The Dark Album is Watzreal’s 4th album. This project takes a much more introspective look at Watzreal life, his mental health, and societal issues at large. During the 12 track album we see Watzreal explore his his darkness through his depression, drinking and self doubt, as he struggles to find light in the form of hope, confidence, and self love. With some of his sharpest lyricism, his most sonically cohesive project blending dark, soulful and inspirational production, and his incredible levels of emotional honest, we see Watzreal in his prime as The Dark Album proves to be his magnum opus.
Watzreal opens the album with a chill boom bap flow with light hearted themes and witty humor. Our favorite bar is when he talks about wanting to be Keanu Reaves stunt double. He glides over a laid-back production with a welcoming tone. He continues a similar theme into his next track using this chill flow to let his audience know this is a track to relax and meditate on. While he has his listeners attention, he quickly dives deeper into more pressing matters. The transition is rapid where he then goes into detail on social issues and the faults of political structures. He deploys complementary features that add to his message of empowerment and vindication for those oppressed by the system.
From this point the album essentially gets much darker. While it’s instrumentals remain meditative and relaxed, his tropes wrestle with existentialism. He compares the scientific study of dark matter to the fallen world we live in. These two pillars both invisible yet totally real, are seemingly complementary in his mind. One cannot exist without the other. He struggles to gain optimism in a universe that is inevitably caving in on itself. He laments on his past relationships and trauma. He uses these experiences to relate to his listeners and unify them in life’s struggle.
However, Watzreal bounces back on the closing track of the project ebbing and flowing much like the wave on his album cover. He drifts back-and-forth between past and present and comes to the edge of acceptance. It’s an album about life’s ups and downs, stills and swells. He reminds us to remain present and to enjoy what we have while it’s still here and for that we are thankful.
Ray Swoope’s “Thou Shall Not Kill” is an undeniable classic. The Chicago rapper has released his full length album with heavy hitting features such as Sonny Blanco, Kcirrem KSO, and Tony Stanza with some eclectic production by Lord Hakim. This 18 track project is full bodied, bloody, beautiful and bold. As we travel through the streets of Chicago with Ray, it’s clear he is an artist marred with pain, triumph and glory. The narrative is rich with topics, each song building off the last and exploring its own theme. We learn the law of the land, the codes you do, and do not break in the game of life. We learn the unspoken law of respect and the dangers of disrespect.
From the street to the sanctuary, these creeds tie into what we as an American society have been raised with. We are taught not to steal, we are taught to not slander, but Ray argues justifications must be made upon application in real life. Justifications must be made in the REALEST life, which is life in the Southside of Chicago where no bad deed goes unpunished. Ray’s theology asks what are the commandments for the dealer simply trying to feed his family, what are rules of killing if you yourself fear being killed. His ecclesiastical lens transfers the point of blame from the sinner to the syndicate. In other words, don’t condemn the player, condemn the game.
“Though Shall Not Kill” is full of pithy aphorisms and aggrieved anecdotes. It is a pre-cautionary tale and makes a case for modern theology all in one. Ray Swoope has clearly spent his 10,000 hours in the game. His skillful bars and masterful rhyme scheme is one that cannot be replicated. His style has been formed through years of repetition and evolution. This album breathes life into the inflated world of street rap and pays homage to its inspirations and founding fathers. This album is definitely one of my favorites to come out of 2020 and will stay in rotation for years to come.
Darkness I Am has dropped a new project titled “Psycho/Strange”. It is a two part album, side A or Psycho Addition has twelve songs while side B Strange Addition has eleven totaling out to 23 tracks. Darkness I Am is originally from St. Paul, Minneapolis, hence his east coast idols/influences such as Onyx, KRS-One, Tech N9ne, Insane Clown PosseGucci Mane, and Young Jeezy. These influences can definitely be heard throughout these two albums with Darkness’s hard hitting delivery and aggressive tone throughout.
“Psycho / Strange” can be classified and an alternative hip hop album with layers of hardcore thematics. The two-part album features a number of artists such as Hatchet Monkey, Twisted Insane, KD The Stranger, MMMFD, Earnest Dowson, Liquid Assassin, MARS, Cryptic Wisdom, DUBBS and Madchild.
The dual album is promptly split into two sections where one deals with a massive amount of internal conflict, while the other deals with the external. Songs such as Demons delve into the conflicts of the mind that one must overcome in order to function properly and succeed in life. Misery and Obsession lament over aspects of life that are unchangeable. The next track after these is Damaged where Darkness recounts his troubled youth and how that’s changed him as a man today.
The second half of “Psycho / Strange” is full of life and upbeat tempos. The high energy juxtaposed against the first dejected half is a nice transition to go through emotionally. The Strange Addition side proves Darkness I Am’s passion and rage that is released in 45 minutes alongside some lyrically driven features. His emotional presence on the second half is much more present and demanding of the listener’s attention. Darkness I am takes on the world on this second half going in on other MC’s and mastering his hardcore persona. “Psycho / Strange” is available on all streaming platforms now.
Compton-bred rapper YG — “Keenon Daequan Ray muthafuckin’ Jackson” as his mom eloquently refers to him on the intro to the album we’re about to talk about — is one of the leaders in today’s roster of young Hip-Hop kings, right there along with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Meek Mill and the immensely-missed Mac Miller. While Cole is a representative of the south by way of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Meek a proud representation of Philly through and through, Mac giving Pittsburgh its well-deserved props and K. Dot telling the story of living in Compton from a deeply introspective and oftentimes poetic point of view, YG found a way to rep the West Coast from its original G-funk gangsta rap roots from the very beginning of his career.
His platinum-selling debut album, My Krazy Life, turns five years old today (March 18), and is officially available as a 2LP black vinyl by way of Urban Legends. It’s one of those records that will look good plastered on your wall of other preserved rap records, or for a few good spins if you actually own a player to scratch it on. Either way, there’s no arguing that My Krazy Life is a modern day classic. Let us break down why real quick.
Before you go cop the record and add it to your collection, read on to see why YG’s My Krazy Life was so important to the climate of Hip-Hop in 2014 and how it’s shaped the rap game up to this day:
The Album Topped Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums & Rap Albums Charts, While Also Debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200
The week of April 5, 2014, My Krazy Life was held out from the top spot by one astronomical album: the soundtrack for Disney’s Frozen. Granted, nobody was stopping the Frozen train, so we definitely give YG cred where it’s due. However, he was able to top the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and the Top Rap Albums, the latter where it finished at #9 on the year-end list. Overall, it was one of the most successful rap releases of 2014.
The Guest Features Were Phenomenal
Not only was he able to get rap vet Jeezy on the hit lead single, as well as Lil Wayne on the remix, YG also found a way to use My Krazy Life as an opportunity to prove that there was definitely a unity within his rap class. ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock on “I Just Wanna Party,” Tory Lanez on “Me & My Bitch,” Nicki Minaj on the aforementioned lead single remix as well, Drake on “Who Do You Love?” and Kendrick Lamar on the classic deep cut “Really Be (Smokin N Drinkin)” were all examples of that. While friendly competition is always in the atmosphere, these MCs supported and rocked with each other heavy.
The Album Helped Put DJ Mustard on the Map
Granted, DJ Mustard had been producing hits as far back as 2011 with Tyga’s top 10 banger “Rack City,” but his working relationship with YG can’t be compared to any rap/producer duo in the game. While they went through a brief beef that has thankfully been squashed, there’s no denying the classic songs they were able to create as a unit on My Krazy Life. We saw them recreate the magic recently on “Big Bank” off last year’s Stay Dangerous, proving that the YG/Mustard union is a much-needed force in Hip-Hop for the majority of us that love a good G-Funk-laced club banger.
My Krazy Life Proved YG Could Represent the West Coast As a Solo Force
Having a tight rap crew to fall back on definitely helps elevate you up the ranks in Hip-Hop, which is why we give YG even more cred for being able to navigate up the charts dolo. While his contemporaries had groups that range from TDE and A$AP Mo to Dreamville and even Young Money, YG held things down on his own under his 4Hunnid imprint, which operates as a record label and fashion brand alike. The leader of his own pack, for sure.
The Universal Praise of “My Nigga”
As controversial as the title is, nobody can deny the takeover of the rap game that “My Nigga” had on Hip-Hop and music in general. A certified quadruple platinum hit, the song also referred to as “My Hitta” made it to the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 (#19 peak position) and garnered YG two BET Hip Hop Awards, including “Best Collabo, Duo or Group” alongside Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan plus recognition for the coveted “Track of the Year” that was awarded to DJ Mustard for production. Even today, drop that track and watch the room go crazy.
Happy five years to My Krazy Life by YG! Shop the new 2LP vinyl release right now over on Urban Legends, and let us know your favorite tracks off the project over on our Facebook and Twitter.
