01]
A
Okay.
- [56:01]
B
But even though I usually like. Honestly, I don't know if that's it because I usually like when people make pharrell beats. I love that. Like when someone brings up a 2000. This one. I was like, who did this? This beat is trash. My bad.
- [56:14]
C
It was just missing a fabulous verse.
- [56:18]
A
Right.
- [56:18]
B
It needs a fabulous verse on the. Or a chorus shoot. But I feel like it was going in and out of attempts to kind of make something that might like. I didn't have a. I didn't have a clear vision of who Joey Badness was sonically on this. And I feel like we're such. In a space where a lot of artists are doing that and maybe we're looking for that from artists. And this feels more so like the Jay Z approach of like, let me get this here, here. Here, here. And let me try this one and that one versus, like, this is my full on sound, which he's done plenty of times. Yeah, like he did that in 1999, did it 2000. So I was like wondering where this is. This is kind of going.
- [57:01]
A
Because my favorite Joey project, actually All American Badass. And for me, I think he felt like songwriting wise on that one. Thematically great also, but obviously. And very, very concise conceptually and thematically. But the songwriting, the hooks and the beat selection were just so top tier on that album in a way that specifically with songwriting, I don't feel like any of these songs stood out. He's rapping his ass off. Like, obviously, I think that's just kind of a given with him now. But I think. I think I share your sentiment, Green, in terms of just being a little bit disappointed post battle where it felt like, man, he had. It was just seemed like a slam dunk opportunity for him. And I don't know if he met the expectations, at least I had, of. Of the next Joey project. I don't know. Jeremy, what are you thinking?
- [57:50]
C
Yeah, I'm. I'm mixed on it too. I think it was December of last year. We did. There was a culture united where there was predictions for the next year. And I had said, Joey Badass is going to wrap his way up to the next level. I don't know why. I had no inside information. I just was maybe hopeful. But I said he needed to have a big song and he also needed to have a really great album. So when he started rapping and doing the battle, I was like, yes, he's going to do it. And the momentum was there. I was a little confused, I guess, as to what this project was supposed to be, because I don't think this is his album. Like, he's. He's labeled it as a mixtape for a reason. So I guess I expected if you're going to go mixtape vibes, like, to just rap at a really high level.
- [58:39]
B
Oh, he labeled this as a mixtape.
- [58:41]
C
Yeah, he was labeling this as a mixtape.
- [58:44]
A
At least the tweet that I saw, he was like, the approach was like a mixtape. And I do wonder if this is. If this is kind of what you're talking about. Like, was this a label fulfillment type thing? And is there. Is there a quote unquote album? Because I know he's also been having label issues and them kind of delaying releases and stuff.
- [59:02]
C
Yeah, and that. That played into it too, because I like, you know, you have the Tie dollar Sign song Which I'm actually not mad about. You have a couple attempts maybe at a hit song on there. So maybe that is part of like the labels. Like we're not releasing this unless you put something like that on there. I don't know. But I don't think this had the same hunger as I felt on like My Town or during that battle or even the Ruler's back. Like it didn't feel like he was like really trying to rap. Like I'm the guy. But conceptually there were moments that I thought he really shined and vulnerability wise, which Joey does really well, but he doesn't do. He doesn't do it super, super often. So I love whenever he does. I think Underwater was my favorite song. I really like the fact that he was talking about like self doubt and just dealing with expectations and where he's at. Even dark. Dark Aura I thought was dope and swank White I thought was maybe his best rapping on. On the album. But then there were moments where I was like, it was kind of lost in the shuffle. Whether it be like, you know, speeding through the rain or you know, towards the latter half or the tide al Sign, which I liked as an attempt, but I think will be a forgettable song. I like Super Flea. I know that was mixed. I did like that song. But yeah, it wasn't compared to the other incredible projects we just heard. It clearly didn't match up to that. And I also just wanted to give grace because it's a mixtape. But like, I don't know. I don't know what the next move is.
- [60:24]
B
Yeah, it's a mixtape. That changes a lot about my perception on it.
- [60:28]
A
Well, he's touring though, right? He's touring this album.
- [60:34]
B
I mean, it's still. I mean it's still lackluster no matter what. But I'm just saying like, oh, so you're hopefully it's like a fulfillment thing and let me get these ones out that are still good rapping and I could get this tour off, get this bread, but I got this album coming. You know what I'm saying?
- [60:49]
C
That's what I think.
- [60:50]
B
That would be nice.
- [60:52]
A
Okay. Yeah. Well, time will tell and maybe I'm hoping the album grows on me a little bit once the expectations and kind of getting out of the moment a little bit. We'll see. But yeah, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit disappointed at this, at this moment. You know, just five days after it's been released. I don't know if we have time to talk about much else. Are there any other of the. All the albums you listen to Green, that we didn't talk about? Any. Any ones that you. You want to shout out at all?
- [61:24]
B
I like Lupe's little deluxe situation.
- [61:27]
A
Okay.
- [61:28]
B
But I'm also a Lupe fan. Who else dropped?
- [61:34]
A
We had west side Gun. We had. Oh, Alchemist. Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs.
- [61:42]
B
Oh, the Freddie Gibbs. I like that a lot. I like that project. Alfredo, too, is really dope. Alchemist can't do no wrong.
- [61:52]
A
Crazy.
- [61:53]
B
Yeah. Like, I just. Alchemist can't do no wrong. Like, production is just insane and obviously help usher in the neo boom, bap like sound. So I'm all about that album. There was a production one. I can't think of anything else.
- [62:11]
A
All right. Jeremy, what about you?
- [62:13]
C
I had a few. And it's funny because I'm like. I feel like all of my favorite rappers right now are like somewhat Christian rappers. And I grew up Jewish, so I just find it kind of ironic. But everyone's making faith based albums right now that are so good. Like D Smoke just dropped an album that I do think people should check out if. If they haven't yet, because it's very kind of under the radar in terms of how much music is there. But he really delivered to me a really conceptual, highly poetic in actually using poetry in some degrees. There's. There's a tie in a through line. He has a really vulnerable song about losing his mother. And I love that. That album. So go check that out if you haven't. And then Lecrae dropped a really, really good project too. Solid body of work. There were some songs that I think got lost in the shuffle that I could have maybe done without, but, like, overall, maybe his best work. And then another Christian rapper, Miles Minick, dropped a really solid 13 song album that had a lot of. He had the slaps. He had like the hit songs, the melodies, but all keeping a positive message on there. So those are probably my favorites recently.
- [63:28]
A
Yeah. I've been listening to this album called Let God Sort Him Out a lot. Yeah. Is that so, Jeremy, what's. What's your album of the year so far? I know what. I know what Green's gonna say.
- [63:40]
B
Easy.
- [63:42]
C
Unfortunately, I don't have a hot take here. The album that you just mentioned that I just found out about a second ago, Let God Sort Them out is my number one.
- [63:52]
A
Yeah. Did you guys. I think you guys both saw them. Saw them? Yeah, it's my. Yeah, it's clearly mine so far. We'll see if anything beats it. But I don't know, man.
- [64:02]
B
What happened with a decade?
- [64:03]
A
Yeah, that's not an outlandish statement in my household. Did you guys see him live? I think both.
- [64:10]
B
Yeah, yeah, twice. And I might see him this weekend.
- [64:16]
A
Okay. Tyler's the number one Clipstar. I think he might be contention for number two.
- [64:20]
B
Great. Yeah, that. That's that.
- [64:24]
C
I was hoping Tyler came out. Like, I. Obviously, I don't know, but I did miss Kendrick. I was waiting for a friend to give him the tickets and he was the first person to come out on stage in terms of first song. So I miss Kendrick, so I'm not over that. So any mention of clips concerts does bring back somewhat trauma and I haven't listened with since. But I was expecting to see Tyler pop out too, because I did see Taco in the crowd. I saw some of Tyler's crew there. I was like, wa. Is Tyler going to come out for his verse? But I think he probably just wanted to enjoy the show.
- [64:58]
A
It was a phenomenal show. I was so impressed, especially at their age, you know, like Malice 52. Like, it was so good. And they don't really have to do much on stage. I love that they're at a point in their career they just have to rap. That's all we want from them. I thought it was a phenomenal show. The rapping was top tier, breath control. All that stuff was not an issue at all. And the visuals are super tasteful. Just phenomenal. I'm so impressed with them and everything they've done this year. It's been just absolutely perfect to the point that we're talking about them on a podcast that we weren't supposed to talk about them. Thanks both of you guys for joining Dissect. Have to have you guys back. King Green here. I'm at the rap latte and you got a new placement in the new Madden. What's the song called?
- [65:49]
B
So Busy. It's called how to See the World. I'm so busy, I don't even be promoting my own music, which is crazy. But how to See the World is on. The new Madden just came out. The video gonna come out soon, so check me out.
- [66:01]
C
Congrats, Jeremy.
- [66:02]
A
Anything to plug besides big picture?
- [66:05]
C
Yeah, the bigger picture. Every Saturday morning as of right now, might switch up the schedule depending on what people want to do, but that's every week. And then I have a show on Uproxx called Soundcheck that you can check out every Wednesday.
- [66:20]
A
Oh yeah, it's great.
- [66:21]
C
I listen to music with artists, and I have to guess what their lifetime anthem is at the end. The song that, like, means the most to them. So that's always fun to just sit and listen to music and talk about it.
- [66:31]
A
Oh, yeah. Thanks, guys.
- [66:34]
C
Thank you so much for having us. And keep, keep killing. This is super fire.